15
Sadie
two weeks later
“Where are we going?” I asked for probably the seventh or eighth time, my hand held dutifully over my eyes even though it made me sick to my stomach from all the twists and turns Mikhail took way too fast in his Tesla.
“Malysh, if I tell you, it won’t be a surprise anymore.”
“If you don’t slow down, I’m going to leave a surprise in your car,” I muttered, but he only laughed.
“We’re almost there — just a little bit more.”
When I couldn’t take it any longer and was about to lodge my final protest, the car braked. I felt Mikhail put it in park.
“Okay. We’re here.”
There was a whoosh of wind over my face, and I flinched. “What are you doing?”
“Sorry. Just making sure you weren’t peeking.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“Keep your eyes closed. I’ll get the door.”
I had half a mind to at least try to figure out where we were, but I supposed I could wait a little longer since I’d come this far. I jumped as the door opened beside me, and I couldn’t suppress a shiver as warm hands reached across me to unfasten my seatbelt and help me out of the car.
I realized I trusted him with my life — and loved him with everything I had.
“Ready?”
With my eyes closed, I could hear the waver in his voice. Mikhail was actually nervous about whatever this was.
“Open your eyes.”
I blinked at the brightness of the day — the sun was trying its best to shine through the clouds — and realized with a jolt where we were.
The abandoned estate by the ocean. “Misha…” I squinted. “I think you’re about to be disappointed.”
“What do you mean?” he asked. “Don’t you recognize it?”
“Of course I do,” I said, but studied it anyway. The old place actually looked nice. And I noticed that the chain-link fence was gone. “I tried to come here a little while back. I think somebody’s bought the place.”
Mikhail gave me a funny look. “Why were you here?”
I ducked my head and blushed. “It was, um, after we fought. About the triplets.” I gestured stupidly. “There was a fence here, but it’s gone. I don’t know what’s going on. Why are we here?”
“You came here when you were upset with me?” Mikhail’s expression softened. “Malysh…”
“Stop.” I laughed, embarrassed, as he hooked an arm around me and planted a kiss on the top of my head. “Don’t make a big deal about it. It was a moment of weakness. Anyway, we should get going. Don’t want to get the new owners suspicious. Could you imagine us trying to answer the question of why we’re here? What would we even say? ‘Yes, ma’am, we hooked up on the floor of one of the many rooms and conceived our kids here.’”
“Sadie, we’re the new owners.” Mikhail held me out at arm’s length and studied my face. “I bought this place.”
I shook my head. “I don’t understand. It’s been under construction for so long. And this place was a dump.”
He grinned at me. “Never ask me how much it was to keep this thing from tumbling into the ocean. It’s perfectly safe, now, of course, but it would’ve been easier to start from scratch.” He peered up at the house, shielding his eyes as the sun found its way through to shine on us. “I didn’t want to tear it down. Too many good memories.”
“You’re telling the truth, aren’t you?” I asked in wonderment. “You really did this.”