Chapter 18 - Roses After Winter
Winter eventually surrendered.
Snow disappeared from the shaded edges of the estate.
The lake thawed.
And one April morning, Vera opened the greenhouse doors and let warm air move through for the first time in months.
She stood among hundreds of new shoots.
Life returning.
The symbolism was so obvious she almost laughed.
“Something amusing?”
Nikolai stood at the doorway.
“Nothing.”
He wore dark trousers and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up.
No jacket.
No tie.
Six months earlier, Vera would have assumed something catastrophic had happened.
Now she knew he occasionally dressed like a normal human being.
Progress continued.
“You’re late,” she said.
“For what?”
“Work.”
“I own the property.”
“And you volunteered.”
“I do not remember that.”
“You said you wanted to learn.”
“I said I wanted to understand why one greenhouse requires the annual budget of a small municipality.”
“Same thing.”
She handed him gloves.
He looked at them.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I have a meeting in forty minutes.”
“Then work faster.”
Nikolai sighed.
He put on the gloves.
Vera smiled.
Several minutes later, she discovered something extraordinary.
Nikolai Voss was terrible at planting roses.
“Not that deep.”
“You said six inches.”
“That is nine.”
“You can measure dirt visually?”
“Yes.”
“That seems suspicious.”
“Move.”
She crouched beside him.
Their shoulders touched.
Nikolai watched as she adjusted the roots.
“Gentle,” Vera said.
“It’s a plant.”
“It’s alive.”
He looked at her.
Something in his expression changed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“That look means something.”
“I was thinking.”
“Dangerous.”
He removed one glove.
Then reached into his pocket.
Vera narrowed her eyes.
“If that is another property deed—”
“It isn’t.”
A small velvet box appeared.
Her heart stopped.
“Nikolai.”
He did not open it immediately.
“I know what you said.”
“What did I say?”
“If I proposed after four weeks, you would throw me in the lake.”
“That threat remains legally enforceable.”
“It has been eight months.”
Vera stared.
He opened the box.
A simple elegant ring.
Not enormous.
Not designed to advertise wealth.
He had learned.
“Nikolai…”
“I had a speech.”
“That sounds dangerous.”
“I forgot it.”
She smiled despite the tears suddenly threatening.
He continued.
“I spent most of my life believing safety meant controlling every variable.”
Vera listened.
“Then you arrived and argued about irrigation.”
“It was badly designed.”
“Please let me finish.”
“Sorry.”
He took her hand.
“I cannot promise you safety every day.”
Her eyes burned.
“I cannot promise there will never be difficult years, enemies, mistakes or fear.”
“That is terrible marketing.”
“Vera.”
She laughed through tears.
“Continue.”
“I can promise I will wait when you are late.”
Her smile trembled.
“I will listen when you say no.”
Her throat tightened.
“I will never confuse loving you with owning you.”
That sentence mattered more than the ring.
“And when fear makes me stupid…”
“When?”
He gave her a look.
“When fear makes me stupid, you may remind me.”
“Daily if necessary.”
“Frequently, I assume.”
“Yes.”
He took a breath.
“Vera Sullivan, will you marry me?”
She looked around.
Winter roses.
Spring light.
The greenhouse where they had argued.
Hidden from enemies.
Found one another.
She remembered the first camera.
The burned building.
Her name in ash.
She remembered thinking Nikolai’s world would swallow hers.
Instead they had built something between them.
Something chosen.
“Yes.”
His expression did not change immediately.
“You said yes?”
“I did.”
“Without arguing?”
“I can withdraw it.”
“No.”
He slid the ring onto her finger.
Perfect fit.
Vera looked suspicious.
“How did you know my size?”
“Miriam.”
“Traitor.”
From behind a row of roses came a voice.
“You’re welcome.”
Vera spun around.
Miriam emerged carrying champagne.
Behind her stood Dmitri.
And Jason.
And half the estate staff.
Vera stared at Nikolai.
“You planned an audience?”
“I specifically requested discretion.”
Dmitri smiled.
“Nobody listened.”
Nikolai sighed.
Vera laughed.
Then everyone celebrated.
No reporters.
No business associates.
No display of wealth.
Just people.
At sunset, Vera and Nikolai walked toward the lake.
She looked at the ring again.
“You know what’s funny?”
“What?”
“Adrian thought you would claim me.”
Nikolai’s expression darkened.
“I hated that language.”
“I know.”
She squeezed his hand.
“You never did.”
“No.”
“I chose you.”
“Yes.”
“And you chose me.”
“Yes.”
“Much better.”
Nikolai looked down at her.
“Considerably.”
They stopped beside the shore.
The lake reflected gold.
Vera rested her head against his shoulder.
For once Nikolai did not scan the trees.
Did not check his phone.
Did not look toward the gates.
He simply stood there.
Present.
At peace.
Behind them, lights came on inside the mansion one by one.
Once, that house had represented Nikolai’s isolation.
A fortress.
Now its doors were open.
Laughter drifted from the terrace.
Dmitri was arguing with Miriam.
Someone had put music on.
And beneath the greenhouse glass, new roses were preparing to bloom.
Winter had ended.
May you like
Not because danger had disappeared.
Because life had finally become larger than fear.
