"That's not my problem." I finally looked at him, keeping my face blank. "Was there something you needed, Mr. Sidorov? Otherwise, I have work to do."
Mr. Sidorov. The formality was a knife between us.
His jaw tightened. "No. Nothing."
He left, and I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. I could do this. I could keep it professional. I could survive. Even if my eyes were swollen from crying. Even if my chest ached everytime I saw him. Even if walking away from him felt like ripping off my own skin.
Zara arrived soon after, clutching her rabbit and looking around with huge eyes.
"Kat!" She launched herself at me, and I caught her, holding tight.
"Hey, baby girl. You okay?"
"This place is huge! Mr. Mikhail said you work here. Is this really where you work?"
"It is. Come on, let me show you our room."
I took her to the family quarters, watching her face light up at the sight of her own bedroom. I’d had time to put together a small sensory corner for enjoyment thanks to Maria.
"It's so big! And there's a window! Can I put my posters up?" she said immediately, sitting on the large ledge in front of the window. It gave her a front-row seat to the Christmas tree outside, lit up and ready to be enjoyed.
"We'll see. This is temporary, remember?"
"I know. But still." She smiled. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." I came over to her and smoothed her hair. "Now listen. There are guests here for Christmas. Important people. You need to be on your absolute best behavior, okay? No running in the halls. If you need to go outside, ask me first."
"I promise." She looked up at me seriously. "I don't want you to get in trouble."
"Good girl." I kissed her forehead. "Are you up to meeting some people?”
Zara nodded, “I saw toys upstairs.”
“Okay. Let me know if it becomes too much, okay?”
Zara nodded again and grabbed her rabbit.
I brought her to the living room where some of the guests had gathered. Adam's children were there—three kids between five and ten.
"This is my sister, Zara," I said. "Zara, say hello."
"Hello," she said shyly.
"Can she play with us?" asked the oldest boy. "We're building a fort."
"If it's okay with your parents and if Zara wants to." I looked down at her, and she nodded.
"It's fine," Irina said warmly. "The more the merrier. We're going to decorate gingerbread houses after dinner too."
"Can I, Kat?" Zara's eyes were hopeful.
I looked up and found Olek standing in the doorway, watching us. Our eyes met, and something passed between us. Permission. Understanding. Maybe grief.
"Mr. Sidorov?" I asked formally. "Would it be alright if Zara joined the children's activities?"
"Of course." His voice was rough. "She's welcome to anything. Mila will be happy to have another girl to play with."
Mila. His daughter. Who I still hadn't met officially.
