From Russia With Love

by Colleen Coble

  Gabe grinned. “I think she got more jam on her than in her.”

  Tatiana relaxed at his smile. She had been afraid he would think she had not taught her daughter manners, but he must have been around enough children to not be put off by their messiness. “This is the first time she has eaten jam. I think she likes it.”

  “If she liked it any better, we would have to invest in a vineyard just to keep her happy,” Gabe said.

  Tatiana’s heart warmed at the fondness in the glance he gave Irina. “What shall I do today while everyone is gone?”

  “Hmm, I guess it will seem odd to be here alone. Mother should be back in a few hours. You could just explore the house, maybe take a nap.” Gabe stood and went to the sink to wash his hands.

  They were trusting her with their beautiful things. “Might I go to see the city?”

  He frowned. “I rather you wait until one of us can take you. I wouldn’t want you getting lost.”

  “The bus I could take.”

  He grinned. “I can tell you’ve never been to the States. There are no buses except in large cities. Here in Wabash, it’s a car or hoofing it.”

  “Hoofing it?” Where did he get these phrases? Did all Americans talk in riddles?

  “Walking. Hoof, like a cow’s feet. Get it?” Mike explained.

  “Ah, I see.” But why could he not merely say what he meant? The slang confused her. “I will not get lost. I shall walk to town. Just direct me.”

  Gabe sighed. “It’s too cold to walk. You’ll get a chance to see the town soon.”

  His resigned tone stung. Did he consider her so much a burden? She turned her head so he wouldn’t see the tears that smarted her eyes. The tears angered her; she wasn’t usually so weak. “Very well,” she said.

  He stared at her, but she refused to look at him. Shrugging, he walked to the doorway. “I’ll be back around twelve-thirty. Mother will likely have returned by then. Have her call me and let me know how Martha is doing if she returns before I do. When I come back, I’ll take you for a sight-seeing trip.”

  Mike followed his brother. “Uh, see you at supper.” He still refused to meet her gaze.

  Moments later, the front door slammed, and Tatiana sniffed. Left alone on her first full day in her new country. It seemed unfair. Her daughter’s condition caught her eye. The first thing on the agenda was a good scrubbing for Irina. She scooped her up out of the chair and carried her upstairs.

  There was a bathroom attached to the nursery. Tatiana gasped when she stepped inside. The tub was almost like a child’s pool, inset with Winnie-the-Pooh figures. The washbasin and toilet were small and set low to the ground for a child’s easy access. She’d never seen or heard of anything like it.

  Irina clapped her hands. “Look, Mat. I take a bath.” She began to pull her nightgown over her head.

  “One moment, my lamb. Let me fill the tub with water.” Tatiana turned on the spigots and found thick towels with Pooh trim in the cabinet.

  Irina danced with anticipation. Once her mother gave her permission, she pulled off her clothes and hopped into the tiled tub. The sides were low enough for a child to get in and out easily.

  Tatiana found shampoo and rinse on the side of the tub. She scrubbed the jam from Irina’s thick curls. Once her daughter was clean, she let her splash and play a bit, then coaxed her out with the promise of a walk when her hair was dry.

  She hated to dress Irina in the tattered overalls, but they were the best she had. Irina’s hair was still soaked, and she went to find her blow dryer. Her own hair was still damp and could use the fluffing a dryer would give. But when she tried to plug her dryer in, she discovered the plug wouldn’t work.

  “Outside, Mat. I play in the snow.” Irina danced around impatiently.

  “Not with wet hair,” she told her. Did she dare look in the other bathrooms and borrow a dryer? Grace had told her last night to make herself at home and to use whatever she needed. She glanced doubtfully at Irina. Her thick tresses would take all day to dry without help. In sudden decision, she started down the hall. The first bathroom was clean and spotless, but also empty of any personal effects. It was obviously for guests. The next room was Gabe’s.

  Tatiana hesitated with her hand on the doorknob. Would he feel violated if she entered his room? He would never have to know. She would replace the dryer when she was done. With resolve, she turned the knob and pushed inside the room. Standing on the threshold, she gazed around. Neat and tidy, the room was large with huge windows that looked down onto a basketball court. The massive bed was walnut and masculine even with the half canopy over it. Pictures of magnificent buildings decorated the walls, and she remembered he was an architect. He must love his work.

  “Mat, see!” Irina ran to a marble-top dresser and reached up. Exquisitely detailed building figurines clustered atop the dresser. Irina couldn’t quite reach them.

  “No, Irina. Don’t touch,” she said sharply. They were obviously expensive. She picked her daughter up so she could see them. “They are Gabe’s. We mustn’t bother them.” Her heart sank at the knowledge that Irina would be sure to talk about them. Gabe would know they had been in his room. She should never have come in.

  It was too late for regret now. She set Irina on the floor and took her hand. Leading her into the bathroom, she found a black dryer on the wall. Even Gabe’s bathroom was neat, his shaving gear lined up along the top of the counter, the used towel from this morning neatly folded and lying across the tub. She sniffed. The scent of his aftershave stirred something deep inside her. It had been so long since she’d been in a man’s domain.

  She shook herself out of her reverie. Briskly, she fluffed Irina’s curls and dried her hair, then her own. Hanging the dryer back in its place, she took her daughter’s hand and hurried from the room. She had best forget she was ever here. This glimpse into Gabe’s personal life was too enticing.

  five

  Gabe found it hard to concentrate on his blueprints. His thoughts kept drifting to Tatiana’s deep blue eyes and the dimples in her cheeks. It had been so long since he had been around a woman who appealed to him as she did. He shook his head. Mike had outdone himself this time. He would be hard-pressed to top this snafu. He glanced at his brother’s shut door. At least he was ashamed of himself. He was often unrepentant when caught in a bind. Maybe it was Margaret’s influence.

  The clock chimed. Eleven o’clock. Mother should have called by now to let them know Martha’s condition. Maybe that was why he was so antsy. He would surely feel better if he knew how Martha was. He had put his hand on the phone to call the hospital when the phone rang.

  “Gabe.” His mother’s voice was strained, and his heart sank.

  “How is she?”

  “Bad. She’s in surgery now. She’ll be in the hospital several days, but luckily there was no spinal damage. She has two cracked ribs, too. I don’t know when I’ll be home. Not until sometime this afternoon, I’m sure. Could you call the guest list for Friday and cancel?”

  “You sure you want to do that? You’ve been looking forward to seeing your friends for weeks. Major MacGregor will be in town only another week.”

  Grace sighed. “I don’t want to do it, but I don’t know what else to do. Martha will need me, and you know how impossible it is in Wabash to find catering.”

  “Do you suppose Tatiana can cook?” He bit his lip. What a stupid suggestion. He wanted to get her out of their lives, not more embroiled.

  “Hmm, she did say she was working in a restaurant before she came. Would you ask her?” The hope in his mother’s voice made him feel worse. He was thinking about his own comfort instead of his mother. Her seventieth birthday should be a joyous event.

  “I’m taking her around town for lunch. I’ll talk to her about it.” It was too late to back out now. He just hoped she could deliver after he’d gotten his mother’s hopes up.

  “You are?” His mother’s voice grew alert. “She’s darling, isn’t she?”

&nb
sp; “Now, Mother, don’t go matchmaking. She’s not the right one for me.”

  “How do you know? She might be a Christian. You haven’t given her a chance yet. I should dearly love to have Irina for a granddaughter.” Her voice was wistful.

  He gave a short bark of laughter. “You’d like to have any grandchildren.”

  “But you have to admit that child is special.”

  “Yes,” he said grudgingly. “But I can’t marry a woman just to get her daughter.”

  “I suppose not.” His mother’s voice trailed off. “Here comes the doctor. Pray for Martha.” She hung up, and Gabe replaced the receiver on the hook.

  He prayed for Martha and the doctors, then grabbed his coat. It was early, but he couldn’t concentrate. He might as well go home and check on Tatiana and Irina. He told his secretary he’d be gone a few hours and hurried to his car.

  The February wind bit through his coat, and he shivered. Snow drifted across the road and piled along the curbs, but he drove carefully and had no problems. He was glad he’d told Tatiana not to walk. It was much too cold for her to have the little girl out. The driveway was full of snow, but his Jeep bit through the drifts and climbed the drive with no problem. He set his brake and jumped out of the car.

  The homey aroma of fresh-baked bread teased his nose when he opened the door. From the scent it seemed she could cook. He followed the fragrant smell to the kitchen and found two loaves of some kind of dark bread. He touched one. It was still warm. He wandered around the house calling her name. Silence was all that answered him. He frowned. Where could she be?

  He walked back into the entry and found a note on the stand. He scowled. She’d gone for a walk. He’d told her to stay inside, and she had gone outside, after all. Crumpling the note, he tossed it into the wastebasket. He marched to the door and stepped out into the wind.

  He found large and small sets of footprints and followed them. They led to the road and away from town. The fool woman was taking Irina in the wrong direction. A small voice reminded him that she didn’t know which way was toward town. But that was all the more reason she should have listened to him and waited until he could take her.

  He jumped into the Jeep and whipped around the circle driveway. Driving slowly, he followed the tracks down the road. Rounding a curve on Mill Creek Pike, he saw two figures in the distance. There they were. He eased the Jeep up behind them.

  Tatiana, her bare legs peeking from under her skirt, kept marching straight ahead, Irina’s hand clasped in hers. When he slammed the door, she seized Irina in her arms and whirled to face him. Her terror eased when she saw him. Her lips trembled, but she tried to smile.

  “I told you to wait. Town is back that way.” He jerked his head to the north.

  “I was about to turn around,” she said. “We were just taking a walk.”

  “I told you it was too cold out.”

  She laughed, and he liked the musical sound of it. “This is not cold. It is much worse in Russia. We are used to the cold, Irina and I. Besides, you do not have any right to tell me what to do.”

  She was right; he didn’t. The thought was galling. And indeed, the little girl’s cheeks were pink, and she looked happy and content. She reached out her arms for Gabe, and he took her without thinking. Her little coat was worn and threadbare. The frayed ties on her hat barely managed to tie under her chin. This child needed some new clothes. He saw Tatiana’s coat was in the same condition and made an instant decision.

  “I’m taking you to lunch. Get in the Jeep.” They would have lunch, and he would take them shopping, whether she liked it or not.

  She tilted her chin. “You did not ask if I had plans.”

  She was a feisty little thing. He suppressed a grin. “Fine. Would you like to accompany me to Wabash for lunch?” He wouldn’t tell her about the shopping yet. She would just get stiff-necked again.

  She inclined her head graciously. “I should enjoy it.”

  He turned and started back toward the Jeep. Buckling Irina into the seat belt, he realized the first item needed was a car seat. Tatiana waited to see that he had taken care of her daughter, then went around to the passenger side and slid into the seat. Her gloved hands clutched her battered purse, and she stared resolutely out the window.

  “Daddy, I am hungry,” Irina announced.

  “We’re going to go eat now, sugar,” he told her. He wished she would quit calling him daddy. It filled him with a strange mixture of longing and fear, as though some kind of mystery awaited him. One he wasn’t sure he was ready for.

  They were all silent for a few minutes as he drove the five miles to town. He glanced at Tatiana from the corner of his eye. She sat erect with her perfect carriage, her head high and a remote expression on her lovely face. “I’m sorry,” he said gruffly. “I had no right to try to dictate to you.”

  She sniffed. “You did not. I am a woman, not a child to be ordered about.”

  “I said I was sorry, okay? You’re supposed to say you forgive me.” He was growing nettled by her stiff demeanor.

  She shrugged. “Very well. I forgive you.”

  “You could say it like you mean it.”

  She twisted in the seat belt and turned to face him. “You treat me like an–an avenue walker who tries to get money, and then you want to take me to a meal. How do I know what to expect from you?”

  He wanted to laugh but didn’t dare. “Streetwalker,” he murmured.

  “What?”

  “Streetwalker, not avenue walker.”

  “Very well. Streetwalker.” She leaned over and prodded his chest with her small finger. “I am not a woman who looks to men for money. If I wanted that, I could have done that in Russia. I want what is best for Irina, only for Irina.”

  She was a good mother; he had to give her that. Those sapphire eyes bore into his with an intensity that made him flinch. He didn’t think he’d ever met a woman who cared more fiercely for her child. A pang of regret smote him. He’d handled this all wrong. She wasn’t what she seemed at first.

  He cleared his throat. “You’re right. I’m a heel.”

  Her expression of outrage changed to confusion. “Heel? You are not a shoe.”

  He laughed. “Heel. As in only worthy to be walked on. I misjudged you, Tatiana. You’re a good woman, a good mother. Please, accept my apology. Let’s start over.”

  Suspicion still shone in her eyes. “That is what you said this morning. But you still order me to do what you say as you speak to a child.”

  He nodded meekly. “I know. I haven’t had much experience with women. That’s why Mike thought he had to find me a wife.”

  Her eyes widened. “You could marry anyone you want.”

  “Because of my money,” he said.

  She shook her head. “You are very handsome. Surely, you know this.”

  A strange sensation spread through his chest. She thought he was attractive. He could read the sincerity in her eyes. He’d met so many women who were interested in him because of his money. It had made him leery of entanglements. He didn’t know what was happening to him, and he wasn’t entirely sure he liked it.

  He looked away from her gaze. “Does that mean you accept my apology?”

  She laughed. “Heel.” She said the word as if trying it on for size. “I accept. But if you act like this again, I shall not be so kind next time.”

  He chuckled. “I accept your conditions.”

  They reached the edge of Wabash, and he turned onto Vernon Street and drove across the bridge. “How about some soup and espresso for lunch?”

  “I love espresso,” she said. “The restaurant where I work in Russia had only me make it.”

  He drove around the city block so he could park on Wabash Street facing south. The old First National Bank was now city hall, and he parked along the street in front of it. Hopping out, he unbuckled Irina and hoisted her into his arms. The feel of her small arms around his neck brought a lump to his throat.

  Tatiana hel
d out her arms for her daughter, but Irina hid her face in his neck. “I stay with Daddy,” she said.

  Tatiana’s arms dropped, and she smiled ruefully. “She doesn’t usually like men.”

  The lump in his throat grew bigger. What was happening to him? The shell he’d built around his heart seemed to be melting. He led the way to Metro Espresso. Pushing open the door, he breathed in the rich coffee aroma.

  Steven, the owner, waved to them as Gabe led the way to a back table. Steven finished waiting on another customer then came to the table. “What’ll it be today, Gabe?”

  “My usual and a cup of Lisa’s chicken soup. What do you want, Tatiana?”

  “Soup for me and Irina. Do you have milk?”

  Steven nodded.

  “Milk for Irina and a mocha for me,” she said.

  Steven returned to the counter to prepare their order.

  “I like this place,” she said. “The woodwork is lovely, and it even has a tin ceiling.”

  Gabe nodded. “It’s my favorite place. They have the best espresso I’ve ever had.”

  Steven brought their order, and Tatiana nodded after her first sip. “You are right, Gabe. This is wonderful.” She sipped it slowly and closed her eyes, an ecstatic expression on her face.

  He watched Tatiana a moment, then turned his attention to his soup. Irina was nodding sleepily by the time he left his money on the table and carried her back into the February cold.

  “May we walk around the town instead of drive? Wabash is merely a village,” Tatiana said. “I enjoy the fresh air.”

  He nodded. “I have something I need to do here anyway.” He led the way around the corner onto Market Street. She stopped and stared into Billings Flower and Gifts. The window display was lavish, and he pushed open the door and motioned for her to enter. Her eyes lit up, and she eagerly went inside.

  The aroma of candles and potpourri lingered in the air. Tatiana dawdled over a collection of china dolls, and Irina fingered a Boyd bear longingly. Gabe picked it up. “Would you like this, sugar?”