As we wait for our drinks, I find myself scanning the crowd again. “Is Melor here?” I ask, trying to remember which of Agafon's brothers I haven't spotted yet.
“Working,” Katya says. “He practically lives at the office.”
“Rurik?”
“Over there,” Tatiana points to him standing near the beer pong table.
“Oh, right,” I squint against the sun, and suddenly, in this moment, I know there’s no better time than now to ask the question that’s been haunting me. Right now, the question would seem organic, without an agenda.
I hesitate before asking, “And Nikandr?”
The sisters exchange a quick look that I almost miss. The bartender places our drinks in front of us, and I take a sip of mine, acting casual.
“Nikandr doesn't come to family gatherings,” Katya finally says, her voice restrained as though she’s reciting a fact.
“Why not?” I press. “Is he working too?”
Tatiana shakes her head. “Nikandr left the family a few years ago.”
This catches me off guard. “Left? As in...?”
“As in walked away from everything,” Katya elaborates. “The business, the family, all of it.”
“No one knows exactly why,” Tatiana adds quickly. “Agafon kept the reasons private. Said it was between him and Nikandr.”
“And then Agafon decided to marry you,” Katya says cautiously. “Which was... unexpected.”
I feel a prickle of unease, realizing that, of course, his family has some inkling of what happened with Agafon and me. For some reason, I naively believed they didn’t know of my existence.
But of course, I don’t plan to sit here and enter this conversation. I am curious about why Agafon left, but that conversation doesn’t seem appropriate to have. Not after what Katya said about how unexpected they thought Agafon and our union was.
To me, though, the marriage is nothing more than a strategic move after Mark killed Charlie.
I want to press further and explain our marriage, but this is a conversation for somewhere more private.
“I think I need another drink,” I say, pointing at my glass.
“Me too!” says Tatiana, and just like that, the topic changes.
“Oh, by the way.” Katya brightens, “This is a pool party, after all. Did you bring a swimsuit?”
“I didn't know I was coming until an hour ago,” I remind her.
“We can lend you one,” Tatiana offers. “We have plenty always kept handy for guests.”
“Sure,” I say to the sisters. “Why not?”
As I follow them inside, my mind churns with new questions. What really happened with Nikandr? Why did he leave the family? And most importantly, will Agafon ever be as open with me if I ask?
I have a feeling the answers won't come easily. Something tells me he’ll simply shut me down.
Chapter 12 - Agafon
The water splashes around me as I launch cousin Ivanka’s youngest son into the air. His delighted shriek travels far, and even more children come splashing over, eager to play.
I laugh as one of my nieces, Alisa, crawls up to my neck and tries to push me underwater. She’s so tiny and light, but for fun, I pretend to go under and drown. Little kids shriek and laugh, then pull me up with gentle hands, talking about how I might be dead.
I burst out laughing. “Tricked you!” I say to Alisa. “And you!” I tickle Yara. “And tricked you to!” I turn to tickle Kira.
