His (Ties That Bind 2)

“Here, Mommy, it’s for you.”

“Thank you.” I open it to see his drawing. Crap. I’m definitely going to cry and ruin the makeup.

“It’s you and Daddy and me and Grandpa.”

“I love it,” I say. “It’s perfect.” I hug him to me.

“Dima,” Gleb calls.

Dima is inside the room in an instant.

Gleb gestures for him to take Josh. It’s funny to see Dima, a soldier, in this role with Josh. I’m not sure he likes it. I think he does, but babysitting wasn’t what he was hired to do.

“See you at church, Mommy. Don’t be late.”

I have to smile. “See you at church. You make sure Daddy isn’t late.”

Once they’re gone, Gleb sits down on the edge of the bed and reaches into his inside jacket pocket. From there, he retrieves a velvet box. He opens it and seems to disappear into his own memories for a long moment.

I watch him, this powerful man, this ruthless man. I’ve done some research, and I have no illusions about who he is, but with me, with us, he’s different.

He looks up at me. “I would have forgiven her, you know.”

My mother. I nod because I do know.

“I know better than anyone else not to punish a person for past mistakes. Vasily blackmailed her over something I already knew. My mistake was in not telling her.”

I remember something then. Something Vasily said about what my mom had done. What she was.

“Did she think I was so smitten I wouldn’t look into her past?” Gleb continues. “But that’s innocence. And my Ciara was innocent.”

“Vasily said she was an escort.”

“Did he tell you she was in this country alone? In this world alone? Did he tell you it was safer than the street for her? Did he tell you what it was like to be hungry? No, I don’t think he ever knew that. I’ve known hunger. And I know what you’ll do when you’re desperate. Your mother had no family left, Katerina. She came to America looking for a better life and got mixed up with us. I choose to remember who she really was, not the things she did to survive.”

“How did she meet your sister?”

“At a nightclub. I never liked her going to those places, but my sister was as stubborn as me.” He smiles with the memory. “At least she took soldiers with her. Ciara had some trouble with a man, and Katerina saw it. I think that’s when my sister appreciated having those soldiers. She and your mother became good friends, and I met her through Katerina.” He looks off for a moment. “I was charmed from the first moment I laid eyes on her.” He smiles. “There was her beauty, of course, but it was so much more than that. She was kind. I saw it in her eyes just as I see it in yours. Which brings me to this.”

He looks at the contents of the box, then turns it to me.

I gasp because inside is the most beautiful pair of sapphire earrings I have ever seen. In a silver antique setting, they’re almost too beautiful to touch.

“They were hers. A gift from me. She left them behind when she ran away. I think she didn’t want me to think she was taking anything that didn’t belong to her. As if I would.” He shakes his head. “They’re yours now, Katerina. And you must wear them today. What is this American tradition? Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. This takes care of old and blue. The dress is new. Put them on.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to take—”

“Put them on.” I hear the voice of the Gleb I met that first night. Mob boss Gleb.

I take the earrings and slide each of them on, making sure the back is twisted on tightly. I look in the mirror, and they are perfect with my hair and eyes.

“They’re beautiful. Thank you for giving me something of hers.” I hug him.

He nods but is stiff, obviously surprised. I’m surprised by the hug, too.

“As for something borrowed…” He stands, starts to look around. “I didn’t think—”

“It’s covered,” I say, pulling the sleeve of my dress up to show him the bracelet Josh had made for me while I was in the hospital. “Josh took it back and lent it to me for today, but he says I can have it tomorrow for keeps.”

Gleb chuckles. “Smart boy, my grandson. Are you ready?”

I take one last look at myself and stand. “Thank you,” I tell him. “Thank you for everything, Gleb.” I stop, shake my head. “Dad.”

I realize it feels right to call my father Dad now. Not Gleb.

“You make an old man happy, Katerina. You and Josh and even Lev.” He hugs me then, a big, warm hug. The first real hug I’ve had from him. He’s been so afraid to hurt me, thinking I’m too fragile after everything that we haven’t even hugged.