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I recognize Arsen’s slashing penmanship. The lines are as neat and efficient as the man who wrote them.
Laila,
I’ve enrolled you in Zen Academy. Before you refuse, you should know this isn’t a gift—it’s an investment. When you complete your training and open your own studio, I plan to invest. I intend to make sure my investment is successful. Gedeon or Dominik will drive you to your classes in the morning, and I’ll make sure your afternoons are free to be with Nina.
Love, Arsen
I read the letter once and then again, trying to process what it means.
“Everything okay?” Polina asks.
I try to respond, but I can’t find the words. So I hand her the letter instead.
She reads it through with a frown. “Zen Academy?”
“It’s a yoga training school.” I scan the letter again just to make sure I didn’t imagine it all. “It’s… expensive. One of the most prestigious yoga schools in the state.”
Polina seems confused, her eyes flicking from the letter to me, trying to gauge how she should respond. “That’s great, right?”
Maybe if it was anything else, I’d be able to school my reaction—to see this as just another attempt by Arsen to buy my forgiveness.
But this isn’t anything else.
“I can finally get my certification, Polina!” Tears well in my eyes, and I have to blink them back.
“Definitely great, then.” Polina grins. “I’m happy for you, Laila.”
I’m happy for me, too. For the first time in weeks, I’m happy.
It’s impossible not to trace the feeling right back to my estranged husband.
I put the envelope on the table, nerves and excitement gnawing at my insides. “He’s trying to make amends.”
“Sounds like he’s doing a good job. You should let him.”
I pick at the scone on my plate, too confused to care about the perfect tang of berries against the sugar lemon glaze. “I just don’t want him getting the wrong idea.”
Especially sinceImight be getting the wrong idea.
“Which is what? That you want to become a yoga instructor?”
I level her with a glare. “You know what I mean.”
“Honey, you might be overthinking this. It’s a lovely gesture, but I don’t think he’s expecting anything from you.”
“Wake up and smell the bribery, Pol! He’s trying to wear me down.”
I wouldn’t be so upset about it if it wasn’t working so well.
Nina swipes out for the letter, and I let her take it. She bunches it in her chubby fists before Polina can pluck it away again. “Wear you down as in…?”
“He wants back into my life. He wants things to go back to the way they used to be.”
She arches an eyebrow. “Would that really be so bad?”
“I should’ve known you’d be on his side,” I grumble.
She rears back, offended. “I slapped that boy in the face for the way he treated you. I moved out!”
