A New Love
A few weeks have past, Sonja stopped going to school altogether and instead lived with her love interest Vasily and his daughter Galina. Nikolenka was happier then ever not to have a tutor, but couldn't help but think that maybe Vasily and Sonja were falling head over heals for each other. He came to this conclusion one day when everyone was picnicking in Tuscany, Galina picked some flowers to put into a vase for everyone to look at while they were eating. "Oh what lovely sandwiches you made, Galina," said Sonja. "I made them with my mother's recipes, and Svetlana helped me make them," said Galina. Galina was now getting used to Sonja even thought she wasn't still completely ok with her being around her father. "Hey Galina, could you take Nikolenka to play by the creek?" asked Vasily. "Do I have to?!" "Yes," "Well let's go Nikolenka!" she said taking him by the hand and going to creek, but before they got there, they decided to hide behind a tree and spy on Sonja and Vasily.
"I can't believe you made them go play by the creek again, so what are we alone for?" asked Sonja. "Well I wanted to ask you to marry me," said Vasily. "It's too soon, it's just too soon!" said Sonja. "You could move into the mansion with us and Nikolenka could live with us too!" he said. "But I have family back in Russia, I can't just leave them," she said. "Sure you can," Vasily said. "I guess I'm going to have to make a choice then," she thought a while. "It's an excellent idea, I hate living in Russia anyway!" she then grabbed him and kissed him on the lips. Nikolenka and Galina watched as Vasily and Sonja made out. "Oh no, oh no, please don't tell me this is happening!" said Nikolenka. "I'll have a new mother!" said Galina who was very excited. "No you don't understand, your father is Eurasian and Sonja is European, and I don't know if Russian society would like them being together," said Nikolenka. "What's the matter with that?" asked Galina. "Never mind I'll tell you when you're older," said Nikolenka. Sonja and Vasily stopped kissing, "I have to go pack, we're heading back to Venice tomorrow aren't we?" asked Sonja. "Yes we are," said Vasily.
Now the maid Tamara was jealous of Sonja, she had a perfect figure compared to Tamara, so she envisioned a plan to split Sonja and Vasily up for good. Tamara dressed in her best outfit and walked up to Vasily in the garden. "Hello Vasily, what's going on?" she said twirling her umbrella. "Nothing, you're dressed up so nicely, what for?" asked Vasily. "I'm just taking a walk" she said. "Yes but why do you have a nice dress on and not your maid outfit?" "Because I wanted to impress you of course," she said. "How many times do I have to tell you, Sonja and I are boyfriend and girlfriend, I don't want another woman," he said. "Fine you'll regret this!" she said running away. Sonja walked up to Vasily, "Who was that?" she asked, "That was Tamara the washer woman," said Vasily. "It seems like she's taken a fancy to you," said Sonja. "Of course, but she won't get over the fact that we're together. Now let's go get ready for dinner," he said.
Meanwhile in Russia something sad was happening that day, Natalia, Sonja's dear aunt was dying, on her deathbed Marya sat next to it staring into her eyes along with Natasha, Pierre and Nikolai. "I can't believe that you're dying mother, couldn't you at least wait until Sonja comes back from Italy with Nikolenka?" asked Marya. "How many times do I have to tell you I'm not your mother," said Natalia. "Oh mother, Marya is just being nice, after all her mother died a long time ago and you're like a mother to her," said Natasha. "No she's not," said Marya. "Send a letter to Sonja when I die and tell her that I have left her my necklace that my mother gave to me when I was young," said Natalia. "Yes we'll make sure she gets it, she has done a lot for you and this family," said Marya. "Mother please don't die," said Nikolai. "Yes we love you very much," said Pierre crying his eyes out to the point where he had to use his handkerchief. With that said and done, Natalia closed her eyes and died in her sleep that afternoon, everyone mourned her death and Marya sent a letter to Sonja telling her that Natalia had passed away.
Back in Venice a few days later, Sonja got the letter and was crying, feeling guilty that she couldn't be there. "What's wrong you're crying," said Vasily. "Oh it's terrible, my dear old aunt just passed away, I can't believe that I didn't get to say goodbye!" said Sonja wrapping her arms around Vasily crying her eyes out. "What's the matter with Sonja?" asked Nikolenka as he and Galina walked into the room. "Your aunt is dead," said Vasily. "Marya or Natasha?!" asked Nikolenka. "Oh I'm sorry I meant your great aunt," said Vasily. "Oh Natalia, I knew she would die soon! I didn't even get to say goodbye either! I'll go drink some tea, because I'm depressed," said Nikolenka. "Wait for me!" shouted Galina running after him. "Here let me carry you to bed you poor thing!" said Vasily picking Sonja up. "What are you doing?!" she asked. "Carrying you to bed of course!" said Vasily. "Oh my what a big strong man you are! But this is no time for… Oh my!" she said as he carried her to his bedroom and they went in and shut the door.
Meanwhile, Nikolenka and Galina were drinking tea in the kitchen with Svetlana and Tamara. "I'm so depressed, she was so good to me!" Nikolenka said as he sipped his tea. "It's ok, I remember when my mother ran off with another man and died, I was upset too," said Galina. "I wonder what Sonja and Vasily are doing, when I went back into the living room to check on them, they weren't even there," said Nikolenka. "I bet they're in the bedroom having a fun time as usual!" said Svetlana. "Uh I don't understand what he sees in that girl. She's as dumb as a maid who washes her own feet with a porcupine!" said Tamara drinking her tea full of jealousy. "Don't talk about Sonja that way, she's really nice and she's beautiful!" said Galina. "You better watch your tongue or else I'll become your new mother!" said Tamara. "Yes madam!" said Galina with a worried look on her face. "Oh Tamara your break is over, it's time for you to go and wash some more cloths!" said Svetlana. Tamara stomped out of the room with anger. "What's wrong with her?" asked Nikolenka. "She's just jealous that the master is in love with Sonja and she has had her eyes on him for a long time. Why can't she get over him?" asked Svetlana.