This girl irregularly visited the church, and David had not expected to see her today.
He blushed and sat straight. But he heard whispering and saw a perplexed Megan looking around wondering why nobody took seats next to them.
David barely waited until the service was over, and people moved to the exit. Leaving his wife, he quickly followed the girl, and caught up with her outside the building.
«Look,» he started irresolutely, becoming ashamed under her gaze. «I’d really appreciate it if you would not make a big deal about what you saw. You don’t understand. It’s not what you think.»
«Aye, aye, Mr. President!» The girl demonstratively saluted. «Was she wearing a blue dress?»
«Who?» mumbled David, not understanding.
«Your Russian Monica Lewinsky,» The girl grinned «No man can resist the charm of a girl of Eastern European origin, eh?»
Baffled in the face of such insolence, David stepped back, and looked around. He noticed people were casting glances at him, some with curiosity, some with disgust.
«Oh my God!» he thought, growing cold. «This is why nobody came to my birthday party.»
While her husband was talking, Megan, holding Dylon in her arms, neared one of her pals and said, «Hi! What a shame that you couldn’t come yesterday. We were waiting for you.»
«Was Marina there?» the woman replied with a shifty look in her eyes.
«Why not?» wondered Megan. «She’s David’s assistant and my kids love her.»
«Not only your kids, I suppose,» the woman drawled significantly.
«What do you mean?» Her intonation scared Megan. «What are you talking about?»
The woman had no time to reply. David ran to them, and, grabbing the hands of his daughter and his wife, he led his family to their car.
Inside they kept silent for a while, then David started talking, and his odd-sounding voice made Megan’s skin creep.
«Honey…» He drew in a sharp breath. «Hannah… I beg you. Whatever happens, whatever somebody says to you, please remember, I love you. I do love all of you, you and Dylon. I swear on my life.»
«Okay, Dad,» Hannah chuckled, but a dumbfounded Megan did not reply. Although her husband said what every woman is happy to hear, he sounded so strange that a deep worry seized her.
Chapter 13: International Women’s Day
Sitting in a restaurant Oleg, Ruslan, and Vlad were discussing an idea.
«Guys,» Vlad said doubtfully. «We’ve already passed Saint Valentines Day. Why should we celebrate this Russian holiday? We are not in Moscow.»
«I think we should keep our traditions even here,» replied Oleg. «We can rent this hall, invite our ladies, and celebrate. The Irish have their Saint Patrick’s Day, haven’t they?»