Post by larue on Dec 29, 2006 4:22:28 GMT 10
She should have recognized him immediately. Luka had shown her enough pictures of him. Still it surprised her when she saw him stand up from the bench he’d been sitting on. Josip Laurentis Kovac was as tall as Luka and his dark hair just as thick and cut the same. Tata’s was flecked with gray and a single dimple deepened in his cheek as he smiled broadly at her in recognition. A dimple just like Lauren’s. Abby shifted Lauren in her arms and looked around to see Luka carrying the last piece of their luggage from the customs counter toward her. He looked up and saw his father standing near by and dropped the bag next to their others. Abby smiled as the two men embraced and held one another for a long moment. They both had to wipe their eyes as they stepped back from one another. Then they hugged each other once again. Abby rolled her eyes and gently rocked with Lauren. She was watching her father with round eyes and a finger in her mouth. Abby chuckled and kissed the top of her head. She glanced around them and then smiled when Luka lifted Lauren from her.
“This is Abby, Tata,” he said. “And Lauren.” Josip glanced toward the little girl and then took Abby’s hands in his. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to each of her cheeks.
“Dobrodošli na Zagreb , moj mio,” he said. “Welcome...to....Zagreb. Thank you....for bringing him....home.” He tipped his head toward Luka and smiled. His English was slow and stilted but she was pleased that he was using it for her sake. Tata turned his attention to his granddaughter and chucked her under her chin. Lauren gazed at him solemnly for a moment and then dropped her head slightly and batted her long lashes at him.
“Ona je flert zaslu eno!” Tata gasped as his smile broadened.
“I know....” Luka sighed. “I don’t know where she learned to flirt like that but she does it all the time.” Abby rolled her eyes and shook her head. She knew exactly where Lauren learned to do it....at Luka’s knee. Lauren smiled as her father shifted her carefully into her grandfather’s arms. He waited a bit to see if she would cry but she didn’t. Josip wrapped her closer into a hug and grinned.
“Ona je nešto leptir.” he sighed happily and kissed her cheek. Luka chuckled and leaned toward Abby.
“He said she is just a little butterfly.......” Luka looked up as he heard a shriek from the airport lobby ramp. He grimaced as a young girl holding a can of soda threw herself against him.
“Natasya?” he gasped as she stepped back and smiled. Luka’s face was dumbfounded as he looked her up and down and then turned her around. “What happened to you?” Natasya giggled and shook her head.
“I grew, Ujak Luka....” she sighed indignantly. “I not a baby any longer.” She pulled a long dark braid over her shoulder and turned to Abby. Her eyes were dark and framed by lashes nearly as long as Lauren’s. They had the same dark slashes for brows. It was so very strange to see her daughter’s features intermixed on these strangers....albeit family members. She’d never thought about her looking like anyone but Luka.
“I am Natasya,” she said clearly. “My parents say I come with....Grandpa.... and give you someone talk to? I learn English at my school.” Abby nodded to Luka’s niece and Natasya’s smile broadened. She reached for Lauren’s carry on back pack and waited as Abby and Luka gathered their luggage. Lauren rested comfortably against her Grandfather’s shoulder and was studying him intently. Luka chuckled and shook his head as they followed Tata. She was so much like her mother.
Abby was sliding Lauren into her snow suit as she and Natasya waited in the airport lobby for Luka and his dad to bring a car around from the parking lot. She zipped the zipper and then kissed Lauren’s cheek as she lifted her from the bench they had been sitting on. She smiled as she listened to Natasya chatter on about the airport. The girl was going to make a good tourist guide some day. Abby looked up as Natasya suddenly switched to excited Croatian. A boy dragging a wheeled suitcase came toward them. He was grinning as he talked with Natasya for a moment. Abby looked up as Natasya stepped aside and allowed her friend to offer his hand.
“I told him that you are my aunt from America,” she said. “This is my friend, Dante. He goes to my school.” The dark haired boy grinned rakishly and pressed a kiss to Abby’s hand.
“Dobrodošli na Zagreb,” he said, his eyes never leaving her’s. “Welcome.” Natasya rolled her eyes and Abby stifled a laugh. Dante straightened again and grimaced. He nodded toward an elderly woman who was making her way toward him from the ticket counter.
“Moj Baka dogoditi se...my Grandmother,” he said. “Sretan Bozic, Natasya. Merry Christmas!” Dante waved as he passed Luka in the revolving door. Luka frowned as he looked after the boy and absently picked up the carry on bags.
“Who was that?” he asked.
“On je pravedan djecak from moj škole,” Natasya sighed as she dragged a wheeled suitcase toward the door and sidewalk where Tata waited next to the open doors of a red van.
“Just a boy from your school, eh?” Luka mimicked as he watched his niece. He shook his head at Abby.
“It’s official,” he said firmly and nodded toward the little girl in Abby’s arms. “That one does NOT leave our house after her 13th birthday!” He frowned as Abby’s responding laugh clearly irritated him and she followed him out of the airport terminal. Tata had fastened Lauren’s car seat to the middle of the first van seat. He held Lauren as Abby climbed inside and then kissed the baby’s cheek again before handing her to Abby. Luka loaded their bags and Abby fastened Lauren in. Natasya sat on the other side of the car seat and Luka sat in the front with his father. Tata turned around and said something to Abby in an apologetic tone. Luka laughed.
“My father is sorry that the van stinks of soccer players,” he said. “He borrowed it from my brother’s school.” Abby grinned and nodded as Tata watched her in the rearview mirror. Natasya played with Lauren for a moment and then glanced out the window.
“I think he takes the longer route home,” she said. “So you can see some of Zagreb along the way.” Abby nodded and gazed out the window at the passing scenery.
The airport was only about 13 miles out of the heart of Zagreb. It wasn’t long before the van was moving through the streets of the city. Abby’s eyes took in the massive old architecture intermixed with the newer styles. Natasya pointed out several statues in parks and tried to explain the people that were depicted. The historical aspect was totally lost on Abby. All she could think about was how this city had been under siege not so very long ago. It hadn’t suffered the ravages of Vukovar and other border cities but still.... It was amazing how quickly a country at war could bounce back to every day living. It was even more amazing to think about what could have been lost here had the Croatian war for independence not come to an end when it did. It suddenly made her sorry that she hadn’t pressed Luka for more information about that time in his life. She always thought he would just tell her when he was ready. Maybe he thought she just wasn’t interested.
The van came to a stop in front of a small apartment building. Abby was happy to see a small, well treed park across the street. It would give her a place to walk Lauren every day. Natasya opened the van door and hopped out onto the sidewalk. She followed Luka to the rear of the van and helped him lift down their bags. She frowned slightly as she studied the larger one. Luka gently pushed her away from it.
“Yes, that’s the one, Natasya,” he warned. “All of my gifts are in there so stay far away from it.” Nastasya smiled broadly and picked up one of the other bags. She headed up the apartment stoop and into the door. Tata was helping Abby out of the van when they heard a shout from the stoop next door.
“Luka! Dobrodošli na home, Luka!” A ample elderly woman stood on the stoop and happily waved a dish towel toward them.
“Sretan Bo ic vama, Mati Levak!” Luka called with a grin. “Merry Christmas to you!”
“Ona je lijep! JA htijenje dogoditi se za Zatvori tra iti te imati ustavljen!” she called with a huge smile and then went inside again. Luka waited for Abby as his father carried Lauren inside.
“Mama Levak,” he explained with dancing eyes. “An old friend of my father’s. She said you are beautiful and she will come for a closer look once we are settled.” Abby nodded and sighed deeply as she followed Luka up the steps into the apartment building.
Zoran and Jelena were clustered around Tata and Lauren as Luka and Abby carried the bags into the open door of the apartment. Tata was undoing the zipper on her snow suit as she watched them all gravely. Jelena whispered something to Lauren and kissed her cheek as long dark hair fell out of the snowsuit’s hood. Luka smacked Natasya playfully as she tried sucessfully to drag the big bag out of his hands. Abby slipped inside the door and watched them all for a moment. It was a little overwhelming. She’d expected Lauren to be wary of so many strangers and it was interesting that she wasn’t. Jelena noticed her standing there quietly and smiled as she approached.
“Halo, Abby,” she said as she reached for her hand. “Veseo to sastati se te napokon. Um...pleased...to meet you...at last?” Abby couldn’t resist the smile from the curly haired woman she knew was a grammar school teacher. Jelena’s smile broadened and she drew Abby into a warm hug. Zoran had a hard time tearing himself away from the little girl in his father’s arms but his eyes widened a bit as he took in the woman Jelena drew toward them.
“Luka....Ona je lijep oci,” he said. Luka nodded and slipped an arm protectively across Abby’s shoulders.
“Yes, she has beautiful eyes,” he said. “And I had to keep a close eye on her at the airport.” Zoran laughed and pressed a kiss to Abby’s cheek.
“Pa ipak naš ljubomoran Luka,” he laughed.
“Dad, Uncle Luka isn’t .....jealous,” Natasya said from her perch on the couch where she was carefully examining the big black suitcase she had tugged to the center of the room. Zoran, Jelena and Tata all looked at one another and burst out laughing. Luka glared at them darkly and then picked up one of the suitcases.
“Te htijenje san u mojem soba,” Tata called to him as Luka headed to the hall and turned into the door of his father’s bedroom.
“We borrowed a crib from friends,” Jelena said. “Zoran and I put it....together...in Tata’s room....for Lauren.” Abby nodded appreciatively.
“Hvala vam,” Abby said carefully. “Thank you.” Jelena grinned and then gestured to Natasya and Zoran.
“Come....” she said firmly. “Let them...settle in...with Tata. We see them for dinner tonight.” Natasya groaned.
“Dinner? With Ujak Andro and Ujna Valerija??” She grimaced as she headed toward the door. She stopped and kissed Abby’s cheek forlornly. “I have to wear a skirt. Do videnja, Ujna Abby. Good bye.” Jelena shook her head and smiled at Abby as she guided her reluctant daughter from the apartment. Zoran chucked Lauren playfully under the chin again and grinned as he kissed Abby’s cheek. The door closed behind them and Tata handed Lauren to Abby. She was grateful to finally have her back in her own arms. Tata watched as she slipped the snow suit off the little girl and set her on her feet on the floor. Lauren looked up at Abby and then her grandfather ans smiled. She headed toward the furniture in the livingroom area and her backpack. Abby grinned as Lauren tugged on a zipper and then fell on her bottom to the floor.
‘I think she’s hungry,” Abby said. Tata nodded in understanding and disappeared into the kitchen. He came back with an apple and a sharp knife. He sat back on the couch and carefully peeled and sliced it. He held out a small sliver of apple to Lauren. The little girl pulled herself up and crossed the room to her grandfather. Tata grinned as she took the apple from him and ate it. She leaned against his knee and waited for him to offer another slice to her. Abby smiled as she watched the two of them with one another. She wouldn’t have missed this for the world.
“This is Abby, Tata,” he said. “And Lauren.” Josip glanced toward the little girl and then took Abby’s hands in his. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to each of her cheeks.
“Dobrodošli na Zagreb , moj mio,” he said. “Welcome...to....Zagreb. Thank you....for bringing him....home.” He tipped his head toward Luka and smiled. His English was slow and stilted but she was pleased that he was using it for her sake. Tata turned his attention to his granddaughter and chucked her under her chin. Lauren gazed at him solemnly for a moment and then dropped her head slightly and batted her long lashes at him.
“Ona je flert zaslu eno!” Tata gasped as his smile broadened.
“I know....” Luka sighed. “I don’t know where she learned to flirt like that but she does it all the time.” Abby rolled her eyes and shook her head. She knew exactly where Lauren learned to do it....at Luka’s knee. Lauren smiled as her father shifted her carefully into her grandfather’s arms. He waited a bit to see if she would cry but she didn’t. Josip wrapped her closer into a hug and grinned.
“Ona je nešto leptir.” he sighed happily and kissed her cheek. Luka chuckled and leaned toward Abby.
“He said she is just a little butterfly.......” Luka looked up as he heard a shriek from the airport lobby ramp. He grimaced as a young girl holding a can of soda threw herself against him.
“Natasya?” he gasped as she stepped back and smiled. Luka’s face was dumbfounded as he looked her up and down and then turned her around. “What happened to you?” Natasya giggled and shook her head.
“I grew, Ujak Luka....” she sighed indignantly. “I not a baby any longer.” She pulled a long dark braid over her shoulder and turned to Abby. Her eyes were dark and framed by lashes nearly as long as Lauren’s. They had the same dark slashes for brows. It was so very strange to see her daughter’s features intermixed on these strangers....albeit family members. She’d never thought about her looking like anyone but Luka.
“I am Natasya,” she said clearly. “My parents say I come with....Grandpa.... and give you someone talk to? I learn English at my school.” Abby nodded to Luka’s niece and Natasya’s smile broadened. She reached for Lauren’s carry on back pack and waited as Abby and Luka gathered their luggage. Lauren rested comfortably against her Grandfather’s shoulder and was studying him intently. Luka chuckled and shook his head as they followed Tata. She was so much like her mother.
Abby was sliding Lauren into her snow suit as she and Natasya waited in the airport lobby for Luka and his dad to bring a car around from the parking lot. She zipped the zipper and then kissed Lauren’s cheek as she lifted her from the bench they had been sitting on. She smiled as she listened to Natasya chatter on about the airport. The girl was going to make a good tourist guide some day. Abby looked up as Natasya suddenly switched to excited Croatian. A boy dragging a wheeled suitcase came toward them. He was grinning as he talked with Natasya for a moment. Abby looked up as Natasya stepped aside and allowed her friend to offer his hand.
“I told him that you are my aunt from America,” she said. “This is my friend, Dante. He goes to my school.” The dark haired boy grinned rakishly and pressed a kiss to Abby’s hand.
“Dobrodošli na Zagreb,” he said, his eyes never leaving her’s. “Welcome.” Natasya rolled her eyes and Abby stifled a laugh. Dante straightened again and grimaced. He nodded toward an elderly woman who was making her way toward him from the ticket counter.
“Moj Baka dogoditi se...my Grandmother,” he said. “Sretan Bozic, Natasya. Merry Christmas!” Dante waved as he passed Luka in the revolving door. Luka frowned as he looked after the boy and absently picked up the carry on bags.
“Who was that?” he asked.
“On je pravedan djecak from moj škole,” Natasya sighed as she dragged a wheeled suitcase toward the door and sidewalk where Tata waited next to the open doors of a red van.
“Just a boy from your school, eh?” Luka mimicked as he watched his niece. He shook his head at Abby.
“It’s official,” he said firmly and nodded toward the little girl in Abby’s arms. “That one does NOT leave our house after her 13th birthday!” He frowned as Abby’s responding laugh clearly irritated him and she followed him out of the airport terminal. Tata had fastened Lauren’s car seat to the middle of the first van seat. He held Lauren as Abby climbed inside and then kissed the baby’s cheek again before handing her to Abby. Luka loaded their bags and Abby fastened Lauren in. Natasya sat on the other side of the car seat and Luka sat in the front with his father. Tata turned around and said something to Abby in an apologetic tone. Luka laughed.
“My father is sorry that the van stinks of soccer players,” he said. “He borrowed it from my brother’s school.” Abby grinned and nodded as Tata watched her in the rearview mirror. Natasya played with Lauren for a moment and then glanced out the window.
“I think he takes the longer route home,” she said. “So you can see some of Zagreb along the way.” Abby nodded and gazed out the window at the passing scenery.
The airport was only about 13 miles out of the heart of Zagreb. It wasn’t long before the van was moving through the streets of the city. Abby’s eyes took in the massive old architecture intermixed with the newer styles. Natasya pointed out several statues in parks and tried to explain the people that were depicted. The historical aspect was totally lost on Abby. All she could think about was how this city had been under siege not so very long ago. It hadn’t suffered the ravages of Vukovar and other border cities but still.... It was amazing how quickly a country at war could bounce back to every day living. It was even more amazing to think about what could have been lost here had the Croatian war for independence not come to an end when it did. It suddenly made her sorry that she hadn’t pressed Luka for more information about that time in his life. She always thought he would just tell her when he was ready. Maybe he thought she just wasn’t interested.
The van came to a stop in front of a small apartment building. Abby was happy to see a small, well treed park across the street. It would give her a place to walk Lauren every day. Natasya opened the van door and hopped out onto the sidewalk. She followed Luka to the rear of the van and helped him lift down their bags. She frowned slightly as she studied the larger one. Luka gently pushed her away from it.
“Yes, that’s the one, Natasya,” he warned. “All of my gifts are in there so stay far away from it.” Nastasya smiled broadly and picked up one of the other bags. She headed up the apartment stoop and into the door. Tata was helping Abby out of the van when they heard a shout from the stoop next door.
“Luka! Dobrodošli na home, Luka!” A ample elderly woman stood on the stoop and happily waved a dish towel toward them.
“Sretan Bo ic vama, Mati Levak!” Luka called with a grin. “Merry Christmas to you!”
“Ona je lijep! JA htijenje dogoditi se za Zatvori tra iti te imati ustavljen!” she called with a huge smile and then went inside again. Luka waited for Abby as his father carried Lauren inside.
“Mama Levak,” he explained with dancing eyes. “An old friend of my father’s. She said you are beautiful and she will come for a closer look once we are settled.” Abby nodded and sighed deeply as she followed Luka up the steps into the apartment building.
Zoran and Jelena were clustered around Tata and Lauren as Luka and Abby carried the bags into the open door of the apartment. Tata was undoing the zipper on her snow suit as she watched them all gravely. Jelena whispered something to Lauren and kissed her cheek as long dark hair fell out of the snowsuit’s hood. Luka smacked Natasya playfully as she tried sucessfully to drag the big bag out of his hands. Abby slipped inside the door and watched them all for a moment. It was a little overwhelming. She’d expected Lauren to be wary of so many strangers and it was interesting that she wasn’t. Jelena noticed her standing there quietly and smiled as she approached.
“Halo, Abby,” she said as she reached for her hand. “Veseo to sastati se te napokon. Um...pleased...to meet you...at last?” Abby couldn’t resist the smile from the curly haired woman she knew was a grammar school teacher. Jelena’s smile broadened and she drew Abby into a warm hug. Zoran had a hard time tearing himself away from the little girl in his father’s arms but his eyes widened a bit as he took in the woman Jelena drew toward them.
“Luka....Ona je lijep oci,” he said. Luka nodded and slipped an arm protectively across Abby’s shoulders.
“Yes, she has beautiful eyes,” he said. “And I had to keep a close eye on her at the airport.” Zoran laughed and pressed a kiss to Abby’s cheek.
“Pa ipak naš ljubomoran Luka,” he laughed.
“Dad, Uncle Luka isn’t .....jealous,” Natasya said from her perch on the couch where she was carefully examining the big black suitcase she had tugged to the center of the room. Zoran, Jelena and Tata all looked at one another and burst out laughing. Luka glared at them darkly and then picked up one of the suitcases.
“Te htijenje san u mojem soba,” Tata called to him as Luka headed to the hall and turned into the door of his father’s bedroom.
“We borrowed a crib from friends,” Jelena said. “Zoran and I put it....together...in Tata’s room....for Lauren.” Abby nodded appreciatively.
“Hvala vam,” Abby said carefully. “Thank you.” Jelena grinned and then gestured to Natasya and Zoran.
“Come....” she said firmly. “Let them...settle in...with Tata. We see them for dinner tonight.” Natasya groaned.
“Dinner? With Ujak Andro and Ujna Valerija??” She grimaced as she headed toward the door. She stopped and kissed Abby’s cheek forlornly. “I have to wear a skirt. Do videnja, Ujna Abby. Good bye.” Jelena shook her head and smiled at Abby as she guided her reluctant daughter from the apartment. Zoran chucked Lauren playfully under the chin again and grinned as he kissed Abby’s cheek. The door closed behind them and Tata handed Lauren to Abby. She was grateful to finally have her back in her own arms. Tata watched as she slipped the snow suit off the little girl and set her on her feet on the floor. Lauren looked up at Abby and then her grandfather ans smiled. She headed toward the furniture in the livingroom area and her backpack. Abby grinned as Lauren tugged on a zipper and then fell on her bottom to the floor.
‘I think she’s hungry,” Abby said. Tata nodded in understanding and disappeared into the kitchen. He came back with an apple and a sharp knife. He sat back on the couch and carefully peeled and sliced it. He held out a small sliver of apple to Lauren. The little girl pulled herself up and crossed the room to her grandfather. Tata grinned as she took the apple from him and ate it. She leaned against his knee and waited for him to offer another slice to her. Abby smiled as she watched the two of them with one another. She wouldn’t have missed this for the world.