My life was never perfect, but it wasn't the worse.
It was normal, as normal was a life in the Russian countryside could get.
I lived on a large farm with my parents and young brother.
Farming, cleaning, sewing, typical life.
Chapter One;
"Leah! Leah, hold up," I heard Emily yell from behind me.
I smiled, ignoring her small protests, Emily was my second cousin. Her father, my dad's brother lived just up the long road.
She often came to see me, seeing she was an only child.
She caught up with me, slapping my shoulder laughing.
"Hey! Quit it," I laughed, hitting her lightly with the milk bucket.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
"I'm going to get some milk," I said, pointing to the barn where the
cows where.
"What's the occasion?" She asked, getting a cherry from her apron pocket.
"The Blacks are coming over in a few days, might as well start on the food," I said.
She nodded.
"Those brothers eat and I mean eat," she laughed.
I laughed, leaning on her.
"Em," I said.
"What?"
"I love you."
"Mhm, me too."
I laughed, pushing her.
She laughed, shaking her head.
"I can finally french braid my hair to my waist," I said, carefully letting my hair cascade down my back.
"It's getting long. Almost like mine," Emily smiled.
We finally reached the barn, I pushed the old doors apart, seeing the old brown cow my father called "Muds" waiting.
"Hey, Muds," I said, putting my hair back up.
"This cow is getting big, I'm suprised Uncle Harry hasn't sold it," Emily said.
"My father sells everything, I'm suprised I'm still here. I think The Blacks are going to buy it," I said, patting the cow's side.
"The Blacks are big buyers, I heard Sarah and Billy are already starting to look for a wife for Jacob," she said, pulling two small stools up.
I sat down, beginning the milking.
"Jacob, he's the oldest?" I asked.
"Yeah, Paul's like just a little younger," Emily said, looking at the sheep sleeping.
"I haven't seen them in so long," I said, focusing on the cow.
"Yeah, me too. I mean last time I saw them was when Jacob's sister, Rachel fled to Poland."
"Yeah, I remember that. Her parents were very upset."
"Still are, she was suppose to marry Anton Geerk."
"Yeah, but well you saw what happened."
"Yup," Emily said, I turned and smiled at her.
"What?"
"How's you know?"
"Who?"
"You know.."
"Oh! Sam, he's good."
"Mm, still with him?"
"Sometimes, he's gone to Moscow, lookin' for work."
"Oh, Ma was saying Uncle Luke, he was starting to look at the boys in town," I said, looking at Emily.
"Pa, he knows I don't want to get married, I'm to young!"
"Emily! You're 24!"
"I'm not marrying anyone."
"Whatever," I said, looking at the milk bucket.
Emily and I started hauling the bucket together, spilling some.
We laughed, wobbling all the way towards my house.
"Ma! Open the door," I yelled.
I heard soft footsteps approuching, then the screen door was opened.
"Leah, stop wobbling!" Ma said, taking the bucket.
She sat it on the table, offerring Emily and I fresh bread.
"Aunt Sue, thank you," Emily smiled.
"I'm not suprised to see you here," Ma laughed.
"I got lonley, Ma and Pa went out," she said, starting to nibble her bread.
"Where's Pa and Seth?" I asked.
"Went to get some fire wood," Ma said, looking outside.
It was late afternoon, the sun was still out.
Short summer was ending, long winter was coming.
"Aunt Sue, I heard The Blacks are coming?" Emily asked.
"Yes, later."
"I haven't seen them since Rachel fled to Poland," Emily said, looking at what was left of her bread.
"I rather you girls not mention that when they came," Ma said, chopping some carrots.
I heard footsteps then Seth and my father came in, carrying wood.
"Pa!" I smiled, opening the door.
"Leah, where've been all morning?" He asked.
"Getting milk," I said.
"Emily's here? Well she's always here, Ma we got the wood, good thing to 'cause September's stating to end, getting chilly," Seth said, taking a bread from the table.
"Hey!" Emily laughed.
"Awe, Em. You know we love having you over her, it's starting to get late, best be heading home. Tell Luke and Anne we expect you guys over in a few days," Pa told Emily.
"Will do, Uncle Harry," she smiled, heading outside.
"I love Emily," Ma said, getting Seth and Pa some late lunch.
"We stopped by town, war's getting nasty," Pa said.
"Germany still?" Ma asked.
"Yup, their taking the small countries, they took Poland not long ago," Pa said, looking at his hands.
"Poland?" I said.
"Yeah, Billy must be havin' it hard with Rachel there," Ma said, shaking her head.
"Those Germans need to be taught a lesson, they can't just go around like that," Seth said, rolling his sleeves up.
"It ain't just them, Japanese too," Pa said.
"Oh, good lord," Ma said, rolling her eyes.
"We best just pray nothing bad happens," I told Ma.
Ma nodded.
The next days were spent preparing for The Blacks visit, we cleaned the two spare rooms, and started making a feast.
The war was still going on, Germany was still in power, no one else.
We killed a fresh pig, made pies and cakes, made everything possible.
Aunt Anne , Uncle Luke and Emily came over the evening they were suppose to arrive. So there we waited beside the house in our fresh fur coats, waiting.
Pa and Uncle Luke were still talking about the war, how things were going good for Italy and Germany.
I saw them coming, I could see them.
"I see them!" Emily smiled.
"Yeah, me too," I said, looking at their new car.
Cars were out, but we lived in the good country side.
"Ah! Billy, Sarah, Paul, Jacob!" Uncle Luke and Pa smiled.
"Hello," Billy and Sarah smiled.
I looked over at Jacob, he looked so different.
He was taller, leaner, more built, he was darker probably from working their land. He looked so better, so better.
He caught me, so I smiled.
Paul and Jacob both walked over, smiling.
"My, my. Look at the dwarfs they sure have grown," Paul smiled.
"It's been a long time," I smiled, looking at them.
"Yeah, I know," Jacob smiled.
His voice was different.
We went inside for some dinner, taking.
No one mentioned the war, or Germany's invation on Poland.
No Rachel.
None.
After a long dinner, Emily and her parents started to head home.
"Leah," my father said, looking at me.
"Y-yes?" I asked.
"You should show Jacob around, take a lantern," Pa said, looking at Jacob.
I nodded, getting my coat and lantern.
Jacob got his coat, heading outside with me.
We were hit with the fresh breeze, fresh night.
"What part do you want to see first?" I asked.
"Whatever, part," he said, looking around.
I started to lead him towards the farm, watching the farm grow closer and closer.
"Leah!" Jacob yelled, grabbing my waiste from behind.
"Jacob! Please," I said, shaking him off.
I could hear his roar of laughter.
I shook my head, opening the barn doors.
"My father is going to buy that cow," he stated.
"Nice," I said.
"It's been so long," he stated.
"Yeah, I know," I said.
"Last time I came you were, what 14?" He said.
"I'm 20 now," I stated.
"Time is going by pretty fast," he said.
"Yeah, I know."
"I mean with the war, and Rach's home getting attacked.."
"What?"
"Yeah, we got a letter, it said she was removed from her home, takin' somewhere. But she wanted to live in Poland," he said, shaking his head in anger.
I nodded.
"Pa, he didn't want to talk about it. He said it brought an embarrasment to the family, the way she just left," he hissed.
"She did it for love," I stated.
He hughed, shaking his head.
"Love," he spat.
I saw on one of the long bars, resting on my arms.
"Hey, I wanna show you something," he said, pulling me off the bar.
"What could that possibly be?" I asked, raising my eyebrow.
"The American way of dancing," he said with an accent, wrapping his arms around my waiste.
"I've never danced like this?" I laughed.
"It's easy, Lee. Here, your arms go around my neck," he said, smiling.
He started moving us, with a light rhythem.
"This is actually pretty fun," I smiled.
"I know," he smiled.
"Where did you learn this?" I asked.
"I saw it in the newspaper, a photo," he said.
"It must be nice," I stated.
"What?"
"Reading and writing."
"It's alright, it helps alot. Who knows, maybe one day I'll show you," he laughed.
I laughed, letting go of his neck.
"When are you guys leaving?" I asked.
"Tomorrow afternoon," he stated.
"Really? Another four to six years until we see each other again," I smiled.
"You'll probably be married, have a bunch of children," he laughed.
"Yes, of course," I said, sarcasm heavy in my voice.
"Oh, c'mon Leah. Another few months and you'll father will already find you a husband, I can almost promise it," he said.
"Maybe not, Emily is older than me and her father has no intention of marriege for her," I pointed out.
"Yes, but it's because Emily is their only child, your parents have Seth," he said.
"Ugh, I rather not think about that," I said.
"Soon you will have too," he said, walking out of the barn.
I sighed, following him.
I clutched the lantern in one hand, while following at a slow pace.
"You know, Leah. My family actually came for something else," he said, stopping to wait for me.
"Mm, I can hardly imagine," I said, catching up to him.
"My father wants me to already marry, he's scared I'll run like Rachel, that I won't give him what he wants; grandchildren," Jacob said.
"Um, that's nice?"
"Leah, he asked me if I was interested in any girls, and sadly you were the only one that came to mind," he said, looking at me.
"You came all the way from your home, just to- oh, my gosh. Jacob! You know how stupid this sounds?" I smiled.
"C'mon, Lee. I can make you happy, you know I can. I can work, I'll built us a house, we'll get married, we'll have babies," he said, hope deep in his eyes.
"This isn't a very easy choice, it's a life changing one," I pointed out.
"Lee, you have until tomorrow. Please, Leah," he said, looking at me again.
Marry Jacob?
Was this boy serious?
"Marriege is a big word," I told him.
"You'd be happy," he whined.
"Would I? And for the record , Jacob. Worst. Marriege. Proposal. Ever," I laughed.
"Lee, you're so hard to please," he whined.
"Really? Are you ready for many ,many ,many years of that?" I challeneged.
"Tomorrow I want my answer," he said, going inside.
Tomorrow.
It would be better to marry Jacob, than a totaly stranger.
He was sweet, a hardworker, someone my family would love.
Love.
I didn't love Jacob.
I loved the idea of love, though. I loved how Emily decribed it.
I wanted love.
Could he give me love?
It was better Jacob than anyone else.
I got up the next morning like every morning, I went to feed the animals, but this time someone joined me.
Jacob walked beside me in silence, his hands shoved in his pockets.
"I want my answer," he stated.
"Okay, I've thought about this, ALOT. I guess in the end, you are the best choice," I stated.
"Oh, thank god," he said.
"Why?"
"Because, my father already talked to yours about it," he said, nodding.
"Jacob Black," I said, shoving the empty basket of food at him.
"Leah, I'm sorry," he said, looking up.
"It doesn't matter, life is life," I said, looking up at him.
"So how is this gonna work out?" I asked him.
"Well today our parents will talk about it, then the wedding will be planned, but during that our house will be starting to get built," he said.
"Where is it exactly going to be located?"
"Between both our parents' homes. We can't just live close to one," he said.
"Oh, I see."
"You should be happy, Leah!"
"Happy?"
"Yeah, we're getting married," he smiled.
"You're. Getting . Married," Emily glared.
"I'm afraid so," I told Emily.
Jacob had left yesterday, everything had been arranged.
Now we would just wait.
"Leah, but why?"
"Because, he can offer me such a great future."
"Really? What about getting married for love! Leah, you out of all people!"
"I'm sorry, Emily."
She stomped, glared, and just completly lost it.
Ma was different, she was really happy.
She talked about it all day, how we should live, our children's names, everything.
The weeks went by fast, the wedding was here before I knew it.
The religious part was long, it was something speciel.
When I became Leah Black.
The same forever.
"Jacob, I swear. If I trip I'll kill you," I told Jacob, who's hand was over my eyes.
"Ha, c'mon, we're almost there," he said.
He took his hand off, reveling our new home.
It was small, but it was so us.
We had neighbors, something I had always wanted.
He opened the door, the house seemed big, but maybe because it was that it lacked furniture.
"I like it," I smiled.
"Yeah?" He smiled.
I nodded.
"C'mon, you'll like our room," he smiles, leading us down the small hallway.
He opened the small door, it led to a small room, it was so comfy looking.
"Yeah, I like it too," I smiled.
"I'm glad you like it, I didn't really know what you liked," he smiled, turning me around.
He kissed me.
I kissed back.
It was a honeymoon after all...
"Left, right, Jacob," I laughed, rolling my eyes.
"Lee, I just worked all day long, I can't feel a thing," he said, patting my stomach.
I laughed.
"In a few months, I know I'll be able to feel it," he chuckled.
"It'll be born when it starts to get warm, I'm happy for that," I smiled.
"Mhmm," he said, closing his eyes.
The first months of pregnancy flew by.
Life went easy.
Jacob had a good job, he supported us.
Our families were happy.
As for Emily, her Sam never came back.
No one has ever heard of him again.
Emily is broken, but she has to move on.
The war is getting worse, much worse.
America refuses to help in the war.
Japan is growing.
Germany is growing.
Emily has come to see me for a few days, she's depressed.
"So have you thought of any names?" She asks.
"No," I say.
"Why?"
"Jacob is choosing it, he already has them chosen. It'll be a suprise."
"Leah, are you happy?"
"Yeah, I am."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Is it really that hard to believe?
It makes me wonder why Sam hasn't come back.