A few hours later, Maya was refreshing her makeup in the bedroom mirror while Bogdan was taking a shower when his phone began to ring.
"Please answer it, Maya," he called out. "If it's not urgent, tell them I'll call back later."
She picked up the phone from the nightstand and answered. She froze in disbelief when a calm, unfamiliar voice on the other end said, without any introduction:
"Bogdan, I'm pregnant."
Maya stood motionless, the phone pressed to her ear. For a moment, she thought she hadn't heard correctly. She hesitated, unsure whether to respond, when the voice repeated the sentence.
"Do you hear me? I finally went to the doctor. He confirmed it. I'm pregnant, and you promised you'd be there for me. It's your responsibility to step up."
With a trembling voice and a hollow feeling in her stomach, Maya finally spoke, even though it felt as if the words weren't coming from her.
"Bogdan isn't here. Would you like me to pass along a message?"
"Yes. Tell him to call me as soon as possible."
"I will."
"Thank you. Bye."
She ended the call in a daze. She felt like the last person on earth—pushed aside, deceived openly, without ever realizing it. Bogdan was going to have a child.
What had she been to him, then? Just a pawn on a chessboard far larger than she had imagined? Pawns are expendable, after all—useful only until they can be traded for something better.
How was she supposed to face him now? How could she pretend nothing was wrong after hearing too much? She felt like an actor who hadn't learned her lines. Looking around the room, she no longer understood what she was doing in a place where the man she loved wasn't truly hers.
She cracked open the bathroom door just long enough to speak.
"I'm going home."
"Wait, I'll come out and drive you."
"I'm sorry, I can't stay. I'm in a hurry. Bye."
"Let me know when you get home."
"Okay. Bye."
But Maya knew she wouldn't call him that day—nor the next. It felt as if the sky were falling, her world collapsing before her eyes. She didn't know what to think or what to do next. She gathered her things and left the Sami family home without another word.
Walking slowly toward the bus stop, she looked for a way out of this situation. The idea came to her in a split second. She pulled out her phone and pressed speed dial number three. When the voice on the other end answered, she said without greeting him:
"Nicholas, I want to come home."
Knowing her as well as he did, her brother immediately sensed something was wrong.
"What happened, Barbie? I thought you liked it there."
"I need you."
She knew her brother was incapable of refusing her. Now she waited, breath held, to hear what he will say—whether she would fly back to Chișinău or he would come to her.
"How about we go somewhere quiet, where no one will bother us," he said, "so we can talk and get away from everything for a few days?"
"I'd like that. Where?"
"You know Grandpa is in Berlin for a conference. From there he's going to Prague—I was supposed to meet him there. Three days. It's not much, but it's something."
"I'd love to see you both."
"Good. I'm on my way to the airport now. My flight leaves tonight. Book yours too, and I'll have someone waiting for you in Prague. Is that okay?"
"Yes. Perfect."
"Take care while traveling."
"I will. Thank you, Nicholas."
"Anytime, sis."
A small smile appeared at the corners of her mouth. Her brother had always had this effect on her. Ever since they were children, they had been inseparable, always looking out for one another. And as always, when Maya found herself in trouble, he would be there to help her through it.
Three days with Nicholas and their grandfather would do her good. They would help her see things differently—especially everything involving Bogdan. But first, she had to go home and pack. She had a plane to catch.
It was hard to believe that only four hours had passed since she'd left Bogdan's place. Enough time to speak with her brother, hastily pack what she needed for the next three days, book a flight online and ignore at least ten calls from Bogdan.
She knew she would have to face him sooner or later, but it was far too soon now. Besides, she wanted to hear her brother's perspective on what had happened. She couldn't wait to see him.
The flight proved to be a good counselor. Maya slept deeply on the plane, waking only as it prepared to land. After collecting her luggage and passing through the gate, she spotted her brother waiting for her. She hurried into his protective arms, and the moment she rested against his chest, she felt an immense weight lift from her shoulders.
Nicholas's embraces always had that effect on her.
She kissed him on the cheek and pulled back slightly.
"I missed you so much."
"Maya, Maya," he said gently. "What kind of trouble have you gotten into this time? You scared me when you called. Are you okay?"
"Yes. I'm okay."
"That's all I needed to hear. Let's go to the hotel—we'll talk there. Grandpa arrives around noon."