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more. It was like a bridge to her childhood every time she spoke to him.
    “Yes father. I just unpacked my bags and now I’m having dinner with my host in a panoramic restaurant. It’s a lovely city.”
    “I know. I’ve been there many times. Just checking up on you. I will let you enjoy your meal.”
    “Thank you. But now that I have you on the line can I ask you a question?”
    “Sure, darling.”
    She waited a couple of seconds. Their bond was close, so close she knew he would understand what she was saying, even if she didn’t say the actual words. He would read between the lines.
    “If you meet someone again, after a really long time and you want things to be the same as they were the last time you saw them, how do you know the person hasn’t changed?”
    “Are you talking about someone I know?”
    “Yes.”
    “And I assume it’s not your ex.”
    “Correct. I would say that she was like your child.”
    He sighed. “In a way, she was. Everyone changes. And I guess she would most of all. She got that from me.”
    “Would you trust your child?”
    “Trust runs through blood. We don’t share the same blood but we shared blood together. I would say that binds us even more. Did she contact you?”
    “Yes.”
    “Wow. After all these years? How? When?”  
    Olga smiled. She was sure Kate couldn’t follow the conversation, if she kept speaking in Russian. Kate was South African after all and Olga kept her voice low to shield it from other tables.
    “It’s the first time she talked to us since going off the grid. Tanya says she is in something deep.”
    “Don’t,” her father scolded her. “Don’t mention her name.”  
    “You think I’m not safe papa? After all I’ve done?”
    He didn’t answer.
    Olga decided to tell him what she learned from Tanya. “She’s in something deep. There’s a wedding happening soon.”
    “How does she know the family?” her father asked. “Does she know the bride?”
    “The groom is Russian. The bride, Nadia isn’t. She is coming to Russia for the wedding. They are still looking for a venue.”
    “When? Are you invited?”
    “I am going to meet…,” Olga paused as to not repeat her mistake again, “...my sister and get the invitation. She mentioned Victory Day.”
    “So, weddings here, in our country? On our Victory Day? Is this becoming a thing now?”
    “I hope not. But if it’s true, there’s a big chance for me to make a difference. Life changing, father. What I always waited for. I’m going to crash the wedding, stop Nadia. Make you proud.”
    Her father listened with patient restraint.
    “Did you meet the bridesmaid then?” he asked.
    “Not yet. I will be going to meet her in a couple of days. I just had to tell you.”
    “Good. Keep me informed.”
    “I have to go now. Bye.”
    “Give her my best.”  
    She put the phone back in her bag and turned back to Kate.
    Switching back to English, she said, “Sorry, it was just my dad checking if I’m alright. After all these travels, he still worries something might happen to me.”
    Kate shook her head with a smile. “Dads…”
    “Still thinking the world is a bad place for his little girl,” Olga said.
     
    ***
     
    Vienna, Austria
     
    The front entrance of Schönbrunn Palace was a princess’ dream. Paired lion statues in front of the wide courtyard led to an entrance gate flanked by two obelisks. They cast their shadows on the wide, white yard leading to the sun-yellow palace. Gravel crunched under Rose’s soles, white and hard as diamonds. Matching her name, a rose garden awaited her with stone sculptures and shapes cut out of the hedges, forming the huge labyrinthine backyard of the palace. Water splashing out of bowls held by statues of Greek gods drew birds thirsty for the first taste of spring.
    “I have already taken up too much of your time,” Kate said to her. “I know you are busy.”
    Rose waved her hand.
    “I like to keep my promises”, she said. Rose caught herself