The Memory Keeper of Kyiv (58)

“Where do we even begin?” Cassie asked, amazed at the number of words.

Nick scanned through them. “At least she dated every entry.”

Cassie let out a sigh of relief as Nick laid out the pages and checked the dates in the front and back of the book.

“Some of these papers pre-date the journal,” he said, “and it looks like a few of them came after she finished it. Let me sort them quickly to make sure we’re going in order.”

As Nick organized the notes, Cassie flipped open her laptop. She’d plugged it in last night so it would have a full charge, but it had been fifteen months since she’d used it. Hopefully, it still worked. As it whirred to life, she ran her hands over the keys, reacquainting herself with the old friends. She didn’t realize how much she missed them. How much writing was a part of her life.

She smiled. “I’m ready when you are.”

Nick read for two hours as Cassie’s fingers flew across her keyboard. He was faster than he let on, and a few times she had to stop him so she could catch up.

“So, the P in the note was for Pavlo. Her first love. That explains a lot. And Alina was her sister.” Cassie pressed a hand against her chest and took a shaky breath. “I can’t believe she had a sister we never knew about. What if she had kids? Cousins we never knew? I can’t wait to tell my mom.”

“But we still don’t know what happened to them and why she feels so guilty,” Nick said.

“No, but we know Stalin’s men were taking their food.” A thrill of satisfaction ran through Cassie at the connection. “That’s probably why Bobby is hiding it now. Her memory is slipping back to when she had to.”





Cassie threw the purple sundress onto the pile of old clothes littering her bed and sighed. What did people wear on dates these days? Sure, she’d spent the night before sitting out on the patio with Nick for a second round of journal translating, but this felt totally different. Last night, they’d had a focus, a common goal. Tonight was a date.

She dug through her clothes one more time and pulled out jeans and a black V-neck shirt that hadn’t seen the light of day since her decision to live solely in yoga pants and T-shirts. Finally dressed, she took out the make-up she hadn’t worn in a year, and, with an out-of-practice hand, tried to apply it. Birdie, confused by the process, kept touching Cassie’s face and trying to feel her eyelashes.

“It’s been so long since I wore this that you don’t even remember what it is, do you?”

Birdie shook her head and pointed to her cheeks. “Can I try?”

Cassie tipped her head back and sighed with joy. Birdie hadn’t stopped talking, and every word felt like a gift.

“You’re so pretty you don’t need it, but we can use a little this one time.” Cassie swiped the brush down Birdie’s nose and cheeks. “Maybe we can get you some fun make-up to play dress up with.”

The little girl nodded, then giggled and preened in front of the mirror while Cassie experienced a last-minute panic attack when she thought she’d have to wear flip flops or gym shoes. Luckily, Anna swooped to the rescue with a pair of strappy black sandals for her to borrow and the ensemble was complete. Simple, but complete.

“I can’t believe I’m so stressed about this.” Cassie ran her fingers through her hair one more time. “I shouldn’t have said yes.”

“You’ll be fine,” Anna said. She’d arrived an hour earlier to stay with Bobby while Birdie and Cassie went out and had already talked Cassie back from canceling three times. “And I’ll be here waiting up so you can update me on what you’ve read in the journal so far.”

“I can skip this and tell you now,” Cassie said.

Anna shook her head. “I don’t want a rushed report. That’s why I didn’t want you to tell me anything yet. I want to sit down with you and hear the details in person. Besides, think about Birdie. She’s so excited to go. You can’t cancel now.”

Cassie’s eyes fell on her daughter. Dressed in a bright pink and orange striped sundress, she whirled in a patch of sunlight coming through the window. Her dress spun out in a rolling wave around her knees.

“Look, Mama!” She giggled as she fell over. “My dress makes me dizzy!”

“I’ll never get tired of hearing her talk,” Cassie said.

Anna snorted. “Wait till she’s a teenager. Now quit stressing. This will be fun. For both of you.”

“Then why don’t you go instead?” Cassie said.

“Stop it.” Anna glanced out the window. “Nick’s here. I’m going to check on Bobby and see if she’s up from her nap. You get the door.”

Cassie’s stomach plummeted. Hands shaking, she pulled open the door before Nick had a chance to ring the bell. He’d dressed casually in khaki shorts and a blue slim fit T-shirt that hugged his muscular frame. His tanned face was freshly shaved, and he held two bouquets in his hand: a small, child-sized mixture of miniature sunflowers and daisies, and a large, brightly colored assortment of wildflowers. She squeezed the door to still her quaking hands.

“You look beautiful,” he said. His trademark dimples punctuated his easy smile as he held out the flowers.

Her self–preservation instincts screamed for her to run away, but she found she couldn’t break the inexplicable connection sparking between them. Her heart rate slowed. Her breathing evened out. The trembling in her hands and belly settled and she realized something: he soothed her. His presence alone made her feel better. Feel safe.