“No. He knew where you lived decades ago. Why appear now?”
“He explained that.”
“Did he?”
“Margaret.”
“Mom, you inherited Dad’s savings and this house.”
Why now?
“You think he’s after my money?”
“We don’t know. And why did he approach Emma instead of you?”
I hated that she had a point.
“You’re all discussing me as though I’m not sitting here.”
“We’re protecting you.”
You think he’s after my money?
“Then protect my right to make my own decisions.”
Margaret looked hurt.
I softened my voice. “I’ll ask him myself.”
“Promise you’ll be careful?”
“I’ve survived ninety-five years. I know how to ask uncomfortable questions.”
We’re protecting you.
***
The following afternoon, I met Stanislaw again.
No romantic conversation.
No reminiscing.
Just one question.
“Why now?”
I know how to ask uncomfortable questions.
He considered it carefully.
“After Helena died, I couldn’t face disturbing the past. Recently, my doctor reminded me that I shouldn’t keep postponing things that matter.”
“Are you ill?”
“Nothing dramatic. Just old.”
“That’s a condition I know well. Do you know I have savings?”
Why now?
“I assumed so.”
“Are you interested in them?”
He laughed, then noticed I wasn’t smiling. “Zofia, you’re serious.”
“Completely.”
“Then tomorrow, I’d like to show you something. Afterward, you can decide whether to see me again.”
Nothing dramatic. Just old.
“You do realize you’re making yourself sound more suspicious?”
“I know.”
“Then I hope whatever you’re planning is worth the trouble.”
***
The following morning, he collected me in his car.
Emma knew where we were going and had his contact information.
I’d like to show you something.
Twenty minutes later, we stopped outside an enormous house.
“Whose house is this?”
“Mine.”
Inside, he showed me photographs of Helena and explained that they’d sold their business years ago.
“For how much?”
We stopped outside an enormous house.
“Enough.”
“Stanislaw.”
He named a figure.
I nearly dropped my handbag.
“You’re considerably wealthier than I am!”
They’d sold their business.
“Does that disappoint you?”
“Only because I was preparing to accuse you of stealing my furniture.”
He laughed.
But then he opened a drawer.
Inside were two airline tickets. To Poland.
Both purchased before we’d met again.
You’re considerably wealthier than I am!
I looked up. “What are these?”
“An invitation.”
“You bought tickets without asking me?”
“I hoped you’d agree. If not, I’d lose the money.”
“That’s rather foolish.”
To Poland.
