I'm not her - Almost like a nice family (16.)

She watched in horrified, heart-pounding shock as the two measured each other with their eyes.

"What's that supposed to mean, young man?" Madame snapped, slamming her cane on the floor as she did so until Anna felt herself twitch. The next moment the shop was thunderously silent.

Anna was about to say something. She demanded an explanation, for this slowly but surely got to her.

"What's going on?" spoke Anna, forcing herself to move while watching as Madame turned to face the table and Michael rose from his chair and pulled himself up to his full height.

"I don't think I've introduced myself yet, MICHAEL BRAUN." At the tone of his voice, Anna stopped. She had no idea why, whether it was the tone or the emphasis with which he said it, and unfortunately she wasn't the only one who was rather startled.

"Dad!" Julie yelled. She lifted her head and looked at her dad, who spoke to her in a soothing voice without looking at her.

"It's okay, don't worry. Go to your aunt!" After that sentence, Anna understood that it would be better to stay out of it now and ask later.

So she took Julie's hand, who in the meantime ran up to her.

"Come to me, dear; don't be afraid!" She tried to speak in a calm tone, but her efforts were in vain. She herself, though she did not like to admit it, was beginning to be afraid.

The two were having an eye fight with no winner. Anna flicked her gaze between them, trying to understand at least something about their faces. It wasn't easy at first, but the words that followed moments later allowed her some insight.

"Oh, it's good to see you again, Michael Braun." The old lady's lips curled into a fake smile, while she held out her right hand as if expecting Michael to actually greet her pleasantly.

"Haven't seen you in a while, dear. How are you then? I see there have been a few changes in you. How about your father, how is he then?" She asked one question after another, her smile widening a little more.

Anna couldn't believe what she was seeing and hearing at that moment. She felt her black eyes widen into an exclamation as she watched the man move.

At first glance, it looked like he was going over to Madame, who had a strange gleam in her eyes and a relaxed, almost one might say friendly, expression on her face.

Whew! What a quick change of mood she has! Anna did not forgive herself for the thought, but she did not get to the next one, for she was rather thrown off by the man's next action, for his firm and decisive step was not going where Anna thought it was, but was coming towards her.

"He's fine, thank you, you know, he's still absorbed in his work."

While he was answering Madame's last question, he stood beside Anna and took her around the waist, pulling her to him.

The young woman was so out of it that she didn't protest. She hadn't expected this in the least. She didn't know what she should do, whether she should say anything.

She finally let go of the little girl, but only to pull her close as well and grab her in a protective gesture.

The three of them stood in the middle of the shop, and at first glance, they looked almost like a nice family.