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In the groggy earlyTatiana sat on the blanket in front of a blue crystal river, cradling Alexander’s head in her hands "Honey," she whispered, "want to go swi?"
"I would," replied Alexander, his head in her lap, "if only I could move my body"
After they slept for a few hours and swaot dressed and went to Naira’s house The wo
"They’re talking about us," Tatiana said to hiive the her forward and grabbing her bottom
The women were upset with Tatiana Dusia cried and prayed Raisa shook even ly Axinya twitched with excitement, as if unable to wait until she could tell her friends later in the afternoon
"Where have you been? We didn’t knohat happened to you We thought you had been killed," said Naira
"Tania, tell the not to smile
The wolared at Alexander, who saluted theht he must have looked like a pirate with his black stubble What to do? To pretend? To own up? The explanations, though Was it so she could stand? Could she explain to these well-s of her life? They believed their world with her to be one thing, and now she was about to tell theo they were aflutter over Alexander’s traveling 1,600 kilometers to marry his fiancée, supposedly heartbroken, and suddenly this It didn’t look very good for her, nor for him
"Tatiana, will you tell us please where you were?"
"Nowhere, Naira Mikhailovna We went to Molotov We bought a few things, so to say?
"Where did you sleep? You’ve been gone for three days! We honestly didn’t knohat happened to you"
Alexander walked up the stairs, onto the porch, and said without cereen on the porch was sucked into the lungs of the four old women who collectively went, "Aahhhhhh!"
Tatiana rubbed her eyes, shaking her head Leave it to hihed
"I’ into the parlor roo a hunk of bread He sat down next to Dusia on the sofa, put his arm around her, and said, "Ladies, you love needs in ses, don’t you? Maybe we could have a little party" He grinned
Losing her composure, Naira said tersely, "Alexander, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we are upset Saddened and upset"
"Married!" exclaimed Axinya
"What do youherself "Notloudly, Alexander got up "Tania? Please, let’s go eat"
"Shura, wait"
He sat back down
Dusia said, "Tatiana Georgievna, telljokes on us, trying to get four old women older before their ti, Dusia"
Tatiana, shaking her head at Alexander, said, "Dusia, please don’t be upset--"
"Wait," Alexander interrupted, turning to Dusia sitting next to hiood thing"
"Good?" she cried "Tania, what about God?"
"What about your sister?" asked Naira sternly
"What about decorum, propriety?" asked Axinya in a thrilled voice, as if decorus she wanted here in Lazarevo
Raisa shook "Tania, your sister’s memory is not yet cold"
Naira said sharply, "Alexander, we thought you had colance at Alexander told Tatiana that he was losing his patience Hurriedly she said, "Look, look, let ot up and said, "No Let me explain I came to Lazarevo for Tatiana I cao I’ll take your trunk We’ll cohere!" cried Naira
"Yes," said Alexander "She is"
"She doesn’t have to go!"
"Ladies," Alexander said, his arm around Tatiana’s neck, "we’re needs" He raised his eyebrows "Do you really want us in your house?"
Naira gasped Dusia crossed herself Raisa shook, and Axinya clapped her hands once in glee
Tatiana squeezed Alexander’s arm "Shh," she whispered "Please Go outside Let o"
"We will Go outside"
Naira said, "I don’t knohy you have to go You can have my bedroom I will sleep on the stove"
Before Tatiana could stop him, Alexander leaned forward and said, "Naira Mikhailovna, trust me, you don’t want us in your house -- Ouch!"
"Alexander! Go outside Please," Tatiana said, rubbing his ar back to Naira, Tatiana sat down "Look, it will be better for us in the cabin" She wanted to say "more private" but she knew they wouldn’t understand "If you need anything, let us know Alexander wants to come over and fix your fence If you want us to come for dinner, let us know, too"
"Tanechka, we are so worried about you," said Naira "You, of all people, with a soldier!"
Dusia muttered Christ’s name