Love in E Flat (26 page)

“I did,” Ana insisted angrily. “I called to you. Why aren’t you wearing pajamas?”

“
Bozhe moi
,” Agata exclaimed, then went off on a tirade in her native tongue. Wrapped in the satiny sheet, she reached for her robe. She struggled into it all the while Ana watched curiously.

“What did you say?” Ana asked, holding her stuffed animal.

Completely breathless, Agata looked at the door to see an arm pulling Ana out. “She said, ‘Oh, my God, you do not barge into someone’s bedroom, Ana,’” Dmitry said angrily. “Come.”

“But I knocked…” Ana insisted as the bedroom door closed.

Agata rubbed her forehead. “So much for relaxation.”

Chapter 19

The concert was as good as the first one Lou attended, even without the initial awkward meeting with Agata. Lou actually missed that night. She remembered the stern, stoic look on Agata’s face when she stepped out of the shadows while Lou did her now infamous imitation of a Russian czar or whatever they called them.

She glanced at Ana, who sat between Edie and John, who listened and watched Agata while Ana fidgeted with Brown Bear. Lou smiled inwardly at the little kid who quickly stole everyone’s heart. So much has happened in such a short time, Lou thought. While it seemed like weeks and months had passed, it was only a matter of a few days since Agata, Dmitry, and Ana came into their lives.

“Is it almost over?” Ana tried to whisper; it came out anything but.

John winced and looked around as he put his hand over Ana’s mouth; Ana’s muffled giggle drew a few stern coughs from the nearby patrons of the arts.

Edie gave John a stern look. “Stop playing,” she whispered.

John gaped at her. “I’m not…”

Edie glared and put her finger to her lips, silencing John while Ana sported an innocent look at both adults. Edie patted her arm and smiled and glared once again at poor John.

John looked past Edie at Lou, who shook her head in a disapproving manner. John now had a glare of his own. Lou chuckled. If looks could kill, she thought happily; she loved to tease John.

After Dmitry and Agata’s performance, the light in the theater dimly lit, telling the patrons the intermission had started. This was good because Agata and Dmitry had finished with their portion of the evening’s entertainment. And entertaining it was. The audience once again loved Dmitry’s playing of whatever Edie had said, Chopin something. And when they both played the dying swan song, the audience erupted with applause when they finished. Even Ana stood and clapped, tossing poor Brown Bear in the air, though Lou wasn’t sure if Ana enjoyed the concert or was just glad it was over. She was sure Ana had McNuggets on the brain.

As Dmitry and Agata bowed to the audience, Agata found Lou, who called out “brava” as she enthusiastically applauded. Agata bowed her head in Lou’s direction, and Lou could swear she saw the blush creep into Agata’s cheeks. She looked adorable.

“You’re grinning like an idiot,” Edie said to her.

“I don’t care. She was magnificent.”

Edie and John exchanged glances as Lou continued after the applause died down. Agata shook her head as Lou still clapped all the while she and Dmitry exited stage right.

“Okay, Lou. I think she got it. You enjoyed the performance,” John said, ushering them into the aisle.

“I’m hungry,” Ana said, looking up.

“Me too,” John said. “And I think Edie made reservations at a swanky restaurant.” He picked up Ana, who clung to him. “And if I’m not mistaken, they have McNuggets or something close to them.”

They made their way backstage to find Agata holding a small bouquet of red roses. Dmitry had one in the lapel of his cutaway tuxedo. He grinned as he sniffed it. “Thank you,” he said to Lou, Edie, and John.

“Yes, thank you. It was a wonderful surprise in our cramped dressing room.” She kissed John and Edie on the cheek. She turned to Lou. “Thank you,” she whispered, and to Lou’s utter surprise and delight, Agata kissed her lightly on the lips, but it seemed to Lou the kiss lingered for a moment longer.

“You’re welcome. You were wonderful,” Lou said. “Both of you.”

“What did you think, Ana?” Agata asked.

Ana shrugged. “Good.”

“Good,” Agata agreed. She looked at Dmitry. “Good.”

“Can we eat now?” Ana asked.

Edie laughed. “I made reservations at The Gage, if that’s okay.”

“Certainly,” Agata said. “Let me get my coat…” As she turned, Dmitry was right behind her with it. “Well, thank you, Dmitry.”

*******

Lou’s stomach growled, making her aware of just how hungry she was. Luke nearly ran up to the table. “I heard you were a great success tonight, Agata.”

“Thank you, Luke,” Agata said as they sat down.

“And who are these two?” he asked, looking from Dmitry to Ana.

Agata made the introductions to Luke, who shook Ana’s hand. Luke bent down then and shook the stuffed animal’s hand, too. “And who is this?”

“Brown Bear,” Ana whispered, keeping an eye on Luke.

“How do you do, Brown Bear?” Luke said, then offered his hand to Dmitry. “I love the tuxedo. What’s the occasion?”

“Dmitry played this evening,” Edie said. “He plays the piano.”

Luke looked stunned. “You played Orchestra Hall?”

Dmitry blushed, but he nodded. Luke shook his head in disbelief. “What did you play?”

“Chopin Nocturne 19 Opus 72,” Dmitry replied, looking uncomfortable with the attention.

Luke stared blankly at Dmitry. “Did you say Chopin?”

“Yes, sir. I did.”

“Nocturne 19…?”

“Opus 72,” John added.

“On the piano?” Luke asked with a good deal of incredulity.

“No, Luke. The kazoo,” Lou said, shaking her head. Ana giggled into Brown Bear.

“And then he accompanied me on Saint-Saens.” Agata smiled proudly at Dmitry, who continued to blush. His cheeks were a rosy red by now.

Luke stepped back and looked as if trying to register what he just heard. “How old are you?”

“I will be fourteen next month,” Dmitry said. He had a look of “now please don’t ask anything else.”

“I miss everything,” Luke said, completely crestfallen.

“There is a matinee tomorrow, but Dmitry does not play with me,” Agata said.

Lou saw Edie’s eyes light up. “I have an idea.”

John and Lou let out a collective groan, which Edie ignored. “We have a piano. Perhaps after the matinee, if you’re not too tired, Agata, you could come over and play for Luke?”

“Oh, they don’t have to do that,” Luke said, though he looked longingly at Agata. “But I am off tomorrow.”

“I think that would be fine. What do you say, Dmitry? Should we put on a private Christmas show for our new friends?”

“Of course.” Dmitry looked from John to Edie to Lou. He smiled then, and it was the first time Lou thought she’d seen him really smile.

“Then it’s settled,” Edie said. “I’ll make a nice dinner, and we’ll start off the holidays with a bang.”

“Maybe we can get the Christmas decorations down from the attic,” John said absently as he looked over his menu. “Though I might need some help. Somebody strong but smaller than I am. I have to get the ladder and climb up there in that small space.”

Dmitry looked up. “I could help you, John.”

“Really?” John asked. “Hmm. Good. I could use the help. Thanks.”

Dmitry smiled and pushed his glasses up. “You’re welcome.”

“Brown Bear is strong,” Ana said, not wanting to be left out.

“Oh, I’ll need his help, too. And yours,” John added.

“Great. Now I don’t have to climb up in that musty attic this year.” Lou glanced at Agata, who had listened and watched the conversation. Lou noticed she smiled, but there was a trace of something there that Lou couldn’t put a finger on. Perhaps it was sadness or melancholy. Whatever it was, when Agata looked at Lou, she smiled then, and the sadness seemed to disappear. She gave Lou a quick wink, as if letting her know everything was all right.

Luke tried to contain his excitement. He looked as though he might cry. “Well, what can I get for you to drink?”

Agata held up her hand. “A bottle of champagne, please. Dmitry, Ana, what would you like?”

“I will have champagne, as well.” Dmitry looked at Agata. “Yes?”

“
Nyet
,” Agata said.

“Children drink wine in Italy,” Dmitry argued logically while Luke looked as though he was at a ping-pong match. He waited patiently.

“I want wine,” Ana chimed in. “So does Brown Bear.”

Agata hung her head and said something, Lou thought, in Russian or maybe Polish. Whatever it was, it was not English, but it had that universal tone of exasperation to it.

“How about two of your house special cocktails for them, Luke?” Edie said with a surreptitious wink to Agata, who looked completely confused. God love her, Lou thought.

“Marvelous idea.” Luke scribbled on his pad. “I’ll have the bartender make them extra special.”

“Are you sure, Edie?” Agata asked, giving Edie the nod of understanding.

“Definitely,” Edie assured her.

“All right. You may have special cocktail,” Agata said.

Dmitry’s eyes lit up as he put his napkin in his lap. With John’s help, Ana tied the napkin around Brown Bear’s neck.

“Oh, Luke?” Edie called as he walked away. “Can we get a high chair, please?”

“Already? Lou hasn’t even had her bourbon yet.” Luke shook his head and headed for the bar, avoiding Lou’s glare.

“Luke’s funny,” Ana said.

“Yeah. He’s a real comedian,” Lou said, looking over the menu.

*******

With Brown Bear in his chair, Dmitry and Ana with their kiddie cocktails, and the adults toasting to new friends and good fortune, all was right in the world. The delicious food didn’t hurt, either. Lou’s stuffed pork chop looked like the whole leg. And as she said, though Dmitry and Agata were not blood related, Lou had never seen two people put away the food with such love. Lou thought for sure Dmitry’s eyes were bigger than his stomach when the enormous side of cow was put in front of him. But God love him, with Agata’s help, he finished it.

The conversation was light, and it was so strange yet familiar to Lou. It seemed like a family dinner; that was the only way she could describe it. John and Dmitry talked of going to the Bears game Sunday. Ana jingled her bracelet to Luke, who had already fallen in love with her and Brown Bear. Edie and Agata talked of Christmas fashion and decorating, and Lou just sat back and enjoyed the show.

For the first time in years, Lou felt comfortable, at ease. And not once did she think of the past. She sipped the last of the champagne as Dmitry sipped from his reddish drink, served in a stemmed glass; Lou could tell he felt like an adult—like he wasn’t already. He popped the cherry in his mouth, after Ana reached for it; both children laughed, and if it were possible, so did Brown Bear.

Every once in a while throughout the meal, Agata looked across at Lou and smiled. At those times, Lou found it hard to look away or eat. Her stomach felt as though she was on a constant roller coaster—it was nauseating and exhilarating at the same time. She only hoped Agata was having as much trouble eating. Though all hopes were dashed by the clean plate left behind.

When Luke came by for the dessert order, everyone groaned but Dmitry and Ana. Agata swore she couldn’t eat another bite but helped Dmitry with his lemon tart. It was not until all was said and done and the last bite of food devoured did Luke bring the check to the table.

“And for the bad news,” Luke said, handing it toward John and Edie.

Agata quickly intercepted it, holding up her hand to Edie and John’s arguing. “No. Please let me. You have been so gracious, so wonderful to us. I insist.” She gave her card to Luke, who left before John got him in an open-field tackle.