Love in E Flat (14 page)

The teacher made his way to them. “Hi. Can I help you with something?” His eyes lit up. “The writer from the
Sentinel
?”

“Yes,” Lou said, always amazed that people knew her. And now pissed for drawing attention to herself.

“I love your column. Ben Matthews.” They shook hands, while Ben watched her. “I have to say, I never expected to see you here.”

“Why is that?” Lou asked, looking around.

Ben leaned in. “This is a center for children of diplomats and government people. You know, foreign dignitaries.”

She exchanged glances with Edie and John. “I didn’t know that.”

“I saw you come in with Agata Karetnikov.”

“Yeah.” Lou didn’t want to go into anything with this guy. She cursed herself once again.

“Is she with Mr. Farnsworth from the embassy?”

“I have no idea. She’s with a couple of guys and the woman, as well.”

“Oh, he’s from Russia. And she runs this facility.” He leaned in and whispered, “It’s all hush-hush. I can’t tell you anything, Ms. Preston.”

“Call me Lou.”

Ben grinned. “I still can’t tell you anything, Lou. If Madam Karetnikov didn’t…”

“I hear ya,” Lou said. “And I don’t blame you. I’ll let you get back to your kids.” She held out her hand, which Ben took.

“Nice to meet you. What’s the next column about?”

“I went to the alumni game at Northwestern, and I’m writing about the Bears’ disastrous season, suggesting they play Northwestern and win one. No playoffs this year, Ben.”

“I know. It’s truly disappointing.” He looked at John. “You look familiar, too.”

“John Trent. He played at Illinois.”

“Linebacker, right. Nice to meet you.”

“Same here,” John said, shaking his hand. “This is my wife, Edie.”

Ben shook hands. “Well, at least it’s not snowing yet.”

Lou motioned to the window. Ben groaned when he saw the heavy flakes falling. “Oh, the weather in this damn city.” Ben laughed as he walked away.

“Let’s get out of here before something else happens.” Edie pulled on John’s arm.

Agata and the rest had just come out of the office when they turned the corner. And the two children were right at Agata’s side. Lou had no idea what was going on, so she smiled but said nothing.

“Hi, John!” Ana said with a wave.

All adults looked completely confused as their gazes traveled from the girl to John, who looked as though he were facing a firing squad.

“Hi, Lou and Eathie,” she said, still waving. Dmitry reached for her hand.

Lou and Edie gave a quick short wave but said nothing.

Agata seemed flummoxed by the exchange; she turned her attention back to Mrs. Penkov. “It was nice to meet you,” Agata said slowly, still watching Lou, who shrugged. “Thank you so much for your assistance.”

“It was my pleasure.” She ran her fingers through Ana’s hair. She spoke to both children in what Lou thought was Russian. Lou watched as they smiled and nodded obediently to Mrs. Penkov.

“Madam Karetnikov,” the older man started. Lou noticed his thick accent, as well. “You must understand our reservation about this.”

Agata nodded. “I do. I take full responsibility. Their parents were good people.”

He shook his head, as if he didn’t agree and wanted to say just that, but he looked at the two children and said nothing further. Lou could see the anger start in Agata’s blue eyes. She did say something in Russian, and though Lou had no idea what the exchange was—it didn’t sound good. Agata had that clipped cadence to her voice, and the old man’s eyes narrowed; even Mr. Farnsworth winced at Agata’s tone.

Mrs. Penkov’s eyes widened as she took the two children by the hand. “Come, we will get your coats.” She quickly escorted—well, practically dragged—them down the hall. Lou had the distinct impression Agata’s words were not for children’s ears.

Agata took a deep breath and swiped the lock of hair off her brow with the back of her hand, a gesture that Lou thought extremely sexy at the moment even through her anger.

“Mr. Dvorak,” Agata started, then calmed herself. “I understand you and I are from different generations, and we disagree on many things regarding Russia.” She leaned in then. “But the Cold War is long over, and the word gulag should be eradicated from our speech.”

Now Lou really had no great knowledge of Russian history, but gulag she knew. They were camps for criminals and political dissidents used during the thirties and beyond. Lou’s mind raced as she thought of Agata’s parents. And now this couple perhaps? She watched Mr.
Farnsworth nervously pull at his tie while old Mr. Dvorak breathed heavily through his nose like some steam engine.

“I know your family, Madam Karetnikov.” Mr. Dvorak practically sneered; it was rude, Lou thought. “And how they supported Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn forty years ago.” The disgust in his voice was unmistakable.

That name, however, sounded familiar to Lou, who glanced at Edie and John for help. They looked the same way—it was familiar, but they just couldn’t place it. She couldn’t wait to ask Agata or at the very least Google him.

Lou, Edie, and John took a collective step back as Agata angrily took a step toward both men. “And you are just ignorant enough to think that is an insult, Mr. Dvorak,” she said quietly. “You listen to me. Those children will live happy, normal lives. It was their parents’ wish,” Agata said in a dark voice, her Russian accent more pronounced. Again, Lou thought, very sexy under the circumstances.

Mr. Dvorak went on, undaunted. “They are orphans and refugees and as such are property—”

Oh, bad choice…

“Property?” Agata nearly screamed. “How dare you speak with such barbarism to me?” She emphasized the last word as if Agata took this as a personal affront. Lou hid her grin. She had heard of Madam Karetnikov’s ego. This was a sample. “They are children.”

“I think, madam, you have been in this country too long. You have become soft and irresponsibly sentimental.”

That did it. Now Lou stepped forward. “Excuse me? Soft?”

The old man waved her off as if she were a fly in his vodka.

“Hey, pal,” Lou started. She felt Agata’s hand on her arm, as a warning, but as usual, Lou went on, full steam ahead. She felt Edie tugging at the back of her coat and ignored it. “You can’t come to my country and be insulting.”

“Who are you?” Mr. Dvorak asked with a smug grin.

Mr. Farnsworth cleared his throat. “This is Lou Preston. She’s a journalist for the
Chicago Sentinel
.” He pulled at his collar once again. “Why…um…why are you here, Ms. Preston?” He tried to smile and sound nonchalant—it came out in a helpless squeak. “And Edie Trent, as well? How wonderful.”

“Journalist?” Mr. Dvorak looked back from Lou to Agata. A flash of panic streaked across his face, which was instantly replaced with one of disdain. “I have never heard of the
Chicago Sentinel
.”

“Yeah?” Lou said. “Well, I never heard of you. So we’re even.”

Mr. Dvorak laughed and shook his head as if Lou were someone of extreme unimportance.

“Look, pal, you’re beginning to annoy me.” Lou took a step forward.

“Lou,” Agata said calmly, placing a hand on her forearm.

“No,” Lou said. “I don’t know what’s going on here, and I’m sure it’s none of our business. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist…” she ignored Mr. Dvorak’s derisive laugh, “to see that Madam Karetnikov is trying to…”

Mr. Dvorak held his hand up. “Do not speak to me of Madam Karetnikov. You know nothing.”

Agata turned to him then. Lou thought she saw sparks fly out of her eyes. “Do not speak to her like that. She is a good woman and a good journalist so, Comrade Dvorak, why don’t you go back to Moscow,” she continued, offering a smug grin, “and go crap up the post?”

Mr. Dvorak looked completely bewildered. Mr. Farnsworth looked as though he might faint. John and Edie exchanged confounded glances.

Lou leaned in, whispering, “Um, Aggie. It’s ‘piss up a rope.’” A wave of regret wafted through her—of all the phrases with which she could have enlightened Agata...

“It is?” Agata then waved her off. “Rope, post. Does not matter.” She looked at Mr. Dvorak. “My meaning is clear. I have spent the past six months trying to convince you idiots of Inga and Dmitry’s wish. And in that time, those poor children have been alone. They have lost their parents and have not been given any time to grieve. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.”

Mr. Dvorak rubbed his forehead. “Madam Karetnikov, you must understand who those children are and who their parents were…”

“It is because I know who they were that I do this. I knew them well, but why they ask me to do this, I do not know. But it is in their will. It is legal. There is no more discussion.”

Agata’s tone left it very clear. Lou watched her blue eyes turn very dark as she challenged Mr. Dvorak. Mr. Farnsworth still looked as though he might vomit.

“No more,” Agata said in a tone that left no doubt there would be no more. However, she then said something in Russian, which turned Mr. Dvorak’s face so red, Lou thought he’d have a stroke right there.

Mr. Dvorak tensed and turned on a dime, marching back into the office. Poor Mr. Farnsworth winced as the door slammed.

“Well, that was a little more harsh than he’s used to,” he said, rubbing his temples.

Agata raised an eyebrow. “And I should care, why?”

Lou tried not to laugh; it came out in a rough cough.

“Agata,” he said in a softer voice. “You know where he is coming from.”

“Thomas, there is no proof of any of it. Inga told this many times of her and Dmitry’s friends and colleagues. Mr. Dvorak just wants to exploit those children now. He cares little about them. You know that,” Agata had calmed down, but Lou still saw the anger in her eyes.

“Agata,” Thomas nearly pleaded with her, but his next words were lost when Mrs. Penkov returned with the children.

Lou couldn’t help but smile when she saw Ana wave excitedly to them. Dmitry—not so much. He was still in protective mode as he warily watched Agata, as if he didn’t know what was going on and didn’t trust anyone. Lou was sure he wondered what had transpired. He glanced at Lou, then looked away.

A young child should not be so guarded, she thought. But somehow she couldn’t blame him. She glanced at Agata, who smiled and ran her fingers through Ana’s hair.

“Now what?” Lou looked from the children to Agata to…well, she looked to everyone, someone for an answer.

Mrs. Penkov was the first to speak. “Madam Karetnikov, you have all the documents, correct?”

“Yes, I have them. We are all legal.”

“For now,” she warned. “You have custody of them for the weekend. Then back here until it is finalized.”

Agata nodded, smiling at the children. “Yes. I understand.”

“Barring anything else from Mr. Dvorak, this should be quick. But we’ll see,” Tom Farnsworth said.

Lou was getting the idea of what was happening; she looked at Agata. “The office you just came from?”

Agata nodded and held up the manila envelope. “Passports and international documents for the children. Now we must go.” She turned to Mrs. Penkov, extending her hand. “I cannot begin to thank you for all your assistance.”