AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Just have lunch here,” I insist. “I’m not much of a cook, but we can order something in.”
Lev’s face lights up. “Oh, I’d like that!” He turns to his wife. “Please?”
Even Catherina, stone cold bitch she is, can’t say no to such a sweet old man. It’s a little hard for me to imagine him as some hardened Bratva boss. People really can change. I wonder how different Dimitri and I will be in ten, twenty, or even thirty years from now.
“Fine,” Catherina sighs. “A quick lunch, and then we’re going.”
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Dimitri more delighted.
* * *
Despite Catherina’s protests, they end up staying well past dinner. Dimitri and Lev pretty much ignore her, too wrapped up in conversation to care about all her huffing and puffing. I simply serve her more tea in the hopes of keeping her mouth too busy to make snide comments under her breath.
“France was lovely,” Lev says as he bounces Simon on his lap. The boy laughs, enjoying the ride. “I used to take you boys to France all the time when you were younger.”
“You did?” Dimitri asks. “Why don’t I remember?”
“Probably too young. Although…” Lev drifts off. He does that from time to time, his brain doing its best to catch up to old memories. The rehabilitation program did wonders for helping stabilize his mood, but there are some things still unfortunately locked away.
I decide to change the subject. No sense in seeing him get bogged down and discouraged. I’m sure with a little more time and patience, Lev’s memories will come back to him. “Dimitri was telling me the other day that you taught him and his brothers how to hunt?”
“Every good father should teach his boys to hunt,” Lev says sagely. “Back in my day, it was for the sake of survival. There were some winters where we had to hunt for our own food.”
“Do you think you’ll teach Simon to hunt?” I ask Dimitri.
“Maybe,” he admits. “If he’s interested in learning.”
From her chair in the corner, Catherina snorts. “Don’t be too soft on the boy. He needs to be prepared for whatever life throws his way.”
Dimitri seems unperturbed. “That may be true, but I want him to enjoy his childhood. In the meantime, I’m here to protect him.”
“Too soft,” Catherina grumbles.
“I think that’s great,” I say loudly, stifling her words. “Out of everyone, I think Dimitri knows what’s best for his son.”
Lev nods, humming in agreement. “There is no right way to raise a child. Fatherhood is something you have to learn as you go. From what I’ve seen, I’m sure Simon will grow up to be as fine a man as his father.”
Dimitri smiles. “Thanks, Dad.”
Catherina looks at her diamond encrusted Bulgari wristwatch and sighs. “Would you look at the time? We really must be getting going. You know how much I hate driving at night.”
Lev rises and hands Simon to me. “Mama,” he says with a tired yawn.
“We should do this again sometime,” Dimitri says, hugging his father.
“I would love that, son.”
Catherina approaches and gives Dimitri a hard peck on the cheek. “Good night, Dimitri.”
“Good night, Mother.”
Lev waves at me. “Thank you, my dear. I really enjoyed the tea. You take good care of my son and grandson, you hear? I can tell they’re both rascals.”
I smile warmly at him. “I promise.”
Dimitri sees them out. When he returns, he exhales like he’s just run a marathon.
“How are you feeling?” I ask him.
