Viktor carried Lorie up the stairs while the rest of the family remained in the den, still astounded by the little girl's words. Lorie had come to Viktor's defense and spoke rather harshly to her beloved Grandpapa, to everyone's surprise.
"Thank you, my sweet girl," Viktor grinned while setting Lorie down. "For being on my side. You're the only one in this house who isn't mad at me," he said wryly.
They were alone in Lorie's room.
"I love you, Papa," Lorie replied giving him one of her charming, dimpled smiles. "I don't ever want you to leave us again! I want you and Maman to stay together —always!"
Viktor frowned, ever so slightly. "That is not entirely up to me, ma petite. Your mother has to agree as well."
"I already spoke to her. She promised me she would forgive you," Lorie's gazed at him innocently with her large, hazel eyes.
Viktor sat down in an armchair and beckoned to her. Lorie jumped up on his lap.
"Sometimes... grown-ups say things that can be hurtful... to each other," he explained, as he gently caressed her blonde curls. "Your Mama and I had a fight, and I think she is still angry with me. To be honest, I was too harsh with her... I wish I could take it all back, but it might be too late."
"What do you mean?" Lorie grasped Viktor's chin in one hand and turned his face toward her. "Are you and Maman breaking up?"
Viktor sighed and shrugged. "I really don't know..."
"Have you forgiven her?" Lorie raised both of her eyebrows, peering straight into his green eyes.
"Yes... but it's complicated," Viktor replied.
"No it's not," Lorie disagreed. "If you forgive Mama and she forgives you... then everything will be alright."
Viktor snickered. "I wish it were that simple... Anyway...let's talk about something else. You and I haven't spent much time alone since my return."
Lorie's face brightened. "That's true! Before you left, you said you'd bring me some toys that you can only find in America. Did you?" She looked at him expectedly.
"Of course I did! I promised you I would, didn't I?" Viktor pretended to be shocked.
"So... where are they?" Lorie looked around her room and then back at her Papa.
"If you wait here for a few minutes, I will bring them to you," Viktor winked at the little girl.
He got up and disappeared for a while. When he returned, his arms were full of boxes of all sizes.
"I didn't have a chance to wrap them," Viktor said as he set them down on the floor.
"That's okay," Lorie rushed toward the mountain of presents. "Can we open them now?" Her eyes were bright with excitement.
"Yes, of course," Viktor smiled as he settled himself on the rug. "Which one do you want first?"
"That one!" Lorie pointed at a doll-sized box.
"Good choice," Viktor said as he handed it to her.
Lorie's hands trembled as she opened it. Inside, there was a handmade stuffed-cloth doll with black button eyes, a drawn nose shaped like a triangle, and hair made of red yarn. She was wearing a blue floral dress, a white apron, striped red and white socks and black shoes. Lorie squeezed her to her chest.
"She's so huggable! I love her! What's her name?"
"She is called Raggedy Ann. And look — there's a book about her inside the box," Viktor pointed it out.
YOU ARE READING
Why Lorie? Part II
Fanfiction** Mature content! **This is the second part of Lorie's story that starts after Drogo is banished to America. I try to alternate chapters between Lorie's life in Vienna, and Drogo and Nicolae's in Mystery Spell. Read on to find out how Lori become...
