Love in E Flat (32 page)

“You are paying for mistake you made,” Agata said softly. They stopped by a storefront window. “You Americans certainly know how to treat the holidays well.”

Lou looked at the white lights up and down the avenue. “It is festive. But cold. Let’s get back.”

Agata laughed. “You do not know cold. Stay a week in St. Petersburg in January. You will know cold.”

They stood in front of the hotel. “Are you going to invite me in?” Lou asked, shivering.

“Come along. I only hope we do not get looks from desk clerk.”

“Oh, who cares?” Lou followed her through the revolving doors.

“I do. Clerk is very attractive,” Agata said over her shoulder as she walked to the elevator doors.

Chapter 24

“John will be back soon to pick you up, Dmitry. Are you ready?” Agata called out.

Lou sat at the table, drinking coffee. “He takes more time getting ready than I do.”

Agata raised an eyebrow. “That does not make me feel better.”

Lou laughed as she buttered a piece of toast. “It was nice of Edie to keep Ana today.”

Agata nodded, but Lou could see the wheels turning in that Russian brain. “It’s okay, Aggie.”

“I know.” Agata smiled and drank her coffee. “Is just hard to think…”

“What?” Lou asked. “You’ve been very pensive this morning. And last night…” She grinned when Agata blushed horribly. “You were magnificent, by the way. But you seemed preoccupied, which did nothing for my ego.”

Agata snorted. “Your ego, Comrade, is just fine.”

When Dmitry quietly walked out of his bedroom, both saw the hesitation in his demeanor. “What is wrong?”

Dmitry shrugged. In one hand, he held the brass compass, and with the other, he ran his fingers along the back of the couch. Lou watched him, wondering what had changed; a short while ago, he nearly jumped out of his skin after John brought him back from their sleepover to get ready for the game. A men’s day out, John had called it.

“Dmitry?” Lou asked. “What’s up, kiddo?” She looked at Agata, who was as befuddled as she.

“Come here and sit for a moment.” Agata went to the chair and patted the cushion of the couch.

Dmitry obediently sat and concentrated on his hands, which were in his lap.

“Please tell me what is wrong,” Agata said gently.

“If you wish me not to go with John, I will not,” Dmitry said.

Agata blinked in surprise. “Why would you think that? Of course you can go with John. If you do not want to go, of course, you do not have to.” When he did not reply, Agata leaned closer. “Dmitry, what is it?”

Dmitry shook his head and answered quietly, “Nothing. I’m fine, Agata.”

Lou and Agata exchanged worried glances. Dmitry looked as though he would break down. As Agata reached her hand out to him, he quickly ran to his room and shut the door.

“What in the world?” Agata asked as someone knocked at the door. “I do not understand.” She opened the door to find John grinning. “Come in, John.”

“Hi.” His grin quickly faded when he looked from Agata to Lou. “What’s wrong?”

“That’s a popular question.” Lou shrugged. “We don’t know. We were talking to Dmitry about going to the game with you, and he got kinda weird.”

“Weird?” John asked, unbuttoning his coat. “Explain weird.”

“He was upset for some reason and said if I wanted him not to go with you, he would not. I do not understand what he meant.” Agata walked over to the bedroom with Lou and John following. “I will find out.” She gently knocked at the door. “Dmitry? It is Agata Karetnikov.”

When they got no response, Lou hid her grin at Agata’s formal declaration and glanced at John, who did the same.

“Um, Aggie. Let me try.” Lou gently pulled Agata out of the way. “You sound like the Russian version of Walker Cronkite.” Lou knocked on the door. “Dmitry?”

“Who is this man Lou speaks of?” Agata whispered to John.

John smiled but said nothing as he now pulled Lou out of the way. “Pardon me, but I think I know about thirteen-year-old boys since I was one.” He knocked at the door. “Dmitry. It’s John Trent, son. Can I please come in? I’m trapped out here with two women.”

The door slowly opened. John gave both women a superior smile and walked in the bedroom.

Agata looked at Lou. “Who is this Walker Cronkite?”

*******

John stood inside the door, watching Dmitry, who walked over to the window.

“Thank you,” John said, “for saving me.”

“You are welcome,” Dmitry said in a quiet voice.

“Mind if I sit?” John asked. Dmitry shook his head but still gazed out the window at the snowy afternoon. “Want to talk?”

Dmitry took a deep breath, then turned to John, who was shocked to see his eyes red with tears. “What’s wrong, pal?”

Dmitry stood tall. “I cannot go with you today.”

John raised an eyebrow. “Okay. Can I ask why?”

“It would…I am…Agata is…” He stopped and sat on the edge of his bed.

John sat on the other bed, facing him. He said nothing as Dmitry struggled with his emotions.

“Agata has been good to me and to Ana since…” He took a deep breath. “Since our mother died.”

“I know. I’m sure she’s been wonderful to you both.” Then it dawned on him, and he smiled slightly. “And if you go with me, you’ll feel like you’re betraying Agata?”

“I have had so much fun with you and Edie. And…and I really like you.” Dmitry hung his head and nodded. “I cannot do that to her. She loves us, and I do not want to hurt her. She is all alone,” he finished in a soft voice.

“I understand. If you don’t want to go…”

Dmitry nearly threw himself in John’s arms. “I do want to go with you. But I do not want to hurt Agata. I don’t know what to do.”

John felt the lump in this throat as he tried to swallow. “Dmitry,” he whispered, “it’s okay, son.”

Dmitry held the compass in his hand. John reached over and covered the hand with his own. “We’re just going to a football game, that’s all. How about we ask Agata and Lou to come with us?”

Dmitry pulled back, wiping his tears, and nodded. “That would be good. I am sorry for crying like a little girl.”

“Don’t be sorry. And keep this between you and me, but I cried so hard like a little girl at a movie last week Edie had to hold me.”

Dmitry laughed and sniffed as he adjusted his glasses. John stood, as well, and put his arm around Dmitry’s shoulders. “Remember, that’s between us men.” His heart broke when Dmitry looked up and smiled.

“I will remember.”

They walked out to find Agata pacing by the couch and Lou sitting in the chair reading a magazine. “You two look like you’re waiting for the doctor,” John said to Dmitry’s laugh.

Agata walked up to Dmitry. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, I am fine. And I am sorry…”

Agata cupped his face with her hands. “Do not apologize. All is well.”

Dmitry nodded. “W-would you like to come to the game with us?”

Agata cocked her head and glanced at John, who winked. “Well, that would be nice, but Lou and I are going shopping, and—”

“We are?” Lou looked up from the magazine.

Agata glared over her shoulder.

“I mean, yes, we are,” Lou said quickly and stood.

Agata turned back to Dmitry. “But we can change our plans…”

“Oh, no. That is good. You will not be here alone then.”

Agata looked shocked as she stepped back. John saw the realization on her face and smiled. He placed his hand on Dmitry’s shoulder. Tears sprang into Agata’s eyes as she kissed Dmitry on the forehead. “You are good boy. Thank you for thinking of me. I will not be alone.” She leaned in. “Lou is good company for
me.”

Dmitry instantly smiled and seemed relieved. “Good, I am glad. But only if you are sure…”

“
Da
.” Agata brushed a lock of hair off his forehead. “I am sure.”

“The game should be over by three. Why don’t you meet us at the house?” John said as Dmitry eagerly slipped into his coat.

“That is fine, John. Edie said she would be back with Ana about the same time. We’ll discuss dinner then. How would that be?”

“Sounds great. You gals have fun.”

Agata turned to Lou when John closed the door. “Are we really going shopping?” Lou asked.

“No.” Agata laughed. “Come sit. I think we need to talk more.”

“We do?” Lou cautiously sat on the couch. Agata sat next to her, still laughing. “What did I do?”

“Nothing.” Agata cleared her throat. “Yet.”

“Whew! You had me worried. So what shall we talk about?” Lou turned to face her. She smiled when the color rushed to Aggie’s cheeks, making them look rosy as if she’d run a race. “Madam Karetnikov, are you blushing?”

Agata’s hand immediately went to her cheek. “No. Am I?” She laughed nervously, not waiting for an answer. “Lou…”

“Yes.”

“Do you mind if we speak of something personal?”

“I mind if we don’t,” Lou said. “Wait. You’re not going to be insulting, are you? Like telling me I have bad breath or…”

“Oh, shut up, please.” Agata reached over and took her hand. “I am not sure where to start with this…” She looked at Lou and smiled. “Last night when you said you were in love with me, I…I want you to know I am loving you, as well. I know I said that last night in front of Edie and John, but I want you to know now.” She laughed nervously. “I know it is a little late to say. We have already been making love and is like closing door after cow has left…”

Lou narrowed her eyes in confusion. “Closing door…?” She then let out a laugh and fell back.

“What is funny? Every time I speak of love, you laugh.”

“It’s closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.”

Agata glared. “You are always with the jokes about how I speak.”

Lou stopped and pulled Agata down on top of her. “I’m sorry. I adore the way you speak.”

“Hmm. I do not believe you.” Agata grinned reluctantly when Lou reached up and unbuttoned her blouse. “And I do not think we will be doing much more talking, yes?”

“Yes,” Lou said. “I mean no. Oh, whatever. Just kiss me.”

Agata was only too happy to oblige.

*******

Agata stood by the window, her favorite woolen shawl her grandmother had given her wrapped around her shoulders. She looked back at Lou, who slept peacefully beneath the satin sheets. Agata had been watching Lou for nearly an hour, her mind going back and forth between her, the children, and what to do about their future.

Dmitry and Ana had been through so much pain and loss. She didn’t even know where to begin to know how to help them through it. There is nothing sadder than a motherless child, she thought. And now was Agata prepared to take Inga’s place? Could she be a mother to these children?

She looked out the window once again. The snow had started a while ago and was slowly accumulating on the street below. The big downy flakes lazily drifting by her window reminded her so much of when she was a little girl visiting her grandmother in Poland. The snow fell much like it was now. Agata felt happy and at peace with her grandmother. Her parents tried to understand, but they were caught up in their own lives of music and politics, trying to be true to that and live within the constraints of Communism. How happy she was that Dmitry and Ana did not have to live like that.

Dmitry had said Ana loved living in Chicago. She was so young, she probably didn’t remember much. Dmitry, however, did remember. He remembered his father, and he remembered his mother. Agata knew he missed them both, and he felt a sense of loyalty to their memory and to Agata. She could see it bordered on guilt, and Agata would not have that. Not for Dmitry, not after he had been through so much. She saw the affection in his eyes for John and Edie, the way he clung to John’s every word. His lightheartedness when he retold the story of their treasure hunt in the attic. She also saw the way Ana climbed up in John’s lap at the table. And how she slept between them on the couch.