Bobby looked sharply at her. “Did it help you?”
Cassie nodded. “I think so.”
“That’s all that matters.” She turned back to her icon corner. “When I’m done here, we’ll make the borscht.”
16
KATYA
Ukraine, December 1931
“Fetch your sister and bring her back here to live,” Mama said.
Katya looked up from the coat she was mending. “You want Kolya and Alina to move in here?”
“Of course. It makes sense that we all stay together now that Alina’s time is so close. What if the baby comes and only Kolya is there to help? He doesn’t know the first thing about helping a woman in labor. She needs to be here. They can have my bed. It will give them the most privacy. I’ll sleep with you.”
“Yes, Mama.” Katya wondered what Kolya would think of having his privacy in the first year of his marriage consist of a sheet hanging across the length of his bed. It did make sense, though. It would be easier to have them all in one household. “I’ll go talk to them this afternoon.”
“Don’t just talk, Katya,” she replied. ‘‘You tell them. You tell them I said it would be what’s best for the family. Don’t let Kolya’s pride stand in your way.”
Katya kept her eyes down on the mending, her response monotone. “Yes, Mama, I won’t let him stand in my way.”
“He’s a good boy,” she went on. “He takes good care of her, provides well. But he has no idea of what taking care of an infant would be like, or, God forbid, having to deliver a baby if we’re snowed in. No, they should come here as soon as possible, and probably stay for a long time. Maybe for good. That makes the most sense.”
Katya continued sewing as her mother prattled on. Lately, she’d found the mindless, repetitive movements of mending clothing soothed her. It wasn’t until Katya could feel her mother’s stare boring into her that she realized Mama had stopped talking. She jerked her head up and said dutifully, “Yes, Mama.”
“Well, what are you waiting for, then? Go now! Some exercise and fresh air will be good for you and your baby.”
“Oh, of course,” Katya mumbled. “I can do this later.” She pulled herself awkwardly to her feet. She still had a few months left before she was due, but Alina’s time could be any day now. She pulled on the unfinished coat. No matter. The rip in the sleeve was small and wouldn’t bother her too much. It was better to go now and appease her mother.
She tromped through the snow to Alina and Kolya’s house. Since they had joined the collective, life had only become harder for all of them. They worked tirelessly, but still never seemed to have much food at home. Their small vegetable garden had helped, but for the first time in their lives, they had issues with people stealing the vegetables right from the yard.
Before the Soviets overtook them, Mama had run a strict household. The house sparkled, food filled the home, and the only time she sat was in the evenings when she did her needlework. Her hands created the most beautiful designs with a needle and thread, and her work was well known throughout the area. Rushnyky and pictures with birds, flowers, and trees detailed in tiny stitches still adorned the walls of their home, but Katya hadn’t seen her mother create anything new since her father had been arrested.
Now, she wanted Katya to tell Kolya to abandon his family home and come move in with his mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Katya almost smiled as she imagined his reaction, and the upward movement of her lips felt unfamiliar and stiff on her pinched face. Her mother had always been presumptive, but this was going to be interesting.
“Alina?” Katya called, knocking gently on the door of the small home. Months had passed, but she could still feel the sadness that hung in the air like a blanket over the house. She closed her eyes as she stood there. A thousand memories rushed back, pulling her in different directions. Pavlo was everywhere here, but she couldn’t touch him or bring herself to reach out to him in any way. It still hurt too much. A dull ache throbbed at the back of her throat.
“Katya!” Alina opened the door and welcomed Katya with a hug. Even though neither of them had gained as much weight as they should while carrying a child, Alina still looked awkward with her round belly protruding in front of her. Mama was right; her time would be soon. That was the only thing that might make presenting this idea to them easier.
“Hello, Alina,” Katya croaked, pulling back the reins on her emotions. She glanced around. “Is Kolya home, too?”