Louise was at Natalya’s apartment long before sunrise to help her get everyone packed to go to Kuopio. Arnie had said ten days; that would be Monday. There was a small chance they’d finish this afternoon, but it was more likely they’d be a day late. Aware of Natalya’s anxiety, Louise was trying to sit on her own excitement. Of course, Arnie would make sure to come in a very close second to Mikhail, so Mikhail’s victory would look legitimate. Maybe they’d even contrive to come in together. That would make a nice picture.
She helped supervise the packing and transporting of Natalya, the two children, and the ever-present Fanya, to the train station. There was something warm and pleasing about the controlled chaos. Squatting down and helping little Grisha into his snowsuit, Grisha wiggling, looking around at his mother doing the same with his big sister, Louise again felt the sweet longing. She kissed little Alina on top of her head. Grisha, seeing Louise kissing his sister, wanted in on it. He tried to stand, but lost his balance, plopping down on his rear end. Louise picked him up, hugging him close.
Natalya, of course, was all business, looking at her watch, shooing them all outside to get the taxi for the station.
They left Helsinki in the dark, but now on the train halfway to Kuopio, they were rolling steadily across the frozen countryside, the steam and smoke from the engine whisking past their windows. Even though Louise was feeling more positive because Pietari had reached Arnie, she still felt awkward around Natalya, knowing what Natalya had been forced to do in large part because of her. The fact that the money was rolling into the orphanage, far beyond anyone’s expectations, offered little solace.
She expected to see both Arnie and Mikhail tomorrow afternoon, racing toward the finish line. It would be a great show. She’d made sure all the papers were well informed about the approximate time of the race’s end. She envisioned pictures of Mikhail holding up his ski poles in triumph with a good-natured Arnie beside him being a good sport about a close loss. It had been a close call.
She caught Natalya’s eye and smiled at her, trying to encourage her, to help set things right between them. Alina was asleep on Natalya’s lap. Fanya was walking Grisha up and down the aisle of the car, holding his arms above his head. Natalya smiled back with her closed-lip smile. Then she broke eye contact and looked out the window.