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“Yes. So go say goodbye to your godbrother before he leaves.” He waits patiently by his vehicle while I slowly work up the nerve to walk up and say goodbye.
“Ilya.”
“Princess, I will not be staying with my parents in Chicago for the rest of their trip. I’m leaving for Russia tomorrow on business. I won’t see you until your birthday next year.” I let out a gasp, knowing we won’t see each other again.
“Why?”
“You know why, menace.”
“Okay,” I say, feeling so distraught but remaining as calm as possible. He pulls me into his arms and kisses my cheek.
When he steps back, he gives me a warning. “Be careful, and stay away from that supposed friend of yours from now on. She’s not what she claims to be. I promise you, it is serious. Your mother is right. She’s dangerous.” He heard our conversation. He tips my chin and says, “I cannot protect you from Russia. Please promise me.”
“I promise.”
“Good.” I reach up on my tiptoes and kiss his cheek. He takes a deep breath and then walks away from me stiffly. Without looking back at me, he gives my parents a hug each and takes his leave.
I can’t believe he’s leaving and I won’t see him for an entire year. What am I going to do? Why did I have to show my hand? Maybe if I’d controlled my emotions, he wouldn’t have to stay away from me. My heart’s already breaking. There are no words to explain the ache, knowing we’ll be a half a world apart.
With all my strength, I make it through the rest of the party, saying goodbye to the remaining guests. After everyone is gone, I run into my bedroom and fall onto my mattress, letting the tears fall as soon as I land. There are no words for the devastation in my soul. Although, there is some consolation that he wasn’t interested in her.
There’s a knock at my door the following morning. “Sweetling, can I come in?”
“Yes, Mom,” I say through my pillow.
She comes into the room, and I look up to see her holding the box that Ilya had with him yesterday. I’d assumed he took his gift back after everything.
“We forgot this one.” She hands me over the small box.
“Oh. Who is it from?” I ask, pretending to be clueless.
“Ilya. He left it in your father’s office when they were speaking, and your father forgot to bring it out.”
“Oh. Should I open it now?” I ask, a wave of nervous energy washing over me.
“Of course. It’s yours.”
“Okay.” I pull the little bow on the box and reveal a matching bracelet to my necklace. “Wow, it’s so pretty.”
“It’s lovely. Maybe it’s best that he stays away for another year.” My mother’s voice was far away, as if she hadn’t meant to say that to me, but I heard it and my heart hurts because I don’t want to go a day without him.
“What’s the big deal? He is my godbrother, so he should be good to me. He’s always looked out for me as if I’m one of his little sisters.”
“Yes, but jewelry is special.”
“Perhaps he’s used to giving jewelry to the women in his life.”
She lifts her brow. “Perhaps, sweetling, but he doesn’t buy gifts for your other sister or me.”
“Would Father allow it for you?” I remind her that no man would be stupid enough to give her a piece of jewelry if he wanted to live to see another day. Maybe my brothers could get away with it, but that’s all.
“No. What about your sister?”
I arch my eyebrow and smile. “Well, that’s easy because she’s only ten, and Mrs. Semyonov buys Anya plenty of presents from all of them.”
“True. Well, it’s beautiful. Do you want me to put it on you?”
I scrunch up my nose and shake my head. “No. I’m not getting dressed yet. Besides, it’s too pretty for everyday wear.”It’s really not, and it’s as if Ilya intentionally picked a piece I could wear with jeans and a tee shirt or a pretty dress. The man had impeccable taste, or maybe one of his girlfriends did.
