Chapter 9
After dinner, Villanelle, Kenny, and Irina head out into the garden where Villanelle starts the fire in a circular brick firepit surrounded by chairs.
Eve and Elena catch up in the kitchen after Elena puts Charley down for the evening, the baby monitor on the table alerting her in case she wakes up.
"Was it worth it, then?," Elena asks, following Eve's wistful gaze as she stares through the open window above the sink and looks at Villanelle.
"You mean the waiting?"
"Yep."
"Yes. If I had her told her to stay, she would have, but she would have been worried about Irina. As much as she used to argue with Konstantin and claim he was not her family, she cared about him and cared about Irina, too."
"And you."
"And me," Eve smiles, looking down at the ring on her finger.
"You're still so ridiculously in love with her, aren't you?"
"Yes. Speaking of love, I really will kidnap Charley. She has that new baby smell, still."
"Hm. Take her when she's finished pooping. You can change her as many times as you want. Kenny gave her a bit of asparagus the other day, after smashing it up. Big mistake."
Eve laughs and follows Elena outside with a plate of cupcakes, taking a seat next to Villanelle while Irina continues to share portions of a story.
"I was in Russia for an assignment and ended up walking straight into a trap. I thought I was going to get killed there. Oksana had to send Nadia to get me out. The other time I almost got killed was when Oksana saved me."
Eve's entire body freezes at the mention of Nadia's name.
"Wasn't that the ex you told me you ran over the day you killed Frank?"
"Yes," Villanelle responds, noticing the way Eve is gripping the arms of the chair.
"Well, that's water under the bridge now, hey?," Kenny interjects, trying to lighten the mood.
"Let me get this straight," Eve says, dismissing Kenny and standing up to look down at Villanelle. "This entire time, I thought you were working alone in trying to get Irina out."
Irina pipes up, "Well, she was. She only worked with Nadia a few--
"Irina, shut up," Villanelle growls.
"Don't tell Irina to shut up," Eve spits out.
"I asked Nadia to intervene a few times when I knew she would be in Russia," Villanelle states before standing up and trying to reach for Eve.
"Don't touch me," Eve mutters below her breath, blood rushing through her body like a stampede of horses.
"Would you excuse me for a minute?," Eve turns around, asking the group of silent observers who all nod in response, Elena and Kenny exchanging looks.
"Eve, stop," Villanelle calls out, following Eve into the house and reaching for her again.
Villanelle manages to grab Eve's hand and in just a few seconds, has her pinned against the wall.
"You are overreacting," Villanelle says quietly, looking into Eve's eyes and pressing her hips against Eve's.
"Am I?? Irina just announced to everyone that you have been working with Nadia. Did she not say that? Or am I hearing things in my old age?"
"I worked with her for Irina's sake. And why the fuck do you keep talking about your age? Are you planning on dying tomorrow?"
"Why didn't you ask ME?," Eve bellows, shoving Villanelle off her. Her eyes welling with tears, she takes the stairs two at a time, knowing Villanelle won't be fast enough to catch up, and runs into their bedroom, slamming the door closed.
"EVE!," Villanelle yells a few minutes later, finally reaching the closed door and hitting an open palm against it.
"Fuck me," she mutters, a few seconds later, when Charley starts to cry from the crib in the guest bedroom.
"It's alright," Elena calls out, running up the stairs, baby monitor in hand, and into the bedroom.
The door in front of Villanelle opens and Eve's hand reaches out, pulling her inside by the cuff of her collar.
"I'm only letting you in so you don't disturb the baby," Eve says quietly, turning from Villanelle to sit on the edge of the bed.
Villanelle kneels in front of her, grimacing as she lowers her body to the ground. Eve doesn't flinch when she places her arms over her legs, her thumbs rubbing small circles against her thighs.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want you to be in danger," Villanelle whispers, looking up at Eve with a sorrowful expression.
"I thought we were a team," Eve replies, wiping tears off of her face.
"We are."
"You know what I mean. I thought we worked well together. Didn't you?"
"You have to understand how dangerous the situation was. Nadia is good, Eve. Dasha trained her, too. And you know Dasha knows what she is doing."
"I've waited years for you, Villanelle. How do you think I feel, hearing Irina talk about some of your experiences and then mentioning that you shared them with your ex? Nadia has known where you've been, this entire time, yet I've stayed awake so many nights, desperately wishing you would show up but not even knowing when. Don't you think I deserved more?"
"I couldn't have shared those experiences with you and risk you getting injured. You have been doing so well, in this life. How could I interrupt your success? And yes, you deserve everything."
"Villanelle, all I've ever wanted is to be with you. Can't you see that?"
"And all I've ever wanted is for you to be happy. Can't YOU see that?"
Villanelle gets up from the ground, leaning heavily on the bed so she can get back on her feet. She winces in pain, closing her eyes and exhaling slowly. A knock at the door makes her swear beneath her breath but she walks over to it anyway, welcoming Irina into the room.
"I just finished putting out the fire. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to start...this," Irina states apologetically. "I should be going."
"No, no. It's fine. Please stay the night. You can sleep in here, with Oksana. I'm going to sleep downstairs on the pull-out sofa so Marmalade and Peaches won't bother you in the morning with their bullying meows."
Eve doesn't look in Villanelle's direction as she leaves the room but she does give Irina a quick hug: "Let Oksana know if you need anything, okay? She's in a bad mood now but she will do whatever she can to make you feel comfortable. Our house is your house."
Eve shuts the door and hears Elena and Kenny talking in low voices in the guest bedroom. She fingers the ring on her finger as she walks downstairs and is immediately accosted by Marmalade and Peaches who beg her for food after being in hiding the whole evening.
"Alright, alright. Calm down. At least I can rely on you two, hmm?," Eve probes, turning towards the counter to get the fish for Marmalade and half a can of wet kitten food for Peaches.
"Eve."
Villanelle's voice at the back of Eve's neck hits her in the bottom of her belly and she inhales deeply, leaning into Villanelle who winds her arms around her waist and kisses her on the top of her head.
"I know you are very upset with me right now but I really cannot sleep with Irina. She will fart the entire night and I will strangle her in her sleep."
Eve bursts out laughing, unable to control herself over how serious Villanelle sounds.
"Go and pull out the sofa and grab the two blankets in the hallway cupboard. Is your back going to be okay, on that sofa bed? It's not firm."
"Firm? Are you planning on seducing me tonight, Mrs. Astankova?," Villanelle murmurs, planting her lips against the curve of Eve's right ear and sucking firmly.
"Hmm. No. You've had enough action for tonight," Eve replies, her entire body reacting to the suggestive movements of Villanelle's lips.
"I'm only moving because Marmalade might scratch my ankles off if you don't turn around and give him his food."
Eve turns and watches a pajama-clad Villanelle slowly round the corner with a devoted Peaches following close behind.
"God. You act like you are starving!," Eve yelps indignantly after Marmalade bats her ankle, insisting that she finally feed him.
By the time Eve enters the living room, she finds Villanelle passed out in the middle of the sofa bed, on top of the unfolded blankets. Her mouth is hanging open and her orange teddy bear t-shirt is riding up on her torso, revealing the scar Eve left on her body so many years before.
Eve slips into bed, curling her body against Villanelle's and trying not to fall off the side of the bed. She places her hand over that familiar scar and kisses Villanelle softly on the cheek.
"I've always been happy with you," Eve whispers into her ear, knowing Villanelle is fast asleep but hoping that she isn't.