Jan invited Ilya over for dinner on Christmas day as she had for Thanksgiving. Carol once again prepared her special meal, which was enjoyed by all.
As the time to exchange presents drew near, Jan became anxious that Ilya might not like the cologne and aftershave kit she'd gotten him.
At last it was Jan's turn to hand out the gifts she'd bought for each person present. She watched eagerly as Ilya unwrapped the box and was relieved when she saw his eyes light up as he smiled.
"It is very nice," he said. "Thank you." He kissed Jan's cheek, which both surprised and delighted her.
"I have present for you as well, Jan," he told her. "I was waiting for right time to give it to you."
Jan shrugged. "Well, right now is an OK time."
"Here it is." He handed her a small box. She noticed that his hand shook slightly as he did so.
Carefully she opened the box to find that it contained a pair of diamond earrings and a matching necklace.
"Oh, Ilya, it's beautiful! Thank you!" she gasped, hugging his neck tightly.
"I am very glad you like it," he replied.
"Wow, Jan, those look really expensive," said Marcia. Jan heard the touch of envy in her older sister's voice and felt a tad uneasy.
Later that night, Jan searched for the box containing the earrings and necklace and couldn't find it anywhere. Desperate, she went to ask Marcia if she'd seen the box, but when she saw her sister, she gasped in shock. Marcia was wearing the necklace and earrings Ilya had given Jan and looking at herself in the mirror.
"Marcia!" Jan exclaimed.
"Oh, hi, Jan," Marcia said nonchalantly. "Don't you think these make me look bee-you-tiful?"
"They're mine!" Jan shouted angrily.
"I was only borrowing them," Marcia said innocently.
"Well, you could have asked first!"
As soon as she retrieved the jewelry from Marcia, Jan locked it up in the chest where she kept her most valuable possessions, the chest to which Marcia didn't have the key.
"Say, Jan," Marcia said one day soon afterwards. "Does your friend Ilya have any nice friends he could introduce me to?"
"As a matter of fact, he's going to play a reunion basketball game with his friends from high school this Saturday," Jan replied. "You're welcome to come along if you want."
"Me too?" Cindy asked hopefully.
"Sure," Jan said generously.
The following Saturday, Marcia drove herself and her two younger sisters to the place where the reunion basketball game would be held.
Ilya grinned and walked toward them as he saw them approaching.
"Jan!" He lightly kissed her lips, then glanced at Marcia and Cindy. "We have cheering section today, yes?"
He introduced Jan's sisters to his friends and then the game began. Afterwards the three girls stayed and visited with Ilya and his friends for awhile. Marcia became good friends with Paddy Falahey, while Cindy and Abner Goldstein also became very good friends.
"Paddy's taking me out tonight," Marcia told her sisters on the way home.
"Abner's taking me to see 'Endless Love' tonight! Oh, I can't wait!" Cindy squealed from the back seat.
Ilya took Jan out to dinner that night, and she wore the earrings and necklace he'd given her. "You look very nice!" he exclaimed when he saw her.
"Thanks, so do you!" she replied. Ilya wore jeans and a blue sweater with boat shoes.
They ate a delicious dinner of boiled lobster, fried oysters, coleslaw, french fries, and cheese garlic biscuits, with red velvet cake for dessert. After dinner there was dancing. Air Supply was playing as Ilya and Jan moved together, and Jan became aware that a part of Ilya's body had become hard and was pressing against her in front. She felt terribly awkward but didn't know what to do about it, as she didn't want to embarrass Ilya.
On the way home, Ilya seemed a bit quieter than usual, and Jan wondered what was on his mind. "I had very nice time tonight, Jan," he told her as they were saying good-bye outside her front door.
"So did I," she said.
"I do not know how to say this." Ilya looked uneasy, and Jan's heart began to flutter. "I have very strong feeling of attraction for you. I like you very much, and I want to be close to you."
"Well, I want to be close to you too." Jan felt awkward, unsure of what to say.
"I want you to know, Jan, that I would never do anything to hurt you." Ilya's finger lightly traced Jan's cheek. "But I do desire you very much. I want you to know that."
He kissed her good-bye and left. Jan turned to go into the house, wondering exactly what he was talking about.
