by Sherie Keys
Over a round of solitaire, she heard Dimitri moving around the small apartment. A short time later, he entered the living room with a book in his hand. He sat down on the love seat opposite her sofa. He opened it to a marked page and began to read.
Curiously, Alicia tried to see the cover. She was expecting him to be reading some great piece of Russian literature-perhaps even a political novel. But no, he was reading a title by Stephen King called Dr. Sleep.
“You’re reading Stephen King?” Alicia couldn’t help but state the obvious. Dimitri looked up at her.
“Yes. You read him?”
“I saw the movies. I haven’t read the books.”
“You see The Shining?”
“Yeah. With Jack Nicholson. I liked that one.”
“Me too. This book is…” He paused, apparently searching for the right word. “The following book to it.”
“Oh, the sequel.” Alicia hadn’t realized that there was a sequel to The Shining.
“Right. Sequel. You ever been? To Colorado?”
“No.” Alicia smiled faintly. “I’ve never been to Colorado. I haven’t been to many places.”
“Me either.” Dimitri looked back at the pages of his book. “Just Russia and here.”
That was something, but she didn’t say it. She was curious about Russia. She wondered if he’d want to go back, or if he wanted to see it again. She remembered that he had family there. Did he miss them? She was curious, but did not want to ask.
She caught herself staring at him. He was such a different man than she had ever expected to meet. She wondered just what else there was that she did not know about him.
At eleven, Alicia shut off her iPad and rose from the couch. It had been a long day, and she was tired. Plus she had to work in the morning-which she thought would make for an even longer day.
“I better head to bed. It’s getting late.”
“Oh. Right.” Dimitri closed his book, putting it down on his lap. “Well, thank you for…everything today.”
“Of course.” Alicia forced herself to smile. It was awkward. How did you say good night in these types of situations? “I’ll see you in the morning? Before work?”
“Most likely, yes.”
“OK then.” Alicia moved passed him, heading into her bedroom. “Good night then, Dimitri.”
“Good night, Alicia.”
Chapter3
Dr. Bernard simply sat and stared at her as she relayed her story. She watched as his jaw literally began to fall open. She could not believe she had stunned another person into this type of silence.
“Well?” Alicia finally asked when she was finished. “What do you think?”
“I think…” Dr. Bernard sat silently. “I think I’ve never heard a story quite like this before.”
Alicia had to agree there. She had never heard a story like this before either. In fact, she still could not believe that she was the one who was actually telling this story. She figured that she probably would have had the same look on her face if someone was telling her this story.
“I mean, it’s not really illegal. It’s not really right, but it’s not illegal either.” Alicia tried frantically to explain. “It’s just…he’s a good man. He should stay in the country, right?”
“Alicia,” Dr. Bernard held up his hand. “Think about what you’re doing for a minute. You let a man that you don’t know move into your apartment. What if he’s dangerous? What if he’s some sort of international terrorist?”
“He isn’t.” But that hadn’t stopped her from keeping her door locked and her phone beside her pillow. In the night, everything seemed frightening.
“But you don’t know that.” Dr. Bernard’s face etched concern rather than anger. He shook his head. “Alicia, I’m really worried about you.”
Alicia lowered her head. For the first time in this situation, she felt real shame. She was ashamed of her finances. She’d let them dig her into a hole so deep that she had to resort to desperate measures. If she’d been willing to go this far, where else would she go? Now Dr. Bernard was right: she was living with a man that she didn’t know. She knew nothing of Dimitri’s background. He could be into anything…up to anything. And she was sleeping in the same house as she.
The alarm made her shake her head in horror.
“I--"
“Look, I get what you think you’re doing is right. But you need to be careful.”
She did. And she knew that. But when she thought of the conversations that they had last night, he hadn’t seemed dangerous. And Dr. Bernard didn’t know Dimitri-not the way that she did. He was just looking out for her.
“I will. I promise.” Dr. Bernard leaned forward. He took her hands.
“You have my number in your phone, right?” Alicia nodded.
“OK, good. In that case, you call me if you need me. Anytime. You understand?”
“I understand.” She felt like a stupid child. He was practically berating her for her actions.
“And keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.” Alicia wondered exactly what he meant. Like making bombs in the apartment? Quickly, she changed the subject.
“So I’m not out of a job?”
“You? No, of course not. But I want you to wait before you do something crazy like putting him on your insurance. That might be just what he’s after.”
Dimitri hadn’t seemed too concerned about those types of things-in fact the thought hadn’t seemed to occur to him. But what did she know? Maybe he was lying to her. He wouldn’t be the first man to do something like that.
“I’ll wait.” She looked up to give him a firm smile. “I promise. I’ll wait. And I’ll keep a close eye on things.”
“Good.” Dr. Bernard squeezed her hands. “I’m going to keep in touch with you. I need to know that you’re doing ok.”
While she appreciated this concern, it made her think. Dr. Bernard was only her boss. What would her parents say? What would her other friends say? This could be a true disaster. Just what had she gotten herself into? The questions plagued her all day. She hadn’t actually seen Dimitri in the morning before work. She’d mostly planned that part. She didn’t know what time he left, or what he did with himself in the morning. Now it was time to wonder about his evening routine.
By the time six o’clock rolled around, she was exhausted. All she wanted to do was go home, drink a nice glass of wine, and veg out in front of the television. But that wasn’t really an option…she had a permanent roommate now.
Her mind raced as to what to do with him tonight. Should she just tell him to go out? Maybe he’d want to go to a bar. Maybe he’d want to go meet some friends. He didn’t need to sit around and stare at her all night. Did she have to cook him dinner? If so, she didn’t even know what she had in the house. This entire situation had suddenly become very stressful.
But the feeling dissipated when she let herself into the apartment. She could already smell food cooking. The cabinet beneath the sink was open. Dimitri was kneeling on the floor, bent halfway under it.
“Ah, Alicia. You are home.” He got up. Alicia nodded, looking around in surprise.
“What’s going on?”
“I started chicken for dinner? That is ok?”
“It is.” Alicia was still surprised. “Um, I’m sorry, I was thinking about dinner on the drive home but I just--"
“It is no trouble.” Dimitri opened the stove, glancing in at the chicken.
“No really I--"
“Alicia,” he turned back to her, “you gave me a place to stay. Therefore, that means I can stay in this country. This is the very least I can do to repay you.”
“But what about work?” Alicia asked nervously. Dimitri shrugged.
“Shop closes at five. I can come home if I have no more to do tonight.” He reached into the oven, lifting out a pan of golden brown chicken. Alicia’s stomach rumbled. The chicken looked good.
“It’s better than that pizza I came up with last night.” Alicia
put her purse down on the counter.
“The pizza was lovely.” Dimitri put the chicken on the table. “But is not healthy for every day. This is much better, ok?”
“OK” Alicia laughed. “I’m going to go change.” Dimitri waved her away. In her bedroom, with the smell of cooked meat lingering, Alicia began to realize that she’d been a bit a silly to focus so much on Dr. Bernard’s words. Dimitri wasn’t a bad man. He couldn’t possibly be-not with how hard he was working to at least make this decent. Yes, she had to be careful, but she couldn’t make assumptions.
“My boss told me to be careful.” She put her fork into the chicken. He’d made chicken, brown rice and vegetables. She knew that he must have gone to the store. She did not keep all of these ingredients in the apartment.
“Of me?” Dimitri looked up from his own dinner. Alicia nodded.
“He said…that this was dangerous because I barely knew you.”
“It probably is dangerous.” Dimitri answered. Alicia flinched.
“What?”
“It is.” Dimitri ate a few bites of his chicken. “Women should not let men into their homes. You do not know what they may be capable of.” Alicia was staring at him. Her fork was frozen of over her plate.
“I….” Dimitri laughed.
“Do not worry.” He put his fork down on the table. “I know that this is a very strange situation.” He held out his hands seemingly in apology. “I have done things in my past that I am not proud of…but I would never hurt a woman.”
He seemed so genuine. He was either an excellent liar or a true man. Alicia gave him a faint smile.
“What they do not tell you,” Dimitri picked up his fork again, “is how dangerous the women are to move in with.”
“Hey!” Alicia wasn’t sure if she should laugh or be horrified. “What is that supposed to mean?” Dimitri shook his head. A serious look was on his face.
“I just don’t know what you might be capable of. I don’t know you very well either.” Dimitri glanced up, a sly smile on his face. “You women are tricky creatures.”
Alicia laughed this time. She felt more at ease. She began to eat her own dinner. It was very good.
“You had to go grocery shopping.” Alicia motioned to her plate.
“I did.” Dimitri nodded. He smiled at her. “I am good at many things.”
“You clearly are. I could get used to this.”
“Consider it a perk of giving me a portion of your life.” Dimitri motioned to the sink. “Oh, I fix garbage disposal as well. It no longer leaks.”
“Well thank you.” Alicia took a sip of her water. “You know, I…. was very nervous about coming home tonight.”
“I do not blame you.” Dimitri told her. “We have…a lot of adjusting to do, yeah?”
“Yeah.” Alicia sighed. “But I’m glad this is as awkward for you as it is for me.”
“Alicia, I am thirty-one years old. I moved out of my parents’ home when I was eighteen. Since then, I have lived on my own. I know nothing about living with another person.”
“Well, you hide it better than I do.” Alicia took a forkful of rice. “Do you bake too?” Dimitri shook his head.
“No. That I do not do. I shall…leave it to you?”
“I will try my best as long as you do the cooking.”
“Deal.” Dimitri clicked his glass against hers.
It was nice for the moment. Alicia wondered how long this would last. She had to tell her parents. And she had to tell her other friends.
“Maybe we should go out.” She suggested. Dimitri looked a bit caught off guard.
“Out? Tonight? There is work tomorrow. And it is almost eight.”
“No, not tonight. What about Friday?” Alicia had something that she wanted to do, and she wanted to do it while she had this type of confidence.
“Friday is fine, I suppose. Why do you want to go out?”
“I…uh…want to introduce you to my friends.” That seemed to floor him.
“You do? Oh. OK”
“I mean, we don’t have to if you don’t want to.” Alicia rushed to explain. “But I mean, we’re married. And we can’t hide in this apartment for two years. People have to know.” She was leaving out the part about not wanting to lie to people who were important to her, but that should have been a given.
Dimitri shook off his surprise at her words. She was right. Even if this marriage did not go beyond two years, they had to get themselves there and not make themselves miserable. They had to mingle with others, try to lead normal lives. Finally, he nodded.
“OK We go out this weekend.”
“Do you...uh…want to go out with yours too?” She didn’t want him to think that she was just going to keep him limited to her life. He didn’t deserve to be trapped here either.
“I have no real friends to go out with,” Dimitri shrugged. “So we will be friends with yours. We go for drinks? Dinner?”
“Do you have a preference?” She got up, beginning to collect their plates. Dimitri shook his head.
“I will go wherever you all decide.”
Chapter4
Alicia spent the next two days making phone calls, sending text messages, and worrying. She wanted things to go well-for everyone. Dimitri had been nothing but pleasant to her this week. She didn’t want him to be uncomfortable.
But then there were her friends to think about. She had to explain to them why she was suddenly married. She had to explain why none of them had been invited. Basically, she just had a lot of explaining to do. And she had to do it while not losing any of them as friends.
Katie had been her closest friend since the two had finished tech school. She’d gotten a similar job in a nearby doctor’s office. The two had lunch every now and then. Alicia had explained everything to Katie at lunch on Wednesday.
At first, Katie’s look had mirrored Dr. Bernard’s. Then she raised another question that Alicia had been dreading.
“What are you going to tell your parents?”
“I have no idea.” She didn’t. “I’m trying to think of what I’ll say, it’s just so hard.” She sighed heavily, closing her eyes. “I have no idea how I got into this situation.” She finally looked up at Katie. “Am I a terrible person?”
Katie reached across the table to take her hand. Alicia did not know when that had become her friends’ immediate reaction to a stressful situation.
“None of us know what we’re doing in this life. We’re just trying to get through the best we can.” Katie smiled. “And at the end of the day, that’s what you did. You’re a step up from some of us-you have a job and a husband.” Alicia chuckled.
“I guess that’s one way to look at it.” She pulled her hand back. She was getting kind of tired of people trying to hold it. “So you’ll come on Friday night?”
“I’ll come.” Katie assured her. “I’m curious to meet this new guy of yourself.”
Well, that was one positive. Alicia decided to deem this one a win.
In the end, one other couple agreed to come. Casey was bringing her boyfriend Ben. Alicia decided that was a win.
Dimitri had not said much about the evening. Alicia hoped this wasn’t a huge source of stress for him. She just wanted to try and make this an acceptable situation-perhaps even fun. Besides, what argument should he have? She was the one who had done him a favor.
At seven on Friday night, Alicia emerged from her bedroom. She’d tried to look nice, but not over the top. So she’d picked a pair of her nicest jeans to go with a red, sleeveless top. The top was low cut, and she’d accessorized it with a gold chain. On her wrist, she’d added a few gold bangle bracelets. She hoped that Dimitri would be ok being seen with her dressed like this.
He was waiting for her in the kitchen. He’d dressed in jeans and a navy blue polo. The shirt sleeves emphasized his muscles. The color set off his dark skin tone. She was momentarily impressed at how attractive he looked.
For a moment, the two only stood and stared at
each other.
“You look lovely.” Dimitri told her.
“So do you.” Alicia responded. “I mean, not lovely, but handsome. You look very handsome.”
“Thank you.” Dimitri put his wallet into his pocket. “Do you want to drive or should I?”
“It doesn’t matter.” It didn’t. While they both drove older model cars, Dimitri’s was probably in better shape. He was in a better position to take care of it. He drove an older model Chevy Impala, but she didn’t think that it was in good enough shape to be considered a classic car. However, from what little she’d seen of it, it seemed to be meticulously maintained. It was another way that he impressed her.
“I will drive.” Dimitri picked up his keys from the counter. “Come on.” Alicia didn’t argue. She simple grabbed her purse and followed him downstairs.
“Was it hard to get a driver’s license here?” She asked curiously. She’d never seen his driver’s license. She knew that he had one from the police station. But judging by the way his jaw hardened, she realized that she had suspected wrong.
“I still have Russian license. I have not had any problems-yet. Other than, of course….” That day at the police station. He didn’t need to say it.
“Well,” Alicia began, “you could get one now. We have a marriage license. What do you need?”
“I must take test, complete drug and alcohol awareness program.” He waved his hand. “So many steps. Americans are paranoid.”
“I guess they want to keep identification out of the wrong hands.” She tried to rationalize. Dimitri chuckled dryly.
“Alicia, I have fake paperwork and a Russian license. These were the things which allowed me into their country. I got married with them. Now I probably get driver’s license with them. If I was the wrong hands, it would not be hard.”
Alicia was silent. She supposed that she was probably in the spoiled American mode where they assumed they were safe behind the government protocols. But here she was, sitting right next to the proof that they didn’t work.
