By late morning, after strong tea and toast, Marina drifted off on the couch without meaning to. She dreamed of a wide field full of daisies, and a man was walking toward her through them. Somehow she knew it was Victor, Mike’s father, even though she had only seen him in old photographs. In those pictures from decades earlier, he was holding a toddler Mike in his arms.
In the dream, Marina felt a strange rush of emotions all at once—fear, longing, sadness, and something she didn’t want to name. It was a deep ache for someone she had never really known. With every step he took toward her, her heart tightened with anticipation. She studied his face, and a wave of physical attraction moved through her so strongly it startled her.
She woke with a jolt and sat upright on the couch. The doorbell was ringing insistently in the hallway, and Mike, grumbling, hurried to answer it. Marina sat frozen for a moment, trying to shake off the dream. It had felt uncomfortably real. Her legs seemed heavy, as if they didn’t quite belong to her yet.
A deep baritone from the entryway made her heart jump. “Hey there.” Pulling herself together, Marina walked into the hall on unsteady feet. Mike was hugging a tall man, and Marina cleared her throat softly to announce herself. “And this must be my daughter-in-law,” the guest said, stepping back from his son and looking at her closely.
Marina flushed, suddenly feeling like an awkward teenager, which was not at all like her. She stepped forward and offered her hand. That ridiculous dream still lingered in her mind, making her lips tremble every time she tried to speak. Victor took in the condo with a practical eye and promptly criticized Mike for the flickering light, the loose cabinet doors, and the worn floor.
Before long, the three of them were at the table with tea and the leftover French toast sticks from breakfast. “So do people eat actual meals around here?” Victor asked bluntly. It gave Marina the perfect excuse to retreat to the stove and avoid his sharp, observant gaze. Around this man, she felt oddly off balance, so she tried to focus on practical things—an upcoming vet appointment, unfinished reports at work, anything but him.
“Dad, how long are you staying?” Mike asked, breaking the silence. Victor let out a booming laugh. “Trying to get rid of me already?” he said, and Mike reddened. Marina felt uncomfortable too. Even she thought the question was rude.
Clearly, Mike’s shut-in lifestyle had done nothing for his social skills. If he had asked Marina’s mother that question at the door, she would have turned around and left. As Marina set out plates, she listened to the men talk. It turned out Victor would be staying about a month while he tried to secure investors for a major development project back in his part of the state…
