AllFreeNovel
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As soon as the car stops, I step outside, wrapping my arms around my waist as I peer through the throng of students for Leo. I feel out of place and young among the other mothers braving the cold, most of who are wearing heels and fur coats. Several of them cast me disapproving, haughty looks.
Leo appears after a couple of minutes, talking with a few other boys. He’s wearing the same navy coat and red backpack I bought him at the beginning of the year. But he looks different. Older, maturer. I watch him interact with the three boys he’s walking with, noticing the way Leo smiles and tilts his head as he listens.
The physical similarities to Nick are obvious. But it’s his expression and posture that make their relationship look obvious right now. That make me feel extremely guilty for not telling him exactly whose house we’re staying in for the time being. I’ve pushed away thoughts of my argument with Nick, and he hasn’t brought the subject up.
But he was right about one thing—the main reason we’re in this predicament is that I seized the chance to tell him about Leo.
It would be one thing if Nick posed a threat himself. But dubious decisions aside, I don’t think he’s a bad influence. I know he would never harm Leo. And as far as I can tell, this is all a possible overreaction to a fear that someone else might.
Nick could have left us in Philadelphia. He could be sending Leo to school with no security. Instead, Leo and I are constantly protected.
Leo breaks off from his small group and heads toward me. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, sweetie. How was your day?”
“It was good.”
“Good.” I turn toward the car, eager to escape the cold and the prying eyes on us. And the persistent hum of fear, wondering if one of Nick’s enemies will show up at any minute and launch an attack. “Let’s go home.”
The last word slips out without thought.
Leo doesn’t correct me, which is almost worse. He nods along, like Nick’s fortressiswhat he considers home now. The guilt expands, a heavy weight in my chest.
A flurry of Russian sounds behind me. I turn to see a smiling, smartly dressed woman. She glances at Leo and then looks back at me.
“Sorry,” she says.R’s roll delicately, her accent sounding just as effortless as her Russian. “English is best, yes?”
I nod.
“I am Raisa Maximovna, the head of the school.”
“Oh.” I shake her offered hand.
“It is a pleasure to meet you.”
There’s a reverence—an awe—in her tone that makes me deeply uncomfortable. There’s only one reason I can think of why a woman I’ve never met before would be looking at me with obvious respect, and it has nothing to do with me directly.
I glance at Leo, who’s watching our interaction closely, then back to Raisa. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
“If there’s ever anything you need—anything at all—please let me know.” There’s nothing effusive in her tone. Just serious.
“Uh, I will. Thanks.”
“Of course.” Raisa lets out a light, twinkling laugh. Once again, there’s reverence.
“Okay then. Have a good afternoon.”
“You too.”
I wait, but she doesn’t walk away. Raisa is looking at one of the men waiting to escort us the few feet to the car. Two more appear, one opening the rear door and the other answering a call and muttering on the phone.
I give her an awkward smile and turn, climbing into the car after Leo. The door shuts behind us, and I release a sigh of relief, happy to be away from prying eyes.
“How was your day?” I ask Leo.
Immediately, he starts talking a hundred miles a minute. I listen to Leo chatter about new friends and different subjects, torn between wanting to smile and cry.
Honestly, I thought he’d struggle here, adjusting to a new school and new classmates on top of being in an unfamiliar place. That he would be seen as an outsider, arriving in the middle of the school year with an American accent without knowing a word of Russian.
