Chapter Fifty-Three: Fun.
This was the topic I was dreading. I knew they would ask about Dimitri, but I didn't realize it would be so soon.
"How about we let Rose get some peace and quiet?" I replied, trying to avoid the subject.
"Of course. I'm sure all of you are hungry anyway." Olena lead us downstairs and we all settled down in the dining room. I sat down beside Abe and was surprised when Dimitri's three sisters crowded around to sit in the other spots close to me. Abe looked over at me with an amused expression.
Olena set drinks down for all of us and scurried back to the kitchen to prepare the food. I was going to tell her it was unnecessary, but I hadn't had a fully cooked Russian meal in a long time. Plus, I figured if one of them did ask I question I'd rather not answer, I could just shove food in my mouth to avoid it altogether. I grabbed a glass and took a drink.
Viktoria, the youngest of the three, smiled as she leaned forward. "You're even prettier than I remembered, Maya...it's been so long since we've seen you or Dimitri! How is he? Have you two finally started dating?"
I choked, not expecting that question. Jesus, this family was not scared to keep pushing a topic, especially when that topic was Dimitri. "...Um, I saw him about a month ago...and, uh...I guess we didn't talk much..." I fumbled, knowing I couldn't be the one to break the news. Rose went to Russia on her own and I knew it was her job.
"Oh..." Viktoria responded, obviously not thrilled with my answer.
Just then, Yeva, Dimitri's grandmother, walked in. Based upon the grin on her face, she had been listening into the conversation. She glanced between me and Abe and I swear it was like she knew about everything that had happened.
I uncomfortably looked away from her and down at the end of the table where Pavel and Sydney were sitting. "Oh, I forgot to introduce you to Abe's guardian, Pavel, and I'm sure you can already tell Sydney's an Alchemist. Pavel and Sydney, this is Karolina, Sonya, and Viktoria."
They all mumbled polite exchanges while Abe leaned in toward me. "Maya, seriously, you don't have to sit here and suffer through an interrogation. We can leave whenever," He whispered.
"Well, we might as well get a free meal out of this," I responded.
"Maya," Karolina, Dimitri's older sister, started, "What are you doing now? Obviously you
aren't at St. Vladimir's anymore."
This really was turning into an interrogation. "Actually, I'm Abe's guardian, too. You never know quite what to expect, but that's part of the fun."
Abe leaned in and jokingly put his arm around me. "She's not kidding. She really does define being around me everyday as fun."
I looked back and smiled at him, knowing this was his way of trying to avoid the deadly subject of Dimitri. "Well, I wouldn't say every day," I countered.
"Most days?" He compromised.
"Sure, sweetie," I sarcastically responded, "most days are fun with you."
The Belikov sisters watched our conversation like it was a ping-pong match, constantly glancing between me and Abe. Viktoria looked in awe that I could be so casual with such a mobster like Abe Mazur, while Sonya and Karolina watched in suspicion. I realize this technically could count as flirting, but the thing that surprised me most was the fact that I didn't care what they thought. That was the thing about being with Abe: everyone was going to judge me no matter what, so it was better just to be happy and not care.
"So...how have you guys been?" I asked. "You're still in school, right, Viktoria?"
Viktoria excitedly nodded. "Yep! I'm on break right now, but I'll be going back to school the Monday after Easter."
I leaned back in my chair. "School...those were the days, enjoy them while you can."
Viktoria gave me a funny look, but the other two Belikov sisters looked at me sympathetically, understanding what I meant. "Then again, I remember Dimitri talking about how you have photographic memory and how you didn't study for a single test but yet got A's on all of them," Sonya said.
"Photographic memory?" Abe asked.
I gave him a warning look, knowing my "talent" could be of use in the business he did. "Don't get any ideas."
Olena entered the dining room and set out a whole buffet of food. "You didn't have to go to all this trouble..." I told her.
She simply smiled at me. "It's not everyday that we have such guests."
