there was a herring on the table, a smoked sausage, fried chicken with vegetables and fragrant borscht with pampushki.
– My father told me that you are not a vegetarian, and I included meat in the diet, – Sergey Valeryevich said carefully.
We sat down at the table. Everything was really delicious.
– The food is wonderful, – said the priest, he culturally brought a napkin to his mouth and dabbed her lips.
– Yes, we have the best chefs.
– As for the service in New Guinea, your main residence is in the city of Port Moresby, and from there you will go to different settlements and small towns. We will provide housing and food. You think about it and call me within a month.
Sergey Valeryevich finished his tea and, looking into my eyes, added:
– Yes, and of course, Father, consult your mother.
I nodded uncertainly and looked down. I was embarrassed to be in someone else’s role. We got up from the table and slowly began to leave.
Sergey Valeryevich walked us to the car and said goodbye.
– Where are we going, Vladochka? Peter asked, sitting at the wheel.
– To Kiev! I replied and laughed.
– No, we don’t need to go to Kiev yet, – he said playfully.
– Then let’s go to heaven!
– That’s it, let’s go to heaven!
Gorky Park has become our paradise for today. After parking the car, we got out and headed into the depths of the park.
– The sun is shining in the sky, and the sun is shining side by side, – Peter smiled, holding out his palm to me. I hugged him and took his hand.
The park was very large. We walked along the alley among the benches and fountains. Suddenly he stopped, looked into my eyes and unexpectedly kissed me on the lips.
– And you know, I fell in love with you like a boy, – Peter whispered in my face.
“I’m in love with you too,” I replied.
We continued walking forward, holding hands. I felt him, and he felt me, and it was a state of inexhaustible bliss that we let into our hearts now.
– Look how beautiful it is, up ahead,” I said, admiring.
– Yes, very much.
And Peter approached a young guy who was standing not far from us, holding the handlebars of a bicycle.
– Young man, what is the name of this pond?
– Mmm… I don’t know, sorry, – the guy was confused.
An elderly woman passing by overheard their conversation.
– And this, young people, is the Pioneer Pond, it was created back in the nineteenth century, the whole territory then belonged to the Petty-Bourgeois School. Before the revolution of 1917, the reservoir was called Small. Only when Gorky Park was built here, it was renamed. I worked as a teacher before, so I know the history of this place well.
– Thank you, and I’m also fond of history, – said Peter.
– Grandma, let’s go,” the little boy who was standing next to her said tearfully.
And they immediately left.
After walking a few steps forward, we came even closer to the pond. Boats and catamarans floated in front of us. Small fish splashed in the water, and fry in flocks dissected the pond.
– I have to tell you something, Vladochka. I definitely have to leave tomorrow. I have a service, and I have to be at the temple by the weekend.
– Of course, I understand everything.
I felt very sad, but he had his own life, another family, there, far away, in a completely different country.
– And so that you wouldn’t be sad, I ran to buy delicious ice cream. Which one do you like?
– Buy me a milkshake, then I will try not to be sad, – I tried not to show the true emotions that just engulfed me at that moment.
Peter bought himself an ice cream, a cocktail for me and went to the free catamaran:
– And now we’re going to do a few laps, have we swam?
– Of course, we swam.
Peter quickly stepped into the very center of the catamaran and held out his hand to me. Another second and I was there. Having settled down comfortably, we began to pedal, and splashes of water flew in different directions, getting on our face and clothes.
– Oh, how fun, look at the sun, it has crumbled into small fragments in the water, and it’s like a lot of lights are floating next to us.
– And one piece of glass fell into my catamaran, – laughed Peter.
We talked and laughed merrily, completely oblivious to how our time flew by and the evening crept up. We got home very late.
The next morning Peter began to prepare for departure. Suddenly the phone rang.
– Good afternoon! How are the kids? How is she? he spoke very softly.
I immediately realized that it was my wife calling.
Soon he hung up the phone and continued to work on trousers.
“Do you love her?”
– No, I just live with her, she’s a sick person. Let’s postpone this conversation for later.
– Of course, we will postpone.
– Maybe you won’t come to see me off? Let’s say goodbye at home.
Peter never once looked me in the eye.
“Don’t you want to be with me when the train departs?” I asked sadly.
– No, that’s not the point at all.
Peter got dressed. He took the suitcase by the long handle and said:
– Goodbye, Vlada, and thank you for everything.
And he left the apartment.
Of course, I was somehow uncomfortable. I haven’t smoked for a long time, but at this moment it was just necessary. The pack of cigarettes was in the closet in a small jar for cereals, hidden just for such a special occasion. Along with the cigarette I smoked, the idea came to me that everything in life should be told. I quickly left the house. I looked at my watch and realized that I would definitely make it before the train left, and my legs carried me along the subway faster and faster.
There
