“Yes, ma’am.” Brian enters the room with a stretcher being pushed by a second man. I don’t catch the second man’s name because I’m too focused on my final moments with Gran.
I’m amazed at how quickly and respectfully they do their jobs. I give Gran one final kiss goodbye on her cheek before Brian and his assistant wheel her away.
“Let me take you home,” Ivan says to me. I nod in response, not really able to find the words. Ivan puts his hands around my shoulders to walk me out. Kristin joins us and stops at the hospice house doors.
“Ms. Murphy, please accept my condolences for your loss. I understand how much your gran meant to you, and you to her,” Kristin says as she hugs me gently. “If there is anything you need in the coming days, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.”
“Thank you, Kristin. I’ll let you know.”
Ivan holds his car door open for me and helps me into the passenger seat. I fasten my seatbelt and lean against the door after it closes. Ivan rounds the front of the car and slips into the driver’s seat.
“What do you need?” Ivan asks after a few minutes of silent driving.
“I don’t know. I just want to go home and go to bed,” I tell him, staring out the window.
“Okay,” he replies. “I see you found Yuri.” Ivan chuckles as he tries to lighten the mood.
“I knew you wouldn’t listen after I told you that I didn’t need someone to watch out for me; I figured you’d have someone near my apartment building. I also figured it was Yuri when I saw him pulling into a nearby parking spot yesterday afternoon. I recognized him from the restaurant. I didn’t know his name until I scared him today when I demanded a ride.”
“You’re very observant,” Ivan says, turning down the street to my apartment.
“Sometimes. I’m here in Boston on my own now, so I feel like I need to be,” I tell him.
“My father taught me to be observant in all things,” Ivan says as he pulls into a parking spot in front of my building and turns off the car. I move to open the door, but Ivan stops me. “A lady does not open her own door.”
I give him a slight smile and watch as he gets out and moves around the car to open my door. He holds out his hand, and I take it for support as I get out. I notice Yuri standing at the main door to my building, waiting to open the door for me. Ivan escorts me all the way up to my apartment and through the door.
“You can go now, Ivan. I’m home and safe in my apartment,” I tell him as he closes the door. He’s standing inside my apartment, but I don’t remember inviting him in.
“You should not be alone today, or ever again,” he replies.
“I’ll be fine, Ivan. I really just want to go to bed and not have to think for a while,” I tell him.
“You’re stubborn,” Ivan says. I shrug in agreement.
“Fine. I’ll let you sleep, but I’ll be back later,” Ivan tells me, his tone leaving no room for argument.
“No, you won’t,” I tell him. “You’re too busy to check on me later.”
“I’m never too busy for you,lyubimaya,” Ivan tells me as he cups my face in his large hands. He tips my face up and bends down to place a gentle kiss on my forehead. It’s friendly and comforting, and a feeling that is definitely needed today. If it were any other day, I’d blush at his touch and the butterflies in my stomach would start flying in their confined space.
“I’m leaving Yuri in the hallway. If you need anything before I return, tell him,” Ivan calls out over his shoulder as he walks out my apartment door and down the hallway.
“Not gonna happen, but thank you!” I laugh at his words as I turn to look at Yuri. I give him a small smile and a wave as I close the door to my apartment, then lock it.
Leaning back against the door, I sigh heavily. It doesn’t feel right to be here on my own. Gran should be here. I walk across the apartment to my bedroom and put my pajamas on. Crawling under the covers and pulling them up to my chin, I settle in and try to sleep, knowing that rest won’t come easy.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
IVAN
AFTER LEAVING EMMA’S apartment yesterday, I made a few phone calls.
One call was to the funeral home where Emma’s grandmother was taken after leaving the hospice home. I found out that Emma’s grandmother had made funeral arrangements, but the payment for them would come out of her estate as per the will. I told the funeral home to send all bills to me, and they would be taken care of.
I also called the hospice home and told them to send me any outstanding bills. I could take this off Emma’s plate. She might be mad at me later for it, but I can live with that.
I didn’t make it back to Emma’s place last night to check on her. I wanted to, but business kept me occupied late into the night. I tried calling her, and ended up leaving several messages because she didn’t answer the phone. Hopefully, that meant she was sleeping like she said she would. I called Yuri to get an update, and he told me that she hadn’t left the apartment since being dropped off.
