Gabriella and Jonathan have been amazing. They have shared their food rations with Leonid and me and have been there for moral support. They have even helped with the rent. They are good friends and good company, and during times like these, it is so important to have friends, people you can trust. Gabriella has been very supportive and has done everything she can to help me find work. Any time she hears of a position that has become open, she tells me about it. But with every prospective job, I go to apply and find I arrived too late, that someone has already been hired or I am not qualified.
After spending weeks looking for work, I pay a visit to Gabriella, feeling discouraged.
“Hello, my child, any luck today?” she asks.
I lower my head. “No, nothing.”
“Have patience. my love. Something will come up.” She comes over and gives me a hug. “You are strong, young, and very attractive,” she says. “There must be something out there for you.”
Her words strike a chord, and although it is not the most respectable job I could obtain, it is a job I know I can do. I know what I must do.
Gabriella and I visit for the remainder of the afternoon, while the whole time, I am making plans in my head. I do not share my plans with her, at least not yet. I must have it all figured out before I speak of it to anyone. After visiting with Gabriella, I return home and begin moving forward with my plan. Mikhail would be disappointed in me if he knew what I was thinking, and I don’t even want to think about what my parents would say. But right now, I need to survive.
“Leonid, where might I purchase some fabric?”
“Fabric? Why on earth would you want fabric? Yekaterina, we have to worry about paying our rent and buying food.” He gives me an incredulous look as if to say, “Have you lost your mind, child?”
“Because, I must make myself a dress. A fancy and elegant dress. These peasant clothes will not do.”
“Forgive me, Princess, but I cannot allow you to purchase fabric for a new dress.” Leonid has been managing our finances since Mikhail passed, and he ensures that we do not overspend or overindulge. We have to keep our leaking roof over our head and food on our table. “We do not have enough money for you to make a dress. We can barely feed ourselves.” He rolls his eyes. “And where on earth will you wear a fancy dress anyway?”
“Never mind, I will find some money on my own. I know you don’t understand, and I will not tell you why, but this is something I have to do,” I say. I turn with purpose and walk out of the flat. I have come to realize this is the only way. I will be damned if he is going to stop me.
I hear Leonid’s words as I leave. “Yekaterina, wait!” But I do not listen as I continue to walk.
I know Gabriella will help me. She will understand. I go across the hall to her flat and knock on the door. When she answers and gestures for me to come inside, she asks with a giggle, “Back so soon?”
“Gabriella, I really need your help. I have a plan that will remedy my current situation, and right now, you are the only one who can help me. Things are getting so bad; I can no longer go without work. You and I both know there is a way I can earn money. You even said it before, I am young and attractive. That has to account for something, right?”
She gives me a sideways glance, and I am pretty sure she knows where I am going with this.
“But forgive me, as I don’t mean to insult you, but I am wading in unknown waters, and I need some guidance.”
“Anything, child, what do you need?”
“I need a new frock, something spectacular. Something to catch the eye of a wealthy man.”
She scoffs. “Oh Lord, Katerina. Are you thinking what I think you are thinking?”
“Like you said earlier, I am young and attractive. Why not put that to use? I plan to sell myself, and I will put food on our table and hopefully pay you and Jonathan back for all you have done for us. Can you loan me some money for fabric so I can make a dress? You know I am good for it.”
“Katerina, I don’t think this is a good idea, child. You are Russian nobility, darling. Please do not throw your life away.”
“And this life is so much better? I should have stayed with my parents and died with them!” I retort back angrily. “I am so sick of struggling to eat. There has got to be a better way, and if I have to do it on my back, then I will. Besides, I have nothing left anymore.”
“Well, at least you have your self-respect.”
“Self-respect is overrated when you are starving.” I walk toward her and reach for her hands. “Please help me,” I plead.
“What would your parents say?” She hesitates. “What would Mikhail say? He would not want you to sell yourself.”
“He saved my life. He would want me to survive. And that is exactly what I intend to do.” I cock my brow. “If you will not help me, Gabriella, I will find a way, with or without your help.” I am determined to see this through, and if she won’t help me, I will find someone who will.
She holds both my hands in hers. “Are you sure this is what you want?” she questions. “Once you go down this path, you can never look back.”
I understand her concern, and frankly she is right. I will lose all self-respect, but at this point, I have no other choice.
“It is. I’m tired of living like this and so very tired of starving. I promise I will pay you and Jonathan back. Please,” I beg.
She nods and leaves the room. Is she refusing? I am relieved when she returns a few seconds later with a gown in her hand. It is the most beautiful French gown I have ever seen.
“Oh!” I exclaim. “Where on earth did you get this?” I gently pass my hand along the beautiful satin and sequins.
“You are not the only one around here with a past,” she says, holding the dress up. “Will this work?”
“Gabriella, it is perfect! Do you think it will fit?”
She holds the dress up against me. “It may need a few alterations, but I think after I work my magic, it will fit you perfectly.”
Relief washes over me. I honestly did not know where I would turn if she would not have helped me. “Thank you, Gabriella.” I hold the dress and admire the beautiful beads and sequins adorning it. Looking over at her, I say, “You and Jonathan have been so good to us. I promise I will repay you for your kindness.”
“Do not worry about that. Now go try the dress on so I can see where it needs altered and, more importantly, before Jonathan returns.”
I do as she says, and when I come back into the room, she is holding a pin cushion. She begins to work, pinning and tucking here and there. She steps back and looks at her work. “That should do it. Now go change, and I will get started on making it your dress.”
I return with the dress in hand and hand it to her. She takes it and sits at the table. A sewing basket is sitting on the table, and she pulls a needle and some thread from inside it. I watch her intently as she threads the needle, and I realize it is a good thing she had a dress because frankly, I would not have known where to begin to make one myself.