Chapter Text
“How long until we get there?” Tatiana uttered, applying the last strand of lipstick onto her mouth. This vacation would be the first in nearly a decade for the Romanovs at the Catskills Resort, and it seems as if this will be one giant family reunion given that the children have not seen their grandmother Marie in ages. Out of all the girls it was Maria and Tatiana who were excited the most, with Tatiana already thinking about what she’d do if ever a handsome young man catches her eyes and Maria knowing she’d be seeing Dickie Mountbatten the moment she arrives at the resort--Meanwhile Alexei, still a young boy was most looking forward to meeting more of his cousins around his age, at least that’s what he’d think. For Olga, it would give her an opportunity to learn more about the ventures of her family’s hotel business, which she plans on taking over someday. And then there’s Anastasia, little miss Anya who in all honesty never cared so much for status.
And yet still, her father managed to drag her to this godforsaken trip, insisting she needed to socialize more with her peers instead of wasting her entire summer dozing off their backyard and trying not to cause any more trouble before the next college semester, along with her plans to join the peace corps real soon.
Of course Maria seemed more cheerful with the way she looked out of the car window with a tiny small on her lips. She could already envision Dickie waiting for her at the mountain resort, given that him and his family had just arrived two weeks before and he'd been taking his internship there for awhile now. Of course that meant that, while Anya felt like she was stuck in a trap, Maria would be having the time of her life as she spent the summer with someone whose company she enjoyed.
“Cheer up,my girls. We’re almost there.” The voice of her mother broke the silence in the car. Anya then turned to the next page in her book as the car sped down the dusty highway in the outskirts of New York. Olga, sat across from her, filing her nails. Her mother sat in the passenger seat with a map, guiding the way for Nicholas whose callused but gentle hands tapped out beats onto the leather-bound steering wheel of their red Chevy convertible.
"The turn should be up here, Nicky," her mother said, pointing to a spot on the map.
"I can't tell where 'here' is, I'm driving," her father responded with a chuckle, but understanding her meaning. Then, to his daughters, "we should be there in about five minutes, girls."
Soon enough, their car pulled into Catskill's. Nevertheless Anya couldn't help but contain the smile that began to prick at the corners of her mouth. She was actually just as excited to be spending her time away from home this summer despite it interfering with her just wanting to stay home,but then again it seemed as if every other year she was stuck in her bedroom watching Olga or Tatiana go out night after night with a date with whoever they'd been seeing at the time. She also just wanted a change of pace.
Nicholas pulled the car into the drive and they got a view of the resort stretching out beneath them. He strained his neck to get a look out the window screen; aking in the greenery and the forest that disappeared into the horizon beyond. He could see girls stretched out, sunbathing on the lawn. A couple playing tennis over the path. Some children paddled in the lake as it glimmered in the sun. The main house and the front porch, where people sat eating and drinking and lazing in the warmth. Cabins and smaller buildings were dotted around the grounds, and a gazebo was nestled by the lake.
As they drove down the hill, they came to a stop behind a few other cars ahead. People unloading their boxes and bags. Ladies in their nice dresses and hats, and men shaking out their jackets from the long drive. Tatiana pretty much launched herself from the car, already chattering to her mother about something outside as they adjusted their dresses. Anya opened the car door to the sound of an employee announcing the activities for the day through a megaphone.
He strolled past the Romanovs and paused to say, with a grin, ‘Welcome to the Catskills Mountain Lodge Resort!’ Then he continued with his announcements. He was tall and stout looked friendly and at the same time seemed very familiar to her. Anya noticed the name ‘Vlad’’ on his badge.
‘See that!,’ Olga was gesturing to the pile of boxes one of the poor employees was staggering away under the weight of. ‘I could have brought more stuff and it would have been fine!’
‘You brought ten pairs of shoes darling, I’m sure that will be plenty!’
She turned back to their mother, ‘Well what if I want to wear the peach dress? I had to leave the peach shoes behind!’ Tatiana continued on, while Maria had stopped listening as his eyes glanced around the landscape looking for any signs of Dickie. It was unlikely he would be hanging around out here seeing as it was lunch time, and Maria would assume he’d be having lunch with his parents, but still she couldn’t help it.
‘Nicky!’ A booming voice exclaimed, and Anya shot her head around, her grandmother had appeared from the main house, the employee who was announcing activities earlier was trailing beside her. Dowager Marie was more delighted than ever to see her son, his wife and children.
Nicholas and Alexandra both grinned, holding out their arms for Marie as they went for a warm and welcoming greeting.
‘It’s been too long my son!’
‘It’s great to see you again mother.’ Nicholas smiled in return.
‘And i am very happy to see your beautiful children with you!.’ Marie said proudly, looking between Olga,Tatiana,Maria,Anastasia and Alexei.
‘Yes of course! It would have not been a complete summer vacation without everyone.’ Their mother laughed.
‘Oh I don’t doubt it!’ Marie turned to the young man who had so far said nothing, and ordered him. ’Get the bags and help!’
While her siblings were conversing and sharing words of laughter with her grandmother, Anya watched the young man move quickly around to the boot, and as her parents continued to chatter as well, followed him.
They both reached for a bag at the same time, and the young jumped in surprise, turning his head.
‘Hey, you don’t need to do that miss!’
‘It’s alright, I think I can carry a bag or two.’ Anya shrugged.
They placed the first two up on to the sidewalk.
‘Well thanks! You want a job?’
Anya laughed. ‘Is the standard that low?’
‘Can’t say most guests are that enthusiastic to help when there’s staff around being paid to do the chores.’
‘Well maybe I should stop or you’ll all be out of a job.’
The young man grinned. ‘You here for long?’
‘All summer I think.’
‘Well then, i’m Vlad.’ He placed the next bag down and turned back to Anya. ‘Maybe I can repay the favor sometime.’
‘Hold on, Vlad from the cashier? It’s me Anastasia--well just call me Anya.’ She held out her hand which Vlad shook, recognition crossing his face.
‘Ahh little Anya! I remember you!…’ He thought a moment before snapping his fingers. ‘You are Dowager Marie’s favorite grandchild!
‘How do you know that?’ Anya laughed
‘She brings your name up more than your own father’s.’
“I see, it’s quite the compliment.’
‘Anya!’ Maria called, her brow furrowed. ‘Come on, we’re going up to see our rooms!’
‘Well it was nice to meet you again, miss Anya!’ Vlad put the last of the bags down as a valet got into the driver’s seat of their car.
‘You too,Vlad.’
‘See you around!’ He called as Anya ran and joined her family.
****
‘You know there’s a dance lesson happening this afternoon over on the gazebo,’ Dowager Marie told Nicholas and Alexandra as Anya joined them. ‘Great dance teacher we have, the other guests seem to love her. She used to be a roquette, don’t you know? I think you should give it a go!’
‘That might be too fast Mama! It’s his first vacation in more than six years I don’t think you’ll find him doing a cha-cha on the first afternoon.’
Nicholas grumbled in reply, and then, ‘Of course we’ll go.’ Marie and Alexandra shared a look of surprise and then laughed.
This was going to be a long vacation , thought Anya.
On that same afternoon, Dimitri was furiously polishing water glasses behind the buffet table. Anything to avoid conversation with the other waiters.
The lunch period for that day was coming to an end, and he watched on as Gleb and another boy he didn’t recognize sniggered in the corner. They were using the pretense of clearing table five, but he could tell they were just leering at the woman in a low cut dress at the next table. Or maybe it was the daughter they were looking at. He couldn’t tell. This was why Dimitri didn’t get on well with them.
He placed the final cup down, and began piling together the empty platters, scavenged empty by the rich guests. At least dinner was a little easier. No buffet, just table service. Not that he enjoyed chatting with the guests all that much either.
‘Leave those, Dickie,’ Dowager Marie had appeared. ‘I’ll get one of the bus boys to do it. Just set out the places on those tables for tonight and then you can go for the afternoon.’
‘Yes, Ma’am. I’ll be right on it.’ He said in his best polite voice, making his way to the emptier side of the room to begin setting the tables.
‘You want some help,Dimitri?’ He heard a gleeful voice and a shiver went down his spine. He turned his head slightly to see Gleb looming behind him with a wicked grin.
‘No. I’ll be just fine thanks.’ He said stiffly, hoping he would just leave.
‘Oh come on, it’ll be quicker.’
‘Dowager Marie asked me to do this. If you’ve ran out of jobs I’m sure she’ll give you something else to do.’
Gleb laughed, holding up his hands. ‘I was just trying to help! Someone is not feeling fun this afternoon.’ Dimitri didn’t reply, as Gleb moved around the table so that they were facing each other. He produced some napkins that he began to set out. ‘You know, one of my buddy’s scored us some candy.’ His eyebrows rose and he winked. ‘We might have a little party tonight after dinner. You game?’
‘Sorry. I still have work to do.’ If he’d learnt anything about Gleb so far this summer, it was that he’d find some way to ruin anything to say the least.
On the other hand, he was still a sort of mystery to Dimitri. And how ever much he disliked and was annoyed by Gleb, there was something intrinsically intriguing about him, like he was plotting something in mind. In his dark playfulness, the sadistic grin. It appealed to the side of Dimitri that liked cars,motorcycles and walking around in the dark. Finding a fight just for the sake of feeling something. With Gleb it was a bit scary, he never knew what was going to happen next.
But that summer he was trying to be “sensible” Dimitri,not wanting to squander the efforts of Dowager Marie. Thankfully he had met Vlad a year ago, the summer after his father had died when he was at his darkest, he didn’t even want to know what might have happened. And that afternoon, he was “annoyed sensible” Dimitri, and very much not in the mood.
‘Oh is this about some new girlfriend of yours arriving?’
‘What?’ Gleb’s head shot up too quickly for him to play it off cool, and Dimitri evidently caught it.
‘So it’s true!’
‘What are you even talking about??‘
‘No need to lie Vaganov,’ Dimitri moved on to the next table and despite himself Gleb followed. ‘Well I heard you talking with your little friend the other night. The weedy one.’
‘So you were eavesdropping.’
‘Fuck off Gleb.’
But he didn’t move and neither did Dimitri.
‘I’m sure I could convince Dowager Marie’s girls to have a little fun with us anyway.’Gleb replied under his breath, close to his ear. ‘I just have to convince you first.’ And with that he’d moved away, exiting the dining room with a sly smile. Dimitri realised he’d been gripping one of the spoons so hard it had left a long indentation across his palm.
*****
Anya’s parents were never the best dancers, and that didn’t seem to have changed. Yet it didn’t stop them from having fun.
They were crammed onto the gazebo with dozens of other guests, mainly over the age of 45. Music blasted from a gramophone, as the teacher led them all cluelessly and clumsily through the steps. Nicholas and Alexandra were stood in the front row side by side, laughing into each other’s shoulders as they struggled through. Maria stood beside Anya in the row behind them, a look of pure concentration on her face as she took in every instruction.
The dance teacher had introduced herself as Lily, assumedly the girl that Dowager Marie had talked about. Gansey could see why she might be popular with the guests; she was pretty in a loud sort of way, oozing with charisma and easy smiles.
‘Okay! And a 2 3 4— no, no— to the left, please. There we go! Don’t want you knocking anyone over!’ She led the guest with two hands and laughed with him through the chaos. The man didn’t let go of them right away.
‘Now, we’re going to move into two circles! girls on the inside moving clockwise, boys on the outside going anti-clockwise.’
Anya tried to catch her sister’s eye across the floor, so that they could partner up. But Maria was already eyeing up the other candidates -- not that any of them were age appropriate.
And then Lily was approaching Anya from around the circle; her skin glowing in the sunlight, her red dress clinging to it in all the right places. She could feel her palms clamming up, her eyelids fluttered as she said ‘And now everyone turns towards the other circle to find your new partner!’
She reached towards her, offering a shy smile. But then she realised that she wasn’t looking at her, and before he knew it she’d swooped towards her father, taking him in to hold with a giggle. Anya was left to dance with an elderly woman, no less than 90 years old.
‘Well aren’t you cute.’ She crooned, reaching up to pinch Anya’s cheek as she rested a hand on his shoulder. She smiled weakly in return. She trod on her toes and she tried not to react to it. She heard Lily chuckle behind her, Anya felt a little embarrassed and wondered if it was because of her.
*****
A few hours later, Anya had changed for dinner and emerged from her bedroom to find the main room in chaos. Maria was half dressed, her hair in a massive knot. Olga and Tatiana were trying on various dresses that would suit them for the night, Alexei was taking a shower and their mother was going over the finishing touches of the room that had just been renovated weeks ago.
‘I’m going out to look around the main house!’ Anya called as she quickly slipped behind them and towards the door to their cabin. Before they could reply she was out the door and down the steps on to the path.
There were still a few people dotted about, making the most of their last activities in the dying light, most guests had already gone back to their rooms.
Anya saw movement coming from within the warmly lit dining room at the front of the main house and drew closer. It soon became clear that it was only the wait staff in there, and that they were gathered in some sort of meeting. So she pulled back, and looked on from the doorway.
There were about 20 waiters gathered on one side of the room, all of them around her age -- none that looked any older than 23; all dressed in white shirts, white dinner jackets with a gold collar, and black bow ties. She quickly scanned the room to see if she knew anyone familiar, yet there was someone amongst those boys who eventually caught her eye. The young man was standing at the back, apart from everyone else.
Anya grinned. This man stood almost about a head taller than most of the others, making him easier to spot. He looked a bit serious, his features drawn with his hair parted left and right, with a somewhat broken nose. There was something about this man that Anya seemed to be familiar with, as if she’d seen him somewhere ages ago. She trained to listen to what was happening, and realised then that her own grandmother was standing before the group.
‘… I hired most of you for a reason. You’re supposed to be our country’s best and brightest, Ivy League boys. I didn’t just pick you to look pretty.’
Some titters went around the group.
‘You’re representing my name, and I know you’ve had a little practice, but this week is the start of the busiest part of the season young men. Up to now it’s been child’s play, so I’ll need you all to step up your game and this means no more slacking.’ She snapped his fingers at a boy on the left and the waiters surrounding him gave him mocking slaps on the back.
‘So mind your manners, keep the guests happy - especially my granddaughters—‘ A brief cheer and bout of guffaws went around the room, and Dowager Marie waited to continue. Anya thought at first that she might bring an end to it, but her grandmother laughed along with them.
‘—Think of it gentlemen,even the dogs. Show them a good time, compliment their outfits, offer to dance with them, take them out to look at the stars—‘
‘Some sage advice right there, and you boys need all you can get.’
At first Anya couldn’t work out where the voice had come from, the waiters and Dowager Marie all turning to look towards the other side of the room. Anya couldn’t lean over that far to see without revealing himself.
‘And you, young man.Dimitri Suyadev. Part time waiter and part time entertainment staff .’ Dowager Marie said, with a level of disgust that surprised Anya, it was a quick change of tone and she’d never seen her grandmother like this. Weren’t they also members of their own staff just like the waiters? ‘Don’t mistake that any of that speech was aimed at you.’
‘You lost me in your manners.’ Dimitri exclaimed. He came into a clearer view, wearing a leather jacket and dark glasses, brown colored hair and skin,not to mention actually looking effortlessly cool. And beside him was Vlad, Anya started to wonder why he was there.
‘You, you will teach my granddaughters to dance all they want. Let them pay for all the lessons if they want to. Mambo, cha-cha, meringue. But that’s it!” Dowager Marie was pointing an accusatory finger at the group, mostly particular at Dimitri. ‘Nothing more.’
‘We’ll try to keep our hands to ourselves.’ This time it wasn’t Dimitri who had spoken, but Gleb who was on the other side. A loud titter went around the waiters. Surprised by his boldness. Dowager Marie rolled her eyes at what he said, but before she could reply the entertainment staff were carrying their equipment across the room, past the boys, and out another exit.
Anya had been watching all of them so intently that when her gaze finally went back to Dimitri,who was still there even after the rest of the staff had left. She found that he was looking straight at her grandmother, trying to converse with her on something. She suddenly seemed so curious about him,interested in knowing more. Afterwards she stepped back,to avoid being caught because of sneaking up. She moved away from the doorway at last and settled herself on the grass beneath the veranda, just tucked out of view.