Page 70 of Prince Charming

“That sounds like wonderful fun, baby. What English have you learned today?”

Lily was going to be studious, she was voracious with books. Counting to ten in English with only two slips, Marianna praised her daughter until Lily giggled. “I’m so proud of you, my Lily-pad.” Her hopes and prayers were, if…when… she could get her children here, they wouldn’t have too big of a transition when they went to school.

Marianna did all the talking with Pasha. “You are being so grown up, my Pasha, I love you so very much. Will you give Lily andbabushkaa big hug from me?” He didn’t reply, and in the next moment Galina came back on the phone. “Thank you for my hug, Marianna.” He was so small, so much shyer than Lily. “He’ll come around.”

“Will he? He shouldn’t have to, Galina. I’m the parent. He shouldn’t have to be brave and strong. I should be there to tuck them into bed, to take them to the park and make dinner.”

Sipping coffee, maudlin and in her feelings, she turned her head when she heard Tag on the stairs a little later.

Slack jawed, she felt the hot clutch in her stomach. Wearing only a pair of black boxer-briefs that left little to her already fertile imagination.

“You’re awake early, darlin’.”

Marianna cleared her throat, then poured him a coffee. A hand on her chin stopped her tracks. She watched his smile appear as his head descended and Tag brushed his lips on hers.

“Hey.”

Flustered, she turned around to finish his coffee. “Oh. Hi, Luke.” Their fingers brushed with the cup exchange and she trembled. To fill the silence, she told him, “I spoke to my children.”

“That’s good, darlin’. How are they?”

“Good, I think.” She explained what happened.

Another kiss. He squeezed her hip. “Your boy will come around, Anna.”

Most days she could remain optimistic. Digging deep, she found an extra store of hope.

Turning to Tag, she found his light eyes on her, “can we go for a ride on your motorcycle, please?”

His two brows shot up. “Now?”

“Da.”

Understanding his bewildered look. It was a little after 6 a.m. Then he nodded. “Sure, Anna. Let’s get some clothes on, or we’ll freeze to death.”

Ten minutes later she was wearing a pair of Tag’s gloves and a scarf he curled around her neck five times under her coat.

Clinging tight as a sloth, she yelled for him to go faster, catching his laughter over the engine and bracing breeze.

He took the corners swiftly, making her feel as though she were weightless.

It was pure magic.

On a straight part of the road, Tag increased velocity, and she locked her thighs in place and held her arms out straight, turning her face up to the sky and smiled.

One day she’d be free again, and it would feel amazing.

Like all good things in Marianna’s life, it came to a halt all too soon as Tag slowed and pulled into a row of stores. She was about to ask him why, then saw the reason as he cursed and switched off the engine.

Across the street, his friend was slouched over his knees on the curb, looking exhausted. Oh, dear. Seven a.m. Was the man drunk?

Tag stepped down from his bike and turned to her. He looked regretful. “Sorry, Anna. I gotta check he’s okay, can’t leave him out here.”

“Of course you can’t,” She nodded, “Is there something I can do?”

“Nah. Won’t be long.”

They were too far away for her to hear. Tag went down on his haunches, put a hand on the other man’s shoulder, their heads close together.

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