Chapter 10
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�Get me away from him Nick, far away�� I followed as closely as I dared in order to overhear anything that might be said. It was in vain as those were the last words spoken until Dominic had sat mom down on a park bench about halfway between his house and mine. The bench was situated on a hill, giving it an amazing view, and was shaded by a large, easily climbed, tree. Nick left briefly and made a quick call on a nearby payphone before returning to Mom�s side. �Are you sure she�s mine?� Nick asked softly. �Yes.� Mom buried her face in her hands, muffling her words. �Why didn�t you tell me? You know I would have stayed if I�d known.� �I wanted you to stay for the right reasons�I needed you to stay because you loved me, not because you knocked me up. I was constantly hoping that you would show up at my door, apologize, and tell me that you�d made a mistake. You never did. And then you broke up the partnership. Never in my wildest dreams could I have guessed that move. It was at that point I gave up hope. I didn�t want to be a single mother� I didn�t want to be all alone. I didn�t want to explain to Andrei or to the press that I didn�t know who the father was. I mean, what would it have looked like! Me, living with Andrei, and yet sleeping around! So the day after you left, I crawled back into his bed. A few weeks later, I told him I was pregnant and that he was the father. He didn�t care enough, even then, to accompany me to the doctor�s and so he never knew what the due date was or anything. I guess I was lucky.� Dominic remained silent, and his expression conveyed his struggle to comprehend and absorb Mom�s explanation. I myself was delighted. I finally understood Mom�s motives, something that I had been unable to do through the diaries. All my questions now had clear-cut answers. I was content. �When you left, I threw out almost everything that reminded me of you. Katia was the only thing I allowed myself to keep,� she murmured, �And now I don�t even have her.� Her hunched shoulder began to shake with suppressed sobs. Dominic slid a large hand under her chin and tilted her tearstained face up to him. Slowly, giving her ample time to stop him, he leant in and brushed a tentative kiss over her lips. The tears didn�t halt in their downward track but a hesitant smile grew. His touch seemed to lend Mom the strength that she needed. She straightened up and swiped the back of her hand across her cheeks. �We have to find her. You call the police�� �I already did. They can�t do much other than alert the men at the border to be on the lookout.� �So what do we do now?� Mom inquired, sounding like a lost little girl. This was going too far. I had accomplished what I�d set out to do and already succeeded beyond my wildest dreams. �Mommy?� I called, sliding down the thick trunk. �I�m not lost.� My feet had barely touched the ground when I was crushed into a suffocating embrace. �Why would you do something like that? You scared me to death you little goose!� She drew back slightly, in order to see my face. �It�s a long story�� I replied, stalling. �And we look forward to hearing all of it young lady.� Dad interrupted. I sighed theatrically. �Fine, but can I tell you while we walk home? I�m really hungry.� As if to emphasize me point, my stomach grumbled loudly. My parents nodded. Dad slung an arm around mom�s shoulders and grabbed my hand. �See it all started when I found your 2003 diary.� �You read my diary?� Dad demanded, equally shocked and outraged. �Shh,� Mom breathed in his ear, �Let her tell her story before we punish her.� �Punish?� I questioned shakily. My parent�s laughter danced through the morning air as we headed home to start our new lives � together. At last I had the family I�d always dreamed of.
