Chapter 30

After the family ate breakfast together the next morning, Anna helped Jackie clear the table of the dishes. If she stayed away from Vlad, maybe he’d forget she was around and leave her alone. “Is there anything I can do to help today?”

Anna had one year of Thanksgiving experience behind her; the Thanksgiving she’d spent with Ben’s family. Katherine had taken command of the kitchen the whole day and Anna had helped where she could. She wasn’t very good in the kitchen, but had learned a few things.

“Oh, you’re so sweet.” Jackie smiled as Anna brought a stack of dishes to the sink. “Do you have any family traditions from growing up we could try to incorporate?”

“No.” Thanksgiving had been like any other day with Jack and she didn’t remember much from her parents. Her mother didn’t have any traditions and her father... well, Immortals didn’t usually have families.

Jackie gave her a kind look. “Peter said your upbringing was kinda rough.” She smiled. “Don’t worry, I have enough to fill the day.”

Nina and Natalya were in the kitchen as well, and they laughed.

“Poor Jackie has had to teach me all about the American traditions,” Nina said. “I am becoming quite fond of them. I like coming out here this time of year. For one, I do not freeze.”

Anna laughed. “I was in Germany in December and I remember it was absolutely freezing. But St. Petersburg gets much colder, I understand.”

Nina nodded. “Oh, yes. I would consider a German winter to be very mild.”

“What were you doing in Germany?” Natalya asked.

Anna bit her lip. How did she answer that? She picked up a cloth and began wiping the table down. “I was... visiting someone. It was a few years ago.”

“Is your family German?” Nina asked.

“No, they’re...” Anna smiled. “They’re Russian, actually. My grandparents settled in the Russian part of San Francisco when they emigrated. But not Russian Hill.”

“Really? That would explain why we get along so well.” Nina laughed. She’d been very nice to Anna both last night and this morning. “Do you know where they are from?”

Anna shook her head. “No.” She hesitated. “My parents died when I was twelve.” She worked her rag at a sticky spot on the table, glad she had an excuse to not look up.

“Oh, that must have been difficult,” Jackie said. “I’m so sorry.”

Anna shrugged.

“Who raised you?” Jackie asked.

“My guardian, Jack. He was a—?” She pursed her lips. “A family friend.”

“Are you close to him?”

Anna stared at the table and chewed her lip, trying to decide how to answer the question. “I don’t like him.” She was surprised she’d said the words aloud. She’d never dared before.

“I didn’t mean to bring up unsettling memories, Anna,” Jackie said. “Forgive me.”

“It’s okay.” She finished wiping the table in silence. Nina changed the subject, talking about her daughter’s upcoming wedding. Anna didn’t pay much attention. Instead, she immersed herself in memories of Alex and his family.

Jackie kept Anna busy all day. She peeled potatoes and cut up fruits and vegetables. Jackie and Nina made pies and Natalya helped with both. Anna handed Nina a bowl of cut apples and Nina caught sight of Anna’s wedding band.

“What a pretty ring. May I?” Nina reached for her hand.

Anna nodded timidly and held her hand out for Nina to see.

“Is that a... oh, what is it called in English... poesy ring, I think it is called?”

Anna nodded again.

Nina looked at her thoughtfully. “Are you married?”

Jackie and Natalya both stopped and looked at her.

“I was.” She pulled her hand away and rubbed the ring, wincing at the memory. “He died.”

“When?” Nina asked softly.

“Two-and-a-half years ago. We were together for less than three months when—when it happened.” She looked away to hide her tears.

“What was his name?”

“Alex.”

“Was he German?”

Anna looked at Nina, surprised at her question. “Yes.”

Nina frowned. “Excuse me a moment, will you?” She hurried out of the room and Anna looked at Jackie.

“Did I do something?”

Jackie shook her head. “No. I don’t—I don’t know what’s wrong.” She smiled. “Those apples are perfectly cut. Do you cook a lot?”

Anna smiled, thankful for the change of subject. “No. Peter and I eat takeout or microwave meals. Though he cooks occasionally.”

“You live together?” Natalya asked with wide eyes. “But I thought?—?”

“Nati, why don’t you ask Papa to pick out the wine for tonight?”

“But Mama?—?”

Jackie raised her eyebrows at her daughter, and Natalya dutifully turned away and went in search of her father.

“I’m sorry if I said something I shouldn’t have.” Anna shook her head. “I... I’ve been told I’m socially awkward.”

Jackie smiled at her. “Don’t worry about it. You’re doing fine. I’m sorry if we ask you uncomfortable questions. We just didn’t know you and Peter were so serious. He only told us you met when he came back here.”

Anna sighed. “Yeah. It’s . . . complicated.”

Jackie changed the subject and after Natalya returned a few minutes later, the mood in the kitchen lightened.

Vlad strode silently into the kitchen about a half hour later. “Nina apologizes, but she is not feeling well and has decided to take a nap. She is hoping to make it for dinner, but we will have to see.”

Jackie frowned at Vlad. “She was fine earlier.”

“A sudden headache.” He glanced at Anna and then left the room as silently as he had entered it.

Jackie stared at the entryway where Vlad had just left with a puzzled look on her face, and then sighed. “Well, Anna. Would you like to learn how to make an apple pie?”

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly. Jackie showed Anna how to roll pie dough and prepare it for filling. Anna was amazed at how complicated it was, but enjoyed it all the same. Her apple pie wasn’t nearly as beautiful as Jackie’s pies, but it smelled good and Anna was pleased with the result.

When the turkey came out of the oven mid-afternoon, Anna helped set the table and set out the many dishes of food. She grinned, proud of all she had done to help, and felt better than she had in a long time. The men came in a few minutes later, along with a pale Nina, and they all sat down.

Dinner was delicious. Peter teased Anna quietly that he would have her start cooking back home.

Anna helped clear the table after everyone finished and she took a pile of plates from Nina and smiled. “Are you feeling better?”

Nina looked at her with sad eyes and nodded.

Vlad spoke sharply in Russian and Nina hurried away. The rest of the evening, Nina kept quiet and avoided any contact with Anna. Anna wondered what she had done to upset Nina. Or Vlad, as was more likely the case. She knew Vlad didn’t like her. Maybe he didn’t want Nina liking her either. Or maybe he was concerned that Anna would tell Nina about what had happened the night before?

Later in the evening, when it was time for dessert, Anna beamed when her apple pie disappeared before any of the others. Jackie praised her, and Anna blushed and hid behind Peter.

Vlad narrowed his eyes. “You made this?”

“Yes.” She glanced at Jackie, a warmth filling her chest. “With Jackie’s help. I... couldn’t have done it without her help.”

Vlad stared at her for a moment, then continued eating the pie without another word.