When they finally roused themselves to breakfast, Chloe made them buttermilk pancakes (they'd all long since avoided the cafeteria food on weekends). After eating, they gathered in front of the TV, where Chloe demanded to watch the Food Network (which she thought was largely lame, but she was a devotee of Anne Burrell). "She's not only a great cook, but she looks like a normal person," Chloe insisted. "Besides, my boyfriend thinks she's hot."
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"Oh, my God--that woman's knife skills are unbelievable!" Chloe cried.
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The photo's caption was: "George McCarthy, airborne."
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Yulia had set up her table in the hallway. "Bet you're looking forward to your vacation," said George as he climbed on.
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"Thanks, but we're going to her cousin's wedding. Why don't you take that guy who came to the show with you last night--Bryan Katz? He seems nice."
"He's very nice," answered Yulia. "But he's just a friend."
"Nothing wrong with going on vacation with 'just a friend,'" teased George. "After all, you never know what will happen. Look at me and Tosh."
************
"Okay," Yulia called out to her brother. "Bryan's here, so I'm off!"
"Hey," Yuri cautioned, "Rebecka's on her way over--don't let her see you leaving with Bryan."
"Why on earth not?" asked Yulia, confused.
"Because I don't want her to get any ideas about my taking her on vacation."
Yulia gave him a wry smile. "Is the water getting a little hot in the pot for the froggy?" she teased.
"She just moves a little fast for me, that's all," Yuri replied.
So, Yulia had Bryan go out the front door, and she herself went out the back.
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************
To save money, Yulia had chosen the Blossom Wood Hotel, which was not on the beach,
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Yulia had been disappointed to discover that, after her first trip to the island, she hadn't learned the Sea Chantey well enough to teach it to others. This trip, she did.
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"Cool is overrated, as far as I'm concerned," replied Yulia. "You're a good person, which is much more important."
************
They ate at the food stand at the Double Palm Resort, then Yulia went in search of the masseuse so she could learn another massage technique.
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"Tosha's got more sense than to be worried about me," Yulia retorted. "Though I don't think she'd let Rebecka Louie get her hands on George."
"What's your beef with Rebecka?" Bryan asked.
"Oh, I don't know that I have one, per se. It's just that I don't think she's right for my brother."
Bryan stayed quiet and just looked at her.
"Well, I guess it's that I think she's a bit aggressive," said Yulia. "And a bit fake. Not to mention a golddigger."
Bryan coughed. "Gee, Yul--tell me what you really think!"
"Do you know her at all?" Yulia challenged.
"Yes," Bryan admitted. " I lived in her dorm for a while. She's got some good qualities--for instance, I think she'll be a big success in business some day. She's got a lot of drive and energy, and loads of charisma."
"But?" Yulia prodded. "Because it's obvious there's a big 'but'."
"Well," said Bryan, uncomfortably. "I was talking to Randy London the other day--he's a friend of yours, right?"
"We're good friends. We grew up together," replied Yulia.
"Then you know that Randy is completely focused on money. And so is Rebecka. So--since Randy doesn't have a girlfriend yet--I asked him whether he had ever considered Rebecka. I mean, she's beautiful--"
"She's not beautiful," Yulia interrupted.
"Okay," Bryan corrected, "she's hot, in that way that guys like."
Yulia had no response to this.
"Anyway," Bryan continued, "I asked Randy why he wasn't interested in her. And he said--and I quote--'I'm afraid if we had a business together, she'd steal it out from under me. And if you can't trust someone as a business partner, you certainly can't trust her as a life partner.' And Randy's call on that is good enough for me."
"As it is for me," Yulia seconded.
************
They returned to the Double Palm Resort the next day to relax in the hot springs.
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"Well, that was embarrassing," said Yulia, sliding into her chair. "My mother's really beautiful," she said to Bryan, by way of explanation.
"I know what your mother looks like, Yulia--I've seen her picture in the paper many times."
The waiter came over to take their order, and to present them with a bottle of champagne "Courtesy of the house--we are so delighted to see you again!"
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"I think they think we're a couple," Yulia observed.
Bryan looked up. "We're not, right?"
Yulia cocked her head. "If you have to ask...."
"I mean, if you wanted a boyfriend I'd sure be happy to apply for the position, but--unlike a lot of girls--you don't seem to need one. You seem just fine alone."
"I want what my parents have--Daddy says he fell in love with Mother at first sight. And Mother," Yulia laughed, "says she always knew Daddy 'have good potential.'" She mimicked her mother's Russian accent.
"That kind of a relationship doesn't come along every day," advised Bryan.
"I know that," responded Yulia. "But my studies take up a lot of my time, so I'm happy to wait. In fact, if I'm alone all through college that'll be fine with me."
************
The next morning Yulia checked them out of Blossom Wood Hotel and they returned to school.
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************
"Wow, you've really inherited Mother's nose!" Yuri was killing time waiting for the airport shuttle by pestering his sister while she worked on a term paper.
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"Well, that's fortunate, because from this angle there's a lot to love!"
"Don't you have a plane to catch?" Yulia inquired.
She had returned from the islands to discover that her brother was in fact taking Rebecka Louie on vacation. Apparently, after Rebecka had spied Yulia and Bryan leaving together in the airport shuttle, she "let slip" to Yuri that she was considering going on vacation with Ashley Pitts.
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After Yuri and Rebecka left for the airport,
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Yuri had booked a room at the Double Palm Resort, which had very good amenities for the money--a food stand, hot springs, and a decent pool.
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They decided to relax in the hot springs after their long flight. Rebecka intentionally sent the conflicting messages of donning a skimpy bathing suit and sitting quite some distance from Yuri.
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"Let's get some food," he suggested. "Do you want to go to the food stand, or get room service?"
"Either one is fine with me," answered Rebecka. She made a big production of getting out of the water.
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"What a lovely compliment!" Rebecka squealed.
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************
Afterwards, while Yuri showered, Rebecka consulted her copy of "The Rules for Women" for advice on her next move.
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************
"You're suspiciously untanned for someone who just spent a couple of days in the tropics," Yulia said to her brother over breakfast.
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NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Join us next week as Yuri starts his own art gallery, Yulia gets a new "project partner", and the romance heightens for Meadow and Orlando.
Oooh!! Romance is in the air! I can't wait to see what happens next!!
ReplyDeleteOoo, I am looking forward to seeing what happens with Yuri and Rebecca.
ReplyDeleteWow...."never left the room, little girl." hehehe! I think Yuri isn't seeing the situation clearly. On the other hand Yulia seems to have a good head on her shoulders.
ReplyDeleteYuri is thinking with the wrong head. *laughs*
ReplyDeleteOh he is in such trouble with that girl
I love what Randy had to say about Rebecka. Shame Yuri didn't hear it... even if he did, he probably wouldnt believe it