Page 77 of Notes About Vodka

“Oh, Valerie, I get it.” Laura’s laugh starts as a giggle but then she snorts as the sounds escapes. She’s lost in a fit of hysterics. No one has ever laughed that well at my joke. And even though she sounds like a hyena right now, I want to kiss those happy tears begging to fall from her eyes.

Then, we all lose it for a moment. You ever have the time where someone laughs, then you laugh, and so does everyone else. It doesn’t matter if the joke, or whatever happened was funny. It’s just that the cycle continues. And what you think you are done laughing, there you are, bent over again.

That is us as Laura tries to finally pull herself together, onlyto lose it once more and we all follow, compelled to dance her tune.

Rhea finally brings us back to the conversation. “Ya’ll, chill. It’s not that funny. But okay, it might be a little. But back to the next question, what brought you here, to the United States when you could have gone everywhere if you are in an exchange student program?” she asks, genuinely curious.

“Well, Rhea, my dad thought he had a great idea, or at least, he believed he did. A friend of his knew a church where there were families sponsoring students. They never had a Russian exchange student and wanted to help me get an American education. Which meant at one point playing football as a left tackle, hosting Sunday school lessons, and having the chance to become fluent in another language. Like I said, I came here for high school but then I decided to stay for college. I was only supposed to be here for that one year for 10thgrade, but after going home to Sochi, I convinced him to let me return for my last two years," I explain. "But then, my host family moved us, and right after I enrolled in a junior college in Jersey, I forgot to renew my paperwork. There was some family drama happening on both ends of the world. I went from being an exchange student to stuck in limbo—somewhere between legal and illegal as a college student.

I really don’t know how to fix it, and honestly, I’m terrified. I already told Laura, but being undocumented…as much as I want to go home, I also want to be able to come back here… it’s difficult because I may not be able to return. And I’m afraid that if someone finds out about my status, I’ll be deported. Simple as that. So I keep my head down, take my classes, go to work, and try to have a life.”

Rhea looks at me with sympathy. “That sounds tough and it sucks. But at least you are stuck here, with my girl. You haveus, too, now by the way. Laura’s smart, she will help you figure out the paperwork situation.”

Laura looks up at me and smiles, I almost forget how to breathe her eyes dazzling in the low light of the bar. “So, science, I’m actually curious, too, because you didn’t answer Rhea’s second question. I know you told me your story, but tell my friends why are you in chemistry and molecular genetics if you are not going to medical school or doing research like me?”

I answer Rhea first, “It is tough, and I really like being stuck here, with you,” I admit, looking at Laura.

“And I’m actually studying science and hospitality. I believe food can make people healthy, unlike the American diet, which I believe is increasing the frequency of people with diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular problems, not to mention the episodes of ADHD and other neurodiversities. We need to have food that we enjoy and doesn’t harm us, therefore, I need to know the science, even if it is killing my GPA right now.”

Laura smiles. “You’re passionate about this.”

“I am,” I say, feeling a connection deepen between us. “I want to open a place where food isn’t just delicious, but also good for you.”

“Tell us more about Sochi,” Laura inquires as she leans onto the top of the table with her elbows. That dress of her shows off her tiny, but perfect cleavage. “Something, I don’t know yet.”

Does she realize my heart is beating so hard all of a sudden because it wants to be closer to her?

“Well, let’s see… The upcoming Olympics are going to change everything there even though we were worried at first. My dad says the economy is already shifting,” I begin, my fingers reaching across the table to gently tangle my fingers with hers. “Sochi is really more than a city but a state and Adler, the city hosting the Olympic Stadium is this beautiful city by the Black Sea, with a mix of palm trees and snow-capped mountains if you travel inland a few miles. It’s like you get the best of both worlds.”

Laura’s eyes light up with curiosity about the pieces she hasn’t heard yet.

But it’s Rhea who asks, “That sounds amazing. What’s it like living there?”

“Living in Sochi is incredible. You can spend the morning skiing in the mountains and the afternoon swimming in the sea. But it’s not just Sochi or Adler that’s beautiful. The surrounding areas have their own charm. I once took a train through Tuapse, where they have this massive gas refinery. It’s an industrial town, but the train ride was something else. You go through these tunnels and along cliffs with breathtaking views of the sea before spilling into factory after factory.”

Laura moves closer, adjusting her seat so she is now next to me and leaning her head on my shoulder. “And what about beyond that?”

“Well, after Tuapse, I traveled up to Krasnodar, where the sunflowers take over the horizon. It goes to infinity in all directions and when the sun is overhead, the petals are every shade of yellow, orange, and red.”

“Wow,” Laura breathes, her voice filled with wonder. “It all sounds so magical. Have you been to Moscow?”

“Yeah, Moscow is something else. The Kremlin, Red Square, the onion domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral, they’re all just as impressive as you’d imagine. But what I really love is St. Petersburg, especially at Christmas. The city is covered in snow, and the lights make it look like something out of a fairy tale. And don’t get me started on the white nights in Karelia during the summer—it’s this region in the northwest where the sun barely sets. You can walk around at midnight, and it’s still bright as day. I went fishing once with family at one in themorning and sure, the world was still cold as fuck, but the sun just skirted the edge of the ocean the entire night.”

Laura’s eyes are wide with fascination. “I can’t imagine that. It must be so surreal.”

“It is. Karelia is all lakes and forests, and during the dark nights, there’s this ethereal quality to everything. It’s like you’re in a dream. Like that one series about mountains and three stars you love so much. When you read that one part, I swear you were describing Russia.”

Laura sighs contentedly, “Thank you for sharing all that with us, Val. It sounds like you’ve had some amazing experiences.”

I smile, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “I have, and I hope to share many more with you. Maybe someday we can visit these places together.”

She looks up at me, her eyes shining with something I can’t quite place. “I’d like that,” she whispers.

“And I’d love another shot!” Skipper announces, breaking us from the moment.

The night goes on with laughter, dancing, and too many drinks.

Laura’s laughing, tipsy, and just relaxed enough that I start to think maybe tonight she will finally let go completely, admit that she loves me, too.

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