Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Holly
With Viktor busy with hockey, I’m left with the task of entertaining his family.
I take them to the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta one day, and then we all go to dinner that evening.
The next night is game three, which the team wins, and we finally have a little alone time once we get home after the game.
His family is at the hotel, I’m picking them up tomorrow to take them shopping and out to lunch while Viktor is at practice, and then they’re coming here for dinner.
West and Serena graciously offered to cook, so they’re going to spend some time with us but also with some of Viktor’s closest friends.
Kelly is coming over too, and West mentioned inviting a few of their other friends on the team, to make it a low-key party for his family.
Since we won’t be closing on the new house until almost a week later than we originally planned, we’re trying to keep them busy.
“Thank you for being so good with my parents,” he says as we get ready for bed. “I know this is a lot for you.”
“It’s fine,” I reply. “Ever since they found out my dad is a senator, they’ve been pretty nice. And Olga is still gushing about meeting Alexa Humboldt.”
“This is good. My mother is also better now that she has seen the marriage certificate.”
“They’re going to stay for as long as you’re still playing, right?”
He nods. “If we go to the championship, yes, they will stay until it’s over.”
“And then?”
“And then I think we will take a small vacation together. Maybe to Disney World. My mother loves it.”
“Ugh. Orlando in June. Hot as balls.”
He arches a brow. “Balls are hot?”
I chuckle. “Well, maybe not all the time, but it’s an expression.”
“You don’t want to go?”
“Why don’t you take them to Disneyland in California? The weather is so much nicer.”
“We.”
“We what?”
“We will take them. I am not going without you.”
“Oh.” I frown. “But there’s going to be so much to do to set up the new house. We’ll need furniture, at least a few things like a couch and whatever. The kitchen will need to be set up. And then unpacking and—”
“Stop.” He walks over and turns me by the shoulders, so I’m facing him. “If I take them anywhere, you’re coming too.”
“I just thought…I don’t know. Don’t you want to spend quality time with your parents?”
“I do not sleep with them,” he says quietly. “I can enjoy time with them and also with you.”
I pause, staring into his handsome face. “Do you, uh, enjoy spending time with me?”
“I do.”
“I like…spending time with you too.”
Why is it so hard to say these things?
Because we’re not supposed to.
This is just business.
I have to remember that.
“I was thinking,” he says after a moment. “You have sanctuary for birds, yes?”
“Yes.”
“My father loves birds. Maybe you take him tomorrow? I will be busy with hockey and he gets bored with the women.”
“Oh.” I hadn’t even considered showing them the farm or the sanctuary. “Yes, I can do that. I love spending time there. I figured you would all think it’s boring.”
“My mother and aunt, maybe. I do not know about Olga. But my father will love this.”
“Then I’ll take them.”
“Take my SUV tomorrow, so everyone is more comfortable. I can go to the arena with West.”
“Okay.”
“I wanted to thank you,” he says after a moment. “For how good you are with my family. I know they are…much to handle.”
“It’s been okay. I think Olga is resigned to the fact that she’s not here to meet her future husband but introducing her to Alexa was huge. She wants to be besties with Serena now.”
He snorts. “Soon she will leave and we forget about her.”
I smile. “We can’t forget about your parents, though.”
“No. My parents are not bad, just too much in my business. My mother more than my father. He is okay.”
“Your aunt seems nice.”
“She speaks very little English so she can only be nice.”
We chuckle together.
“Holly.” He puts a hand on my cheek. “We are together every day but we do not spend the time. I would like…to take you on date.”
I cock my head. “Viktor, we don’t have time for dates. Later in the summer, when—”
He puts a gentle finger on my lips to stop me. “Always will be an excuse. But we must make time. Is important.”
“But—” He cuts me off again.
“You are important. To me.”
“Viktor, I think we have to be careful with this.”
“With what?”
“Things that go beyond the scope of our contract.”
There’s a flicker of something behind his eyes.
Annoyance?
Hurt?
Disappointment?
It’s hard to tell because it disappears so quickly.
Then he nods and steps back. “Okay. I understand.”
I don’t think he does.
I don’t even understand.
I just know that getting too close will be dangerous.
Because I’m already starting to get attached. Addicted to his touch, to falling asleep next to him. I can’t imagine a year of that kind of intimacy and then just shaking hands and going our separate ways. Maybe that would work for him but it definitely doesn’t work for me.
“Tell your parents I’ll pick them up around ten.”
He looks like he wants to say something but then nods. “Yes. I will send text.”
Then he turns away, and it feels like I just lost something.
Except I never really had it, so I don’t know what I’m feeling.
This sucks.
Olga and Mrs. Maslak bow out of the trip to the farm, but Irina and Mr. Maslak seem excited as I pull onto the long gravel driveway that leads to a small parking lot next to the sanctuary. The house is on the other side of the property, away from tourists and traffic, so you can’t see it from here.
What you can see is Elvis, one of my grandmother’s albino peacocks.
There are two, which is quite a feat because they’re extremely rare, but Grandma got them just before she died from a farmer who bred them.
And they quickly became her favorites. Elvis is the male and he has pink eyes.
He’s absolutely stunning with his white plumage and my favorite.
His mate, Priscilla, is delightful but also a huge pain in the ass. She can be mean-spirited, has been known to chase children, and occasionally bites. I’m not afraid of her but she’s made more than one tourist cry.
“Priscilla bites,” I say as we get out of the car.
“So don’t approach her. But Elvis is fine.
” I call to him and the big white bird turns to me expectantly.
He knows I always bring treats. Priscilla knows too but she’s more standoffish.
She’ll eventually come to me once she sees all the treats Elvis gets.
Elvis approaches gingerly. He’s used to strangers but always cautious. I hold out my hand and wiggle the little plastic bag of melon pieces I brought with me. That brings him closer and I put a chunk in my hand, letting him peck at it.
“Beautiful,” Irina murmurs, taking a picture with her phone.
Priscilla takes a few more steps and stares.
“Come on, old girl,” I tell her. “Come get a treat.”
“I can try?” Mr. Maslak asks.
“She bites,” I remind him as I hand him a chunk of melon.
To my shock, she walks right up and starts to eat it.
“She’s never done that before,” I whisper. “Not even with me.”
“I love the birds,” he says solemnly.
“I can see that. And they must love you. You’re really going to like Ollie, the kookaburra.”
“You have kookaburra?” He stares. “I have wanted always to see.”
“Come on. There’s lots to see.”
We walk up the path with Priscilla following Mr. Maslak. She even lets him reach down to pet her, which I’ve never seen her let anyone do before.
“She really likes you,” I say.
He laughs. “Very beautiful.”
“Hey, Holly!” The caretaker who manages the sanctuary, Jay, waves to me.
“Hey, Jay. Where’s Ollie today?”
He grins. “He’s inside. We have some kids from a summer camp coming, and you know how they like Ollie.”
I chuckle. “Okay, then we’ll start there.”
I lead them into one of the buildings we use to do demonstrations and training. I spot Ollie on a perch off to the right and walk in that direction.
“This is amazing,” Mr. Maslak whispers, trailing behind me.
Irina is still taking pictures and for the first time I feel like we’ve found some common ground. I love it here and it seems like Mr. Maslak and Irina are enjoying it too.
Ollie starts dancing playfully when he sees us, and then goes into his distinctive call, which is a laugh-like sound that these birds are known for.
“You’re so dramatic,” I tell him. I reach out to scratch his head, which he only allows sometimes, and I’m gratified that he’s obliging today.
“Pretty girl! Pretty girl! Pretty girl!” The voice is loud and nasal, and before I have a chance to warn my guests, our hyacinth macaw comes flying across the building and lands on my head.
“Yes, Tillie, you’re a very pretty girl,” I say, laughing. “Come on, behave.” I lift my hand and she steps onto my forearm. “Say hello to my friends.”
“Friends! Friends!” She bobs her head and we all laugh.
“I can hold?” Irina asks in her halting English.
“Sure.” Tillie is the friendliest of all the big birds and she’ll go to almost anyone. To my knowledge, she’s never bit anyone, not even the trainers who tend to get the brunt of those kinds of accidents because the birds feel comfortable with them.
Irina holds out her arm and Tillie climbs right on, chirping and babbling pretty much all of her words and phrases.
Friends. Pretty girl. Night night. Tillie’s hungry. I love baseball—Jay taught her that. She knows some curse words but since we bring her out to the kids so often, we’ve tried to discourage it.
Irina says something to my father-in-law and he immediately starts taking pictures of her and Tillie with his phone.
“You think they want to see Empress?” Jay calls out to me.
“How do you feel about falcons?” I ask Mr. Maslak.
He puts his hand over his heart dramatically. “I will be your friend forever.”
I laugh and call to Jay. “Bring her out. Let’s take her outside and see if she’ll demo her flying skills for us.”
“Thank you for this,” Mr. Maslak says under his breath as we walk outside. “Today is very special.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I know,” he says under his breath.
“You know?” I ask in confusion.
“That you rush to marry because Viktor does not want his mother to interfere. I understand.”
Oh, fuck. I had no idea Viktor told him but I still feel like I need to be cautious.
“My son, he is good man.” He continues without waiting for me to respond.
I nod slowly. “I think so too.”
“You are…new. Be gentle together. Marriage is difficult. You must talk, discuss everything. And this is cliché, but you must never go to bed angry. I am married thirty years—trust me for this. You can have good life together if you work hard. Make him fall in love, Holly. Will be worth it.”
With that, he turns to Jay just as Empress comes flying over to us.
But I’m not focused on the majestic bird.
Make him fall in love.
Is that even possible?
His father seems to think so, and he’s probably the only person in the world who could say those words and make me think I could do it.
Maybe I can.
Maybe I should.
Because I really, really want to.