Angelika
–three years later
“Let me help you with that,” Lyosha says, taking a huge platter of shrimp cocktail from my hands.
Thank God. I shoot him a grateful smile. The smell coming from the shrimp cocktail seems just awful. Tolyan said it was fine, and the dogs are taking a great interest in the proceedings. So I know it’s just me.
And I’m probably not going to have a bite of it, even though I love shrimp cocktail. It’s unfair, but what can I do? Ever since our first-anniversary getaway to the most gorgeous beach in Mexico, my stomach’s been weird. Maybe I ate something that disagreed with me there. But how can it last for six weeks? It’s like some slow-acting stomach bug.
Lyosha sets the table, while I stand with the loyal Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky and Stravinsky, their muzzles beginning to go gray now. Lyosha’s home for a week in the summer before he has to go back to an internship. He’s getting his law degree from Harvard. The kid’s smart. I’m proud of him. And I’m so glad he’s taken Tolyan and my marriage well.
He told me he’s fine with anything that makes his dad happy. “The ol’ man deserves a little joy after raising me by himself, you know?”
We sit at the table for a late lunch. I go for a mild cheese and potato soup, since my stomach can’t seem to handle anything else.
But something about the way it smells sends the acid surging up. I cover my mouth with my hand, doing my best not to ruin the meal, and rush to the bathroom. The gentle scent of the lavender soap calms me down.
“Are you all right?” Tolyan says from the other side of the door.
“I’m fine.” I rinse my mouth and come out.
Tolyan isn’t the only one standing there. It’s Lyosha and the dogs, too.
Lyosha’
s studying me carefully. “Are you pregnant?”
“What?” I say, my mind going blank.
Tolyan gives him a piercing look.
“I’m not saying you are, but you know. There’s a girl in my class who recently got pregnant, and she’s the same way. Can’t handle the smell of coffee now, so none of us bring any to the lectures.”
Now that I think about it, I haven’t had my period since Tolyan and I came back from our trip. I didn’t realize because I was too worried and annoyed with my stomach issues.
“Holy shit,” I whisper.
“Congrats!” Lyosha grins. “Guess I’m going to be a big brother.”
Tolyan looks at me like he just got slapped. Then he wraps his arms around me tenderly, a hand over my still-flat belly. “A baby. Ours.”
I nod, grinning at him. “I should check to be sure, but…”
He hugs me tightly. Lyosha leads the dogs away with a small smile and a wave.
“Are you happy?” Tolyan asks.
“Yes.” I look up at him and see his eyes shine. “You?”
“Couldn’t be happier. You are the greatest blessing of my life.”
“And you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
——
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