Page 102 of No More Lies

“No. Anya woke up and he left to see to her. He told me I had a choice to either go with him to Russia or lose Anya altogether. I said I’d think about it to get him out of the house. When he left, I called Melanie Costas.”

“For what it's worth, I didn’t believe all the things he said about you. The drink, drugs, abandonment. I even tried to tell the named partners at my firm that we shouldn’t take this case, but I guess he’s worth a lot of money.” Diane gave her a wry smile.

“Yes. Money seems to get him anything he wants. It’s my biggest regret, not staying independent. I didn't have a lot working as a nightclub waitress, but I was supporting myself. I let myself get swayed by money, and now here I am a prisoner of my own making.”

The two women sat and watched Anya play with the buttons on Natasha’s top.

“I bet your biggest regret is taking this case.” Natasha said, not taking her eyes off her little girl. “You could be home safe with your husband and daughter.”

Diane sighed and shook her head. “No. My biggest regret is not talking to my husband. Things have not been good between us this past year, and he tried to talk to me, but I kept pushing him away. I didn’t believe he’d listen and support me if I told him what was wrong. He has never done anything to make me doubt him. He has always been supportive of me and my career. He’s attentive, loving, thoughtful, and yet I didn’t talk to him. When I first knew something was up with this case, or more specifically Volkov, I left it way too long to tell him. We may not be in this position if I had spoken up sooner on so many things.”

“But you did tell him eventually,” Natasha said gently. “And you said he will be looking for you.”

“Yes, he will be. I know he won’t stop until he finds me. However long it takes.” That was something she did believe, even if she didn’t feel worthy of it. She’d put herself in this position.

“You said he’s in the Navy and on a team. I’m thinking he’s a SEAL, and I know you can’t confirm that. But I’m sure it must be difficult being married to a SEAL. I mean I only see it on TV shows, but I imagine it's pretty close to the real thing. The worry when he’s gone. All that time alone, waiting and wondering if he’s alright. Having to juggle home, work and being a mom. It takes a special kind of woman to do that. I’m not sure I could. And look at you. You’re a successful lawyer. Clearly a wonderful mother as you risked your life to come and protect Megan, and by the sounds of it, you have a bad ass husband who loves you.”

Tears rolled down Diane’s cheeks. “So why have I felt so unhappy for so long?” She wiped her face with the hand she could move and sighed. Natasha was five years younger than her, just twenty-three. What would she know about marriage problems?

“My mom always used to say to me happiness is a choice.” The younger woman answered. “Everyone has good and bad in their lives, and you can either focus on the bad and be miserable or focus on the good and be happy. There’s always going to be bad stuff, but it’s your choice whether you let that define your life. She said so many people go through life always wanting more, or waiting for the next thing before they’ll be happy. You know, like, ‘when I get that house,’ or ‘when I get that job,’ or ‘when I get married.’ She said stuff doesn’t bring you happiness. People, love, experiences, bring happiness, and that all you need is what’s in here.” Natasha placed a hand over her heart.

Diane looked at Natasha in surprise. “Those are wise words.”

“She was a wise woman.”

“Was?”

“She died three years ago. Never got to meet her granddaughter. She was a single mom, and she worked two jobs to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. The last few years when I started working, she finally started to take it easy. My mom taught me to be grateful for everything I have every day. I hate that Vlad dangled more and I jumped at it. Jumped at having stuff as she would have said. I should have been more like my mom. She never ever complained, and she always had a smile for everyone.”

“You’re stronger than you think, Natasha. You are being very brave and as you said, you will do anything to protect your daughter. I believe that. There is no love like a mother’s love. You’re not falling apart, and you are making the best of a very bad situation for Anya, just like your mom did.” Diane reached over and squeezed her hand.

“I was so scared when he snatched us, and then angry and upset. But I know he won’t hurt Anya, so I will do what he says and focus on the fact that I will still get to see my daughter. When your husband finds you, maybe you can put in a good word for me, and they can come get me and Anya?” The last part was said with a smile and Diane smiled back. Maybe Onyx would go after them if they got to Russia. Onyx did operate worldwide.

Both women stopped talking when Volkov strode toward them. When he picked up Anya off Natasha’s lap, Natasha didn’t try and stop him.

“See you in a little while, my darling,” Natasha said. She smiled and Anya smiled back.

“One hour to take off,” Volkov said before turning and heading to a small room situated off one side of the hangar.

“Let’s hope your Navy SEAL gets here within the hour,” Natasha said quietly.

Diane closed her eyes, bringing up an image of Steve and Megan playing soccer on the beach at Dex’s house. They were both laughing as Megan tried to tackle her dad for the ball, and Steve would let her get it. She tried to focus on their happy, smiling faces. Natasha’s words had struck a chord with her. Had she been paying too much attention to what came next? Her job, money, Megan’s education? Becoming a lawyer was meant to have made her happy, but it hadn’t. But she did have so many other wonderful things in her life that made her happy. Her parents. Steve’s parents. Fabulous friends. An extended family of Raven team, and now Nyx. Wonderful days at the beach spent laughing, talking, and eating good food. Most of all, she had an amazing husband and daughter. She had so much to be grateful for, how had she let herself got pulled down such a black hole over the past year?

Now it might be too late to truly appreciate any of it. The dinners she’d missed. Megan’s softball games. Family movie nights. Barbecues. She’d stopped doing all the things that gave her joy. She had chosen to be lonely when she had never, ever been alone. Steve had always been there. Perhaps it was time to start letting him support her in the ways he wanted to. First, though, she needed her amazing husband to find her.

I know you’re looking for me, Steve. I love you. You were right. Nothing else matters because we love each other. Please hurry up and get here.