The Faces of Strangers by Pia Padukone Page A

men have what they want.”
    â€œWow,” Vera said, leaning back against the sink with her mug and surveying Leo. “You have managed to be incredibly insulting in the past fifteen seconds. That’s a record, even for you.”
    Leo frowned. “I am just trying to keep her safe. It worries me, Vera. This situation, it’s not easy for me. The fact that she’s beautiful is a gift, and it’s a blessing that she’s able to make some money from it. But that doesn’t make it any easier to digest the fact that she may be traipsing about town with God knows who doing God knows what. Not to mention what people might be saying about her.”
    â€œSo what do you suggest—that we stop her from modeling? She’s making good money from it, you know. At least it keeps her out of trouble and away from loitering with her useless friends in Freedom Square.”
    â€œFine. Fine. Let her make money. If she’s talented, she’s talented.”
    â€œI have a great solution,” Vera said. Leo leaned in toward her. “Trust her. How about that?”
    â€œâ€˜Trust’ is an interesting request from someone who just made me an appointment behind my back,” Leo retorted, his nose in the air. “I just don’t have time to worry about this, Vera. I have enough to worry about with Mari. And then there’s Paavo. The boy spent the whole summer reading books. I don’t think he went down to the football pitch once. I don’t think he ever met friends. He needs to leave the comfort of his own backyard.” At this, he looked back through the screened-in porch. The fluff was still floating about, as though a chicken were plucking itself on his roof and sending the feathers cascading down below them, an early snow day in September.
    Vera shrugged. “It’s a phase, Leyva. He will spread his wings. New York may be very good for him. Go and take a shower before the boys wake up. And Levya, please don’t stress about the test. I’ll help you. We all will. Besides, I think you know more than you realize.”
    Leo took in a deep breath. He hesitated before leaning over and kissing his wife gently on the lips. “Have a good day, armastatu .” Vera smiled at his use of the Estonian word. She tried to pepper their Russian conversations with as many Estonian words as she could, but it was especially poignant when he made the effort on his own. At least he was trying.

PAAVO
    Tallinn September 2002
    There is no try. At some point in his life, Paavo had lived by the Star Wars credo. He’d once been capable of everything, or at least he’d possessed the self-confidence to think he was. He’d approached each experience and opportunity fearlessly and was prepared to fight whatever he thought might come in the way. But since the gang had started its advances toward him, his confidence had run for the hills of Narva, its tail between its legs. At first, Paavo figured he would just avoid the boys, make sure that he stayed out of their way. But it appeared that it wouldn’t be that easy.
    Now it was the first day of school, and Paavo had to venture back out there once again. The best part of participating in the Hallström program was that Nico was here. Well, Nico and really, that Sabine girl from Prague. When he’d passed out in the bathroom and Pyotr had run back to the conference room and announced that the Estonian boy had passed out, Sabine had been the first one on the premises. Paavo was just opening his eyes when he heard her enter the bathroom, taking tentative steps toward him, and then kneeling down on the cold tile floor next to his head. She’d made a pillow from her cardigan and placed it gently under his head. She put her hand over his mouth, testing for the warm puffs of air that emanated from his lips. She put her own fingers over her lips, guiding him not to move, even though his hands instinctively moved toward