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“I will,” he promised.
When I woke up in the morning, I could hear music playing in the living room. I got up and went to the bathroom to freshen up. When I met him in the kitchen a few minutes later, Andrei was fully dressed and had a seriousness about him like someone about to be late for an interview for their dream job.
“I made you coffee.” He winked at me.
“Thank you,” I said.
I was wearing a camisole and a pair of jeans as I was planning to work around the house, tidy up the space a bit and make it feel a little more like home. One day, after the baby, I thought I might work again. Maybe even go back to being a nurse.
I took the cup of coffee and watched Andrei kiss my cheeks. He was wearing a white shirt and black pants. He really did clean up nice, didn’t he?
“How long will you be gone for?”
“A few hours, tops. Don’t wait for me if it’s longer. I’m okay,” he said and walked out of the house.
I watched with nauseating worry as he got into his truck and drove out of the driveway. I followed the truck with my eyes until it dipped out of sight.
It was terribly quiet except for the sound of the ocean and the seagulls. They arrived every morning, taking in the sun, walking in the water, and picking things from the shore. A scene from heaven suddenly meant nothing to me if Andrei wouldn’t be alive to enjoy it with me.
I walked into the kitchen, opened the cupboard, and checked the items that were inside. Why was I scared when he’d assured me so many times that he would be okay? I wanted to believe him so badly, but my heart was telling me something different.
I drank my coffee and tried to busy myself making pancakes, but my mind was still restless. One of the most wanted people in the United States was about to walk right into the US embassy, and the CIA wasn’t going to hurt or arrest him? That sounded like playing Russian roulette. But this was Andrei's idea. I wanted to believe he understood the rules better than I did. Plus, I knew he was braver and bolder than I was—but that didn't stop my heart from leaping each time I remembered where he was going and why he was doing it.
For me and the baby.
I texted him every hour or so, checking in that he was still okay. It took him a few minutes to text back, but he always did.
I put the phone down and tried to watch some television. It was some reality show with American artists and the guest was a little boy who liked to dance. It was the kind of distraction I needed.
My phone beeped again.
I am on my way home.
I beamed at my phone as my stomach knots unwound themselves.
Thank God!
He arrived at the house about half an hour later. The sound of his truck pulling in front of the house triggered a relieved, deep breath, and I walked to the terrace. He hugged me tight, lifting me gently off the ground.
“How did it go?” I asked.
“I don’t know yet. If things went well, the guy I asked for will show up here soon.”
“And... if things go bad?” I stared at him, unsure.
“You don’t have to worry,” he said, brushing a wayward strand of hair out of my eyes. Then he kissed me on the cheek. “Let’s go inside. I got groceries and will cook you a good Russian dinner.”
I took a deep breath and followed him inside. I hoped he was right about all of this.
“I didn’t know you can cook,” I said.
“Honey, every real man knows how to cook,” he joked.
“I guess I haven’t met a lot of real men, then,” I joked back. “I’m glad I did now.”
Chapter 18
Andrei
