Mishka's Redemption

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

He squeezed my hand from the seat next to me on the Jet and I turned smiling brightly at him, reassuringly.

“You know how I feel about you going alone, Roza,” he muttered.

“It’s safe I promise.”

“You don’t know that!”

“In to get the supplies and right back out, I promise!”

“Roza-”

“We had an agreement! I let you go last time. I stayed with Leina-”

“You expect me to stay here with her while you’re out there risking your life for us?”

“I did last time,” I said firmly. I sighed, “Relax, Dimka. We’re not landing that far from the Grocery store this time. They couldn’t have followed us this far that fast.” He leaned down to kiss my lips before whispering against my ear.

“I love when you call me Dimka. It’s as if your lips were the only one’s ever made to say it.” My heart fluttered but I unbuckled my seatbelt.

“I’m still going.”

“Then I will stay here and wait for your return my love.” He sighed. I reached down and squeezed his hand.

“Thank you.”

“I love you, Roza.”

“I love you too,” I walked over to the staircase where Lissa and Abe stood waiting and started down the steps.

“See you soon, my love.”

“See you soon, comrade,” I winked. It was only a few blocks to the store but I pulled my coat tight around me and lowered my shades.

“You guys are sickening.” My father muttered.

“Oh come on. You just need some Pop! Cream soda? I’m sure. It’s been a while.” I walked closer to him and wrapped my arm around his waist.

“At least he makes you happy,” he sighed. We’d only been walking for about ten minutes when Lissa perked up.

“Look! Short cut, Alley way!” Lissa sing songed , dashing forward and running off into the alley.

“You’ve gotta be kidding!” I chased after her with Abe following short behind. On the other side of the alley stood the grocery store towering menacingly over the building.

“It’s like a Portal-”

“Lissa, what were you thinking? That was so dangerous, have we not learned anything about alleyways?”

“Sorry, Rose I just wanna get back and it was right there, I just… I didn’t think.”

“No I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”

“Sickening,” Abe said walking past us and grabbing a cart. He walked through the automated doors of the giant ‘Wal-mart Grocery’ and headed straight for the coolers standing by the frazzled cashier.

“C-can I help you?” she asked.

“Cream soda?” I muttered.

“Aisle 17.”

“Thank you,” Abe said. He tore the cart around heading straight for the aisle and spotting the soda at the very head. He grabbed a case and threw it in the cart. Then reaching into another case on the shelf he pulled a bottle free and popped it open.

“Abe!”

“Shh, second sip,” he sipped again and grinned a goofy grin, “Ahhh, all is right with the world.”

“Abe you’ve gotta pay for that.”

“I’m paying for them. I’m buying a whole case.” He said before turning and throwing a case of Pepsi and Southern Sweet Tea in the cart. We rolled up the snack aisle and he threw a few things in. He grinned at me as he through a pack of chocolate donuts in and I smiled back appreciatively.

“Hey, I’ll be right back.” I said. I turned out of the aisle and walked across to the baby aisle. The shelves were line with expensive gadgets and foods and I grabbed a few containers of powdered milk and made my way back to Lissa and Abe. I stopped short as I saw a beautiful bath set with pink polka dots and flowery embroidery.

“2 Towels, Washcloths, a baby bath robe- Jeez” I almost put it down until I saw the pink bunny nestled softly against the box set. I stroked my fingers over the small flower sewn onto the bunny’s stomach and smiled thinking of the little baby back on the plane waiting for me. I ripped it free from its bindings and pocketed it heading back across the aisle and catching up with Lissa and Abe as they were heading from food to necessities.

“Christian likes that new axe that we got him last time. The one on all of the commercials.”

“When do you have time to look at commercials,” I teased. We grabbed a few bottles of body wash and tubes of toothpaste and headed to the checkout. I smiled sweetly at the cashier but she glared at me and I looked away feeling dejected. The same reaction that everyone had given us since we left. The same reaction we would always get.

The walk back to the jet was spent getting first dibs on the things we’d gotten. I stopped myself from reaching into the bags and grabbing a chocolate donut, resolving to wait until I’d given Leina her gift. She still wasn’t quite old enough to understand but she was starting to teeth and even though the gift wouldn’t mean much to her, it would mean the world to me.

“We’re back.” Lissa said smiling and heading straight for Christian and wrapping her arms around him.

“Safe and sound,” I smiled walking up to Dimitri. “Where’s Leina?”

“Sleeping in your mother’s arms,” he said smiling and gesturing to my mother now seated next to Abe. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my cheek.

“Alone?” but his words were answered with the sound of Leina crying.

“I got her a present,” I piped up.

“Well why don’t we give it to her?” he smiled down at me grabbing my hand and leading me over to her. I reached into where I’d tucked the stuffed bunny and pulled it out. Leina grabbed it and smiled, her eyes sparkling in my favorite way.

“Beautiful,” I muttered.

“Just like you.” He whispered.