Page 23 of Wicked Arrangement

“Now, who’s this fine gentleman accompanying you, sweetheart? It’s rude not to introduce people,” her grandmother chides gently before looking pointedly at me.

Kim looks adorably embarrassed. “Oh, sorry Gran, this is my friend, Yaroslav Volkov.”

Kim gestures for me to enter and I walk in, extending a hand. “A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Walsh.”

She shakes my hand with a surprisingly firm grip. I can imagine in her day Emma Walsh was quite a formidable woman. “Such a gentleman. Yaroslav, an interesting name, and do I detect a Russian accent?”

“Yes, I moved here seven years ago,” I respond with a nod.

“Rad vstreche,” she replies with a smile that reaches her eyes.

Taken aback, I reply, “You speak Russian?”

“A little,” she concedes modestly, the warm smile still on her face.

“Gran’s just being modest, she speaks several languages and was a professor of Law in Charleston for thirty years,” Kim chips in, looking proudly at her grandmother.

“Hush child, he doesn’t want to know about all that. Besides, it was a long time ago,” her eyes grow wistful, and I suspect she’s reminiscing on her past.

Kim has explained how her grandmother suffers from Alzheimer’s. though right now, you wouldn’t know from speaking with her.

“Actually, I’d love to know more about you, Ms. Walsh, from what Kimberly has told me, you’re quite the woman, and an incredible parent, I might add.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere young man,” she chuckles before adding, “Quite the charmer, aren’t you? I can see why my Kimmy is so taken with you,” with a twinkle in her eye.

Kim looks decidedly uncomfortable, something that makes her look adorable. Emma and I continue to chat, and I find that I genuinely enjoy her company. Kim gently explains to her that she’s going to be moved to a private nursing home today and she dismissively waves her hand.

“Nonsense, I can go home, there’s no need to spend your hard-earned cash on that Kimmy.”

“You need time to rest Grammy. And don’t worry about money, it’s all been taken care of,” Kim says, not meeting my eye.

But clearly, nothing gets past Emma Walsh on a good day. She looks at me knowingly, “I assume you’re our benevolent benefactor?”

I look at Kim, reluctant to respond if she doesn’t want her grandmother to know. She smiles at me gratefully before answering.

“Yes, Yaroslav is helping us out Grammy.”

Emma’s eyes narrow suspiciously at me and she fixes me with a stern look. “Now, Mr. Volkov, I hope you are an honorable man and will treat my Kimmy as the lady she is.”

“Of course, Ms. Walsh, I have the utmost respect for your granddaughter.”

She sizes me up. Seemingly satisfied, she nods. “Good, make sure you don’t hurt her, Mr. Volkov, else you’ll have me to answer to,” she warns.

I realize I like Ms. Walsh a lot. “Understood,” I reply, trying to hide my smile.

At that moment, a young woman walks in. She’s rather plain-looking, with a long, pale face and thin lips.

“Kimmy! What are you doing here?” she cries.

“Amelia! How are you? I could say the same!” Kim responds gleefully, moving over to embrace the woman.

“Well, since you went AWOL, someone had to spend time with Emma,” Amelia responds. If Kim notices the clear dig, she doesn’t let on. “Why haven’t you been answering your phone?” she demands.

“I told you, it broke. I’ve been busy so I haven’t got round to replacing it yet and I gave Gran her phone back so I could call her,” Kim explains. I make a mental note to buy her a replacement phone. I don’t like the idea that I won’t be able to get in touch with her when I’m not with her.

Amelia looks over at me with curiosity in her eyes, she smiles hungrily at me, “Busy… yes I can see that, who are you?” she asks seductively, preening and tossing her fake blonde hair over her shoulder.

“Oh, sorry, yes this is my friend Yaroslav,” Kim interjects.

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