Chapter thirty

Sydney snuggled closer to Irina on the couch; they were watching Jack and Andrei play chess. Katya was curled up on another couch, sipping tea as she slowly paged through the photo album Jack had given Irina on his last visit. Irina stroked Sydney's hair; she'd forgotten how soft it was. Even with Sydney right next to her, Irina needed to be touching her to remind herself this was real.

She glanced around the room and smiled. If only Mama and Elena were here, her whole family would be together. She thought of her father and Sasha and had to blink back sudden tears.

"Mommy?" Sydney's voice pulled her from her thoughts.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Daddy says we're going to live here now."

"That's right."

"Oh." Sydney was quiet for a moment. "Does that mean I won't see my friends again?"

"Sweetheart, I—"

"It's okay," Sydney said bravely, though there was a quiver in her voice. "I'd rather be with you."

Irina wanted to respond, to tell Sydney she'd make new friends, but she kissed Sydney instead. "I love you, baby."

Sydney smiled. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yes. Much better."

Sydney reached up and placed her hand on Irina's forehead, her brow creased in concentration. She looked so serious that Irina couldn't help but smile. "Daddy's pancakes didn't make me sick," Sydney said, then bit her lip thoughtfully. "Maybe you're allergic."

"Maybe." Irina looked at Sydney and thought how much she'd grown up in the last year.

Sydney linked her fingers through Irina's and resumed her previous position. "Daddy says we have to pick new names so the bad people can't find us. He says I can pick any name I want."

"And have you picked one?"

"Yup." Sydney paused and tilted her head so she could look at Irina. "Katya."

There was a snort of laughter from Katya's direction. Irina glanced at her sister and shook her head, but there was amusement in her tone when she spoke. "You've brainwashed my child."

Katya closed the photo album and stood, stretching before she crossed the room. Irina and Sydney shifted to make space for her on the couch.

"Milochka," Katya said, "maybe you should choose a different name."

"Milochka?" Irina's eyes widened. "Maybe Sydney's the one who brainwashed you."

Katya ignored her. "How about Anya?"

"Do you like it, Mommy?"

Irina wasn't looking at Sydney; her gaze was on Katya. Anya, their mother's name. Irina had chosen Sydney's middle name in honour of her mother; it seemed fitting she should bear her name now. She nodded. "Yes, sweetheart, I like it."

"What's your new name?"

"Sonya." She smiled. "Katya picked it too."

"Sonya. Anya." Sydney giggled. "They sound the same."

Just then, Andrei stood up, cursing in Russian. "Andryusha," Katya chided, "There are children in the room."

Andrei's scowl deepened. "Twice in a row!"

Jack's smug smile told the women all they needed to know. "Andrei's never been a good loser," Irina said.

"You could have warned me," Andrei said.

Jack slowly set the pieces back in their positions. "Want to play again?"