“I smell her pre-heating the oven,” I told him, tapping my fingers on the table. “You don’t have long.”
“You’re a war criminal with your tactics. You want a job?”
“Why was that man following me?”
Misha rubbed his head, then tried to pinch the delicate teacup between his fingers. “Aren’t you glad he was?”
“Misha—someone got shot right in front of me last night. Shot.”
“Kindness of strangers.”
I didn’t touch my tea. “I can’t… I can’t be the reason someone dies. I don’t care who it is. I’m responsible.”
“Ah, yes,” he agreed, taking a sip. “Very responsible for standing there, minding your business. Downright criminal.”
“Did he hire someone to watch me?”
“We just all want to see you safe, don’t we? Do you have lemon?”
“No.”
He sighed and listened for Mama, then for Maxim, and when he was satisfied we were still alone, he leaned in. “I’m not the one you should be asking these things and I sure ashrenam not going to be the one to tell you. You’re not hurt, and nothing important was stolen, right? That’s all I needed to know. Everything else is between you and Vitali.”
Tap-tapwent my fingers on the porcelain.
“I can see if we have powdered lemon,” I said.
“…What uh… what is she pre-heating the oven for?”
“Vetrushka. I saw her mixing the sweet cottage cheese.”
He considered this. “I’m not going to get on Vitali’s shit side for you, or anyone. Deal?”
“Deal.” I smiled before I knew it. “You can’t tell me where he is but… do you know when he’ll be back?”
“Those are nice roses.”
I glanced at the vase. “How many dozen are there?”
“Two.”
“Are they… were they picked today… or a different day?”
“The day he called you. Roses are retroactive growers.”
“That’s not a real thing. But… by the New Year?” I asked, hopefully.
To my relief, he nodded, then paused his chewing and took a moment to stare blankly at the tea set. “You should invite him over for that,” he said finally, the words forcefully squeezing through his teeth. “He isn’t busy.”
“Alright,” I smiled and tried to choose my words with care. “So… he doesn’t go out with the… the guys?”
Misha shook his head. “He does. But that’s work. And we all have mamas to visit.”
All but Vitali.
“Are you busy?” I asked.
His face twisted like a man who’d never been surprised in his life. “Why?”
