Whatever It Takes

Chapter 35

When Nova and James were blipped we weren't sure how they'd respond to coming back. Tony was especially nervous about Nova because she was blipped as an infant, and came back an infant but was chronologically five years old. I remember the conversation like it was yesterday. He was so nervous. But she caught up in about a year, her size and how well she functions.

"Mommy! Jamie opened his eyes!" I slowly get up from my bed and walk over to my children. Jameson has his eyes wide, a light shade of green, just like mine, just like mom's. I can't stop looking into my son's eyes. Into the eyes my mother has passed down. It's been so long that I forgot her voice, her touch. My daughter looks just like her. She acts just like her. I want to see her every day, want her gentle encouragement. My father helps, Clint helps. But I still want her.

"Hey Nastasiya. How is the baby?" Yelena peeks in the room, and then slowly walks in. She walks on eggshells constantly. I'm not sure why.

Smiling I update her on the tiny baby sleeping next to me. "He's good, tired but good. How are you? We haven't spoken since I told you what happened."

She looks down at her feet. "After our last conversation, I tried calling the phone number I had for Melina." She pauses, choking back tears. "She answered. She wants to know if she can come."

I jump up. "Yes! She can, I miss her so much. Is Alexei going to come?" I'm thrilled. She is the only reason I survived that horrible man. What he did to me, he also did to her. She understood in a way that nobody else does.

"She didn't say, I didn't want to ask. I'll call her back now." She starts to head out of the room, but I stop her.

'"No, stay here. I need to hear her voice." Yelena nods, pulls out her phone, and dials the number. It rings for only a second, when I hear her voice my stomach jumps into my chest.

"Hello? Yelena?" She sounds out of breath.

Forcing out the words, I respond before she does. "Grandma Mellie?" She gasps for breath.

"Nassie? My Nastasiya? Oh honey, I miss you. I'm coming don't worry." Nodding, I cover my face with my hands. Crying quietly.