Oh, and I forgot to tell you, Apollo and Rayna are getting married, who could have seen that coming? I should have put money on it.
I’m happy enough for him, even though he’s spoiled. I kind of wish Rayna made him wait longer. He’s clearly the one who wants to lock her down instead of vice versa. They’re getting married soon, they’ll be wedded and bedded for weeks before you’re home.
Speaking of when you come home, have I told you I can’t wait for that?
I want to see you again.
Yours,
Matteo
Dear Matteo,
Only a few more days now.
I want to see you again too.
You won’t be able to get me another letter before I leave, but I’ll keep an eye out for more emails. I’ll call you as soon as I get home too.
I feel good. Better than when I came.
I don’t think I’ll have any issues if you want to come visit again.
You do want to come visit again, don’t you?
I feel ready to go out more, but I don’t know how I would do flying to see you. Well, the you part would be easy. Tiffany and I are still working up to seeing my brothers again. And meeting your family, that might be hard. But unlike fifty-something days ago, I can see it happening in the near future.
Thank you for staying with me on this journey. I’ll never forget it.
Yours,
Anya
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Anya
End of Sixty Days
The area where family is permitted is empty save for me and my bags. Tiffany and Rory helped me carry my things and then left me with kind farewells before returning to their day-to-day activities. I’ve only been waiting for five minutes when the security door buzzes open.
I’m on my feet as soon as I recognize the shadow of the man I’ve been waiting sixty days to see again. My father doesn’t get a single word in before I throw myself into his arms. I crash into him so hard that he grunts but he catches me all the same, wrapping his arms around me in return.
“I missed you so much,Papochka.”
“I missed you too,dochen’ka,” he breathes, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
He smells exactly the same, and I don’t know why that makes me smile. Of course he should smell the same. Nothing happened to him while I was gone. He lived very similar days,just days without me. Judging by how close and how long he holds me, he felt my absence as much as I felt his.
When we finally part, I notice Uncle Lev behind him and feel a rush of happiness once again. No hesitation stalls me in my next action. For the first time in close to four years, I pull my uncle into a hug and squeeze him hard. His large body freezes under my touch, but he quickly recovers from his shock and hugs me in return.
“You came to pick me up?” I ask, my question muffling into his button-down.
“I wasn’t allowed to see you off, or I would have come then, too,” he replies, voice gruff and sincere. Only Dad was allowed to bring me for my first day to make the transition smoother and for security reasons too, I assume.
“I’m so glad to see you,” I tell him, stepping out of our embrace. “How is Aunt Irina? And Nadya?”
“Both good,” he grunts. “Both waiting back at the house to see you again. Nadya picked flowers for you and sprayed them with nontoxic plant glitter—which is apparently a real thing. Don’t ask her why she thought to cover them in sparkles, just say they’re pretty.”
