Part Ten- Entering St. Gabriel's Home
The train was making the last leg of its journey. It was now slowly pulling through the streets of the Capital. Annika looked out of the windows and tried to take it all in, but it was mind-boggling. As the Doctor had said, the Capital was much larger than Peznik-Sanina. There were lots of large buildings all around, some of which appeared to stretch far into the gorgeous fire red, orange, and fading blue sky. White street lights illuminated every street leaving no trace of darkness around. Meanwhile cars, what seemed like thousands of them, raced around busily on the twilight streets. As the train slowly passed by, Annika saw that some cars were stuck behind large colorful polls and flashy red lights. Then there were the people, lots of them; seemingly millions of them sitting in cafes, walking out of huge buildings, walking with their children, or just leaning outside of windows chatting. It all seemed amazing to Annika.
Slowly the train began to pull into Capital Station, it took a little over a day and a half, but she had finally reached the Capital of Edonia. Once the train came to a full stop, Annika patiently waited for most of the passengers to depart the train before she gathered her meager belongs, stood up, and moved to the exit. Before she departed the train, she pulled out a sheet of paper with the address of St. Gabriel's Home for Women and stared at it for a moment to memorize it. Once she felt she had mastered it enough, she stepped off the train and looked around the platform. It was an enormous space, full of life. There were people hugging relatives, friends hugging greeting each other with cheer and warmth, business partners shaking hands, conductors leading people, it was terribly overwhelming. Annika was not sure which way to go so she just stood in one place for a moment, taking in the scenery.
"Ms. Muller?" A sweet and gentle voice questioned approaching her. "Are you Annika Muller?"
"Ye…" Annika hesitated but then answered softly. "Yes I am Annika Muller."
"Good, I am happy I did not miss you." A woman said kindly. "I am Miss Vasnev, I am Kazia's auntie."
"The lady who owns St. Gabriel's Home?" Annika questioned.
"Yes, the very same." She said with a bright smile. "My brother has told me all about you and I promised I would take care of you while you were here in the Capital."
Annika looked at Miss Vasnev and smiled. She looked strikingly similar to Kazia. Same raven black hair and dark grey eyes, they even had the same kindly smile. She could easily see the family resemblance.
"I have come to take you to St. Gabriel's." Miss Vasnev said. "I know coming to the Capital for the first time can be scary and it is easy to get lost if you are not careful. Plus as it is growing late, it is not safe for a young lady like you to walk the streets alone."
"Thank you Miss Vasnev." Annika said kindly.
"You are welcome." She said. "Come, we have to get you fed and settled."
Annika and Miss Vasnev walked quickly to leave the massive train station. Annika was impressed at the speed in which Miss Vasnev was able to not only navigate around people, but navigate around the train station as well. The train station was like a gigantic labyrinth full of corridors and passage ways. She was grateful to have someone who knew their way around guide her. If she had not been here, Annika feared her first few days in the Capital would be spent trying to find a way out of the train station.
"This is my car." Miss Vasnev said pointing to a small black car parked in the train station parking lot. "You can get in, the door is already open."
Annika pulled the car door open and got in, placing her small traveling case on her lap. Miss Vasnev got into the driver's side, placed her seat belt on, and started the car. As she drove down the streets of the Capital, Annika looked around at everything trying hard to take it all in.
"Overwhelming is it not?" Miss Vasnev said. "I felt the same way when I came here thirteen years ago."
Annika turned and looked at her, but did not say anything.
"I was a lot like you when I first came from Menlick-Silavo." She said nostalgically. "I was frightened and did not have anyone."
"Were you expecting?" Annika asked timidly.
"Yes." She answered with an unabashed tone. "With my twin sons too; I knew no one here and I had nothing. But I was lucky enough to find a job at a dressmaking shop. The woman there took me in even being pregnant with twins."
"That was very nice of her." Annika said.
"It was in the spirit of her kindness that I started St. Gabriel's Home." She said. "I know what it is like to have no one, have nothing, and to be pregnant. I never wanted another young lady to have to suffer like that, so that is why I have St. Gabriel's Home, so young ladies will have a safe place to live during their expectancy."
Miss Vasnev turned her car into the courtyard of a large apartment block and proceeded to park in front of the main doors. It was not a long drive from the train station to the apartment, which Annika was grateful for. The train ride was so long and she did not think she could handle another long journey.
"We are here." Miss Vasnev said turning off the ignition and preparing to get out of the car.
Annika clutched her small suitcase as she scooted out of the car and closed the door.
"Come on inside." She said kindly. "I want to show you around."
Annika took timid steps, but followed behind Miss Vasnev. Walking through apartment block doors, Annika noticed how warm and inviting it looked on the inside. The lights in the lobby were soft and inviting. The chairs here looked so large and comfortable. The smells from the kitchen made her mouth water. It was then she realized that she had not eaten since yesterday afternoon, probably not good since she was now eating for two people.
"This is St. Gabriel's Home for Women." Miss Vasnev said. "This is the first floor. Down here we have a dining hall where everyone eats together and many of the women come here just to socialize as well. We always have something baking or cooking, so it is easy to get a meal at any time, but breakfast is between 6 and 11 in the morning."
"Yes Miss Vasnev." Annika said taking a quick peek in the dining hall.
"Lunch is from 12 to 1530 and dinner is from 16 to 2100." She said. "The menu is set by the kitchen staff and they post up everything a week in advance. I must at admit they are not only wonderful workers, but they are very good at what they do, the food here is delicious."
The pair continued to walk down the hall stopping briefly for Miss Vasnev to discuss another room.
"Down the corridor is our chapel." Miss Vasnev said pointing down the long hallway. "We have a traditional Catholic service on Sundays, which is optional if you want to attend or not. Many women's homes force you to go to church, but I do not believe in that."
Annika nodded and took note of where the chapel is located.
"Also with our chapel service, after your child is born they can perform the Christening."
Miss Vasnev and Annika continued to walk throughout the entire first floor, pausing to observe a set of massive double doors.
"In this room is our classroom." Miss Vasnev stopped and opened two large double doors. "Our classes run every day except for the Sundays and every third Saturday from 9 to 1500. School like church is optional, but I do encourage girls to come and learn."
Annika peeked in the classroom and looked around quickly. There was a chalkboard which still had the lesson from earlier on in the day still on it and lots of bookshelves full of book. The classroom also had tables instead of traditional desks. The only desk in the room belonged to the teacher. Turning back into the hallway, Annika nodded kindly to Miss Vasnev and they kept walking down the halls until they finally stopped at her office, where she had Annika come in and sit down.
"So Ms. Muller." Miss Vasnev said. "Do you like what you see so far?"
"Yes Miss Vasnev." Annika said softly.
"I am glad to hear that." She said. "Now here is some general information you should know. The midwife comes three times a week to check up on our residents. I have to put you on her schedule, but the next time she comes you must visit with her. I want to make sure you and your child are healthy throughout your pregnancy."
"Yes Miss." Annika said softly.
"Also, you will need to put yourself on the registry for public housing." Miss Vasnev said. "By law you are only allowed to live here for a year then you must find a permanent residence. By putting yourself on the registry to get public housing you will be able to have a place to live right after you leave here. Sometimes the waiting list is long, so the sooner you do it the better off you are."
"But I will not need it." Annika said earnestly. "Albert said he would marry me and take me to America."
"I am sure he will." Miss Vasnev said trying to hide her skepticism. "But as a precaution, please place yourself on the registry."
"Yes Miss." Annika reluctantly agreed.
"Now, I need some information from you." Miss Vasnev said. "My brother told me that you are determined to find the father of your child who is here in the Capital?"
"Yes." Annika said.
"I have asked one of my contacts in Parliament to be on the lookout for him." Miss Vasnev said. "Albert Wesker is his name, correct?"
"Yes." She answered again.
"Very good; my friend said if he hears that name he would let me know." She said. "Other than finding this person what are your plans?"
"I just want to find Albert." Annika said softly.
"You should consider all your options Ms. Muller." Miss Vasnev said. "I do not want to bring your spirits down but consider all your options and do not depend on finding the father of your child."
"I know he will keep his promise." Annika insisted. "He said he would marry me and I believe him."
Miss Vasnev could tell that Annika was enchanted by the father of her unborn child. She had this starry eyed reverent look in her eyes that was not there before they began to discuss him. She was still madly in love, which depending on the outcome of this could be something blissful or something devastating, all she could do is hope that Annika found him and that things would go well for her. However, experience has told her that in situations like this never end happily. For now, changing the subject would be best, so Miss Vasnev got up from her desk and led Annika out of her office.
"I am going to take you to your room now." She said shutting her office door.
The two walked over to the elevators and Miss Vasnev pushed the up button. There was a waiting elevator car and the pair walked in.
"There are seven floors in this building." Miss Vasnev said. "The first floor you saw upstairs is where everyone, including myself, lives."
The floor stopped on the third level and they got off just as two heavily pregnant young ladies got on. Miss Vasnev said hello to them and the girls spoke back kindly.
"Come Ms. Muller." Miss Vasnev said. "Your room is this way."
They walked down the long corridors in silence turning down another long corridor and finally stopping at door 337.
"This is your room." Miss Vasnev said sweetly. "And your roommate will be Olga Bukov. She just got here a few days ago. She is also sixteen years old as well as five weeks pregnant. I am hoping you two will get along nicely."
Miss Vasnev knocked on the door softly and Olga opened the door and let her and Annika inside without saying a word. They both walked in, Annika placed her tiny suitcase down beside her while Miss Vasnev sat down in a nearby chair.
"Olga, this is your new roommate Annika." Miss Vasnev said. "Please say hello to her."
"Hello." Olga said nonchalantly. "My name Olga, it nice to see you."
Annika smiled gently at Olga, who was very pretty. She had long brown hair and lovely violet almond shaped eyes, she also had a beauty mark on the right side just underneath her dainty triangular nose. Olga smiled back at Annika after her introduction, but did not speak again.
"Olga is from the Eastern Slav Republic, so her Edonian dialect is not very good." Miss Vasnev said addressing Annika. "But she is taking lessons and she is improving every day."
"It is nice to meet you too." Annika said kindly.
"Come I show around apartment." Olga said sweetly taking Annika's bag.
"Yes, please show Annika round Olga." Miss Vasnev said kindly. "I have to make my evening round. Also when you are finished please show Annika to the dining room so she can nourish herself and her child."
"Yes Miss Vasnev." Olga answered.
Miss Vasnev got up from her chair, walked to the door, and showed herself out while Olga was busy showing Annika around their small apartment. She was hopeful the two young ladies would get along with one another, but for a first time meeting, it appeared they got along well, which was a relief. Regardless of anything else that happened, Miss Vasnev was happy Annika was there and safe, she was able to keep her promise to her brother and niece after all.