Everyone watched as the woman gaped at Romana. She seemed to be studying Romana, taking in every aspect of her appearance. Romana could not take the visual scrutiny any longer. She put down her menu and locked eyes with the woman.
“Is there something I can help you with?”
Her voice rising as if she was asking a question, the woman said, “Vera.”
Romana’s face was deadpan. No one had called her ‘Vera’ in more than two decades. Her full name was Vera Romana Milosevic. When she lived with relatives in Russia, they addressed her by her middle name; it sounded more like a Russian name. As time passed, she grew to like Romana better and continued to use it. She shot a glance at Natasha, who shrugged her shoulders. “I’m sorry, but do I know you?”
The woman spoke in broken English, saying, “You…Vera?”
Romana slowly nodded her head. “Yes, who are you?”
“It’s me,” the woman put a hand on her chest, “Sabina.”
Recognizing the name, Romana leaned back and studied the woman.
Sabina was the same height and build as Romana, but weighed a little more. She had dark hair with a hint of red mixed into it. Her eyes were dark and narrowly spaced, set above a small, pointed nose. She had full lips. Her high cheekbones helped form an oval-shaped face with a pointed chin. Sabina appeared to be the same age as Romana.
Romana put her hand to her cheek. It can’t be.
Sabina tugged on the neckline of her sweater and stuck her hand inside. She leaned closer and opened the closed hand in front of Romana.
Without realizing what she was doing, Romana touched her chest, covering the heart-shaped locket she always wore around her neck.
Sabina opened a heart-shaped locket and held it out for Romana to see. “Vera…it’s me…Sabina.”
Romana gawked at the exact same picture that had been in Romana’s locket—a family picture of her father, her mother, her sister and Romana.
Romana had searched for her sister for more than a decade, never wanting to believe she had been killed with her parents. There was never any proof of her death. Until there was proof, Romana was determined she would never give up the search. But, how? Throughout the last ten years, she had contacted every embassy and government agency in the area, calling on people who owed her favors. Nothing about her sister had ever been discovered. How is it possible that she just walked into this restaurant at the same time I was here? A few seconds passed. What am I doing? Her sister was standing in front of her and Romana was wondering how when she should have been greeting her sibling.
As if she had been reading Romana’s mind, Sabina held out her hands.
Romana stood so quickly her chair fell over backwards, crashing to the floor. Patrons in the restaurant noticed the commotion. Romana threw herself into her sister’s arms and the two hugged each other, crying and laughing.
Natasha whipped her head around toward Mika, who was at a loss for words, staring at the two hugging women. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hardy’s expression. He was looking at the women, but the right half of his mouth was curled up in a slight grin. Natasha quickly turned her head toward Romana and Sabina before coming back to Hardy. “Do you know something about this?”
Still watching the women, he leaned closer. “I—”
Romana let go of Sabina, but held her arm. “How did you find me?”
“Man from embassy call…a week ago,” said Sabina, trying to find the right words in English. “He say he find my sister.” Recalling the details, she continued, “Two days ago…another man call…he tell me that someone…pick me up and,” she lifted her hands and glanced around the restaurant, “bring me here. I am to look for woman…with long red hair…to…v…ver—”
“Verify,” said Hardy. Natasha, Mika and Romana whipped their heads toward him.
“Yes, verify,” said Sabina, acknowledging Hardy. “I am to verify that it was you. As soon as I see locket…I knew it was you.”
Natasha put a hand on Sabina’s arm. “What was the man’s name? The second man who called you?”
Sabina thought for a moment. Drawing out the first syllable, she said, “Hardy.”