tried to hug him, but didn’t quite make it for her bulky schoolbag and layers of clothing. With his thumb Harry wiped away the mustache of chocolate on her upper lip. While they waited for the elevator he moved his palm in circles on her back. Appreciating his show of affection, she leaned against his hand. Looking up into his kind blue eyes, a wave of warmth invaded her. I love him like Papi, like Karl. She couldn’t remember ever having seen him in a bad mood. He always wore a kind smile, and a curl of sandy brown hair fell onto his forehead. She didn’t doubt he was a safe presence in her life and she could count on his friendship.
Smiling, she waved. “Thanks a lot.”
In the elevator, she punched the button to the fifth floor. With stiff fingers Leini fumbled in her schoolbag until she located the key to the apartment and let herself inside. In the hall, she switched on the light and peeled off the outer clothing until she was down to her pleated marine blue skirt and blue pullover, hating the color because she knew it turned her olive complexion an anemic pale yellow.
“Tatta, I’m home,” she called toward the kitchen to their maid living with them since Papi was released from the hospital after the war. As there was no answer. Leini crossed the hall and pushed open the swinging door. Tatta stood by the sink dicing vegetables. She turned in Leini’s direction, her profile sharp with its pointed nose and chin, the lips so thin they were lost in vertical feathery wrinkles around her mouth.
“I’m home,” Leini said again. She leaned her behind against the wall to put on her slippers.
Tatta gave Leini a cold stare from watery blue eyes. “I heard you.” She spoke Finnish with a slight accent, the consonants hard, a giveaway of her Russian origins. She nodded in the direction of the counter. “There’s an orange and some raisins and almonds.”
“Thanks, I don’t want any. I had a mug of chocolate with Harry.” She turned. “I’m going to do my homework,” she threw over her shoulder as she let the door swing shut.
Chapter 11
Helsinki, Fall 1947
Somebody had turned off the wall light, so the long corridor to Leini’s suite of rooms was dark. She stumbled, but managed not to land on her knees by leaning against the wall. Must be Samy who’s switched off the lamp. For her sake the light was supposed to be on day and night, but Samy—the little beast—never missed an opportunity to cause her trouble. As she opened the door too the suite, she found him kneeling on her desk chair, his head with its shock of blue-black curls bent over some papers. As she approached, she discovered him busy doing artwork with crayons on her piano score.
Red dots flickered before her eyes. Her whole body shook from anger that Samy was in her room, handling her things.
“What do you think you’re doing in my room?” She couldn’t help but shout. Her loud voice made Samy jump. As she drew closer his guilty look turned sly.
“I can be here if I want to. Mamma says I can do anything I want.”
“No, you can’t. Papi’s told you over and over you’re not supposed to be in my rooms. Now you’ve ruined my piano score! And my crayons.” She held out her palm with a few mashed colorful batons. “Look at them! You’ve crushed them against the paper, now they’re useless.”
He stared at her out of large eyes, a smirk on his rosebud of a mouth. With his broad, stubby fingers Samy broke a crayon in half. “So what? It’s only paper and a few silly sticks of wax.”
“You stupid boy, they’re expensive. Papi bought them for me.”
Leini grabbed him by the arm. Almost six years his senior, she was taller and stronger. With a yank she pulled him from the chair. His behind hit the floor, and he started howling at the top of his voice. Kneeling next to him, she shook him.
“Keep quiet. Samy! Shut your mouth.”
He screamed even louder.
“What’s going on here?”
Rising to her feet, Leini faced
Smiling, she waved. “Thanks a lot.”
In the elevator, she punched the button to the fifth floor. With stiff fingers Leini fumbled in her schoolbag until she located the key to the apartment and let herself inside. In the hall, she switched on the light and peeled off the outer clothing until she was down to her pleated marine blue skirt and blue pullover, hating the color because she knew it turned her olive complexion an anemic pale yellow.
“Tatta, I’m home,” she called toward the kitchen to their maid living with them since Papi was released from the hospital after the war. As there was no answer. Leini crossed the hall and pushed open the swinging door. Tatta stood by the sink dicing vegetables. She turned in Leini’s direction, her profile sharp with its pointed nose and chin, the lips so thin they were lost in vertical feathery wrinkles around her mouth.
“I’m home,” Leini said again. She leaned her behind against the wall to put on her slippers.
Tatta gave Leini a cold stare from watery blue eyes. “I heard you.” She spoke Finnish with a slight accent, the consonants hard, a giveaway of her Russian origins. She nodded in the direction of the counter. “There’s an orange and some raisins and almonds.”
“Thanks, I don’t want any. I had a mug of chocolate with Harry.” She turned. “I’m going to do my homework,” she threw over her shoulder as she let the door swing shut.
Chapter 11
Helsinki, Fall 1947
Somebody had turned off the wall light, so the long corridor to Leini’s suite of rooms was dark. She stumbled, but managed not to land on her knees by leaning against the wall. Must be Samy who’s switched off the lamp. For her sake the light was supposed to be on day and night, but Samy—the little beast—never missed an opportunity to cause her trouble. As she opened the door too the suite, she found him kneeling on her desk chair, his head with its shock of blue-black curls bent over some papers. As she approached, she discovered him busy doing artwork with crayons on her piano score.
Red dots flickered before her eyes. Her whole body shook from anger that Samy was in her room, handling her things.
“What do you think you’re doing in my room?” She couldn’t help but shout. Her loud voice made Samy jump. As she drew closer his guilty look turned sly.
“I can be here if I want to. Mamma says I can do anything I want.”
“No, you can’t. Papi’s told you over and over you’re not supposed to be in my rooms. Now you’ve ruined my piano score! And my crayons.” She held out her palm with a few mashed colorful batons. “Look at them! You’ve crushed them against the paper, now they’re useless.”
He stared at her out of large eyes, a smirk on his rosebud of a mouth. With his broad, stubby fingers Samy broke a crayon in half. “So what? It’s only paper and a few silly sticks of wax.”
“You stupid boy, they’re expensive. Papi bought them for me.”
Leini grabbed him by the arm. Almost six years his senior, she was taller and stronger. With a yank she pulled him from the chair. His behind hit the floor, and he started howling at the top of his voice. Kneeling next to him, she shook him.
“Keep quiet. Samy! Shut your mouth.”
He screamed even louder.
“What’s going on here?”
Rising to her feet, Leini faced
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