Love in E Flat (31 page)

“I think I’m festive,” Luke said in full pout.

“You are.” Agata walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek.

“Well, thank you,” Luke exclaimed, handing the wine to Edie.

Lou watched her as she took the wine to the kitchen.

“So how was the matinee?” Luke asked, struggling out of his heavy coat. “There is snow in the air.” He rubbed his hands together and looked around. “How festive. Did you do all this today?”

“Yep. And as Agata said, we’re poop-ed,” John said, dusting off his hands. “So we’re grateful for the wine.”

“My pleasure,” Luke said warmly and shook hands with John. “Dmitry, were you playing?”

“Please, continue, Dmitry,” Agata said. “Play some festive music.”

Dmitry smiled and leafed through the sheet music. “It was nice of Edie to buy this music…” He picked a song and set it in place.

“Before you start, Dmitry, would you like to help me get the fire going?” John offered.

Dmitry was off the piano bench in a shot, which truly surprised Agata. He ran past them and knelt next to John, who guided him through the manly art of fire starting.

Edie returned with the wine and glasses for the adults. And eggnog for the kids. So with the fire going and Dmitry once again at the piano, Lou prayed—please don’t let it be “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”—as she looked to the heavens. But when he played the soft strains of “O Tannenbaum,” Lou breathed a sigh of thanks. And once again, all thoughts of leaving were gone, and the festive mood prevailed.

 
And dinner was just plain delicious. When Edie had time to make red cabbage, Lou had no idea. But with the huge pork roast, it truly hit all of Lou’s spots. And from the clean plates around the kitchen table, the rest of them felt the same. Lou nearly laughed out loud when she saw a lone strand of cabbage on Brown Bear’s nose.

“My, that was heavenly.” Agata sighed and set her napkin on the table. “Just superb, Edie. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.” She stood to clear the plates, and Dmitry quickly jumped up and grabbed his plate and Ana’s.

Agata raised an eyebrow and smiled. And damn it, Lou thought, there was that melancholy look again.

“Thank you, Dmitry,” Edie said.

With the dishes cleared and the anticipation of pie afterward, Agata and Dmitry offered to play for the rest of them.

Luke nearly jumped out of his skin. Agata laughed, and Dmitry raised an eyebrow as he watched Luke pour himself a glass of wine and sit on the couch. He tried to get settled, then shook his head. “Nope…” He walked over to the overstuffed chair by the fire and settled in. “Ah. Okay, I’m ready.”

“We’re so glad,” Lou said dryly.

Agata sat in the kitchen chair John had brought out for her. Dmitry played a few notes, while Agata ran her bow across the cello. Luke clapped happily. “I am just tuning it, Luke.”

Luke turned as red as the wine in his glass, which he brought to his lips.

“
Idiotka
,” Lou whispered to him. Luke playfully stuck out his tongue.

John stretched his long legs out as he sat on one end of the couch. Ana, like a magnet, climbed up next to him.

“Everybody set?” Edie asked, then sat next to Ana on the couch. “This is so exciting. A private performance.”

Ana looked up at her. “And then we have pie?”

Agata shook her head as she listened to Ana. “Dmitry, why don’t you play Chopin first, yes?”

Dmitry nodded and tried to ignore Luke’s happy sigh.

Then he started.

The haunting chords filled the living room as Dmitry concentrated. Lou glanced at Agata every now and then to see the pride in her eyes mingled with the tears Lou knew she tried to keep at bay.

Edie and John sat silently, watching Dmitry. Lou swore she saw John’s lip quiver; Edie had no intention, or no control, to stop the tears that flowed down her cheeks. She made no move to wipe them away.

Luke looked as though he was in a trance. He didn’t even blink. Lou saw his big blue eyes well with tears. He’s so gay, she thought.

Ana played with the red ribbon on Brown Bear’s neck.

Lou then watched Dmitry. For such a young person, he looked again so old. So mature. She watched him, thinking of how much life he had already lived and how much pain he had already experienced. Too much for a kid, Lou thought. He played with such ferocity one minute, then with such a delicate touch you could barely hear him. He was truly some kind of a savant, Lou thought. It was as if Dmitry was meant to play this particular piece. It was haunting, sad, and uplifting at the same time. So many emotions in one song. Such love and such sadness.

Then it was over.

For a moment, everybody sat there. Except for Luke.

“Oh, my God!” He jumped up, nearly spilling his wine and clapped. “It was... Well, it…” He stopped and wiped the tears from his eyes.

Dmitry turned bright red, pushing his glasses up on his nose. He ran his fingers over the piano keys, keeping his head down. “Thank you,” he whispered.

Without looking at her, John snagged a Kleenex out of the box next to him and handed it to Edie, who took it and wiped her eyes.

“Brown Bear needs one, too,” Ana whispered to John.

“Oh, sorry, Brown Bear.” John handed a tissue to Ana.

She glanced up at Edie, mimicking her while she wiped the animal’s face. Edie sighed and handed the tissue back to John; Ana did the same.

“Thanks.” John grimaced and obediently took them.

Lou laughed and turned to her attention to Agata. “Now, Madam Karetnikov, please play ‘The Swan.’”

“As you wish,” Agata said, “Comrade.”

Lou laughed again and took a drink of wine; she settled back with the rest of them.

“All right, Dmitry. Let us play for them,” Agata said. “Let us play for all of them.”

After taking a couple of breaths, Dmitry started, then Agata joined him.

Everyone in that room knew the meaning of “The Swan,” and they all knew what this song meant to Agata and Dmitry. Lou concentrated on Agata, amazed that her eyes were closed nearly the entire time. As with the first time Lou heard Agata play, she knew Agata felt her heart and soul in this song.

And Lou knew then she wanted this woman for the rest of her life. There could be no separation, no waiting, no what if this or what if that. She smiled when she remembered how she and Nick, Edie, and John sat outside the building wondering what Agata was doing there. John proposed she was a Russian agent, smuggling information in sheet music. What had he said? Murder in E flat? They had all laughed at his joke at the time.

No, Lou thought, Edie was right. Her best friend knew it was romance, romance all the way; it was love in E flat. That’s the way it is, she thought as she watched Agata play. It was love; it didn’t matter how quickly it happened—it just happened, and there was no turning back now. She must just love Agata and move forward together. Oh, brother, Lou thought as she sighed openly.

The song ended slowly, and once again, they sat in silence for a moment, respecting the talent, respecting the sentiment, and almost grieving along with Dmitry and Ana. They had lost their parents for god’s sakes, Lou thought. And here was Dmitry, barely a teenager, playing the piano with the love and intensity of someone far beyond his years.

John once again handed Edie a tissue and to Ana. Luke reached over and snagged two for himself.

“I have no words,” Luke said between sniffs.

Agata and Dmitry looked at each other. “Was very good, Dmitry,” she whispered proudly.

Lou felt so bad for this kid; he swallowed and just nodded. No one else said anything—what could they say?

Ana looked up at Edie. “Can we have pie now?”

Chapter 23

Ana was sound asleep on the couch, her head resting on Edie’s lap, her skinny legs dangling across John, who was fading just as fast. Dmitry lay on his stomach in front of the fire examining his newfound treasure, trying to keep his eyes open.

It was Luke who broke the spell with a wide yawn. “Well, I think I’ll be heading home,” he said, waving off Edie, who tried to stand. “Don’t be silly. The angel is sleeping on yonder lap.”

“Thanks,” Edie whispered and sat back. “Do you want some leftovers to take home?”

“No, no. Thanks. This was a wonderful evening.”

Lou handed him his coat. Agata kissed him on the cheek. “Be careful driving home.”

“I will. And thank you for a wonderful performance.” He slipped into his coat. “Will I be seeing you two anytime soon?” He wriggled his eyebrows at Lou and Agata.

“What does that mean?”

“Oh, please. I watched the way you and Agata looked at each other all night. I’m not blind.”

“What…?” Lou looked at Edie, who nodded in agreement.

Lou exchanged glances with Agata.

“Don’t even try to deny it,” Luke whispered.

“Yeah, don’t.” John didn’t even lift his head. “We won’t believe you.”

Luke laughed softly. “So I’ll expect you in soon with all the details. Good night. Merry, Merry.”

Lou stared at the doorway. “He’s nuts.”

“No, he is not.” Agata looked at Edie. “You know?”

Edie smiled and eased out from under Ana, who was dead weight and didn’t even stir. “Let’s talk in the kitchen.”

“Is this girl talk, or can a boy join in?” John whispered with a yawn.

*******

The four adults sat around the kitchen table. Edie poured coffee for each; Agata ate another piece of pie. She looked at Lou, who grinned.

“What are you staring at? Have you never seen anyone eat pie?” Agata asked.

“Yes. But never anyone who enjoyed it so much.” Lou reached over and wiped the corner of her mouth with her thumb.

“So,” Edie glanced at John, “want to fill us in? Or is it none of our business?”

“You are Lou’s closest friends.” Agata pushed the empty plate away. “I do not want any secrets.”

“I’m in love with Aggie,” Lou blurted out.

Agata dropped her fork. Edie dropped her jaw. John spit up his coffee.

“You are?” Edie said happily.

“You are?” John said incredulously.

“And when were you telling me this?” Agata asked. “Wouldn’t this be something I might want to know?”

Lou tried not to laugh at her thick accent; she knew Agata was angry now. She couldn’t help it; she laughed.

“Is something funny about this?” Agata’s anger rose as she tossed down the napkin. “Being in love with me is funny?”

“It probably will be at times.”

John shook his head. “Oh, Lou. You have so much to learn.”

“How can you declare this to everyone and not me first? What is the matter with you?” Agata looked at John and Edie. “Do you see?
Idiotka
.” John and Edie glanced at each other. “How can anyone be in love with this?” She swiped her arm in Lou’s direction.

Lou ducked out of the way and chuckled again. “Aggie…”

“What?” she asked, still in anger mode. “Stop laughing. You look…
szalony
.”

“I don’t know what that is, but it can’t be good,” John said to Edie.

“It means insane,” Agata said to Lou. “This is you!”

Again, Lou laughed. “I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you. Tell me you don’t feel the same.”

Agata blinked, caught off guard. Lou leaned forward. “Tell me you don’t love me.”

“You are impossible.”

“I think I’m possible.”

Agata sighed and sat back. “You are like dog with bone.”

“And you love her?” Edie asked.

Agata looked at Lou. “Yes. Help me, please. But I love her.”

The four sat in silence for a moment until John cleared his throat. “So now what?”

“I have no idea in my head.” Agata laughed then. “Well, I have some idea.”

“It’s nothing we have to settle tonight,” Lou said, holding her hand.

“But we must settle it soon. The children, their lives, and where I must take them to live. They have school soon, after holidays. They must be settled, and it is not fair to them. They are most important now.”

“I agree completely.” Lou held tightly on to Agata’s hand, not wanting to let it go. “Where and when is your next concert?”

“That is no worry. I have nothing scheduled until well after holiday. My publicist is taking care of everything for me.”

“So we have a little time to think and plan and talk,” Lou added softly.

“Well, for now, why don’t we keep the kids here tonight? It’s late, and Ana is already sleeping. I’m sure Dmitry is not far behind,” Edie offered. “You can have some alone time.”

Agata agreed, but Lou saw her hesitant posture. “What is it?”

“I do not want to be a burden to you,” she said to Edie and John. “You have been so good to the children, and I see they are loving you…” She cocked her head as she watched John. “May I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“The compass. It was not a buried treasure, was it?” Agata asked softly.

Lou remembered how he and Edie looked so sad when Dmitry opened the box. “John?”

“It’s my grandfather’s compass from the first World War. He gave it to my dad, who gave it to me…”

“Oh, John. You should give that to your son when you…” Agata stopped when Lou placed her hand on her arm. Lou shook her head. “What did I say?”

“Nothing, Agata. You said nothing wrong.” John stopped and looked at Edie, who smiled and held his hand. “I’m not going to have a son, and it would really make me happy if you let Dmitry keep the compass. I knew he wouldn’t have taken it if I told him this. He’s too good of a young man. And I knew you wouldn’t either because, well, you’re a good woman. So, please, do this for me?” John asked, his eyes welling with tears.

Agata nodded. “Yes. I will do this. Dmitry will not know. It was a beautiful thing to do. I can only imagine how much that compass means to you.”

“Well, my grandfather left that note for my dad, and he left it for me. The sentiment is true for anyone who finds themselves lost. Dmitry is an intuitive kid. He gets the metaphor.” John sat forward. “I hope it doesn’t bother you that Dmitry and Ana like being around us.”

“I do not know,” Agata said truthfully. “So much has happened so quickly in the past months. I have been running around trying to get everything in order and be with them as much as I can, all the while trying to stand by my concert commitments.” She sat back. “I just have not had time to think. I want so much to do as Inga wished.”

“For them to be happy,” Edie said, nodding.

“Yes. This is what keeps me up at night and consumes my mind all the day. But I think it would be all right for them to stay tonight as long as it is not bother.”

“Not at all,” Edie said.

*******

Agata knelt beside the couch and lightly kissed Ana’s hair. She stirred and looked up. “I am sorry, go back to sleep. It is late. You will stay here with Edie and John tonight.”

Ana’s eyes grew wide. “Really?”

Agata sat back on her heels. “Is that what you want?”

Ana nodded, cuddling her animal. Agata kissed her head again. “Then I will see you in the morning. Good night, Ana.”

“G’night,” she whispered. “Brown Bear says good night, too.”

“Good night to him, too.”

She turned around to see Dmitry sitting up by the fire. “You are leaving?” he asked, rubbing his eyes.

“Yes. Is okay to stay here? You can come back to the hotel with me if you wish,” Agata added.

Dmitry glanced from John and Edie to Agata. “I will if you wish it.”

Agata cocked her head. She then smiled. “I wish you to be happy and sleep well. You are on your way to that now. Tomorrow is big football day.”

Dmitry nodded. Lou saw his hesitant posture and knew what he was doing. He wanted to be loyal to Agata and at the same time be excited about going the game with John. Dmitry Maslov was a loyal little Russian, or Ukrainian.

“Be good boy, and we will see you in the morning to get change of clothes for game. Yes?” Agata ran her fingers through his hair.

“Okay. Good night, Agata,” he said and threw his arms around her. “Thank you.”

“Good night, Dmitry. Sleep well.” Agata pulled back and kissed his forehead. She walked out of the living room without another word.

*******

The cab ride back to the hotel was quiet. Lou didn’t have the heart to call Nick, and since she didn’t drive, she didn’t want to take John’s car. She glanced every now and then at Agata, who pensively stared out the window at the darkness, but she didn’t offer any conversation; for some reason, Lou figured Agata wasn’t an idle chitchat type of person.

“Here we go,” the cabbie said, pulling up to the hotel.

After slipping him the fare, Lou and Agata stood for a moment. “Take a little walk?” Lou offered. “Unless you can’t walk far in those.” Lou pointed to the high-heeled shoes.

“Not at all. I am used to wearing these.”

They walked side by side down Michigan Avenue looking at the Christmas decorations. “This is a beautiful city at night,” Agata said, pulling her coat around her.

“Yeah, I love it. So much life. I’ve been to New York and L.A., but there is just something about Chicago. I guess it’s because we’re in the Midwest. It just seems homier to me.”

“I agree. I too have been to both cities. This has a small-town feel to it, even though it is a big city. And I do love your lake. It reminds me of lake in my grandmother’s town. When I was a young girl, my grandfather would take me swimming while he sat on the bank and read.”

“He loved to read?” Lou loved to listen to Agata’s voice; it was captivating and extremely sensual.

“Yes. He had a love of books. Any books. No matter the subject. You must remember in those days when he and my parents were younger, Communism stifled so much of one’s individuality. They did not want you to know about the outside world, or you would want more. All they wanted you to need was the state. They provided what they wanted. And you could only do as they said.”

“So much has changed now.” Lou took her hands out of her pockets, letting them fall to her side. In doing so, she brushed her fingers against Agata’s gloved hand. She inwardly smiled when Agata did not move her hand away. Lou fought the urge, but her body tingled with the idea of holding Agata’s hand, but for right now, they just needed to talk a little.

“True. Much has changed when the Berlin Wall came down. But there are still those who would like a…resurgence of the old ways. Is that the right word?”

“Yes. That’s a very good word. I suppose change hits everyone differently. One minute you’re on top of the world, and the next, you’re…”