Page 98 of Savage Truce

“I want to work on the dress I’m making for Katya and also spend some time on my collection.” I glance over my shoulder at them. “Why?”

“It’s freezing, and I was hoping you’d make us all a nice, warm lunch.”

“I can do that.”

“No. You busy,” Mam says, shaking her head. “I will make food.”

“But Anastasia –”

Mam cuts Marina off with another firm shake of her head. “My daughter has work. Never much time for sewing. Leave her.”

Staring at my mother-in-law, I’m overcome with a wave of affection.

Artem comes into the kitchen as the women leave, and I ask, “Can I make you coffee?”

He nods, and stopping beside me, he scratches his head before asking, “Can I sit in your workshop while you sew? I like the sounds.”

“Of course. You never have to ask.”

“Ask what?” Rodian walks in, giving us a curious look.

“Artem wants to sit with me in my workshop,” I tell him. “How’s Andrei?”

“Better.”

When I’m done preparing the coffee, Rodian takes two mugs. “I’ve got Andrei.”

Artem and I walk to the other side of the house, and while I drink my coffee, I glance over the patterns I managed to cut out yesterday. Artem fiddles with the spools of thread and begins sorting them from light to dark colors.

Taking a seat at my table, I feed light pink thread through the loop and pull two pieces of fabric closer. As I begin to work, Artem sits down by the window and stares outside, all his fidgeting stopping.

A smile spreads over my face, and even though we’ve all had a rough couple of weeks, I’ve never been happier.

I’ve found a place where I belong with people who care about me. What more could I ask for?

“Anastasia,” Artem whispers. “Come look.”

I lift my foot off the pedal, and getting up, I walk closer and glance out the window.

“Snowflakes,” he says, his tone still soft as if they entrance him.

“Want to go outside?” I ask. “So we can catch them?”

I’ll freeze my butt off, but I’m willing to do that for Artem.

“Yes!”

He’s up in a flash and running to the door, making me chuckle as I follow him. We stop by the coat closet, and I barely have mine on when Artem yanks the front door open and hurries out onto the porch.

Grabbing his hand, I pull him to the lawn, then we cup our palms to catch as many as we can.

The cold is biting, but Artem is in his element, so I power through.

“That’s enough, you two,” Rodian calls from the second floor. “Get your asses back in the house before you catch a cold.”

I wave at him, and taking Artem’s hand, we walk back to the house, but as soon as we’re out of Rodian’s line of sight, I chuckle and run with Artem to the other side of the house.

He laughs, and twirling with his face turned up to the sky, flurries melt as soon as they touch his skin.