I groaned as I stepped out of the airplane and into the busy Barcelona, Spain airport.
"Must you make me wear these ridiculous outfits?"
I was wearing a white, one-piece swimsuit and pale blue pants with large buttons on top. I had a white, fedora shaped, but not quite a fedora, hat with a blue ribbon. White circle earrings hung on my ears, and I had white sandal heels.
I was sure that everyone was staring at my clown costume.
"Oh, stop it, darling, you look... ravishing." Misha smiled at me, tugging me tightly to him.
"Stop being a tease," I said and he reluctantly let me go.
"Maria, silence yourself. You don't look ridiculous, now quit whining. Misha and you will head to the beach, while the rest of us go... to work on some things." Stephan told the events that would be unfolding today.
Of all people, why did Misha have to go?
I silenced myself and didn't say a word. Misha, with an awful smirk on his face, took my hand and led me away. I wanted to know what the rest of the gang would be up to, but I had to silence myself.
We got into a cab and Misha told the driver where we wished to go. He drove off, and I stared at the beautiful city before me.
The car ride was quite short, and soon, we were out and standing near a beach. I smiled and looked at Misha.
"Why are we here?" I knew the answer, but I really needed a confirmation.
"We're here to have fun. Go swim, lay on the sand, whatever you wish. The day is yours to have fun."
I squealed like a little girl on Christmas morning and threw my arms around Misha's neck. "Thank you, thank you! You have no idea how long I wished for this, just a day of being at the beach!"
Misha couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh, Maria. Go, you're wasting time."
I nodded and ran off, Misha whistling behind me.
I threw off my stupid had, and clown pants and uncomfortable heels and then headed to the ocean.
I neared the foamy waves and my feet touched the cold water. Goosebumps appeared all over my body, from the cold but also from the excitement.
You see, I loved the ocean and ever since my last trip to San Diego when I was still in high school, did I manage to swim in the big, blue, great ocean. I loved the water, and I could swim for hours.
I ran into the ocean, without thinking twice. I leaped as the waves crashed against me, cold and mean, but very welcoming. The sun warmed my skin, the water cooled me off and I was in heaven.
I fell in the water, quickly floating back up and kicking my legs and arms to stay afloat. Oh, I loved the water so much. A few seaweed swam past me and IÂ stuck my tongue out in disgust. I hated seaweed. Slimy, weird textured, and dark.
Thankfully, there weren't too many seaweed floating around, and soon I was back to my happy self, swimming and splashing in the water like a little toddler. The waves were large, but not very strong, which was nice since I hadn't been swimming for a while and couldn't handle strong waves this far out.
My hand went to my belly, where my little baby was enjoying the water, but very differently. I think the little bump was noticeable already, but so far nobody mentioned anything. I didn't dare say anything to the crew, because who knew what could happen.
I was nearing the end of my first trimester, and the morning sickness was practically gone, as well as the strange food cravings. Every once and then, I wanted something very weird, or I felt a nauseous feeling, but I was good at masking it as something usual.
Suddenly, I felt a pair of hands on my back and I quickly turned around, splashing the intruder.
"Hey!" Misha yelled.
I smiled at him and splashed him again.
He only replied with a splash, much larger than mine, that drenched me with water.
I laughed. "No fair."
"You're out here acting like a little child."
I frowned and gave a little splash. "You're one to talk. You're always out making jokes and pranks."
"Yes, well, it's expected from me. I expected more from you, Maria."
I gave a guilty smile. It was true, I was almost becoming a different person around these people. Instead of always hiding behind a silenced stern look and a cold attitude, I was now having fun with life.
"This is the first time I have been at the beach to swim, and not for work or anything if I'm being honest. I've missed it."
Misha smiled with understanding. "We've been watching you, Maria. You don't exactly lead an adventurous life."
"What can I say? I have duties, responsibilities now. I am Mrs. Vasilievna, his shadow, his wife..."I trailed off, looking onto the horizon.
"It's okay to be Mrs. Vasilievna, while also being Maria."
I shrugged. "I know, but, you haven't lived with Alexander for two years. He's a very powerful man, determined, strong, independent, influential, respected... he changed me. I wanted to be like him, I guess, or good enough to be his."
"I'm sure Stephan already told you this, but you changed him too, Maria."
"Yeah, yeah. Everyone says that, but I don't see it."
Misha laughed, and then splashed me again. He tried to be nice about it, and so I wasn't completely drenched.
"You don't think of yourself high enough. You're very capable of changing somebody. I mean, you've got Alexander turning tables and what not."
I smiled, saddened, but also happy.
"I miss him. But not as much as I should." I admitted.
"Oh, stop it. You've been separated for like, three weeks, you don't even have the right to be missing anyone."
I laughed. "You don't get. The last time we were separated for longer than a weekend was before we got married. After that, I spent every moment of my life right next to him."
"Maria, you are his wife, but not his arm or leg. You have to love, respect, obey, help him. Support him, cook for him, clean for him, work for him, whatever you want... but you don't have to become him. You're allowed to get some time alone, free to be Maria. Just Maria. What's your maiden name?"
I laughed. "Tormozova."
"Mhmm. So, you get to be just Maria Tormozova every once in a while."
"I guess... I just feel guilty. He's off worried sick and I'm having a great time, actually."
He cocked his head. "You do have a valid point there. I can't argue with that."
"Exactly."
"But, if I were to argue, I'd say he deserves it."
I looked at Misha wide-eyed while he just shrugged.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"He's mean, ruthless, emotionless, cold. He's got too much power. He's forced us to kidnap his own wife because of his stubborn, cold heart."
I smiled. "But that's why he's so successful. He's cold with style, you see. He's caring, but with caution. You just don't know him like I do. Sometimes, he becomes this sweet, sweet person with the likeliness of a soft little teddy bear. He cuddles up and acts like a little child. Other times, he gets so jealous and overprotective, and his strong gaze quickly scares the men. He has these little things he does that always show me he loves me."
"Ah, Maria, you're so in love."
I smiled. "Yes, I am."
"Well, this better teach him something. He's not getting you back for a while."
No thoughts came to mind since I was used to this idea already.
"Let's swim?"
"Let's."
And so we swam. We chased each other in the water. He was a good swimmer, but because he was so large it was hard for him to keep himself above the water long, and so I kept winning our chases.
Then, we played the game of how long we can stay underwater, or who can jump the highest when a wave hit. It was lots of fun, but eventually, once our fingers were starting to get soft and wrinkly, we decided it best to head out to dry in the warm sun.
As we lay on our towels, I noticed another scar, running from his side and across his belly.
I couldn't help but ask, "Misha. Tell me about your scar, I'm mighty curious."
He frowned, but that thoughtful look on his face told me was thinking about how to explain the story. I grew excited and turned to look at him.
"Honestly, it's not an exciting story, as you must be thinking. It happened back when I was in the Russian army."
Ah, of course, all the most interesting stories began in the Russian army. It was a mandatory service, for young men to serve the country in the Russian army. It was brutal and harsh, but men came out tough and strong.
"I had to be punished for something, I do not remember now what it was, but they sat me out in the cold freezing river. It was during February, one of the most coldest months. I had no choice, and so for several hours I sat in there."
I reached out my hand and gently gave him a little squeeze on the shoulder. It was tough, the Army, and some things were awful, horrible nightmares that made me cry inside. Alexander was a lucky man, and his parents came to America before he had to go through the horrors of the Russian Army.
"My kidneys began to dysfunction, and I had to get surgery to remove them. A transplant was required, and they took out both kidneys and only gave back one."
"I have no words, except that I am truly very sorry for what you had to face. I know it can be awful, but I have never gone through such experiences, and cannot empathize with you, but I do feel as sorry as I can."
He smiled. "Ah, but that is all in the past. Let's go back out to swim?"
I laughed and grabbed his outstretched hand. "Of course. But you'll have to tell me the stories of your other two scars."
"In due time, Miss Maria Tormozova."
I laughed. Misha was quite a good fellow. Sure, he seemed ridiculously scary and threatening, and his pranks were terrifying to be a part of, but this whole new side of him was a very interesting one. I looked forward to getting to know the real Misha.
Funny, I did not appreciate his company in the least when we first came here, but he somehow managed to flip my opinion upside down and now I had a soft spot for this jokester, who was actually quite tough from his experiences, but also from a hidden kind spot in his heart.
"We'll be going back on the plane, here in a few hours."
"Where to this time?" I asked.
"You choose, Miss Tormozova. Germany or Egypt?"
I laughed. No way. I got to choose?
"Alright. I'll think about it. Ask me after I beat you again at tag." I said with a wink and swam off into the water.