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Hans sighs. “Unfortunately, the word of a Kurochkin holds little value these days. I’m sorry, Aleksandr. I wish it didn’t have to come to this.”
“How long?” Alek asks. “How long do my family and I have to get out?”
“They want all three of you on a flight by end of day tomorrow. I believe you’ve already vacated the President’s Estate?”
Alek nods in confirmation. He’s been renting a penthouse in the business district with his mother and sister for the past month.
“This is wrong,” I say, stepping between the two men. “Alek saved this country. He took a bullet for this country, thanks to you. And this is how you repay him?”
At least he has the decency to look apologetic. “I understand your frustration; believe me. If the decision was up to me, I’d let him stay and put him to work for the Labor Party. He’s an asset to Andarusia, but others don’t see it that way.”
“It’s fine,” Alek says. “Can you leave us, Hans?”
“Of course. You two have a lot to discuss.” He extends his hand toward Alek. “Good luck.”
Alek accepts his handshake, and Hans walks back to the ballroom, leaving us in weighted silence.
“This isn’t right,” I whisper. “It’s not fair.”
“It’s fine, my love.” Alek presses a kiss to my forehead.
“It’s fine? You’re being exiled, for fuck’s sake. You know who else was exiled? Napoleon.”
He taps his finger on my nose. “Glad to see your tutoring paid off.”
I swat his hand away. “How can you make jokes at a time like this?”
“Listen to me. I am Andarusian, through and through. This nation is a part of who I am, but it’s time to move on and let this country heal. My future is with you, malishka, and my home is wherever you are.”
I step closer to wrap my arms around his waist, leaning my head against his chest. “You always have a home with me.”
Cheering erupts from the ballroom, and music begins to play at full volume as someone rushes out into the hallway. He shouts something unintelligible to my ears, repeating the short phrase as he runs toward the main lobby.
“What did he say?”
“Schultz won.”
“Good. This was the first election where people’s votes mattered.”
Alek swings his arm around my shoulders. “Indeed. Vive la révolution!”
A few people nearby echo back, and we laugh.
Despite the tough goodbyes we’ve said tonight, we’re in good spirits. I’m about to embark on a great adventure with the love of my life. After that, our future isn’t known, but there’s something waiting for us on the other side of uncertainty.
When we rejoin the party, Dad catches my eye from the front and taps his breast pocket.
I beam at him and nod. He’s about to embark on an adventure of his own, and I can leave tomorrow knowing he’s in the hands of someone who loves him.
“It’s time,” I whisper to Alek, nodding in their direction.
He wraps his arms around my waist from behind. When he stoops to rest his chin on the top of my head, I smile to myself, basking in his warm embrace and all-consuming presence.
Dad leads Galina by the hand onto the stage, and the music fades out. Someone comes out to hand him a microphone, and Galina’s face is twisted in confusion.
“Galina, before I met you, I didn’t think I could find love again. But you proved me wrong, and I fall more in love with you every single day. The way you take care of me and my daughter is extraordinary, and it’s a testament to your abundant love and selflessness.
Dad kneels on one knee, and Galina gasps, her hands covering her face.
“Tonight, history was made on this stage. This room is filled with peace and hope, which is what I feel when I’m with you. I can’t think of a more appropriate moment to ask if you will marry me.”
The room holds a collective breath and waits for Galina’s response. She’s frozen with shock, her hands plastered over her face. As the seconds tick by, I worry she’s going to say no, and I clutch at the pendant on my necklace like a rosary.
But when she nods her head, the crowd breaks out into applause, and the grin that stretches across Dad’s face is pure bliss. He reaches into his pocket to pull out the ring box, and when he opens it, the diamond sparkles beneath the stage lights. Galina cries tears of joy when he slips it onto her finger.
Alek burrows his face into my hair, pressing his lips to my ear. “That will be us one day, malishka. Mark my words—I’m going to make you my wife.”
