Chapter 111

“No, no, of course it wasn’t for that.” He cleared his throat and leaned against the door frame, watching me go over the counter that was already clean. “I’m just passing through, as I told you, but it suddenly occurs to me that it might be a good idea. What do you think?”

“I would have to fix some things.”

“That is a yes?”

“Ivan, you just arrived, why don’t you sit down for a moment?” I laughed and pointed to the chair. He undid the first button on his shirt after taking off his tie, and I couldn’t help but think how handsome he looked with that shadow of beard on his cheeks. The beard always made him look older than his thirty years. “Come on, grab a chair. I’ll make you some coffee. Do you want cake? I have pecan pie and… or would you rather wait a little and have dinner? I was going to make chicken.”

“Anything will be fine, thank you.”

He obeyed me without a word and sat on his favorite side of the table, near the side door of the kitchen. He looked