Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Holly
The next two days are both emotionally and physically draining.
I’ve done my best to throw myself into the work so that I don’t have to think about what Viktor said, but I’m hurt and disappointed.
I kept telling myself that maybe there was a way to make things work between us, that taking the job in New York would mean abandoning both Viktor and the marriage that’s come to mean so much to me, but now it’s become clear that I have to do what’s best for the future that isn’t going to include Viktor.
I feel like a yoyo, going back and forth.
Maybe he loves me.
I don’t think he loves me.
I could make him love me if we had more time.
He’s going back to Russia so there’s no future.
Maybe I can change his mind.
But he doesn’t love me.
He said so. He still wants to help because he’s a good human being, but he’s not doing it for love.
I have to come to terms with the fact that I have to get through ten more months of the marriage while keeping my feelings in check.
And moving to New York is the best way to do that.
I got the official offer this morning, and I immediately accepted.
I did tell them that I was going through a family emergency, that there had been vandalism to a business I owned, so I would need a couple of weeks to deal with it before I could start.
They were extremely understanding and told me to take as much time as I need.
Then they sent me a whole onboarding package that will include a moving bonus, and so much more.
It should be incredibly exciting.
Instead, all I feel is dread. Sadness. Like something important is coming to an end.
Being so far away from the sanctuary will be even more difficult now. It’s going to take weeks, maybe even months, to rebuild.
Thunderstorms and a severe weather warning delayed the flight from Alaska last night so I didn’t even hear Viktor come in, and I woke up early, leaving without talking to him because I didn’t trust myself not to throw myself in his arms and beg him to love me.
Or something equally ridiculous.
Tonight is game six and I have to go, but I’m dreading that too.
I have to sit there with all the other wives and girlfriends and pretend to care about a man who just shattered my heart. I don’t blame him. This was a business arrangement, after all, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.
Some of this is my fault.
Because I should have been more careful.
I should never have slept with him.
I shouldn’t have allowed myself to believe there was a chance.
But I did, and now I have to face the consequences of my own actions.
There have been a lot of people coming and going. Darryl has been here setting up a plan for security. He’s also helping me buy and implement cameras and alarms. I never thought it was necessary since it’s a non-profit. We keep less than five hundred dollars on site at any given time.
They’re birds, for heaven’s sake. There’s nothing here but poop and feathers and birdseed. Obviously, I’m not talking about the emotional bond or the joy they bring, but for someone looking to break in, this is a pretty bleak haul.
Unless it’s personal, of course.
Which this was.
And I’m also working on revenge. I don’t know how I’m going to do it yet, but I will find a way. First, we need to figure out who did it, and Darryl has promised to help. He’s a good guy, and having him around has made everyone feel more comfortable.
I’m vaguely aware of a car pulling into the lot, but I figured it was him or one of his men. So, I’m completely shocked when a slightly accented voice says my name. I whirl, hand on my heart, and stare at Mr. Maslak in surprise.
“Oh, hello. You scared me!”
“Sorry.” He holds up his hands in a placating gesture. “I come to help.”
“Oh.” I’m caught off-guard. I don’t know how to behave in front of my father-in-law now. “I…” I just stare for a beat, trying to gather my thoughts.
“Priscilla. She is okay?” he asks after a moment.
“She’s…traumatized. Do you want to see her?” I figure that’s a safe topic of conversation.
He nods. “Yes.” He pats his pocket. “I have treat.”
I manage a shaky smile, and we start walking toward an enclosure around back. The birds who normally wander freely are contained now, mostly for their own safety as we clean and rebuild, but also because we want to be able to see them at all times. We’re all a bit hypervigilant at the moment.
To my complete shock, the moment Priscilla sees Mr. Maslak she hurries in our direction.
And sticks her head through the slats of the wooden fence.
Mr. Maslak kneels and murmurs to her in Russian. I don’t understand, I can’t imagine that Priscilla does, but she rubs her head against his hand. The gentle gesture brings tears to my eyes, and I swipe at them angrily.
I walk over and open the gate, and he follows me inside. Priscilla is glued to his side as I show him some of the damage, along with the spot where we’ll bury Elvis’s remains when they come back from the vet.
“This is…” He mumbles something in Russian, and I don’t need to speak it to understand vile language.
“Yes,” I say quietly.
“You are…upset.”
“That’s an understatement.” We start walking back toward the main building with Priscilla on our heels. I don’t say anything since if she’s with us, she’s safe enough, and I have a feeling she’s not going to wander far.
“Give me work,” he says after we’re quiet for a while.
“Most of the work is done,” I admit. “We’ve cleaned up in here—” I motion to the bird room.
“And I hired landscapers to come help with the grounds. Some of the birds are at the veterinary hospital, and we’re working on getting the place open to the public again.
The sooner we can start bringing in money, the better.
I don’t know how much the insurance will pay for so I had to max out my credit cards and—” I cut myself off. He doesn’t need to know this stuff.
“Why do you not speak to Viktor?” he asks finally, looking into my eyes.
“This isn’t Viktor’s problem,” I whisper, dropping my gaze.
“You are his wife.”
But I’m not. Not really.
“Things are…complicated.”
“You rush to marry because he is afraid his mother will bring wife.” He nods with understanding. “Now you have crisis and you are not…friends yet.”
If only it was that simple.
“I took a job in New York,” I blurt. “I think it’s better for everyone.”
He frowns. “New York. You will live in New York and Viktor will be here? This is not good for marriage.”
“I think maybe Viktor needs a Russian wife,” I whisper. “Someone who understands him. Who wants to move to Russia when he retires. Someone…his mother likes.”
“Holly.” His voice is low, but his tone is demanding, forcing me to look up. “His mother—she is not unhappy with Viktor’s wife. She is unhappy that you are not…” He pauses, looking to the sky as he stumbles over the words. “That you do not love him.”
“But I do!” The words slip out before I can stop them. “He doesn’t love me!”
He frowns. “He does.”
I shake my head. “He told me the other night. On the phone.”
“Told you this? That he does not love you?”
I nod, tears filling my eyes again. “And I can’t stay if he doesn’t love me.”
“This is…” More Russian grumbling. “Holly, you can give me one day?”
“You can’t make him love me,” I say gently. “It makes me happy that you want to help, but either he loves me or he doesn’t, and he was very clear that he doesn’t.”
“You are sure?”
“He said it. He said even though he doesn’t love me, he still wants to help with the sanctuary and everything.” I shrug. “He’s a good man. I guess we just weren’t meant to be. And I don’t want to keep him tied to a woman and a relationship that doesn’t make him happy.”
“Viktor is more happy than I have ever seen him,” he protests. “I know my son. I do not know what he said, or why, but I know my son. Somewhere, there is mistake. Misunderstanding. You must believe this.”
I swipe at my eyes. “It’s okay, Mr. Maslak, I just—”
“Papa.” He folds his arms across his chest.
“What?” I blink.
“Papa. Not Mr. Maslak. That is old man you do not know. Me? I am Papa now. We are family.”
Oh, man, I’m going to cry.
And the tears slide down my cheeks unchecked.
“Shh.” To my shock, he pulls me into his arms and hugs me, murmuring soothing-sounding words in Russian and stroking my back.
And I let him because it’s been so long since anyone held me, comforted me, made me feel safe.
Other than Viktor, of course, but I can’t allow myself to believe that he really does have feelings for me.
“I’m sorry,” I say finally, pulling away and wiping my eyes. “It’s been a bad week.”
“Yes.” He nods solemnly. “But it will be okay. You will see. Viktor—he is stubborn, but there is much love. I have never seen my son look at woman the way he looks at you.”
I swallow.
I want to believe him but I know what he said just two nights ago. Why would he lie?
“Tonight, we must go to the game and support team. After, everything will be okay. You will see.” He smiles, pats my cheek, and then walks back to the parking lot.
I watch him drive away, and my heart squeezes painfully.
I don’t even have time to think about what he said when my phone rings. I don’t recognize the number but the exchange is local and it doesn’t say “spam risk,” which is usually a tell that I shouldn’t answer.
“Hello?” I lift the phone to my ear warily.
“Ms. Grant? This is Monica Landry. We met under unfortunate circumstances at your home not that long ago.”
The hair on my arms stands up. “What can I do for you?” I ask brusquely.
“You have an offer on your home and land. It’s nearly double what it’s worth.” The number she gives me is staggering. The kind of money that would mean I would never have to work again. I wouldn’t even need Viktor’s money.
But that’s ridiculous.
Because I’m not selling. Not for any amount.
“Ms. Landry, I don’t know how else to say this,” I say with as much patience as I can muster up. “My home and the land are not for sale. Not for five million. Not for twenty million. Not for all the gold in Fort Knox. Please tell my father that.”
Then I disconnect.