Page 16 of Her Loving Shadow
I can’t remember the last time I was given a present. It’s just not something that men like me receive without a reason… like a promotion. But this is too small to be a car, watch, or gun..
“Well, are you going to open it or are you just going to look at it?” Aubrey asks, bouncing in her seat with excitement. The way she’s vibrating in her chair has me thinking she might explode.
“Is this from you, Dusha Moya?”
“Please, just open it. I don’t know how much longer I can wait.” She claps, the suspense killing her.
I tear into the package, pulling the top from the box. I see several things tucked inside of the box. However, I’m not sure exactly what I’m looking at. I glance at Aubrey, and back inside the box before dumping the items out of the box. The first thing I notice is a clue, and a white stick. Rolling it over in my hand, words scripted on the stick causes my breath to hitch.
I snap my head around, asking, “Is this for real?”
“I took the test this morning,” Aubrey admits, and then the happiness drains from her face. “Are you okay with this? We haven’t talked about it, and I just got overjoyed that I didn’t stop to consider it may not be something you want.”
I sit for a moment to analyze how I feel about it, and that’s when it hits me, I’ll finally have a true family, one that’s my own. It won’t just be me in the shadows living vicariously through others, I'll have family to keep me ensconced in the light.
“Dusha Moya, ya lyublyu tebya vsegda I zavtra. I couldn’t ask for anything to make this better.” I pull her into my lap, kissing her long and hard, until Timur clears his throat.
Aubrey withdraws, detaching her lips from mine, and I look at Timur over her head. He is smiling, holding Carra’s hand with his, and his scotch glass is gripped in the other one. When our eyes meet, he gives me a small smile, and an approving nod. I place Aubrey back in her chair and pick up my scotch glass for a toast.
“Za sem’yu i krepkoue zdorov’ye,” Timur says before we tap our glasses on the table and drink down the last of our liquor.
“What did you say?” Carra questions.
“To family and good health,” Timur answers her, kissing her knuckles, and mischievously winking.
I turn to Aubrey who looks over at me, appearing to be so happy and content that I know I’d fight every shadow to make sure that sign of happiness never leaves her face.
“I love you always and tomorrow, Nico.”
“Dusha Moya, ya lyublyu tebya vsegda I zavtra,” I repeat to her in my mother tongue.
Until Next Time…….