Chapter 26

Mishka

"Idon't think I will ever forget this day," I said, giving Anton a shy smile. "Thank you."

"Thank you," he said, squeezing my hand. It felt so natural to be with him. I could not believe I had ever feared him.

He made me feel safe. Cherished. Admired. Desired.

Anton felt like a miracle. This day was a miracle. My father's treatment was going well. That felt like a miracle, too.

And something else was happening… I was blossoming. Unfolding, somehow. My music had been getting stronger since I came to live with Anton. My playing had never been better. The music room had become my favorite room in the house and was available to me whenever I had time, something Anton seemed determined to give me these days. I had more time to practice than ever before. And flowers had started to appear in the music room, filling it with a soft fragrance and beauty.

Those flowers… they felt like a kiss.

And now, for the first time, I wanted to play for someone.

I wanted to play for him.

I would tell him tonight, I decided. I wanted to make him happy, the way he was making me happy. I felt a sudden shock of fear. What if he didn't like my playing? What if he was just toying with me? What if this was all an illusion? A game?

But in my heart, I knew I was safe with him. As crazy as it was, I truly did feel safe with him. I decided to take a leap of faith. It was worth it.

He was worth it.

We wandered through the museum, looking at artifacts, bodies, the origins of man. He was especially interested in showing me the hall of gems, and asking what my favorites were. It was hard for me to choose. He pointed out some sapphires that matched my eyes and I smiled, pointing out some less extravagant semi-precious gems that were nearly the same color.

He only smiled.

"Come on, I want to show you something."

"You want to show me everything," I joked.

He squeezed my hand.

"I do." Then he smiled wider than I have ever seen him smile. "I'm just getting started."

He told me to close my eyes. I let him guide me forward. We walked at least fifteen feet, my senses reeling. I could tell we were in a large room from the way our footsteps echoed.

"You can open your eyes now," he let go of my hand and stepped away. I opened my eyes and looked around. The room was dark, with displays of marine animals all around us. He told me to look up and I did, gasping at the sight.

An enormous blue whale was suspended above us. It was massive. Suddenly, I knew what it felt like to be under the ocean, looking up to see a behemoth swimming nearby.

I felt small, but not afraid. It was a perspective shift. It was magical.

"Incredible," I breathed.

"You look like a little girl."

My chin came up and I slanted my eyes towards him. I couldn't help it. I still wanted to argue with him sometimes. And I wanted him to see me as a woman, not an inexperienced child. He just smiled wider.

"I'm not a little girl," I said.

His smile shifted, tender and hot all at once.

"I know."

Something passed between us. Something intimate, warm, and full of promise. I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself.

"Cold?"

I shook my head, still feeling a bit put out by his ‘little girl' comment. But he was right, I realized as I looked around. There were children everywhere, looking up with the same sense of wonder.

"Shall we walk back to the hotel to change for dinner? Or shall we walk?"

"Walk," I said, not wanting the day to be over. "Definitely walk."

He held out his hand and I put mine in his without a moment's hesitation.