50: Grand Sinner

Camilla wasn’t talking to Maksim. Hours had passed since their last conversation in the car, and she hadn’t breathed a word in his direction. At least she called him Alek, and Papa had been informed about the baby.

His phone rang. He stared at it, trying to make sense of the letters that formed a name on his screen. It took minutes for him to register the name. Vanya. He massaged his forehead, delaying to answer the call. When he did, none of them spoke. His chest was heavy, like someone thrice his size was sitting on it. He was trying to help her.

Why didn’t she see it that way?

Maksim was not vile, just a secretive man. No one knew his plans, not even Doris or Ivan. If Camilla had known, her shock might not have been the same. No one doubted his story about them losing their baby, not with Doris telling everyone in the house how pale his wife had gone or how loud she screamed when she saw the blood. The reaction had to be natural, not acted.

Vanya cleared his throat, and the phon