Chapter Seventeen

Cat Out of the Bag

About an hour after Mr. Poloski left us at the hotel to go to his meeting, Mandy, Eric and I decided to check out some of the local shops and get lunch at a local café, which I must say was really good.  I had to remember to thank my mom for teaching me Russian whenever I got back home, because I constantly had to try to translate prices and names of items for Mandy and Eric while we shopped.

Store after store, we had fun trying clothes on, or just laughing at how ridiculous some items were.  Like when we found a souvenir shop that had a USA flag on top of a tiny hamburger which in the middle opened up to be a little jewelry box. In one store we all bought little key chains with our names on it spelled in Russian.  I was having fun, spending time with my friends, not really focusing on the huge decision that was going to need to be made in my near future.  I wasn’t focusing on the fact that tour guide had almost figured out that I was related to the family in the paintings earlier.  No, I was just relaxing, having a great time, and enjoy the therapy of shopping, for once.  I had almost forgotten how fun it was when just Eric, Mandy, and I would hang out, and I almost wish that Rachel was here too. Our friendship was just so easy, and with all the crazy secret drama, I had really missed just having fun and being a teenager.

While Eric had gone in to one of the little cafés to use the bathroom, it gave me some quick but good time to really catch up with Mandy.  We hadn’t really talked since our last shopping trip when she admitted to having a crush on Eric, so I didn’t really know what all was going through her mind about that, or even about coming here to Russia.

“Lisa, really I’m having a blast here.  I actually can’t wait to see if you move here, and that way I can have an easy excuse to come back to visit this amazing city.” Mandy said with a laugh and smile as she unscrewed the top of a brand new and cold Aquafina water bottle and took a few sips before passing it to me.

“Ha, well I doubt that is going to happen.” I said in between drinking some of the water and then passing it back to her.

“So…what did you think about Prince Dreamy last night?  I mean he kept looking at you the entire night, and even when Mr. Poloski told him you were fine, Ros still got up and rushed after you, and on top of that, yall were outside for a while.” Mandy said as she smirked at me, knowing she wanted the details.

“He was looking at me all night? I really didn’t notice, besides nothing really happened last night outside.  I had accidentally responded in Russian to him, and then he was surprised that I could speak it, and that’s when yall came out. Which reminds me, I need to give him back his jacket at some point before we leave.” I said as I thought about Ros’ very nice and expensive dinner jacket hanging in the hotel room closet.  However, the more I thought about his looks, and his nice words to me, the more I focused more on his last name and the fact that Ros and I were related…distant, very distant cousins, but still related, and that itself made me giddy inside, just that fact that I had family.  Back at home, my mom only had one older brother…much older, a good eighteen years older, you could say my mom was an “Oops” child, which always caused me to smile when I thought about it and looked at her. So, I didn’t really have cousins that were my age, and absolutely none that I was close to.

“What do you think about Eric then?” Mandy asked, breaking me of my train of thought down memory lane.

“What about Eric?” I asked in all honesty.  Why was she asking me about him? I thought to myself.  I don’t think I’ve even once thought of him in that way since we’ve gotten to Russia, mostly due to the fact that my mind has been preoccupied by other important things.

“Well, I mean do you still like him?” Mandy said again, as she looked around, making sure he wasn’t trying to sneak up on us.

“Oh, honestly I haven’t really thought much about him like that.  It really hasn’t been in my mind since we’ve arrived in Russia, but I can tell you that I’m really not looking for a guy to be with right now.  I’ve got so much on my plate, trying to figure out this whole Russia thing, and trying to figure out if I want to be made public, because once I do…well let’s just say my private social life is pretty much over, every news paper and poparazi will be trying to get pictures of the headline ‘The Grand Duchess Anastasia Lives and Has A Great Granddaughter’. And…” I said as I just huffed it all out without really thinking how loud I was and honestly forgetting where we were until Mandy looked at me with wide eyes before looking around to see who had possibly over heard or been eavesdropping.

“Whoops.” I said quietly to her, almost just mouthing it to her, as I looked around and started smiling…feeling very relaxed because of today’s therapeutic shopping trip.  I had seen a few people look over at Mandy and I, but none that I could tell really understood what we were saying, only that we were giggling. I was feeling pretty at ease until Eric came back a few seconds later, and I became aware at home much he smiled towards me than to Mandy, which I guess in a way made me feel special, but in another, I didn’t want him to like me like that.  Not now anyways, and especially not now that Mandy had or still has a crush on him. Plus, I totally didn’t want to be involved some stupid love triangle that ruined friendships.  So, I didn’t want any normal person would do…leaned back and excuses myself to the bathroom as well as went to the bar, to try to give Mandy and Eric some alone time, however the way I did it, was really fast, and well awkward, causing me to get weird looks from Eric and Mandy.

Sure enough, two minutes after I had left, I looked over to see Eric and Mandy in a deep conversation, or at least from where I was standing, which was in the corner by the bar and a wall that separated me from the hallway which had the restrooms.  So, I casually just ordered a coke, which didn’t taste nearly as good as the way back home made the soda, and just watched the tv.  Not really paying attention to my surroundings until I heard a low baritone Russian voice beside me trying to get my attention.

“You and you’re friends having a good time?” The guy asked me again in Russian, as I looked over to see a very good looking guy who must have been at least in his early twenties, perhaps twenty-four max, and looked to be very tall.  He held his dark hair short almost in a very short fohawk style, but looked amazing against his dark olive skin and bright hazel eyes.  He honestly looked like a model, or at least someone who was trying to become one, if it wasn’t for the large scar that lined his right side of his face.

I couldn’t help but smile and reply back, praying silently that I sounded fluent, “Yes, We are having a blast.”

“Ah, you do speak Russian, very good.  I didn’t know since you were talking with your American friends in English.” He said as he smiled a half smile as he looked over his shoulder towards Eric and Mandy who were talking and not paying me or him any attention.  However I didn’t forget that part where he had said that he heard me talking with my friends….did he hear what I had told Mandy out loud by accident? Was he here for that long?  My mind slowly became filled with questions and I became a little nervous.

“I’m Marc, with a c, not with the k that you American’s spell it with.” He said as he held out his hand to greet me with.

“I’m Lisa.” I said as I slowly met his hand with mine, but instead of shaking my hand he turned my hand over to kiss the top of my knuckles, just like the last two tour guides had done to me and Mandy.  What is with all this kissing of the hands stuff, I wondered to myself silently. However unlike the last two tour guides, Marc was cute, and kissing my hand, and me being the classic teenage girl that I am, my cheeks flushed a scarlet red with no warning, and no way of stopping it.

“Oh I didn’t mean to embarrass you, although women always look their best when they blush.” He said with a wink as he turn back let go of my hand and turned back to face the tv which was showing a commercial about the restaurant 1913, the one that we had just visited.

“So, what brings you to Russia, Miss Lisa?” Marc asked as he took a sip of his drink, which didn’t smell like ginger ale or apple juice even though it looked like it.

“Um, just Russia itself, my professor selected us to go along with him on this trip, and I’ve recently wanted to explore what Russia has to offer.  But I’m enjoying looking at all the palaces, and seeing the architecture there, and seeing just how the imperial family lived.” I said with a small smile as I looked over at him to see his facial reaction to my comment. My mind screaming, and to see how my family lived in those palaces, yeah up until a month and some change ago I didn’t know I was the last rightful heir to the Russian throne and my great grandmother was the lost Grand Duchess Anastasia!

“Ah, yes those palaces are grand and beautiful, but they cursed this country, if you ask me.” He said with a frown taking another sip, before continuing.  A curse?  He’s calling what my family did cursed the city? Who does he think he is? My mind became defensive, and without realizing so did my body language as I started to sit up straighter and lean away from him more.

“I understand that Royals feel like they are entitled to live in a much grander place than the rest of us, but it also cost this country a fortune to build it.  And so finally when the Russian Revolution came about the people had, had enough, and did what they thought was necessary.  To fight back.” He said, as he looked over at me.  He must’ve seen something in my eyes because he smirked his now annoying half smile, before turning to face me.

“This upsets you? You think differently?” He asked with a curious expression.  Heck yes this upsets me when you saying that my family deserved to be murdered, punk. Who do you think you are? My mind was yelling at him, as I gave him a smile before answering.

“Well, how can it be their fault if all they ever known, was how their ancestors had lived?  And I would imagine that while they were building the palaces, it created much needed jobs for the lower class of people…did it not? Besides, even if they were selfish, and wanted to live in the nicest place in Russia, they didn’t have to die or even be murdered because of it, which is exactly what happened during the stupid Russian Revolution.” I finished saying as I said the last words with bitterness.  I had finally come to realize that since being here in Russia, knowing where I come from, and really who I was, that I couldn’t change it.  I had to do everything in my power to keep the Romanov name alive and the hope that at least one imperial family member survived.

“Hmm, you have a point, however, from what my grandfather has always told me, the Romanovs deserved what they had coming, and Russia was and still is better off without them.” He said plainly as he looked at his cell phone which had just vibrated on the bar counter with a text message. How dare he, my mind screamed out.  My face growing heated with anger, as he really just said that my family deserved to be killed. However before I could give him a piece of my mind, he left his money on the counter and stood up giving me a smile, which made my breath catch.

“Well, Miss Lisa, I would love to stay and debate with you longer, but I must bid you a good day.  I hope to run into you again while you’re still staying in St. Petersburg. You have certainly entertained me even if you are angry at what I have said.” Marc said as he continued to smile and caught my hand to kiss my knuckles again.  Yet again, before I could say anything smart back or pull back my hand, he dropped it and walked out of the café. That little self centered, arrogant, mean, rude, annoying, and amazingly good looking, jerk! My mind swam with names as I stared at the door that he had just exited from.

“Oh cheer up Miss, Marc isn’t all that bad, he just doesn’t know when to hold his tounge around Russian tourists.” The bartender said as he wiped down the area of where Marc’s drink was.

“You know him?” I asked, almost a little bit surprised.

“Marc, yeah sure, he comes in all the time.  He’s father and I have been good pals since we were young children. Like I said, Marc isn’t all that bad and his opinions about the Revolution are a little bias, because of his family’s involvement” He said as he gave me a wink and turned to put the glass into a sink with other dirty glasses.

“What…what do you mean his family’s involvement?  Were they part of the Bolshevik party?” I asked curiously, noticing how the bartender suddenly looked grim and uncomfortable.

“Um, you can say that.  Look sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s none of my business to tell about someone else’s family.  If you want to know more about Marc, just come back here at the same time tomorrow, he’ll be here and you can ask him yourself.”

“Oh okay, well I don’t really care to have another debate with that arrogant jerk, to be honest.  Thanks for the information though.” I said as I stood up and gave him a small smile as I wanted to go back to the table where Eric and Mandy was at.

“Ha, not a problem dear. Like I said, Marc isn’t really that bad, you just have to get to know him.” He said as I gave him a small smile before walking back over to Eric and Mandy.  Get to know him, yeah right.  I think the next time I see him I’m going to give him a piece of my mind, I said to myself.

“Hey you ready to go?” I asked with a huffed and annoyed voice to Eric and Mandy who looked up from their conversation.

“Hey yeah, we can go.  Hey what’s up?” Mandy asked as she and Eric stood up and grabbed their bags and started walking towards the door with me.

“Ugh, just a conversation with an annoying guy at the bar, but anyways, sorry, I don’t mean to take it out on yall.  Where to next?” I said as we finally stood on the sidewalk, looking up and down of which way to adventure next.

“Well, we could head to the park that’s in front of our hotel, and then maybe watch a movie at the hotel.” Eric suggested as we started walking back towards the hotel and park.

“Okay, well I know I need to call my mom, so while we are watching the movie, I can do that.” I said to him, but mainly making a plan for myself.

“Oh good idea, we should all probably call back home. Ha, my mom is probably wondering if I even made it here or not.” Eric said with a laugh as he lead the way to the park.

“Hey so what did that guy say at the bar that made you so upset?” Mandy asked as she walked more slowly, giving us space from Eric to talk a little.

“Oh nothing, just his views on Russia, it doesn’t matter.  I’m never going to see him again, so it shouldn’t get me upset.” I said honestly as I looped my arm around hers and walked.

“What were you and Eric talking about anyways.  Every time I looked back, it looked like you two were in a deep conversation.” I said as I looked over at her.

“Yeah, we were just talking about last summer and spring break. I guess the cat is out of the bag about me liking him, because without realizing it I accidentally told him.” She said as she blushed. My thoughts immediately went back towards Marc, and his opinion about women blushing.

“What! What did he say?” I asked her, once my mind shifted back to what she was telling me.

“Well, he said that he’s had a crush on me, but didn’t think I liked him that way, so he just tried to treat me like one of his sisters. Then he told me that he didn’t really know what to do, because he does like you Lisa.  But he knows that with everything going on right now you need a friend, and well, he’s kind of seeing how a friend is all he’s really going to ever be to you; especially now that you are meeting more of your family, who are royalty.” She said, as she mentioned about meeting Prince Ros and Count Dubrov.

“Oh…well, good. I guess.  I mean, I really don’t want him waiting around for me, because I don’t really know how my life is going to be in the next few months or years to come.  I have to make a huge decision, and once it’s made I can’t go back.” I said, as I looked ahead of us at Eric who was dancing to some song on his ipod as he walked.

“Lisa, I’m always here for you.  Whether you are royal or not, famous or not, I will always be your friend and give you advice, and be here if you just need to talk.” She said as she stopped us from walking and gave me a much needed hug.  Everything just seemed perfect, hugging my best friend in Russia, a place that had ruled my dreams since knowing who I was.

A few hours later, Mandy, Eric, and I were back in our hotel rooms, call back home.  Mandy and Eric had reached there parents right away, however I was left leaving voicemails on both my mom’s voicemail and the home answering machine, and at my Nunna’s room phone.  So, I took this time to just change, and relax, going down stairs to the lobby of the hotel again after I left a note for Mandy to come get me when they wanted to watch the movie.

It wasn’t but thirty minutes later that I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up from the magazine that was written in all Russian, and saw Mr. Poloski looking down at me with a smile.

“Oh hey Mr. Poloski…I mean William.”  I said as I put down the magaizine and stood up.

“I trust you three had fun exploring and shopping today.” Mr. Poloski said with a relaxed smile.

“Yeah we did, how did your meeting go?” I asked, but then realized that Mr. Poloski’s smile was fading back into a grim look.  What was wrong? Who had he met with? I wondered.

“Lisa, I was hoping you would’ve waited to ask me that.  However, you are smart. My meeting went fine.  I was on my way to your room actually just now to see if we could get some coffee and talk about some important matters.” Mr. Poloski said as he pointed towards the hotel restaurant.

“Um yeah sure, what’s up?” I said as I followed him to an empty table in the far corner away from everyone and everything.

“Lisa, I met with some of my old trusted friends and professors, and ran into my uncle, Count Dubrov.  We were all discussing about the politics, and about my new royal title, etc.  However, Dubrov made a comment, which threw me for a loop, because he is right.  You look just like Ros’ older sister, when she was your age. Which made him become very curious about you, however as my uncle was walking back with me to my car, after the meeting, he stopped me, and demanded that I tell him the truth about you….” Mr. Poloski said as he paused, looking at my face that held so many expressions at this point in his story.

“You…you didn’t tell…” I began stuttering out…until Mr. Poloski cut me off by revealing the rest of his story.

“I did. I had to.  My name was on the line, and I couldn’t lie to him.” He finished saying as he looked at me again. I had so many emotions going through my face at this moment, anger, relief, fear, joy, and most of all confusion.

“You…you told, he knows? Well, what now? I didn’t get a chance to really think things over, and you said as soon as people found out and especially my family, then I was going to have to decide if I wanted to become part of this royal life.” I said as my voice became a little higher in volume without meaning too.

“Lisa, I know, I’m sorry, but I can assure you, you do not have to make a decision today.  However, our plans for tonight have changed.  You and I must go to Dubrov’s estate tonight for a little meeting, and he wants to meet you, again.  I will be with you the entire time, but I cannot tell you if others will be there or not.  Right now what you must do is just stay calm, and really remember all the things that your great grandmother and I have taught you the last month or so.  This is really the time to believe and own up to the fact that you are the last Grand Duchess of this country.” He said as he sat back and looked at me as he accessed my attire, and my facial expressions, which were changing every second that I process the news that he just told me.

“Hold up, okay, just let me process this a little more.” I said slowly as I looked down at my barely touched latte.  Could I do this? Was I ready? Why did this have to happen now? What was going to happen tonight? Could Dubrov be trusted? What if Ros finds out? My mind started wondering and then my mind finally settled to one conclusion.

“Fine, when do we leave and how formal is this meeting?” I said as I looked at Mr. Poloski with more confident eyes.  I could do this, I had to, I thought confidently to myself.  Besides, if I didn’t like what was going on, I would just leave, simple as that.  However I wasn’t going to get any answers, until I went.  Also, this was a chance to ask more about my family, and possibly help Nunna reconnect with one or two of them, before she passed on from this life.

“We need to in an hour, and dress like last night, I guess.  I’m not too sure what will happen once we arrive.” He said with a reassuring smile that really wasn’t helping at all with the situation.

“Okay, I’ll tell Mandy and Eric to get read too…” I started saying before Mr. Poloski shook his head.

“No, I’m afraid this is a family, or I guess now a government matter.  They cannot come.” He said with a serious face. Wait I couldn’t bring my friends?  I needed them for support, to give me more confidence, someone to talk to if I needed to. However, I didn’t and couldn’t argue…so instead I rose up from my chair and nodded towards Mr. Poloski leaving him at the table, knowing that this moment of telling my family has finally arrived.

I went back to my hotel room to get ready for the meeting that could possibly change my entire life.  I was grateful that Mandy was in the room so I could tell her all that had just happened, and for her to help me get ready.  She was really an amazing shoulder to lean and cry on, and I was thankful that we had gotten to spend one normal afternoon together.  I didn’t know how many more of those after tonight’s meeting I was going to be able to enjoy again.

“You look beautiful Lisa.” Mandy said as she adjusted a small curl over my shoulder looking at my reflection in the bathroom mirror.

“Thank you so much for helping me, and for hearing all my drama complaints.” I said as I turned to hug her then went over to grab my shoes that matched my dark blue Calvin Kline dress that I had gotten on sale at Dillards back at home before we left for Russia.  The blue matched almost perfectly with the Imperial crested ring that I still wore on my left hand, and made my skin and face glow.

“Lisa, you don’t have to thank me.  Just please be careful.  Tonight will be great, and I can’t wait to hear about it all when you get back.” She said as she went over to grab her clutch purse that she was lending me.

“Thanks, but I feel bad that I’m not going to be able to hang with you.  I hate the fact that you’re going to be bored.” I said with a frown.

“Oh don’t worry about me, I’ll watch a movie or maybe Eric and I will go down to the carnival that’s supposed to be in town for a few days in the park.” She said as she gave me a smile that made me calm down a little.

I gave her a hug again, before I exited out the door. As I walked out of the elevator and to the car out in front that was waiting for me with Mr. Poloski inside, I took a deep breath. Now as we drove to Count Dubrov’s private estate, I could only prayed that God would give me strength and the courage, that they would truly believe me, and that I could make Nunna and the rest of my Romanov family proud tonight, now that the cat was officially out of the bag.

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