by BWWM Club
“I am happy. Maybe when she’s older but right now I have to make sure my daughter is happy,” Jordan hedged.
“She’s not a little girl…I’m sorry I guess this is really none of my business.”
“No it’s okay. What about you? I’ve been here almost two months and…” she trailed off awkwardly.
“No there isn’t anyone. Not for quite some time,” he chuckled.
“I find that impossible to believe. You’re handsome, brilliant. I mean have you seen yourself? You have a great career, this amazing house. You’re funny and thoughtful. I’m surprised the women aren’t knocking down your door.”
“I guess I’ve been waiting for something more,” he said gazing at her intensely.
Jordan’s breathing sped up by the way he was looking at her. She swallowed hard.
“So what are you reading?” she asked indicating the books behind them to cover the awkward silence.
Dimitri smirked, recognizing the change of subject.
“War of the Rats by David L Robbins. One of my favorites. You’ve read it?”
“No I haven’t.”
“They made a movie. Enemy at The Gates.”
“Oh I love that movie,” Jordan stated.
“Then you would love the book. Would you like to borrow it?” he asked.
“That would be nice.”
“Good then we have something to talk about over dinner.”
“I don’t know if everyone will want to talk about books over dinner,” Jordan joked.
“I was thinking maybe just dinner you and I.”
“I’m your employee…”
“It’s not a date. Just dinner.”
“Oh. I didn’t mean to imply it was a date.”
“Relax Miss Hill. Come with me to dinner. Think of it as a reward for a job well done.”
“Okay.” Jordan agreed softly.
“Good. I look forward to it.”
Jordan accepted the book he handed her and wished him a good night. She bit her lip nervously as she tried to get some sleep. She wondered what she had just agreed to.
*****
The next morning, Jordan and Shay were happy to discover that Olaf and Andrei had put up a Christmas tree. There were boxes of decorations and everyone had fun trimming the tree while they nibbled on jam filled cookies and tea. Another surprise they discovered was in Russia they didn’t celebrate Christmas on the 25th. The school only broke for break early because of the amount of foreign students. In Russia they celebrated on January 7thth. Dimitri explained they normally didn’t put much emphasis on Christmas but rather on New Year’s Eve but were celebrating this way for Jordan and Shay. When Shay found out about the Russian traditions she surprised Jordan by asking to wait on presents until New Year’s.
On New Year’s Day Dimitri regaled Shay with tales of Ded Moroz, a figure similar to Santa Claus.
He taught her how to say ‘S Novym Godom’ the traditional Russian New Year’s greeting.
He knew how much Shay loved history and reading so he gave her a book on the imperial balls of Russia.
Jordan got her a new phone with international text messaging, the laptop she wanted and new clothes. Katya and Ivanna got her a makeup kit to the delight of Shay and the protests of Jordan.
On Christmas Eve, which was January 6th for them, some of the staff fasted although they didn’t make Shay or Jordan do it, but they participated anyway, until the first star appeared in the sky. Once the star appeared they shared a traditional Christmas Eve dinner, of wheat porridge with honey, poppy seeds, raisins and chopped walnuts followed by borscht, vegetable pies and sauerkraut.
The next morning when Shay and Jordan came down for breakfast they were greeted with cries of ‘rah-zh-dee-st-VOHM’ and ‘Merry Christmas.’
Overall it was a very pleasant holiday and by the time Shay returned to school, it started feeling like home to them both. Shay also promised that she would make more of an effort to make friends which made Jordan very relieved.
The night before Shay was to return to school Jordan decided that as a special treat she would make lasagna for everyone to thank them for making the holiday so special for her and her daughter. She dressed carefully that night, selecting a light blue sweater and a pair of black trousers that hugged her every curve. She took the time to straighten her hair and apply her makeup.
She was a little jumpy as she waited for Dimitri to show up. He had been gone all day and she hoped that he would like her gesture.
Around seven the rest of the staff sat around the tale. Ivanna and Katya helping to bring out the dishes. Soon after everyone began serving themselves.
“Should we wait for Mr. Vladikov?” Jordan asked.
“He will not be joining us tonight,” Ivanna said simply.
“He won’t?” Jordan inquired, the disappointment clear on her face.
“We’ll save him some lasagna,” Ivanna said with a knowing smile.
Although the atmosphere was festive as everyone had dinner, Jordan wondered where Dimitri was. She had gotten used to his presence these past few weeks. It seemed strange to see his chair empty.
It turned out that Dimitri was called away on assignment and would be gone for the next few days.
Rather than go into the office, Jordan decided to work from home for the remainder of the week. On Thursday after she had finished working and was relaxing in her room, Ivanna knocked on her door. She informed her that Dimitri would be returning shortly and had asked if she, Jordan, wouldn’t mind retrieving some paperwork from his desk. He needed to look them over before his meeting the next morning. She wondered briefly why he didn’t call her directly.
She made her way downstairs and entered Dimitri’s office, she had never been in this room before. She felt like she was intruding in his private space. She knew he often retreated to his office when he didn’t want to be disturbed otherwise he spent time in the library. It was an unspoken rule that if he was in this room he was to be left alone. She felt a little pleased that he trusted her enough to allow her in there.
When she opened the heavy door the first thing she noticed was how the place smelled exactly like him. Strong hints of his cologne lingered in the space, woodsy with hints of citrus and spice. She inhaled deeply, unwittingly.
She was surprised by how much she liked the room. It was a mix of classic and modern, kind of like Dimitri himself. The desk was old, possibly an antique, made out of oak. Yet the couch was modern and plush. The room itself was airy and well-lit although heavy dark green drapes framed the windows. There was a large stone fireplace that was the central feature in the room and Jordan could imagine how cozy it would be on a cold night. On the wall were several contemporary paintings and in one corner a large television was mounted on the wall. Jordan could see why Dimitri would feel at peace in here.
Suddenly her cellphone rang jarring her out of her peaceful musings. It was Dimitri. He informed Jordan that he would be there shortly and asked if she had found the files. He asked her to wait for him in his office.
She found the files in the cabinet and placed them on his desk. While she waited Jordan wandered over and looked at the pictures lined up neatly on the fireplace mantelpiece. There were a series of pictures of Dimitri and another boy at various ages, she assumed it was his brother, although he never mentioned having one. She smiled when she saw a young Dimitri with a sweater and corduroy pants. He had his award winning smile even then. Then one of him graduating from college with the same boy. He looked the same, except maybe without the gray streaks in his hair. She didn’t see any pictures of his parents or any other family members. She had been his assistant for four months now and he had never mentioned his family, which was curious seeing that family was so important to him. One picture of a younger Dimitri standing outside of a nondescript building next to a smiling nun caught her eye. She picked it up and was examining it when Dimitri entered unexpectedly.
“Sister Marta,” he said as he noticed the picture he w
as holding.
“Oh hello. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to snoop,” Jordan apologized.
“No worries. It wasn’t like they were locked away in my safe,” he joked.
“You went to a Catholic school?” Jordan inquired.
“Not exactly,” Dimitri said cryptically.
“Hmmm,” Jordan said placing the picture back on his desk.
“Come sit with me,” he said gesturing at the couch.
Jordan obeyed and sat on the couch while Dimitri sat in the armchair.
“I realize we don’t really know much about one another,” he said with a frown.
“There’s not much to tell,” Jordan hedged.
“I find that hard to believe. Tell me about your childhood.”
“That’s something I would rather not discuss,” she said softly.
Dimitri stared into Jordan’s eyes contemplatively. After a while she looked down to avoid his piercing glare.
“Well I’ll tell you about mine,” he said after a while.
Jordan looked up expectantly.
He continued to look at her, a little furrow building between his brows.
“Are you hungry?” he asked suddenly. “I didn’t eat on the plane.”
“Um…kind of. I don’t know if Katya has made dinner yet but I can make you something, like a sandwich or whatever,” she said with a tinkling laugh at the sudden change of subject.
“No grab your coat. There’s a little tavern not too far that makes the best beef stroganoff,” he said. “I’ll meet you in the car.”
When Jordan hesitated Dimitri laughed.
“It’s not a date Ms. Hill. It’s just dinner.”
Thirty minutes later they sat in a quiet corner of a cozy restaurant, huge steaming plates of beef stroganoff and crispy potato straws before them.
“This is delicious. You know this is not what it tastes like in the US,” Jordan said between bites.
“Yes. In the US they never add the mustard. It’s what makes it taste so good. I’m glad you like it.” Dimitri said with a grin.
“Thank you for bringing me here,” Jordan said.
“So I said I would tell you about my childhood. It’s not an easy subject for me either,” he said suddenly serious.
Jordan sat up, surprised by his sudden change of tone.
“My childhood was both happy and unhappy,” he began. “My mother was young I was told. She died giving birth to me. No one came to claim me at the hospital and that’s how I ended up at St. Luke’s home.”
“I’m so sorry,” Jordan whispered.
“I shared a room with fourteen other boys but it wasn’t all bad. The woman in the picture? That’s Sister Marta. In many ways she was like a mother to me.”
Jordan listened intently, she didn’t want to interrupt.
“For a while I dreamt about a family coming to claim me, to bring me home and make me their son. But by the time I was about six, the people who came weren’t interested. They only wanted babies. Then Viktor came. He was and still is my very best friend. No, my brother. And I realized that he was my family.”
“Is that the boy in the picture with you?” Jordan asked.
“Yes. We grew up together. Graduated college together. He lives in Moscow now, an attorney.”
“I never realized how similar we are,” Jordan began.
She told him about her childhood, about her aunt and having Shay young. In a way it was therapeutic. She never spoke about her past to anyone before but Dimitri was easy to talk to.
“I purchased that home because I wanted to fill it with children. To have a family, beside Viktor, he has a wife and she’s about to have a baby. I was asked to be godfather,” he said with a huge grin.
“So why didn’t you? Fill it up with children,” Jordan asked shyly.
“I just never had the time. Or met the right woman. Maybe one day I’ll adopt. What about you? Do you want more children?”
“I never really thought about it. I have never gotten close to someone since Shay was born to even consider it. Maybe in the right situation,” she pondered.
They stayed for a few more hours, talking, about life and Shay and everything in between until the waitress nervously came over biting her lip to ask if they were ready for the check, as the dinner rush was about to start. The time had gotten away from them.
The next few weeks were better. True to her word, Shay made more of an effort and soon were thick as thieves with two of her classmates, Oksana and Yana. Both daughters of Russian diplomats they spoke fluent English and they helped Shay with her Russian. They often came over for study dates. Many times when Jordan went to check on them she would hear Shay reciting Russian words.
Shay also became enamored with everything to do with the imperial balls and the book that Dimitri had given to her. She often spent hours perusing the book and looking at the pictures. Frequently Shay would regale them about details of the balls, and especially of the famous ball of 1903 that was held in the Winter Palace. While everyone smiled and nodded, Jordan felt that they, like she was hoping that Shay would tire of her new obsession.
“Did you know that it was considered to be the last spectacular ball in the history of the empire?”
“I think you’ve told me that. Yes, Shay,” Jordan answered wearily.
The exceptions to this however was Oksana and Yana who it seemed was as equally fanatical since Shay introduced them to it and, surprisingly Dimitri. He was as fascinated on the topic as Shay was. As much as she grew exhausted of the constant stream of facts, she enjoyed watching the two of them peruse the internet looking at the spectacular costumes.
*****
One weekend he surprised them with tickets for a guided tour of The Winter Palace which was right in St. Petersburg. He had invited everyone but only Shay and Jordan wanted to go.
They spent the day being led through the massive structure which was also now the Hermitage Museum and plied with information by their tour guide. The amusement of Shay and Dimitri even made Jordan eager as they looked at the art collections. She had to admit the place was even more spectacular than she imagined.
They wrapped their trip up with a visit to the Hermitage Gallery souvenir shop where despite her protests Dimitri bought Shay another book, filled with pictures of the Winter Palace, an entire collection of postcards, a Russian nesting doll and a chocolate Fabergé egg.
Dimitri also loaned Shay many of his Russian history books which she found immensely fascinating.
Shay was not the only one benefiting from his extensive collection. He would loan Jordan some of his favorite books and then later after she read them the two would discuss them in the library, usually over several cups of tea or at dinner at the small restaurants in town.
The rest of January and February flew by uneventfully. Jordan felt her feelings growing for Dimitri but she squelched them away because she didn’t think he could feel the same way about her. Other than the careful wall she built up against Dimitri, things in Russia were going well. She allowed herself to be drawn in by him, as a friend but didn’t let her thoughts go beyond that boundary, even though at times it was difficult.
Early in March the last school day before Shay’s spring break, they were celebrating Shay’s good grades on her exams by having an elaborate family dinner prepared by Katya and Jordan. Dimitri seemed to be in a great mood. His laughter was infectious and Jordan had to admit that it felt good to have so many people who cared about her daughter.
“I have a surprise for you both,” Dimitri announced at dinner suddenly.
“A surprise?” Jordan inquired.
“I have business that takes me to DC and it just so happens to coincide with Shay’s spring break. So I've gotten us all tickets,” Dimitri gushed.
“Are you serious?” Jordan asked incredulously. “That's too much Mr. Vladikov. The tickets are so expensive.”
Shay, who had been unusually quiet piped up, “Mom please, please, please can we go? Please mom.”
“I guess,” Jordan hedged. “But you have to take it from my check,” she insisted.
“I will not. That's the idea behind a surprise Ms. Hill.”
Dimitri and Shay tried their best to persuade her, both looking at her with pitiful pleading faces. When she still seemed unsure Ivanna, Katya, Andrei and Olaf began pleading with her. She couldn't help but laugh.
“Okay fine. But I have to take you to eat at our favorite restaurant. On me,” she insisted.
“Deal,” Dimitri agreed.
Shay squealed.
“I have to go call Morgan,” she said running up the stairs.
“And pack,” Dimitri called after her. “We leave in the morning.”
He turned back to Jordan, “I guess we all need to pack.”
“Yes. I guess I should go do that,” she said.
She was halfway up the stairs when she turned back to Dimitri.
“Thank you,” she said gratefully. “This means so much to her. To me too.”
“You’re very welcome,” he said with a smile.
Chapter 4
The next morning, they boarded a plane headed to DC and eleven hours later the plane taxied into Dulles. The trip was far different from the trip Jordan and Shay had taken to Russia. For one thing, Dimitri had paid for first class tickets. For another, Shay was animated and excited. Her and Dimitri kept up an ongoing banter whenever they weren’t sleeping. Jordan had to admit she liked seeing them together, they were so similar and Dimitri resorted back to a child in Shay’s presence and Shay seemed more like her normal self around Dimitri.
Jordan had planned on staying with Paula but Dimitri had gotten them adjoining suites at a hotel. Instead Paula and Morgan would be spending the weekend with them where Shay and Morgan could take advantage of the indoor pool.
They arrived at noon but the jetlag was apparent. They were still operating on Russian time. Shay laid on the bed complaining about how tired she was. That was until Jordan informed her that Morgan was on the way, then she was bouncing off the walls in anticipation.
