Chapter 64 Gabi
GABI
When I walk out of my room an hour later, sore and a bit tired in a new way, there are two men I’ve never seen before working on the gate.
“Mrs. Petrova,” they greet in unison and avert they gazes.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Moving the gate to include this room in this section of the suite. Can we start drilling now?”
I just nod, with some relief, but also knowing I’m on a production schedule here. Two boys, and then I’ll never have to be locked up again. I’d be free to go and put the past behind me.
But my future…
How does Ivan expect me to leave my own children behind?
It seems he compares everything I am and do to what he experienced with Darya, who was basically so far gone, she could have accidentally killed her own kids.
She maybe never wanted to be a mother and hated being one.
How long is it going to take for him to realize I’m not her?
When I arrive in the kitchen, it’s empty of humans. There’s a good mess, though, proof the girls had breakfast and Yuri didn’t have time to clean up. On the counter, there are several paper totes waiting to be unpacked, and no sign of poor Kostya. He’s probably on another errand already.
I clean the breakfast mess, sensing Yuri is outside with the girls at the playground. This is our routine, and my life might have changed completely—I’m now a married woman and a breeding cow—but it doesn’t affect what the girls need.
With a sigh and already thinking what to make for dinner, I reach for the closest paper tote and peek inside, expecting another fruit and veggie haul from the farmers’ market.
My heart stills as I find beautiful watercolor paper of the highest quality, paints, pencils, brushes, three book-binding kits with gold embossing for the covers, and everything I’ve always wanted and needed to illustrate more stories, but never had the money to afford.
I sink onto a barstool with one butt cheek and bite my lip to stop the tears as I reach for the card.
Moya Ptichka,
My little bird. Here’s to many more dragon stories I can’t wait for you to create, and of course for you to find your own inner dragon.
I treasure you.
Ivan
The card is dated for our wedding day, and it’s the perfect, most thoughtful gift. He knew I’m not one for diamonds like he had in the box with Darya’s things. But this…it’s what I’ve always wanted.
Stupid man, breaking my heart twice in one morning. Treasuring me when all I want is to be loved, because I love him already. I love his daughters…this whole broken family that will only be healed through love.
The girls’ voices sound from outside, and they’re headed straight for the door by the conservatory. I wipe at my cheeks in a rush, not ready to face questions. When they skip in with hands full of bright fall leaves, Yuri following at a slower pace, I smile.
“What wonderful art projects we’re going to make with those, girls! I have so many plans.”
And one of them is to make my husband fall in love with me, because I won’t leave Irisha and Katya, or any children born from this marriage, even if Ivan wants me out.
Not until they’re old enough to look out for themselves, even if it means I never get to leave this compound again.
It’s better than any convent, and one day, hopefully, once all the bullet holes have been dealt with, we can get in a cleaning crew to keep the massive house in better shape.
For now, we can live small. It’s how I prefer it in any case.