Moving Objects

Chapter 21

One who gives life? One who gives life?

I jumped up again as realization crossed Lissa's face, the bond coming to life. She was excited. Excited wasn't even the right word. The bond was bursting with happiness and eagerness.

"Nope! No, not happening!" I shouted, looking at Lissa. "Absolutely not! There is no way I am letting you anywhere near him!"

Dad looked puzzled as he looked between us before he understood himself. He sat back down and rested on his elbow, his fingers under his chin as he looked to Lissa. She looked at him and I could see something pass between her eyes, and her mental barriers slammed into place. That was never a good sign.

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Five sets of eyes. Five sets of eyes that all looked the same. Five sets of eyes that were the exact same as his. It was like a white-hot poker in my chest. But I had to push through that. I needed to smile and save face to make things easier for them. Lissa invited them over for dinner, to which Christian and she made while I helped with peeling potatoes and cutting carrots. Olena had asked if she could help multiple times, but Lissa kindly declined, stating that she was a guest. Lissa had slipped out to entertain her guest while I stayed behind to clean up while dinner cook. Someone stepped beside me and picked up a towel and started drying the dishes.

"Is there a reason why you're in here hiding?"

I looked over to Karolina as she dried the dishes, giving me a look that said I wasn't backing out of the answer. I shrugged and continued washing. "The dishes needed to be done."

Karolina snorted a laugh and set one of the plates on the counter before speaking again. "From what my brother told me, you were not one to do dishes, nor where you one for cooking. So, tell me the truth," she said, but the mention of Dimitri made me stop, and I bit down on my lip hard.

That seemed to be all the answer she needed. She plucked the washcloth from my hand and spun me to face her, looking down at me with a kind face. "What's bothering you so much that you can't look at any of us?"

I finally looked at her and let my lip free from its harsh confines. "It's hard because you all look so much like him," I said faintly. The statement made Karolina's face soften and she pulled me into a hug, resting her head against mine. I pressed my nose against her shoulder and shuddered, trying to keep myself together. I had shed enough tears and I needed to be strong for them. But Karolina was having none of that.

"It's ok to be upset, Rose. We knew how much you meant to each other. And I can understand your dilemma, we see it each time we look at each other, but it's there we can find a little bit of comfort," she said, patting my back. I nodded and pulled back, wiping my face with my hands.

Karolina chuckled and helped me out, wiping away the small traces of mascara that was left behind, brushing my hair away. It was something he would have done, and the gesture was sweet.

"Better?" I chuckled.

Karolina chuckled, "Much. Now I think Mama is wanting to spend a bit of time with you. And ignore Sonya. She is still moody even after giving birth."

I laughed lightly and went with her into the living room, sitting down with her next to Olena. Lissa flashed me a smile but I could see in her eyes something was off. She had had her mental barriers up since the beginning of the week, and knowing that she was going back to school tomorrow, I wanted to know what. But it was useless. Getting information out of her that she wasn't willing to give was like pulling teeth.

A few times this week I walked in to find her and Eddie in deep conversation, only for it to end when they realized I was in the room. It was quite annoying.