The Memory Keeper of Kyiv (53)

“For the record, hermit crabs are very sociable, so your analogy is terrible,” Cassie said. “And I value my alone time. What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing,” Bobby interjected before the conversation got too heated. “I invited Nick to say thank you for helping me. That’s all.”

The doorbell rang, and Birdie jumped out of her chair.

“Wait, Birdie.” Bobby pointed to the loaf of round bread she’d baked. A shallow hollow in the center held a small bowl of salt. “You must present Nick with the bread and salt to show our hospitality.”

Bobby took a rushnyk embroidered with red flowers out of a drawer and instructed Birdie to hold her hands out. She draped the cloth over Birdie’s outstretched hands so that the identically decorated ends of the oblong white cloth hung down toward the ground.

Then, Cassie helped steady Birdie’s hands as Bobby set the bread on top of the rushnyk.

“This was always my favorite part of hosting parties when I was a kid. It’s a very important job,” Cassie said.

Birdie nodded solemnly and tiptoed toward the door, where Anna was waiting to open it.

“Hey, everyone,” Nick grinned as he stepped in. He’d changed from his running shorts and T-shirt to khakis and a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up his forearms. He was no longer sweaty, but still quite arresting. Cassie found herself staring again.

Birdie held up the bread and Nick kneeled down. “Bread and salt! Just like my Baba used to make.” He ripped off a piece of the bread, dipped it in the salt, bowed his head in thanks, then popped it in his mouth. “Delicious. Thank you, Birdie.”

He offered a bouquet of sunflowers to her, and Anna took the bread so Birdie could accept them. “I wanted to bring something for the dinner table, and I thought flowers might be more appealing than anything I could cook.”

Birdie took them and squealed. “Sunflowers are Alina’s favorite!”

The bread tipped precariously, and salt spilled onto the floor as Anna whirled around. Cassie’s breath hitched. She’d waited for this moment for fifteen months. Heart pounding in her ears, she took two wobbly steps toward her daughter, then fell to her knees and grabbed Birdie’s shoulders.

“Birdie, you talked!” Cassie wrapped her arms around the little girl and began to cry. Over Birdie’s head, she saw Bobby stagger and fall onto the couch, then drop her head into her hands.

Cassie shot to her feet, hesitant to leave this amazing moment with Birdie. “Bobby, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Bobby waved a hand, dismissing the question. “Don’t worry about me. I’m just happy for Birdie.”

Anna put an arm around Bobby and asked Birdie, “Who’s Alina? Is she a friend from the park?”

“No,” Birdie said, her voice a touch rusty from disuse, but sweet. “She’s my new friend but not from the park.”

“Where did you meet her, then?” Cassie kept one nervous eye on Bobby.

“Here,” Birdie said. “Right here on this couch.”

Bobby made a choking sound, and Cassie frowned. “Bobby, are you sure you’re okay? Do you need some water?”

She caught Nick’s eye as he moved toward Bobby, and he nodded. “I’ll get her a drink.”

He returned with a glass of water and sat on the other side of her. “Are you sure you’re fine? You do look pale.”

“It’s the shock of hearing her talk,” Bobby replied, refusing to meet anyone’s eyes.

“Well, you were right, Bobby. She just needed time,” Cassie said. She gave her daughter another hug. “Oh, I’ve missed your little voice.”

Birdie giggled. “Alina said I had to talk, so I did.”

“Well, whoever this Alina is, I like her.” Cassie’s smile fell away as the name clicked into place. Alina. The same name Bobby had written letters to begging for forgiveness. The same name she’d called Cassie when she was having one of her episodes.

“Alina?” Bobby repeated, then muttered a few Ukrainian words. Cassie’s brows furrowed as she stared at her grandmother.

“Mom, Nick, do you guys think she needs to be checked out?”

Before anyone could answer, Bobby snapped, “I’m fine. I told you.”

An awkward silence fell over the room as Bobby closed her eyes again. Birdie looked up at Cassie. “Is Bobby mad at me?”

“No, darling, I think she’s just having a rough day.” Cassie spoke low so as to not upset her grandmother again. “Maybe she needs some dinner.”

“Good idea,” Anna agreed. “Come on, everyone, let’s eat while it’s still warm.”

Cassie watched in surprise as Bobby let Nick help her up and walk her to the kitchen. Normally, Bobby scoffed at offers of assistance, but today, she leaned on his strong arm and let him guide her. She saw Nick covertly checking Bobby’s pulse as he guided her and when he gave her a calm smile, she relaxed.

Cassie approached Anna, busy at the stove dishing up bowls, and leaned close. “Do you think Birdie heard us talking? She must have, right? It’s not like Alina is a common name.”

“Of course that’s what happened.” Anna rolled her eyes. “Although if she’s been listening to you and Bobby, who knows what kind of absurd things she thinks? Here.” She thrust two bowls into Cassie’s hands. “Bring those over. And the salad, too.”