Chapter Text
He found him on the couch, staring blankly at the lake, clutching his mother’s cross, lips moving silently, tears welling in his eyes.
It was always the same. And while Shane had always felt helpless in the face of this week, he had finally - maybe - found something that could ease his husband’s pain.
Shane placed a hand gently on his shoulder.
Ilya startled.
“Come with me.” Shane nodded toward the door leading to the deck.
Ilya slowly uncurled and followed.
Shane led him to a quiet corner of the property.
“It’s called a memorial garden.”
A circle of flowers shifted in the breeze off the lake. On one side, a whitewashed metal bench. On the other, a rectangular stone nestled in soft green moss.
Etched beside a beautiful outline of a lily:
Irina Rozanova
Loving mother
April 12, 1971 – June 26, 2003
Ilya stared.
He had never shared his mother’s birthday or the date of her death with anyone, including Shane. He kept those details locked inside his heart.
“How?”
“Mom may have threatened a few Russian officials.”
Ilya was overwhelmed. By grief. By joy. By love.
He collapsed to the ground, pulling Shane down beside him.
“Ya tebya lyublyu.”