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“You should get out there and date. Maybe someone can set you up if you don’t want to go on a dating app.” Yelena hears her sister say as they walk down the country road to the farm outside St. Petersburg.
“Well, it’s a little hard to be set up when the only people you know are either in the same boat as you and don’t know anyone but nefarious criminals, are nefarious criminals or your own parents who keep to themselves so other nefarious criminals don’t find them. But, sure, sis, I’ll take your advice and get out there. Oh, wait, how’s your love life?”
“We aren’t talking about me!”
“That’s not fair.”
“Ha ha. Too bad!”
“No, no, no. You need to take a break from monitoring the universe or whatever and get out there. I hear Mason’s in Ankara or maybe that was last month, maybe he’s in Portland. I think he’s awaiting your move. … Such a sensitive man, he has real potential.”
“Maybe …” Natasha replies, saying more in one word to her sister than she’s ever said about her personal life to anyone else.
“And then you can say I was instrumental in setting you two up.”
“Where would I say that?”
“Obviously at your wedding. And I’d be maid of honor, and I know you’d want to have all the bridesmaids dressed in black, but you shouldn’t. I look really good in light purples and yellows!”
“Yelena! You’re getting ahead of yourself. I haven’t even said I would give him a call.”
“But you should!”
“Please don’t speak of this to the parental units. They won’t stop talking about this until they meet Mason or anyone else.”
“Fine.”
“Good.”
“Yeah yeah yeah. Poor Mason is just waiting for your move.” Yelena croons into Natasha’s ear.
“I highly doubt it.”
“Oh, I’m certain of it.”
“Well, anyway, I’m just glad to get out of New York for a bit to see you and … Mama and Papa.” Natasha declares as she wraps an arm around Yelena’s shoulders.
“Those words are still so hard to get out, aren’t they?”
“Yeah, a bit.”
“Well, I don’t think they mind too much when we call them by their first names.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Frankly, I think that they’re just pleased we want to have any sort of a relationship with them and not kill them.”
“Wait. What?” Natasha pauses.
“They know we could take them. He might be a supersoldier, but look at him now. And you’ve taken on aliens. I’m just saying. He’s old. I could take him. So could you.”
“God, I hope we never find out.” Nat mutters to herself.
”And I also have a feeling that I’ve killed more people than he has,” Yelena says off-handedly. Yelena’s relationship with her ledger is precarious. One moment, she’s feeling immense guilt and turning to vodka and in another she’s bragging to her big sister.
“Anyway, I think Melina has him on a short leash.”
“Oh, definitely.”
The girls laugh at this as they approach the property. They punch in the codes in order to gain access and make their way to the door when suddenly Natasha holds a hand out and stops Yelena from going any farther.
“Hear that?” Natasha asks.
Yelena takes a beat, then hears for herself. Carly Simon. No mistake about it.
“The way that you hold me
Whenever you hold me
There’s some kind of magic inside you
That keeps me from running
But just keep it comin’ ”
“Nope, nope, nope.” Natasha repeats as she backs away stealthily.
“Ew. Gross. They knew we were coming today, right?” Yelena whispers dramatically as she backs away.
“Yes. I talked to them last night.”
“So, um, let’s go check out the pigs for a bit, right?”
“Yes. Let’s.”
The two sisters leave their bags by the door and practically race each other to the pigs.
“They’re so old,” Yelena says.
“Not as old as you think. Apparently.”
The girls feed the pigs – damn Melina’s routine – and then meander around the property for a bit. They even try to test each other’s ability to backbend, like they used to. It’s a draw.
Soon, Melina opens the door wearing a brilliant blue silk robe.
Melina brushes her fingers through her hair and shouts, “Moi devochki vernulis! I was at … the kitchen window and saw you out here. Did you just arrive?”
“Yes!” the girls say in unison.
Nat and Yelena make their way back to the house, eyeing each other knowing glances and then smile at their mother.
They hug her and are welcomed into the home. They find spots to sit and relax while Melina excuses herself for a moment to go back to the bedroom.
Yelena mouths “two glasses of water” to Natasha. Natasha puts her head in her hands and looks down.
The girls can hear the mumbles from Melina’s bedroom. It sounds like Alexei had drifted off and Melina is nudging him awake. He says very loudly, “They’re here already, but I need more time with you, just you.”
Natasha’s head snaps up and she and Yelena react in unison with a grimace.
“So good to be home.”
“Da! Beautiful memories to be made.”
Soon enough Alexei and Melina return from the bedroom, Alexei in grey sweatpants and a surprisingly clean shirt. His trimmed beard and hair still manage to look disheveled due to his prior activities. Melina has put on one of her many utilitarian jumpsuits, although not entirely buttoned up.
“Dobro pozhalovat' domoy!” Alexei says with great enthusiasm, collecting them both in a group hug.
“You smell really bad,” Yelena mutters.
Alexei steps back and smells himself and guilelessly says, “Nah, I smell like your mother.”
“Let’s have a drink, shall we?” Melina asks to stop him from saying more, pulling out a very nice bottle of vodka from the freezer.