Chapter 28

Kimberly

I ’m sipping on my sixth cup of coffee this morning, trying not to show how shaken I am as I sit across from Abigail in her apartment. Thankfully, she was discharged from the hospital after only one night, and apart from a faint whiff of smoke coming from the smoldering remains of what used to be my home, her place is otherwise unscathed.

After witnessing the horrors at Yaroslav’s, I immediately packed a bag of only essentials and left, making it seem as though I was just going out for the day. No one stopped me when I said I couldn’t sleep, and that I wanted to visit my grandmother. Of course, I was provided with a car to drop me off, but I insisted that I would be out all day and that I’d call a cab home. It was far too early for visitors when I arrived, and I wasn’t up for seeing anyone just yet, so I walked around the impressive grounds, trying to figure out what the hell Gran and I are going to do now.

After visiting Gran, I decided that I would come home to see the damage for myself. After everything I witnessed this morning, I no longer know who to trust. I need to see it with my own eyes to know that my home is truly gone.

As I stood sobbing outside the place I used to call home, I asked myself what the hell I should do now. Where can I possibly go? And how the hell did I get myself into this mess?

Will Yaroslav even let me leave? I doubt it, if he knew what I saw. And yet, there’s an overwhelmingly big part of me that still trusts him. I don’t think he’d hurt me, despite what he might be capable of. Despite who he is. Am I crazy for thinking that?

Abigail found me, gently guiding me into her cozy house and instructing me to sit on the couch as she brewed a strong pot of coffee. Now, as I sip the hot, sugary coffee, she sits calmly watching me.

“I’m sure it must be quite a shock, seeing the place like that,” she says sympathetically.

“Yes, I admit. I have no idea what to do now, where will Gran and I go?” I reply, choking back tears.

“I thought you were staying with this gentleman friend of yours and that he was taking care of your gran’s living costs too?” she asks, frowning slightly with concern.

“I was… I am… it’s complicated.”

She tilts her head sympathetically and I’m grateful that she doesn’t push the issue by asking more questions. “Well, you and your grandmother are more than welcome to stay in my spare bedroom for as long as you need. It will be a tight fit with all of us here, but we can make it work.”

“Thank you, Abigail, that’s incredibly generous of you,” I reply, overwhelmed by her kindness. “But I’m sure I will figure something out.”

Despite everything, I believe Yaroslav when he says he will look after Gran and me. As much as I love Abigail and feel safe here, I need space to think through what to do. What will I even say to Yaroslav if I decide to go home?

Home . Already I’m thinking of his place as my home. How can I even contemplate going back there after what I saw? And yet I am.

“Sorry Abigail, I’ve just remembered I’ve got some errands to run in town,” I lie. “It was great seeing you, and thank you again, for everything,” I add as I get up and head for the door.

“You’re welcome here any time, dear. Oh, will you do me a favor if you’re nipping into town?” she asks. “Would you mind taking this prescription to the pharmacy for me? It usually takes them a day or two to get it all together, so it saves me an extra trip in battling the traffic,” she explains, grabbing her purse and handing me the prescription slip from inside.

“Of course,” I agree, taking it from her, “That actually reminds me, I should go there anyway and update my number on their system, I haven’t gotten around to it yet.”

“Thank you, honey, see you soon.”

“Bye Abigail,” I call as I head out with renewed purpose, now I have something to take my mind off things, even if only for a while.

***

The mundane task of getting the bus into town and going to the pharmacy feels jarringly normal compared to the scene I witnessed this morning. In fact, it feels surreal compared to the past four weeks. I’ve been living in a fairytale, but it turns out Yaroslav isn’t Prince Charming, he’s the big bad wolf. The worst part is that I only have myself to blame. It’s not like he didn’t warn me. Sure, he didn’t outright tell me ‘Oh, and by the way, I’m a crime boss who has a torture dungeon in my basement’, but he wasn’t exactly pretending to be Mr. Nice Guy either.

I’m so deep in thought that I almost miss my bus stop. I race to get off, pushing past passengers and apologizing profusely as I scramble to leave.

“Kimberly, long time no see,” the kindly pharmacist Mr. Green greets me when it’s my turn at the counter. “I hope your grandmother is alright?” he says with concern.

“Hi Mr. Green, she’s doing well thank you. She’s currently staying in a care facility, so they’ve been taking care of her medication. I’m just here to drop off a prescription for a neighbor and update my number on the system.” I hand him Abigail’s paperwork.

“I’m glad to hear it,” he says with a genuine smile, taking the slip from me, “Please tell Mrs. Williams her prescription should be ready in a couple of days, we’ll call her when it’s in.”

I nod, “Sure thing.”

“Now, let me just pull up your records and we can update that number for you,” he adds, clicking away on the keyboard. He surveys it for a moment before speaking, “Hmm, well it’s a good job you came in to do this, it says here your doctor’s office has been trying to get hold of you to book an appointment with your OBGYN. Says you’re six weeks overdue your contraceptive shot, shall I book that in for you now?” he asks.

I shake my head, confused, “That can’t be right, I’m sure my shot isn’t due for another couple of weeks at least.”

“Not according to this. You’re in luck, they can squeeze you in the day after tomorrow at two if that suits you?”

“Um, sure,” I reply distractedly, racking my brain and wondering how this could have happened.

“Alright, that’s all booked in for you Kimberly, can I help with anything else,” he asks, oblivious to the fact that I’m about to freak out.

“No, thanks Mr. Green,” I reply, turning and heading toward the exit.

How the hell can I be six weeks late for my contraceptive injection? I always set reminders in my diary. But of course, that was all on my old phone. And with everything that’s been going on it just slipped my mind. It’s at this moment, I realize with dawning horror another thing I’ve missed. My period. I haven’t had one the whole time I’ve been staying with Yaroslav. I’m at least two weeks late.

Is it possible? Could I be pregnant with Yaroslav’s baby?

I need to take a pregnancy test and find out for sure, the sooner the better, but I don’t want to get one here, not from Mr. Green. He might be kind but he’s also rather conservative and a bit of a gossip, everyone would find out in a flash.

As I head outside, hurriedly walking in search of the closest, anonymous CVS, my phone rings. Almost by divine coincidence, it’s the one person I can confide in calling, my closest friend.

“Amelia, I’m so glad you called,” I answer, sounding a little out of breath I’m so flustered.

“Coulda fooled me, I’ve not heard from you in ages, I thought you’d forgotten all about me, now you’ve gotten yourself a rich boyfriend,” she replies, her tone implying she’s only half joking.

“You’re right, I’ve been a terrible friend. I’m sorry I’ve not been in touch more,” I reply honestly.

“Oh, that’s okay, I’m just teasing. With a man like Yaroslav, I can’t blame you for being distracted. Are you at his house now? What’s it like? Where is it? How are things going with him? Tell me everything,” she asks excitedly.

“Things are… complicated,” I explain, not knowing how much to tell her but desperately wanting my friend’s support.

“Complicated how? What happened?”

I decide not to go into any of the mafia things and stick to the current, easier-to-explain issue at hand. “Well, I just found out that I’m six weeks overdue my contraceptive injection, and two weeks overdue my period,” I admit.

“Oh my god, do you think you’re pregnant?” she asks excitedly.

“I don’t know, I haven’t taken a test yet, but yes, maybe,” I say, the truth finally starting to sink in.

“Well, that’s one way to lock down a rich man, Kimmy!” she says jovially, “What did Yaroslav say?”

“He doesn’t know yet… it wasn’t planned. And I most certainly wasn’t trying to lock him down. It will be up to him how much he wants to be involved,” I say, remembering how he said that, in this eventuality, he’d want full custody.

“You’re not thinking of getting rid of it, are you?”

“No, of course not, I could never do that. But aren’t we getting a bit ahead of ourselves here? I don’t even know for sure if I am pregnant yet,” I say, trying to be the voice of reason, even though the more I think about it the more certain I am.

“Well then, what are you waiting for? Where are you? I’ll come to meet you, and we can take the test together,” she asks.

“Thanks, Amelia, but I think I need to do this alone.”

“Nonsense,” she starts. I don’t hear what else she has to say because it’s at that moment I spot Yaroslav’s sister, Marta, coming out of a nearby store.

“Sorry Amelia, I’ve got to go, I’ll call you soon and tell you how it goes,” I say, hanging up the phone amidst her protests and dashing across the street.

“Marta!” I call out.

I’m not sure why I’m approaching Yaroslav’s estranged sister, but right now, she seems like my best bet to find out more about him and to decide what the hell kind of family I might be bringing a child into.

She turns and her face breaks into a warm smile as I approach her, “Kimberly, what a wonderful surprise. Is Yaroslav with you?” she asks, looking around hopefully.

“No, sorry, it’s just me. How are you?” I ask, praying she isn’t in a rush to be somewhere.

“I’m good, thank you, it’s great to see you again. Would you have time to perhaps grab a coffee somewhere?” she asks, looking at me hopefully.

I try to hide my joy that she just suggested the one thing I was nervous to ask. “I’d love to.”

“Excellent, I know a great little place nearby. Shall we?” she says, gesturing for us to walk toward it.

I nod and happily follow her lead. We make polite small talk as we walk, both too uncertain and shy of each other just yet to talk about what we both really want to ask the other. I just hope Marta is the ally I need in the Volkov family right now and I’m not about to walk straight out of the fire and into the proverbial frying pan.