She draws in a startled breath and her eyes fill with tears. “Oh, how wonderful. My baby, married!”
It’s hard to look at her, but I refuse to turn away. This is the sanest I’ve seen her in a long time.
“And Andrey?” she demands in a rush. It’s as if she’s aware that her memory could slip away at any moment. Time is of the essence. “Has he found someone?”
The weight on my chest gets heavier. “He’s… going to be a father.”
Tears shine brightly in her dimmed eyes. “He’ll be a wonderful father. He was always such a kind boy. So patient and thoughtful. So unlike his father.” Her gaze drifts towards the ducks. “He looks the most like Slavik, you know. Sometimes, I was afraid…”
I wait for her to continue, but her voice trails away.
After a long stretch, she turns back to me, her face slowly
