Olga's Egg by Sophie Law

Author:Sophie Law [Sophie Law]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781911525103
Publisher: Clink Street Publishing
Published: 2018-11-19T16:00:00+00:00

XX

Warneford Hospital, Oxford, 2003

‘And how did you feel about Kostya – am I saying it correctly? – yes? Right. How did you feel about Kostya loving your mother?’

The psychologist pulled his shoulders back into the spongey chair which was covered in a material which had the colour and texture of oatmeal. He seemed to withdraw into his chair as a way of giving Assia the chance to speak.

‘I suppose it always seemed right to me,’ said Assia. ‘I never really saw it as an affair – more a loving friendship. They were so close to each other – like siblings. They fought like cats and dogs sometimes but they always made up in the end. To me, he seemed to be her connection to Russia. Her relationship with him was her relationship with her native country – it was entirely natural, if you see what I mean.’

The psychologist leant forward purposefully, his hands woven together. ‘But it must have bothered you, in some way, because you mentioned it to me when I first saw you. You said that your mother was unfaithful and that it hurt you and your family.’

Assia grimaced as she tried to articulate herself. ‘Yes, that’s true as well. It’s hard to express properly but it wasn’t that Mama was cheating really, it was just that she seemed to have passions which weren’t myself or my sister – she was ambitious for us, of course, but she loved Kostya and she loved Fabergé more than us.’

‘And your father? Where did he come into it?’

‘Ooof, well…’ Assia sighed heavily. ‘Maybe he just chose to ignore how close Mama and Kostya were. This is what I’m trying to say – it was all rather odd, but I never thought it was at the time, when I was younger. I mean, Kostya stayed with us in Oxford – a lot. It was a kind of ménage à trois with the adults, but there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with it. Does that make sense?’ She looked at the psychologist quizzically.

‘Yes. If it makes sense to you.’

‘But I think Papa was fine with it. He just wanted Mama to be happy and if that meant having Kostya around then so be it. He was never at home, really – his life was in college and with his research. Having a family was just a box he felt he had to tick – Mama was his trophy, something he could retreat behind.’

‘Hmm. I see. So what you’re saying is that both your mother and your father were self-absorbed and that you and your sister came second to their primary passions in life.’ He adjusted his glasses and retreated into the chair and the oatmeal sponge.

The psychologist had placed his watch on the table next to him and Assia realised, in the silence, that it was the first time that she had heard it ticking. She looked at the watch and its tired black leather strap and she looked at the man. A faint smile crossed her face.

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