“Are you kidding? I already feel that way about your child. Family blood runs thick, that’s for sure.”
“I’m glad you told me about Grigoriy, Max. I’m sorry you have to suffer his bullshit for our sake. Does Angel know?”
“Absolutely not. I can’t tell her.”
“She’s no fool. She’s bound to figure it out sooner or later.”
“I guess I won’t have a choice but to tell her the truth then and hope she doesn’t tell me to take a hike.”
“You’d better figure something out before that happens.”
“I’m fucked, Inessa. There’s no way out for now. I’ll have to say a good few hail Mary’s and suck it up. I just wanted you to know. I’m sorry. I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer.”
“Please, don’t apologize. I love you. You are the best brother any girl could ask for.”
“Yeah, remember that when you have to drive vast distances to visit me in prison,” I snorted.
“I’d rather kill Grigoriy before I see you in prison, Max.”
“In that case. Know anyone with a concrete boots business?” I grinned.
“I can make a couple of calls,” Inessa said and winked.
“I love you, Inessa.”
My sister squeezed my hand.
23
ANGEL
My life was pretty perfect, apart from Max’s occasional distant stares. He was coping well, I thought, under the circumstances. Vlad came by the house more often, socially, joined by a lovely girl, Anna.
According to Max, it was a first. I knew Vlad was a cad when it came to women, but I couldn’t help liking him anyway. Hey, I wasn’t dating him. Anna was a sculptor, a little odd, but sweet enough.
I was far too busy enjoying the pregnancy to allow anything to spoil my buzz. One of the lucky few who didn’t have to deal with morning sickness and all the ailments with which most pregnant women were often afflicted, I glowed.
My days were spent bouncing between ensuring that my work was done well and surfing the net for pregnancy sites and newborn baby advice forums. It was amazing what a newbie mom could learn with a little help from Google.
Max and I were on our way to the OBGYN for my second scan. I couldn’t wait to see our baby again. I was about five months along, so the doc would tell us the sex if we wanted to know. We were still discussing the merits of knowing.
“Okay, so have we decided?” I asked Max while he was driving.
“I think so. Yes. We have.”
“You’re not going to chicken out, are you?”
“Me? Never.”
“You’d better not. I’m so excited. I feel like a kid at Christmas.”
Thankfully we didn’t have any paperwork to complete when we arrived at the doc’s. I could barely sit still while we waited to go in.
The nurse smiled as she watched my leg bouncing up and down.
“Your first?” she asked.
“Is it that obvious?” I grinned.