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“This is the staff. If you need anything, feel free to ask.”
Kirill then proceeds to introduce each one in turn. It’s a blur of names and titles and responsibilities. A whole team of people that man the kitchen. Another group that takes care of the housekeeping chores. Gardeners, landscapers, maintenance for the plumbing and electrical and masonry and on and on.I’mwinded by the time Kirill finishes making the introductions. He dismisses them with a wave of his hand and they file out, stone-faced and mute.
“Geez. Are they people or robots?”
He smirks. “Ruslan’s grandfather was of the mindset that the help should be seen and not heard. I guess it carried over through the generations.”
“Gross.”
“Ruslan!”
The smile drops off my face as Ruslan approaches from an arched passageway in the corner. His smile looks forced, but then again, maybe I’m overthinking. He spends a few minutes talking to the kids, answering their questions and generally avoiding looking at me. Honestly, it’s the best-case scenario.
I don’t think I can pretend today.
“How about a tour of the house?” Ruslan suggests.
“That’s not necessary,” I interject quickly. “Kirill’s already offered to show us around.”
Kirill turns to me with an expression that seems to read,Why the fuck are you puttingmein the middle?
I send him back a look that hopefully conveys what I’m thinking, which is,You owe me!
“Ruslan can come, too!” Caroline suggests.
Dammit.If only “seen and not heard” could be applied to the children as well as the staff.
“That’s okay,” Ruslan demurs smoothly. “I have work to finish. If anyone needs me, I’ll be in my office.”
“Probably have to take a train to get there,” I mutter under my breath.
Ruslan gives each kid a smile and disappears through the same passageway he appeared from. It’s impressive that he managed to do the whole welcome without ever once looking at me.
Not that I care.
It’s not like I want to look athim,either.
We spend the next hour touring the property with Kirill. He walks us around all three floors while the kids argue over their favorite features. Reagan’s particularly smitten with the spiral staircase that wraps around the glass-and-bronze elevators. For Caroline, it’s the theater room that comes with its own popcorn machine for each seat. Josh goes nuts when he discovers the game room, which is equipped with a billiards table, dart board, foosball set, and half a basketball court. All three kids fall in love with the indoor pool.
As for me?
I just follow the rest of them around, feeling like an outsider. An imposter in a world that has no room or use for me.
Except for the little life I’m growing right now.
Maybe this little life is the key. Maybe this baby can save us all. It’s a naïve thought, one that puts a huge burden on my unborn child.
Some mother I’m shaping up to be.
“You’ve been quiet,” Kirill says from beside me as the kids run amuck in the gardens. “You can’t avoid him forever, you know.”
“Really? ‘Cause you’ve just given us a tour of a nineteen-bedroom labyrinth that says I can.”
Kirill smirks. “Trust me. He’ll find you.”
A shiver runs down my spine; I’m just not sure what it means. My feelings are as confused as my future right now.
My new phone pings.
