against the bedframe as if to keep his huge body in the rather rickety chair. If that wasn’t enough to make my heart swell, seeing his hand pushed through the railing of the bed, his fingers wrapped about Baba’s had tears threatening to fall. I wanted to curl up between them and cherish the fact both were in my life. Instead, I turned to close the door as quietly as I could.
“Hey.”
I looked over my shoulder to see Alek looking at me, a soft smile on his lips.
“Hey,” I returned softly.
“You hanging in there?”
The fact he didn’t even bother asking if I was all right said so much about this man. Remembering he had personal experience with hospitals only reinforced the fact he knew I wasn’t truly okay.
“Yes, thank you,” I said. “She looks so peaceful, I hate to wake her, but I need to get her home and in her own bed.”
“I’m awake,” Olga said, her eyes opening. “Just resting my eyes. An old woman’s heart can only stand looking at such a handsome man for so long.”
Alek chuckled, and I smiled, moving to the bed and bending down to kiss her cheek. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired, a little cold, pretty hungry, but better than I deserve,” she said.
“You deserve the best the world can offer, but how about we start with warming you up?” I asked, pulling her clothing from the plastic bag holding her personal belongings and laying it at the end of the bed.
“I’ll bring the car around,” Alek said.
I’d completely forgotten that, like my purse, my car was at the restaurant. “Thank you, Alek. I—”
“No problem,” he said as he stood and bent over to give my babushka his own kiss.
By the time an orderly gave a knock on the door, we were ready to go. I helped my grandmother into the wheelchair and, when she opened her mouth, I said, “Don’t say a word. It’s hospital policy all patients are wheeled out the door.”
“Well, I rolled in, so I suppose it only makes sense I come out the same way,” she said.
26
Clara
Fucking hell. My brain swam with chaos as I turned into a side street several blocks away from the restaurant where I’d picked up my purse. Grabbing my phone, I unsilenced it and scrolled down, reading the messages in the order they’d come in. The time was stamped on each call. The first one had come in probably less than five minutes after the ambulance had pulled away from the restaurant. The second a half hour later… the third a half hour after that.
Clara, you knew I was going to call. Where are you?
By the time I’d read through the first screen full, they were coming in every few minutes.
Call me back.
Clara, I’m not amused.
Answer your damn phone.
Each progressive text acknowledged his patience was rapidly coming to an end.
Where in the fuck are you?
You really are pissing me off.
I can’t believe you’re fucking around.
That one had me fearing Nikolai had somehow discovered Alek was more than just my boss. I couldn’t drag another person into the hell I was being dragged into yet again.
Lesson.
What? I’d skimmed over the last few, but this one word had my heart stopping as I reversed direction to read the entire text again.
It’s clear you need another lesson…
Oh God… no, no… no. I’d never survive another of Nikolai’s lessons.
“Please… please…” I begged, my eyes scanning the remaining few texts as if perhaps thinking he might hear me and offer me some sort of mercy. My chant was interrupted by my scream as the phone blared.
“I can explain—”
“Where in the fuck have you been?” Nikolai growled, cutting me off. “I’ve been trying to reach you for fucking hours.”
“I’m sorry—”
“Not as sorry as you’re going to be when I—”
I had absolutely no doubt he was speaking the truth, and yet basic survival instinct had me cutting him off this time. “I was in the hospital!”
“Get hold of… wait… what?”
His rant curtailed for at least a moment, I rushed to explain where I’d been. “I couldn’t answer your calls because I didn’t have my phone,” I finished, practically hyperventilating as I’d not taken a single breath since cutting him off. After drawing in some much needed oxygen, I said, “I wasn’t attempting to ignore you, Nikki.” I almost gagged on the last word, but at this point was willing to pull out all the ammunition at my disposal if that meant keeping this toxic man away from those I loved.
“I’m glad