Page 4 of Special Agent Anastacia

On tiptoes, Anastacia waved. Being that she was tall and slender, reaching over the people next to her, she got noticed. Then she felt silly. But was glad she’d done so when Hanna’s eyes flew to hers and palpable relief blazed from tired blue eyes. Eyes that suddenly filled and drew Anastacia forward in time to open her arms to the youngster who so obviously needed their security. Hanna clung tight, her body heaving with relief for seeing her cousin.

In that very instant, Anastacia accepted a simple truth. Family mattered. And Hanna was family. The moment they touched; Hanna became one of the most important people in her world.

The same mushy, protective heart that made her such a good agent understood this silent oath. Never again, would she allow anyone to hurt this precious young girl.

Chapter Three

Back home with her happy mom, Anastacia and Hanna spent the rest of the morning visiting with her and awkwardly catching up with girl’s news from Poland. Never once did they broach the subject uppermost in all their minds – the death of Hanna’s parents – Daniela and her loving husband.

Nor did they talk about the death of Mariupol itself. The beautiful city no longer existing because of the actions of the vicious maniac who ruled Russia.

It wasn’t the time nor the place to bring that particular herd of elephants into the open. Not until Hanna felt reassured and ready to share would they delve into her past.

In the meantime, they plied the girl with good food, many stories of their community, and pastimes that were foreign to Hanna. In the following days, visiting local attractions such as Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Hollywood and Vine, and driving around the sights of the famous city kept them busy. Exhausted,they’d spend evenings at home watching various TV shows which also became part of their entertainment.

Not owning a television at her own place, Ana respected her mother’s reliance on her many television sets too much to dis her addiction to the TV screen, her habitual form of entertainment. Agreeing to join in for movie nights, she even watched some of her mom’s favorite news shows that constantly played in the background. Ones that spent a fair amount of time presentingBreaking Newsand updating details about the war in Ukraine.

Thankful that her mother was careful to turn the channel when Hanna appeared, Ana often found herself caught up in the rhetoric and feeling sad for what the people were suffering.

Almost immediately, Hanna caught Diana reaching for the remote and realized what her aunt was doing. “Please, Titka, don’t change the channel. I want to see what’s happening in my country.” Begging them not to shelter her from the truth, Diana hesitated.

Seeing this, Hanna reiterated. “Let me watch. I can’t be protected forever. I need to see what is going on with my people.” Her blue eyes beseeched. Then her next words terrified. “One day, I swear I’ll return and help in the fight for our freedom.”

Alarmed and still hesitating, Diana’s eyes flew to Ana, seeking her input.

Anastacia sensed the importance to Hanna, knowing without a doubt that the girl would find another way to get the news she craved. So rather than forcing the girl to sneak around, she nodded her agreement. From that moment, Diana left the remote on the table.

Within a short time, they accepted they had a problem. Hanna became glued to the screen all hours of the day and night. Twice, Anastacia had been roused in the middle of the night fromthe distant sounds of people talking and found Hanna cross-legged, sitting close to the screen where they were updating the audience about the ongoing fighting in Ukraine.

Standing back and spying on the teen as more and more horrible images appeared, she saw Hanna’s clenched hands beating viciously on her knees and copious tears streaming, dripping off the girl’s flushed cheeks. That’s when she herself faced the truth about how unhealthy the behavior must be. This impressionable fifteen-year-old needed to heal, not be reminded constantly of what she couldn’t change.

Her mother finally took the initiative. “Ana, darling, I think we made a grave error in deciding Hanna could deal with watching the news. I’m very sorry but I feel strongly that we need to get her away from this influence.”

Relieved that her mother had noticed the problem too, Ana nodded. “I agree, Mom. But it’s hard to refuse her permission to watch TV when they’re all over the house, basically right in front of her. What can we do? Hide them away?”

“No. I don’t know. But, she’s becoming unhealthy, even paranoid… so unhappy she cries herself to sleep every night. I can’t handle much more. What if you take her to the cabin for a while.”

“Me? You mean just the two of us?”

“Yes. Yes, it’s best that way.”

“Mom, the cabin hasn’t been used since before Dad died. Because of the memories, you’ve refused to go there. Remember? It’ll be a mess.”

Her mother’s expression disintegrated from thoughtful to distressed. “Honey, after I lost your dad, I fought off a breakdown… and a dependency on wine. It took everything I had in my sorry soul to stay calm. I’m not a strong person like you. Thankfully, you take after your father, even choosing the samekind of career. I’m weak, a coward.” Diana sniffed, her hands wringing, fingers clawing and gripping.

“You aren’t weak, Mom.” She remembered the words she’d heard her father often say. “Just a soft-hearted darling.” Ana hugged her awkwardly… never being the one to normally instigate displays of affection. In fact, she seldom needed to. Her parents had always been first to reach out, and the responding came easier.

Looking extraordinarily pleased, Diana continued, “Your father used to tell me that all the time.” Her smile slowly fading, she kept arguing. “Honey, I don’t know what else to do about Hanna’s grief.”

Ana took a few moments to think about the idea and finally spoke. “So you’re saying you want us to leave you here and go there now. And you’ll be okay with that?”

“It’s the only thing I can think of for Hanna to have a place to heal with no outside influences. You know your dad always refused to have a television there.”

“True. He knew your obsession with watching what he called the idiot box and told me more than once that he preferred to spend time hiking, fishing, and bonding with the surrounding nature.”

“You mean doing the things he loved. And while he was alive, I admit to being thrilled about it. But with him no longer with us, I can’t think of anything I’d dislike doing more.” She grimaced to prove her point. “So, I’m thinking it would be better for you and Hanna to go alone.” Watching Ana’s face close down, her way of hiding her true feelings, she added, “I’m sorry, honey. I can’t go with you, not yet… maybe never.”

“I get it.”But did she?

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