Episode 38

Naomi

Two weeks later

“I don’t care what anyone says. When I go to America, I want to see the Hollywood sign.”

I smiled at Katarina. “You can see it from the highway. It’s not hard to miss. And it looks smaller than you think.”

“Well, I could not care less about the Hollywood sign,” Aleksandra replied haughtily, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “I want to see the actual sights, eat the local food. I’ve always wanted to try a real taco.”

The girls launched into an argument about which was more important—tacos or the Hollywood sign—and I just shook my head, staring out of the window as the city of St. Petersburg passed by us in a blur. I couldn’t believe it when they said that they wanted to take me shopping. I was more shocked that Maria had given them permission to do so.

I didn’t mind being with the two of them. I loved Gavril’s sisters. They were extensions of his family and were always full of exuberance that his mother didn’t have. They had made my time in Russia pleasant, and