Raisa knelt down before Zoya:
– Talk to me.
There was the sound of a key in the front door. Leo entered, red-faced and rushed:
– I’m sorry…
Raisa replied:
– You’re in time to read to the girls.
Zoya shook her head:
– Can I talk to you first? To both of you?
– Of course.
Leo entered the kitchen, pulling up two chairs, sitting beside Zoya:
– What’s wrong?
– I’ve always told Elena everything. Since I got back she’s been so happy, I don’t want to spoil that. I don’t want to tell her what happened. I don’t want to tell her the truth. I don’t want to tell her that I left her alone.
Zoya began to cry:
– If I tell her the truth, will she forgive me?
Though he wanted to, Leo did not yet feel he could put an arm around her. He said:
– She loves you very much.
Zoya looked up at Leo, then at Raisa:
– But will she forgive me?
The three of them turned to the doorway. Elena was standing in her nightgown. She’d only been home for a week and already she’d transformed, gaining weight, the color returning to her skin.
– What’s going on?
Zoya moved toward her:
– Elena, I have something to tell you.
Leo stood up:
– Before you do, why don’t I tell you a bedtime story?
Elena smiled:
– One that you made up?
Leo nodded:
– One that I made up.
Zoya wiped away her tears and took hold of Leo’s hand.
