Chapter 29
CHAPTER 29
ANA
I ’ve never been nervous about walking into my home but I am now. Mikhail hardly said a word on the journey home and I wasn’t in the mood to talk either. I was exhausted. Delightfully sore and lethargic and I spent most of the flight locked in one of the bedrooms and slept.
Mikhail is always preoccupied with Lilli, anyway. When the unthinkable happened and he found her, to my knowledge they have never spent a night apart since. He has fallen unequivocally in love with her and she, in turn, idolizes him. I never really understood their obsession before, but since I’ve met James I kind of understand it.
Now we are heading into our family home with trepidation and even Mikhail is anxious judging by the way he squeezes Lilli’s hand, causing her to wince with pain .
I flash her a sympathetic shake of my head and she smiles, rolling her eyes as she mouths, “Are you okay?”
A brief nod is my reply, followed by a nervous smile and as we enter the hallway, the first person I see in mama herself.
“You’re home.”
Her beaming smile chases away anything other than love, and I fall into her open arms and love the familiar scent of her favorite brand of perfume.
“I missed you mama.” I whisper, hoping like crazy Adele was wrong and as she pulls back, her eyes sparkle as she whispers, “Los Angeles suited you. You are blooming.”
“You’re mad.” I roll my eyes because we both know I am no different, and I wonder if she has already been briefed about James.
“Mikhail, Lilli.” She smiles past me and holds out her hand and as they near, I break off and watch with amusement as she attempts to hug my brother. His usual irritated scowl is her reward, but Lilli makes up for him and smiles sweetly, kissing mama three times on both cheeks.
“You are looking amazing as always, Grace.” She says with a broad smile and mama blushes and laughs softly. “Oh, you flatter me, Lilli.”
She points toward the living area. “Come and join me for refreshment. We must catch up.”
Mikhail shakes his head.
“Later. I need a shower and to unpack first. ”
“Lilli, you’ll join us,” Mama says hopefully.
“No.” Mikhail interrupts, grasping Lilli’s hand possessively.
“Lilli needs to unpack too.”
The woman herself smiles apologetically and rolls her eyes as Mikhail strides purposefully away, gripping her hand tightly and mama laughs softly. “We should worry about that girl. Mikhail’s obsession isn’t lessening. If anything, it’s more intense.”
“He always has been.” I remind her, and she grins.
“You’ve got to pity that girl.”
She reaches for my hand. “Anyway, you won’t deny your mother the gossip. Come and tell me everything.”
She pulls a face. “Well, almost everything. I heard you met someone. I want all the details.”
We head into the light-filled living area and my soul sings.
I love it here.
Home is where the heart is, as they say, but my heart is conflicted now. James has grasped a piece of it and is holding it ransom in Los Angeles. If I want it whole again I must return and I wonder what mama will make of that.
We sit overlooking the magnificent garden in the easy chairs that have participated in many conversations between us. I’m anxious for the future, for mama because if Adele is right, our relationship will never be the same again. It’s hard to believe Adele is correct in assuming mama played any part in our father’s death and as we settle down, I say softly, “How are you, mama? I’m worried about you.”
“I’m okay.” She smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“It’s hard, Ana. When you lose someone who was a vital part of your existence, it’s difficult to operate normally. I was once complete. Now half of me has broken off and I’m struggling to find my future.”
She gazes out of the window, a far away expression in her eyes and she whispers almost to herself.
“Andrei was the nucleus of this family. He held us together and made everything possible.”
I take a deep breath and whisper, “Tell me about Veronica Scott-Stanley, mama.”
She freezes, her gaze never leaving the scene outside, and for a moment says nothing. I wait for her response, searching her expression eagerly for any anger or bitterness.
“I expect you’re referring to what Titus remarked about her affair with your father.”
It still hurts even though I know it as fact and I nod miserably. “I want to hear your thoughts on that.”
I attempt to keep my voice steady and mama flicks her gaze in my direction and I hate the devastation in her eyes.
“Veronica was at the same school as me in Switzerland. She was a strange girl, extremely quiet and a little odd. I suppose we felt sorry for her and took her under our wing, but that woman repaid our kindness by trying to take what was mine.”
“Pa?”
I nudge her memory and she nods, a spiteful expression on her face.
“He made it clear that I was the one he was interested in. She tagged along and attempted to engage him in conversation. She was an irritant to him and it was only because he was such a gentleman that he tolerated her.”
Her story doesn’t match with anything we’ve heard so far and my heart sinks.
“What about Marsha Steele? Tell me about her.”
I distract her attention away from pa and she sneers. “That woman was worse than anyone. Into all sorts and fascinated by power and sex.” She shakes her head. “Andrei told me she slept with anyone who wanted her and even back then she charged a hefty price for the privilege.”
“Then why did pa invest in her company Burning Roses? Why was he a member and why did he accompany Veronica Scott-Stanley to their parties four times a year?”
The question is directed from a deep voice that makes us jump and as we turn, Titus shrugs off the wall from where he is standing and fixes mama with a venomous frown.
“Titus!” She gasps as he enters the room and he flicks his gaze at me and nods. “Welcome home, Ana.”