Christina got up early, long before the rest of the family and was already dressed and downstairs before the sun had come up. Deciding that she was going to be the first girl in the house to make wearing pants a habit, she had thrown on a pair of capri pants and a simple off the shoulder top. She went into the kitchen and put on an apron; the plan was to surprise her uncle with breakfast before he went to work. Christina had seen very little of Alek this visit, and she longed to spend some time with her uncle.

        Putting her new domestic skills to use, she started making biscuits, sausage, and hash browned potatoes. She would have never done anything even this ambitious last week; Misha had made it all seem so easy. Her aunt had told her that such chores were easier when you did them for a man you loved. It turned out that Misha was right; Alek was a man she had come to love very much.

        Christina had the biscuits rolled and in the oven by the time Misha came downstairs.

        Misha smiled at her niece as she cooked.

        "Good morning," Christina said.

        Misha yawned as she sat at the kitchen table. She said, "I knew you had it in you."

        "Had what in me?" Christina asked as she started on the sausage.

        "All the women in our family are excellent cooks."

        "I'm not that good."

        "Perhaps not yet, but with practice, you will be. I see that you have great potential."

        Christina loved receiving praise from her aunt. Her own mother hadn't had a kind word for her in years.

        Misha stood up and started a fresh pot of coffee. She peeked at the work Christina was doing and smiled approvingly.

        "Am I doing anything wrong?" Christina asked.

        Misha patted her on the shoulder and said, "No dear, you are doing just fine." Misha hovered silently behind her niece until the coffee was ready. After pouring herself a cup, she sat back down at the kitchen table. "How was your date last night?" the older woman asked coyly.

        Christina stopped what she was doing, but she didn't turn around to face her aunt. "You mean Nina's date?"

        "No. I mean your date."

        Christina lowered the heat on the sausages and turned around. "I didn't go out on a date. I was just the chaperone."

        "That may be," Misha said, taking a sip of her coffee, "But both my girls were kissed goodnight."

        Christina blushed and looked at the floor. Christina mumbled, "I didn't want him to kiss me."

        "I admit, I did not have the best view from the bedroom window, but it looks as though you did not mind." Misha's coy smile had spread into a wide grin.

        Christina was mortified. She wondered just how much her aunt had seen. "I ... uh ..." Christina stammered.

        "Do not fret Tina," Misha consoled, "It is perfectly natural for a girl to desire to be kissed by a man. Just do not let it go any further."

        Alek entered the kitchen and boomed, "Who is kissing my Christina?" Christina bit her lower bit as her uncle walked up to her. Alek kissed her on the cheek and announced with a chuckle, "I am."

        Christina beamed back at the man then turned to finish cooking the sausage and hash browned potatoes.

        Alek poured himself a cup of coffee and sat next to his wife.

        Misha put her hand on top of her husband's and said, "Christina got up early to make you breakfast."

        "I see this," her uncle observed proudly. "But what is this talk of kissing?"

        "The man who took Christina out last night kissed her goodnight."

        Christina muttered, "It wasn't a date."

        Misha shook her hand and remarked, "Perhaps not, but it was quite a kiss!"

        Humiliated, Christina turned off the oven and took out the biscuits with a pair of oven mitts. After serving plates of food to her aunt and uncle, she sat down in front of them and frowned. "I hate that man, Uncle Alek," she whined petulantly.

        "Then why did you kiss him?" Alek asked as he started eating.

        "I didn't! He kissed me! I never want to see him again!" Christina insisted.

        "Christina, he is a good man for you," Misha stated, much to her niece's dismay, "He is very handsome and also very successful."

        "I don't care; I can't stand him!"

        "I felt the same way about your uncle the first time I met him," Misha explained. "He was boastful and rude."

        "I was not!" Alek rebuked playfully.

        "Indeed you were!"

        "I was driven mad with passion!" Alek leaned over and kissed his wife on the cheek.

        Misha shooed him away and turned her attention back to Christina. "My point is, Tina, that you should get to know the man before you make up your mind. The next time he takes you out, go without Nina. You cannot get to know him if you spend all your time looking after your cousin."

        Christina stamped her foot defiantly. "It was not a date, and I'm not going to see him again!"

        Andrei shambled into the kitchen, blinking his eyes groggily. He grabbed some food and sat down at the time. He immediately noticed that his Christina's cheeks were flushed, and she was frowning. "What's going on?" he asked.

        "Your cousin did not like the man who took her out last night," Alek explained.

        Andrei smirked and bit into a biscuit. "He probably wasn't good enough for her."

        Alek held Christina's hand and said, "Christina, of course you do not have to see him again if you do not wish it. Did you tell him to leave you alone after you kissed him?"

        Andrei choked on his biscuit at the sound of the word "kiss". He rushed to the sink and poured himself a glass of water.

        "HE ... kissed ME ..." Christina protested. "But I didn't tell him to leave me alone, exactly ..." She wrinkled her nose and looked out the window.

        Andrei sat back down and sipped water from his glass.

        "... I sorta gave him my phone number."

        Choking on his water, Andrei shot up and announced, "I need some air."

        The family watched as he marched out the side door.

        "You do not like the man, but you kiss him and tell him to call you?"

        "It's not LIKE that!" Christina protested. "If he calls, or you see him, tell him to stay away from me."

        Alek stood up, walked behind Christina, and placed his large hands on her shoulders. "Christina, my dearest," he explained, "We will not meddle in your love life." Misha shot her husband a glance and Alek repeated to her, "We will not meddle." He guided Christina to her feet and turned her to face him. "When this man calls you, you must tell him to leave you alone. You must be firm, understand?"

        "Yes sir," Christina pouted.

        "Good girl," Alek beamed. "Now, you will be gone by the time I return, so how about a goodbye kiss for me?"

        Christina smiled and wrapped her arms around her uncle. Stepping up on her tip-toes, she kissed the man on his cheek.

        Alek smiled at his niece then went to the side door.

        Andrei came in with his finger pointed in front of him as though he was about to ask a question. He was stopped short when Alek barked, "Andrei, I need you to drop me off." Resigned, Andrei dropped his finger and followed his father outside.

        Not long after Alek and Andrei left, Nina walked into the kitchen, yawning.

        Christina got up and prepared a dish of food for her cousin.

        Misha smiled at her youngest daughter and asked, "How was your movie last night?"

        Nina could hardly contain herself. She burst out, "Wonderful! It was so much fun. I was nervous at first, but then it wasn't so bad."

        "If I had my way, there would have been no date," Misha stated. "You have your cousin to thank."

        Nina nodded. She asked her mother, "Can I see David again?"

        Misha raised her eyebrow.

        "Pleeeease?" Nina whined.

        "That depends," Misha said, turning to Christina, "What sort of boy is David?"

        Christina folded her arms and rolled her eyes. "Nina's date was a complete gentleman. She's not the one who had to spend the whole night fighting off a maniac."

        "Alright Nina," Misha conceded. "Since Tina approves, you may, but we will discuss this further another time."

 

        Grateful to do anything to keep her mind off last night, Christina spent the afternoon performing domestic chores around the house. As she dusted the pictures in the living room, she noticed that nearly every picture had Anastasia in it. The only exceptions were the two pictures in which she appeared. When Christina worked her way to the antique clock, she studied it intently. It was nearly a duplicate of the clock she remembered from her childhood. She moved the hands of the clock with her finger, and they rotated freely. Christina opened up the clock and looked at its inner workings. It was almost entirely empty; of the pieces remaining, most were bent or broken. She didn't know much about clocks, but she could tell based on the amount of empty space inside, that the clock was permanently broken.

        Misha walked out of the kitchen and towards the stairs. "Don't work too hard dear," Misha admonished as she climbed the staircase. "The living room has never looked so clean."

        Christina smiled and said, "I don't mind. I like helping out."

        Misha went upstairs to clean, leaving Christina alone.

        Christina had already said her goodbyes to Nina hours ago when the girl left to help her father at the store. With the exception of last night, this was the first real down time Christina had taken in years. She'd set out to create the perfect vacation for Nina, but it turned out it was her perfect vacation too, Almost perfect, she realized, thinking of Richard.

        Christina's thoughts were interrupted by a mechanical vibration against her bottom. She reached into her back pocket and grabbed her cell phone. Flipping it open, she stared at the incoming number. She didn't recognize it, but it looked local. She wondered, could it be Steph? She hit the receive button and said, "Hello?"

        "Hi," came an eager male voice, "It's Richard."

        "Yes?" she answered impatiently.

        "I was wondering if you were free for lunch," he said confidently.

        "I'm sorry, but NO," Christina answered in an angry voice. "I'm leaving today."

        "Then let me see you before you leave."

        "You can't!" Christina snapped.

        The man laughed. "Why not?"

        "Because ..." Christina looked up at the ceiling as though the perfect excuse was written there. "Because I just got up and my hair's a mess ... and I don't have time to get ready ... so sorry."

        "That's funny," Richard said slyly, "Your hair looks great in that yellow kerchief."

        Christina reached up and touched the paisley bandana in her hair. In a fit of paranoia, she looked behind her to the kitchen, then out the front windows; Richard's car was in the driveway. She saw him hang up, and sheepishly put her phone back into her back pocket. Walking to the open door, she crossed her hands in defiance and watched the man as he came to the screen door. Christina was mortified when she realized that he'd brought her roses. Still, she wasn't going to show it. She needed to be firm with him, just as her uncle had instructed.

        Richard stood on the other side of the screen door and playfully pressed the doorbell. Motioning to the roses, he said, "I brought these for you."

        Christina glared, "It's a shame you spent all that money for nothing."

        Misha came down the stairs and called, "Christina, who is at the door?" Misha smiled when she saw Richard at the door with flowers. "Don't just stand there Christina," Misha admonished, "let the man in." Misha opened the door and Richard stepped in, handing the roses to Christina who begrudgingly accepted them.

        "What was your name again, young man?" Misha asked, sizing Richard up.

        Richard produced a business card from his pocket and handed it to Misha. "Richard Masters, ma'am."

        Misha squinted as she read the card. She glanced at Christina and smiled, "A lawyer."

        "Richard was just leaving," Christina insisted.

        "Nonsense child!" Misha corrected. "Richard, Christina made a cherry pie on Sunday. Would you like a slice?"

        Richard smiled and replied, "Mrs. Levchenko, there is nothing more in the world I would like than to have a taste of your niece's cherry pie."

        Christina's cheeks burned as she trained her gaze on the floor.

        Taking Richard by the hand, Misha led him into the kitchen Christina trailing behind. Misha motioned to Richard, "Please. Sit."

        Richard sat at the end of the table smiling appreciatively.

        Misha took the flowers from Christina and said, "I'll take care of these." Seeing that Christina was just standing there, she said, "Tina, take care of your guest."

        Christina wanted to scream, but she refused to cause a scene in front of her aunt. Instead, she obediently went to the refrigerator and took out the milk. She cut Richard a very small piece of pie and poured him half a glass of milk. She deftly set a place setting in front of him and served him a slice of her pie. After the task was done, Christina stood, holding her hands behind her back and stared out the window.

        "Sit down Tina," Misha chided.

        Christina sat down next to Richard with her hands in her lap. She kept her head down to avoid making eye contact.

        "Mrs. Levchenko," Richard started as he swallowed his third bite, "I can say without any reservation that this is the finest pie I have ever had the pleasure of tasting."

        "Why, thank you!" Misha beamed. She looked to Christina and was annoyed that her niece was not participating. "Tina, is that how we respond to compliments?"

        Christina raised her eyes to Richard then shot them back downward. "Thank you," she mumbled.

        "Tell me," Misha said to Richard, "What sort of business are you involved with?"

        Richard finished his slice of pie and wiped his mouth before he responded. "I practice law, ma'am. I specialize in medical malpractice and insurance claims."

        Misha was impressed. "Is there much call for that in Oak Grove?"

        "No ma'am, I can't say that there is. My work takes me out of town quite a bit. I work heavily with the Dover Medical Group and the hospital. That isn't to say there isn't call for a lawyer in town. I suppose I'm a lot like Doc Stone in that sense; we have our specialties, but being a professional in a small town means you handle all sorts of matters when they come up."

        "Christina is a professional too," Misha offered, "She works as a secretary in the city."

        Christina felt as though she was shrinking in her chair. She wished that she could melt away into nothing.

        "So I've heard," Richard remarked. "Judging by her pie, I would have guessed that she was a professional chef."

        Christina looked up and saw that Richard had cast his spell over Misha. Don't fall for it, she screamed inside her mind. Christina realized that the man was charming, and that's what made him so dangerous.

        Misha chuckled in response, "My Tina is just learning to cook, but she has a knack for it."

        "There is no doubt," Richard crooned. "Your niece is truly a remarkable woman."

        Christina had to act before Misha ordered wedding invitations. She stood up and blurted, "You know, it's getting pretty late. I've got to catch my bus."

        Richard asked, "Your bus?"

        Misha explained, "Tina lives so far away, too far to drive. She takes the bus from Dover."

        Richard smiley coyly as he offered, "Seeing as I do so much work in the area, it would be no trouble at all to take Christina to the bus station. I could get some work done while I'm there."

        Misha smiled at Richard but Christina interjected nervously, "But we couldn't ask you to do that!"

        Richard looked deeply into Christina's eyes as he stood up, "It would be my pleasure."

        Christina felt as though she was having a mental breakdown. She couldn't let herself be trapped alone in that man's car for over an hour. "No," she stuttered, "No! Um ... Andrei already promised ... and uh ... a promise is a promise ... and ..." She ran to the side door and shouted at the barn, "Andrei!" Looking back into the kitchen, she saw Misha's cross look.

        The look of extreme amusement on Richard's face was what made her worried. The bastard was actually enjoying this! "Andrei! I need you right now!" Christina shouted as though her life was in danger.

        Andrei came charging out of the barn and into the kitchen. "What's wrong?" he asked as he huffed. Andrei recognized the man in the kitchen as the man Christina had been worried about in church.

        Christina wrapped her arm around Andrei's and clung to him. "Nothing's wrong," Christina chirped as she squinted defiantly at Richard, "It's just time to take me to the bus station."

        Andrei said, "Okay, I'll get your things." He shot Richard a menacing glare as he left the kitchen.

        Before Misha could speak, Christina announced, "So, that's all settled then." She turned to Richard and said, "Thanks so much for stopping by, but as you can see, I have to go." Christina snatched Richard by the hand and led him back through the living room and out the front door, slamming the door behind her. She looked back to be certain that Misha wasn't watching through the window. Christina was absolutely furious. She shook her hands in the air and shouted, "Let's get this straight, okay? I don't like you. I don't like you even a little bit! I hate you, you got it? You need to LEAVE ME ALONE. That means no calls, no letters, and no stopping by! You stay away from me, and you stay away from my family. If I see so much as a pigeon with a note around its foot, I will have you killed! Do you understand? Do you get it?"

        It was all Richard could do to hold back his laughter as he watched the pretty young girl seethe. He leaned in quickly and pecked her on the cheek. "You really do make a fantastic pie," he joked as he walked back to his car. Before he got in, he called, "Call me next time you're in town!"

        Christina felt as though her head was going to explode. She clenched her fists and screamed, "And there is NO KISSING allowed!" As Richard got into his car, she took off her shoe and threw it down the driveway at him. Her anger didn't abate as she watched Richard's convertible disappear down the driveway. There was no reasoning with that man, she thought. She'd have to get Andrei to scare him. Not wanting to face her aunt yet, Christina sat on the porch and tried to calm down. She was beginning to come down from her fit of rage when the mailman came down the driveway.

        The mailman stepped out of his truck and smiled as he walked up to the porch. He handed Christina a stack of letters and said, "Lovely day, isn't it Christina?"

        Christina smiled back and responded, "It sure is."

        The postman handed her the shoe he'd found in the driveway and asked, "Does this look familiar?"

        "Um ... yeah ..." Christina said as she took the shoe. "Thanks."

        The man tipped his hat and left.

        Christina couldn't remember the postman's name. She was used to city life, where no one knew anyone else. Initially, she had been put off by Oak Grove's residents. She'd thought they were nosy gossips, but now she found it comforting that everyone seemed to know who she was.

        She flipped through the letters as she went into the living room. There were a few bills and pieces of junk mail, and a large manila envelope. Christina read the return address of the envelope, seeing it was from the Internal Revenue Service. Her uncle must have filed late, she assumed.

        Christina brought the letters to the kitchen where Misha was waiting with an unhappy frown.

        "Tina," she admonished. "Why were you so rude to that man?"

        "Aunt Misha, Richard is not a nice guy. He is self-centered and rude." Christina cleared Richard's place setting and took it to the sink. "And I promise you, he's after a lot more than my pie."

        Misha raised the palm of her hand and proclaimed, "He looked like a gentleman to me."

        Christina sighed and said. "Aunt Misha, I know you want me to find a man." Christina's face twisted with strain as she continued, "And some day I will. But Richard isn't the one."

        "Of course dear, but you should not act like that."

        Christina sat down at the table and fiddled with the letters. "I know Aunt Misha. I'm sorry. It's just that ... I dunno. It's complicated."

        Misha sat next to her niece and explained, "When a man meets a pretty girl like you, they are filled with a hunger. They will pursue you, want to possess you. When you find the right man, he will have this hunger but he will still be a gentleman."

        "Richard isn't a gentleman. He's just hungry. Starving, I think."

        Misha laughed at Christina's comment, breaking the tension between the women. They heard Andrei's heavy feet coming down the stairs. Overloaded with Christina's luggage, he stumbled though the kitchen doorway.

        Christina leaped up and said, "Let me give you hand!"

        "No," Andrei wheezed, "I'm fine. This is nothing." He stumbled though the kitchen and out the side door.

        Christina faced her aunt and announced, "I guess I should get going."

        Misha embraced her niece and said, "I wish you could stay longer dear."

        "I do too, but I have to get back."

        "Do you really like living all alone in that city of yours?"

        Christina considered that question seriously. She'd left home because of Danny, not because she wanted to. Having her own job, car, and apartment had felt glamorous when she was eighteen, but these days she realized she was just living day to day. Without Amy in her life, or any real friends at work, she suddenly realized how alone she felt. "It's not so bad," she lied.

        "You know Tina, our home is your home. You can stay if you wish."

        Under different circumstances, she would have loved to stay. Acting like a girl was far too taxing; she could manage it for a few days, but anything longer was too much. She would need weeks to recover from what had happened last night. "I really can't. I love being here, but I have another life back home. Besides, I would never want to be a burden."

        "Tina, I never want to hear those words again. You are a blessing." She kissed Christina on the forehead.

        Christina nodded. She wanted to tell Misha how much she loved her, but her throat was too tight. Grabbing her purse off the kitchen table, she walked to the side door, cleared her throat and promised, "I'll visit again as soon as I can." Turning, she left the Levchenko home.

        Andrei was waiting for Christina in the old green truck. After his younger cousin buckled her seat belt, Andrei started the truck, and they started the first leg of her trip back to the city.

 

        Nearly a half an hour passed before Andrei broached the subject of Richard. "The man in the kitchen," Andrei asked, "He is the man who took you out on your date?"

        Christina closed her eyes and responded, "I was just a chap ..." She paused then surrendered, "Yes."

        "And you kissed him?" Andrei asked sheepishly.

        "No," Christina corrected calmly, "HE kissed ME. I did NOT kiss him. I was just an innocent bystander."

        "But he did kiss you?"

        "Yes." Christina scrunched her mouth and mumbled, "Twice. Three times technically if you count today."

        Andrei frowned and said, "So, you like him."

        "No!" Christina protested. "I can't stand him. I told him to leave me alone and never come back."

        "You told him that, and he kissed you anyway?"

        "No," Christina said, becoming frustrated. "I told him that after he kissed me."

        "Three times," Andrei added.

        "After the first two times. Number three was afterwards."

        Andrei gave Christina a puzzled look.

        "Look- I hate Richard, okay?" she shouted. "I can't stand him. He's a jerk. I hate him. WE hate him."

        "We hate him?" Andrei asked.

        "Yes! Say it with me."

        Andrei repeated with Christina in unison, "We hate him."

        "See?" Christina shrieked. "I don't see why there's any confusion. We hate him and that's that."

        "If you say so. We hate him."

        Taking her kerchief out of her hair and folding it in her lap, Christina said, "I can always count on you, Andrei."

        Andrei cleared his throat and said, "Of course. You are my cousin." Andrei had needed to hear those words aloud to keep himself in check.

        "Yeah, I am your cousin, but I don't want you to think I don't appreciate everything you do for me. I mean, you drive me everywhere, you fixed my car, you made all those wonderful things for my room ..."

        "It's no big deal." Andrei insisted.

        "No, It IS a big deal. You do everything for me, and I never do anything for you."

        "That's not true."

        "It is true," Christina objected, "I mean, other than the fireworks, I hardly spent any time with you. The next time I visit, we'll do something fun together."

        "You don't have to do that," Andrei shrugged.

        "I want to. You always look out for me ... cheer me up when I feel sad ..."

        Andrei wondered if Christina had figured out his feelings for her. Twisting the rubber covering of the steering wheel in his hands, he turned to his cousin and confessed, "I love you."

        Christina smiled at him and said, "I love you too. I never knew how much I needed an older brother until I met you."

        "Yes," Andrei said dejectedly. "I feel the same way. I mean, it's nice to have a younger sister. I mean another younger sister." He was tripping over his own words hopelessly. "I mean an older, younger sister ... I mean ... you know what I mean." Andrei's face flushed with embarrassment.

        "Don't make fun of me," Christina giggled, "I mean it. I really do."

        Andrei nodded.

        Their conversation died down as they drove the rest of the way to the bus station. When they arrived, Andrei carried all of Christina's luggage, refusing to accept any help from his younger cousin. Christina had a five-minute wait for her bus. She told Andrei that he could leave, but he insisted on staying with her. When the bus arrived, Andrei escorted his cousin to the vehicle and loaded her suitcases underneath.

        Christina turned to her cousin and sighed. She couldn't believe what she was about to do. "Andrei," she asked, "Do you think Steph is pretty?"

        "Sure."

        "And she's fun to be around, isn't she?"

        "I suppose so."

        "Have you ever thought about calling her?"

        Andrei paused for a moment, dumbfounded, then asked, "What for?"

        Wide eyed, Christina stared at her cousin. Her look of exasperation slid into a wide grin. She hugged Andrei and said, "I'm going to miss you most of all, Scarecrow."

        Christina climbed the stairs into her bus, leaving Andrei scratching his head. She took her seat and tried to relax for the long trip ahead.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!