Her grandmother looked at me with a blank expression. “I don’t know you.”
“Grandmother, this is Viktor. He was the man who helped me find grandfather.”
The women’s eyes opened in wonder. She stepped forward and grabbed both my forearms with surprising strength. “Thank you.”
I shook my head, unable to make eye contact with Blaire. “I’m sorry I couldn’t save him. I wish I had.”
Her watery eyes looked up at me. “You brought my Blaire back to me.”
I was the one who took her away from you in the first place. I couldn’t handle this conversation. “Please take care.”
With one more glance toward Blaire, I started to move away with conviction in my stride.
“Viktor!”
The sound of her sweet voice made my feet stop. I didn’t turn around, but then her soft hand was on my arm as she came around to face me.
Her eyes were wide and her lips were parted as she studied my features, much like I was drinking in hers.
“Thank you for coming today.” Her voice was so soft.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to look somewhere over her head. “I’m sorry.”
She stepped a tiny bit closer. “I figured out the mystery of my grandfather and the ship. He had left me a note with his will telling me exactly where the drive was and who to give it back to.”
She looked so beautiful to me. “You figured it out without his help.”
She was staring at me with the softest green eyes. “It means so much to me that you are here. We are having the reception at a close family friend’s home. It’s the estate directly west of our place. I would like you to come.”
I would rather crawl on crushed glass for ten miles than attend that event. “Not a good idea.”
“Please, Viktor. Out of everyone who is coming, you’re the only one I want to see.” Her voice was soft and breathless as she pleaded her case.
Who was I kidding? I had walked through hell for this woman, and now I would attend a funeral reception for her. “I can come for a few minutes.”
She let out a rush of air. “Oh, thank you so much.”
My eyes dropped to her beautiful face. This woman deserved so much more than me. It was pathetic that she had to remind me that she needed my support. Support I seemed unable to give her. My shame made me look away again.
Someone appeared beside Blaire and touched her on the shoulder. “Blaire, your grandmother is asking for you.”
She spoke with incredible composure. “Thank you so much. I’ll be there in a moment.”
She turned back to me. “I need to talk to you. At the reception. Just for a couple of minutes, please?”
I was so drawn to her. Would my darkness swallow all her light? It had done a good job of that so far. The kindest thing I could do for her was disappear from her life, but when she looked at me with such vulnerability and hope, it folded me at the knees. “I promise I’ll be there.”
She rewarded me with the sweetest smile. “Thank you, Viktor.”
When she turned to walk away, this time it was me who turned to watch her, not moving until she had disappeared back into the church.
When I got into the passenger’s side of the car, Andrusha looked over at me. “How did that go?”
“We’re going to the funeral reception now.”
“I can drop you off.”
“You’re coming with me.”
Andrusha shook his head. “No—oh, no. That is not an option. I promised Olivia that I would make her waffles as soon as I got back. She’s already made the sauce. And she has whipped cream.”
I yanked my tie loose from my neck. “I’m not doing it alone.”
“Fuck me.” Andrusha started the car and he shot me a dark look. “I’m only doing this because you saved my life.”
The thought that I was cockblocking Andrusha with a funeral reception made me smile. “Shut up.”
“The things I give up for my fucking friends.”
“What kind of sauce?”
“Chocolate.”
“Don’t worry, I’m taking you to a place almost as good—you can eat as many egg-salad and tuna sandwiches as you want.”
He laughed out loud at that one. “Fuck you.”
We couldn’t see the home of the family friend from the road. The entire estate was lined with twelve-foot walls, and each car that passed through the iron gate was being checked against a guest list.
We were one car back, waiting for the line to move.
Andrusha broke the silence. “I’m expecting some fancy fucking sandwiches at this joint.”
“I think they’ll deliver.”
“Imagine having an exclusive guest list for your funeral.”
“There were hundreds of people at his service. At my funeral, I’d be lucky to fill the first pew.”
“You think just the first pew?”
“It would be touch and go.”
“What about the guy who works at the bakery? He likes you.”
“Gustav moved to Winnipeg to be closer to his daughter. She’s expecting twins.”
“What about the two waitresses at that diner on West Broadway? I bet I could convince them to show up.”
“The Starfish Diner?”
“Yeah.”
“That place closed last year.”
“Damn—did it really?”
“I go to Sunny’s on Fifth now.”
“Any good?”
“Well, it’s not waffles at home, but the coffee is usually hot.”
“From you, that’s a glowing recommendation.” He snapped his fingers. “What about that barista at the smoothie place? She likes you.”
“You’re going to order your Berry Blast and then ask if she’s free to come to my funeral?”
“Yeah, maybe.”
I nodded slowly. “She might come.”
“I bet if I offered enough free booze, people would show.”
I could feel the smile on my face. “You know, that might be your most thoughtful gesture yet.”
“I try.”
I put my hand on my chest. “I feel fuzzy inside.”
He lost the game first by laughing.
It was our turn to approach the gate. The guard ducked down to look at us both and then in the back seat. “Name?”
“Viktor Mikhailov and Andrusha Sokolov.”
He scanned his iPad. “Sorry, you’re not on the guest list.”
“This is a sign,” I told Andrusha. “We shouldn’t be here. Time for you to get some chocolate sauce.”
Andrusha told the guard, “Ask Blaire Asterdam.”
“She’s not to be disturbed, sir.”
Andrusha used his I’m-not-fucking-around tone. Which worked on everyone, including the guard. “Ask her.”
We watched the guard disappear into the guardhouse to phone the main house.
I tried to tempt Andrusha into turning the car around. “Waffles, chocolate sauce and whipped cream—all calling your name.”
Andrusha looked over at me. The guard had annoyed him. “We’re going to this damn reception if we have to crash it.”
The guard stepped out of the booth and waved Andrusha forward through the gate.