The Life Read Online Free PDF Page A

silent request. She nodded, and they crossed the road quickly, her hand still tucked into the warmth of his elbow. Drawing her closer into his side, Anton kissed Viviana’s temple before tightening the belt on her tweed coat.
    “Look at you.” The man appraised Viviana, his voice heavily accented with his Georgian dialect. Giving only enough to pause to glance at Anton when his large hand came close to the roundness of her midsection, he asked, “May I?”
    Anton shrugged. “Ask her, Gio.”
    It wasn’t unusual for people in Brighton to want to be close to Viviana. It was as if communication between the residents fell somewhere in line with physical contact. It also wasn’t strange for them to know her by name or face, even if she hadn’t met them before. Little Odessa was a tight-knit community where everyone knew everyone else, and because of Anton’s family, he was one of the most recognizable. He was also one of the most respected. However, whether that was attributed to fear, Viviana wasn’t sure.
    “May I, sweetheart?” Gio asked Viviana.
    “Sure,” she said, smiling.
    When the shopkeeper’s hand rested down to the top of her midsection, the baby boy inside seemed to wake up at the contact. The movement from the baby must have pleased Gio. His face lit up and his old, grey eyes wrinkled at the corners, causing Viviana to beam with happiness as well.
    “Healthy, then?” Gio asked.
    “From what we can tell,” Anton said. “He’s certainly more than big and strong enough.”
    “I had heard he was a boy. I’ll have to spread word that it is indeed a fact. I’m sure Nicoli would have been so pleased.”
    Unsure if that had been said for her or Anton, Viviana chose to stay quiet. Anton, on the other hand, did not. “I hope so.”
    “ Baruch dayan emet ,” Gio said, a frown tugging his mouth down.
    She didn’t understand the words, but Anton seemed to. A brief flicker of sadness crossed his handsome features. Viviana swallowed back her own rising sorrow at the sight. Sometimes that happened as well on their travels through Little Odessa. Someone was always remembering who had once walked before them, and while their words weren’t meant to hurt, but rather console, at times they still did. At least for Anton, anyway.
    “It’s been a long time.” Anton responded with a shaky exhale that took Viviana by surprise. “You don’t have to recite that to me, now. You know I don’t follow the religion, either.”
    “I know.” Gio nodded, rubbing his hand once more along the top of Viviana’s stomach. “But Nicoli did, my boy.”
    “Yes, well—”
    “Oh! One minute,” Gio interrupted Anton, pulling his hand away and grinning conspiratorially at Viviana. “I have something for you, sweetheart. I think your palate will thank me for this later.”
    Only disappearing long enough for Anton to pull her back into his side and replace the empty spot on her swelled stomach with his own hand, Gio was back in the doorway once more. In his hand, he held something wrapped in white, wax paper. Passing it to her with a smile, Gio winked.
    “Go on, open it.”
    Warm in her palm, Viviana opened the wax paper with her own smile. Inside the wrapping lay one of her most favorite treats.
    “ Xachapuri .”
    The Georgian flat bread filled with cheese certainly wasn’t the healthiest choice for an after supper snack, but she didn’t care.
    “Well done.” Anton praised her with a kiss to her temple. “You said that perfectly, baby.”
    Viviana nudged him with her shoulder. “I do okay.”
    “That you do.”
    “You like?” Gio asked, seemingly delighted he’d found her weakness.
    “Very much,” Viviana replied. “Thank you, Gio.”
    “Okay, on with you. I have to get back to work. Take your wife home, Anton, and rest her feet.”
    Anton shook his head at Gio’s wagging finger. “On it now, Boss.”
    With one more wink, Gio’s hand reached out to touch the spot where Anton’s was resting. Quiet words