When he finally stops behaving like a hyena, he finally answers my question, “It would matter to everyone but you, dear, that I grew up this poor.”
Thankfully, he left out my mention of marriage.
“But why?” I hadn’t ever considered how much money his parents had, “You can easily provide for a family with the position you’ve been offered. What is there to worry about?”
“Ah, I could kiss you!” he exclaims, making a fire burn in my cheeks as I look at my lap. I could kiss you, too, if it wouldn’t land us in prison.
We are silent long enough that I can compose myself.
“So,” I risk looking up at him and see no sense of shame or embarrassment now, “can we discuss the real problem now? That hand holding.”
He furrows his brow, “I thought our parents were discussing that right now. What is there to do besides wait to hear their decision?”
“Well, their decision,” I lean into the word with distaste, “is to do nothing and hope the problem just disappears. So I’m not really on board with letting them decide anything for me at the moment.”
“They must have a reason, though,” he starts, but I interrupt him before he can continue.
“If they do, they won’t tell me. All they keep saying is, ‘it’s better this way than accidentally alerting the police ourselves’ or something. Which makes no sense.”
He lets his eyes wander the room as he considers the options.
“I’m not sure,” he finally replies. “Maybe they are right.”
I’m fairly certain my eyes are popping out of my head as I stare straight into his eyes, my mouth slightly open. “How on earth could that be right, Alexei? You might end up in jail if we aren’t careful here.”
“And you might end up in jail if you start tampering with evidence in what might become a police investigation,” his voice is firm but quiet. “I won’t have you going to jail to save me from some minor offense.”
“Well, then,” I smile at him, “What if neither one of us actually did anything?”
“Then we’d be doing just what our parents ask,” Alexei furrows his brow in confusion. “Was it not you who said that was a bad idea?”
I love him, but he can be really dense.
“No,” I stare at him to see if he is understanding me, “I mean what if we can convince someone else to do it?”
“And what are we convincing this someone else to do, exactly?” He isn’t understanding me at all, so being direct is probably the only option I have. “What if someone else got rid of that video footage of what happened? With no evidence, there is no case.”
His mouth is open in response when the footsteps in the hall signal the return of our parents. We are forced to drop our conversation and pretend we will abide by their decision. I search his face for any indication that he might agree with me, but he gives me none.
I guess I am in this by myself, then.
We stand up and exchange the usual pleasantries before we are escorted to the door and our coats and gloves are returned to us. As we are about to leave, I feel Alexei stand behind me, closer than he should.
“I love your idea, Maria,” he whispers into my ear, “I know someone who can help.”
I guess I’m not alone after all.
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