Chapter 19
“As I told you before, I spent three years in the gulag,” Alexei said in a matter-of-fact voice.
“I thought I dreamed that.”
“No, little mouse. That is the truth.” 4
Alexei’s townhouse, master suite
Monday afternoon
“What would you like to do?” Sean asked.
“What would you be doing if you weren’t stuck with me?” They were in the master suite where Donal quickly put on socks after the nurse changed his dressings.
“I’m certainly not stuckwith you and neither is Kane. We are here because we want to be. Normally, after our lunches, I go to the studio. I’m a potter. I made that vase with the coiled clay sides.”
“That’s beautiful. I wish I had your talent.” Sean brought over the vase so Donal could examine it.
“What do you do, Kane?”
“Colin writes and Ian paints, but I only…”
Sean interrupted. “Kane does the most important work of all of us, he teaches.”
“What would you do, if you could do anything?” Kane asked Donal as he took the vase and handed it back to Sean.
Heat crept up Donal’s face. “I’d do something with music. I used to love to sing and play the piano, but I haven’t practiced for seven years except on the floor of my cell.”
“You’re still very young. You only need a four-year degree to teach,” Sean told him. “Kane, why don’t you take him with you to school one day and show him what it’s like?”
“I’ll do that. Maybe one day before the holiday.” Kane raised his eyebrow. “Would you like that?”
“Oh yes. The holiday? What holiday?” Donal asked.
Kane smiled. “Spring break occurs at the Equinox. Sometime around the twenty-first of March.”
Donal frowned and then he blurted out, “Why do I feel so attracted to Alexei? I’ve never been attracted to anyone. Is it because he’s been so kind?”
“That’s probably a good part of it now. See how you feel in a few days and we’ll discuss it.” Kane looked around the room. “There is a chess set. Do you play?”
“No, I never learned.”
“Let me set it up. Sean and I will teach you how, and then you can play with Alexei.” Kane took out the chess set and put it on the table in the breakfast nook.
As they played, Sean and Kane questioned Donal about his life.
“After I left home, I never planned ahead. I was too busy trying to get through the day alive.” A tear dripped down Donal’s cheek. He wiped it with his sleeve. “I’m so emotional. All the time Apuso had me, I didn’t cry. Now that I’m free, it seems that’s all I do.” Sean gave Donal his handkerchief.
“You endured while you had to and are now letting go because you’re safe.” Kane moved his knight to capture Donal’s bishop.
“Damn, I should have seen that.” Donal pressed his lips together as he concentrated on the board.
“Where did you come from?” Sean asked.
“Albany. I saved and bought a bus ticket to New York. Apuso picked me up at the Port Authority. I had money, about two thousand dollars. It was from Christmas and birthday presents and my savings account. He told me he’d hold it for me so I wouldn’t be robbed. I never saw it again.”
“That bastard.” Sean clenched his fist.
“Whatever I do after this, I’m going to work so I can have my own money. I don’t ever want to be without my own funds again. I want to be free.”
“Even though our husbands are rich, we all work at something. As you know, Colin writes the shifter novels, but he is also defending his Masters at NYU. Ian has a house painting business and goes to school full time, I teach and Sean makes and sells his pottery. We are not prisoners. We are guarded for our safety, not because our husbands fear we will escape.” Kane faced Donal in earnest. “It’s important that you understand that.”
“Even though I haven’t experienced much love, I can see that you love your husbands and they love you.” Donal patted Kane on the hand. “It’s an I-know-it-when-I-see-it thing.”
“You’re very bright,” Kane observed as he moved a pawn and took one of Donal’s.