‘So,’ Demyan said, ‘get it in your head that I have no preference.’
‘None?’
‘You found out, didn’t you?’ Demyan smiled. ‘We’re having a boy?’
‘No.’
‘No, you didn’t find out or, no, we’re having a girl?’
‘Annika.’
The best he had hoped for was that his mother might rest in peace, but Alina attached a smile to his mother’s name as she returned it to his heart.
‘Ya lyublyu tebya vsey dushoy.’ Demyan told Alina just how deeply he loved her and his beautiful mouth moved into a smile when, instead of the more familiar I know you do, Alina answered him back with a truth he would never forget.
‘As you should.’