Bratva Mother

New Name *edited

Friday afternoon Carol made her way to McKenna headquarters. It was time to pick up her new documents with her name change and everything. After today she would no longer be Carol Stone. She will be her maternal grandma and her own native name given by her great aunt. Carol was excited! She stopped at the bakery first though, she felt like having a sandwich for lunch. She told her guard to wait for her food while she used the restroom.

He knew better than to argue with her. Small, dainty or anything, she had made a name for herself with self defense and out maneuvering everyone she spared with. They all knew she was pregnant so kept kicks and punches light. But she hated the special treatment even if it was for her kids sake. Carol isn’t used to men looking out for her since her father passed away. Not even her own brothers were so considerate with her.

She came out of the stall and came to a dead stop. She blinked once, twice and three times. However Mikhail was still there leaning against the now locked door. Carol isn’t sure if she should be scared, annoyed or impressed. She settled for the later two. “Well well well, isn’t it my Russian stalker. Does my ex know you found me? What are you doing here anyway? I thought after your conversation with Precious was over, you left back for home.”

She walked over to the sink to wash her hands. She kept her eyes on him the whole time. Mikhail kept a blank face but studied her. She looked revived and carefree. It seems getting out of the Robington rule did her some good. He listened to her words, it made him annoyed but he couldn’t blame her for the stalker comment. But ‘Precious!?’ How close are the two women? Why is he jealous of Raygean?

He took a deep breath but replied none the less. “I haven’t left the city since my meeting with her. I wanted a chat with you before you moved on. I have been waiting for the perfect opportunity. No, your ex doesn’t know I found you and he wont. I keep my word, he will not know I helped you. Once our conversation is over, I will leave for Russia. Some things need my attention.”

Carol dried her hands off, sighed but motioned for him to continue. She folded her arms in front of herself and leaned against the counter to listen.

“Once you are back from your little retreat as you call it. I can offer you work, housing and protection. No questions asked and I will even use your new name if you want. I read the documents you made for not only James' new secretary but your divorce. You are smart and observant. We could use you in our legal businesses. No need to get your hands dirty with other things I do if you do not want to partake. When you are back, just look for my last name ‘Sokolov’ on any building, go to reception and tell them this ‘In a quiet lagoon, devils dwell.’ I will tell all my people to keep an ear out for that quote and have them call me immediately.”

Carol thought about it, she isn’t sure Mikhail knows she is now rich. She knows for sure he knows nothing of her new business idea with Ray. However, having him in her corner could come in handy. What are the pros and cons of remembering such a simple phrase to use later?

She memorized it there on the spot, nodded to him and said “Now that I got your message, can I leave now? I just ordered lunch and am hungry. Precious needs me in the office shortly.”

He had a tick in his jaw every time she said ‘Precious’ and she was strangely enjoying provoking him. Yes she knows she shouldn’t do it, but it is like she can't help but needle him. He unlocked the door and stepped out before she did. She walked up to the counter where her guard stood with her food. She smiled at him and thanked him for watching out for her food.

They sat down in a booth so she could eat uninterrupted. She loved the sandwich from here, from what she sees, its fresh bread, fresh meat and fresh vegetables. She ordered a french dip and it tastes different from other restaurant sandwiches. Once she was done with her little lunch detour she headed for McKenna headquarters just down the street.

She knew better than to distract her guard who was no doubt scanning cars, people and windows. She hummed a little tune thinking about her next move. She should start heading home soon. So she could beat winter to the camp, Alaska winters are no joke. It was August now, not too hot and not too cool either. Berry season back home. She wonders if she could ask some women if they could pick a few gallons for her and she will pay them. It has been too long since she had Alaskan grown anything. Her stomach growled thinking of her home foods. Her guard behind her obviously heard her stomach and was making noises of disbelief that she could be hungry again.

She made it inside, went to reception who waved her off. She was a little confused until her guard told her to just go to the elevators. No one will stop her, Raygean has already told staff she is allowed upstairs under every McKenna authority.

Which shocked her, all four of them told staff she is allowed to come and go from the building? She wanted to protest and insist she be treated as any other guest to the building. However her cell rang in her hand and she answered it.

It was Ray “Girl stop stressing about the finer points and just get in the elevator. You have helped each of us with our goals and dreams. Of course we all will make sure you have free rein of the building. Not even moms lab is off limits to you, that is rare girl. So just come up. We have things to talk about.”

Carol bit her tongue but obeyed her friend and just got in the elevator without a fuss. Her guard and herself got into the lift and went to Ray’s floor. They got off, both guards sat on the couches in the corner to give them privacy. Carol took the chair in front of Ray’s desk and waited.

Ray was on the phone with someone, it sounded work related though. “I don’t care if it doesn’t work, print off the codes and send them to me. Make sure no one bothers me for the next hour or two. I have another matter to take care of. Ok?” She listened then hung up the call. Ray then turned her attention to Carol. She picked up an envelope and handed it to Carol.

She took the envelope and opened it. There sat a passport, state ID, SS card, Indian blood quantum card and anything else that she would need with her new name. Even her degrees were switched to her name. Carol opened the passport to see Ray used a good photo of her in the car smiling. Her description never changed, but her name is now Sesi Káltsa on all her legal documents.

She looked up to Ray and smiled at her while putting the passport back in the envelope and putting it all away. She sat up and said “thank whoever you had do the work and on such short notice. I appreciate the fast track in getting it done. You will have to change my name in your phone and any documents you made in my name. Soon boxes should arrive with things I packed and brought here from New York. I personally didn’t send much. However I inherited a lot of Grandma Jenn’s stuff too. You might want to open a storage locker for the stuff coming from her.”

Ray thought about it but didn’t like the thought of it all sitting in storage where anyone can get to it. She replied, “we have plenty of space to store whatever comes in from Charles. Jenn had a feeling she knew you would leave so probably had Charles condense a lot of it for you. Trust they know you and your ideas to see things done. Do not worry about Jenn’s things and something happening to them. We will keep them safe until you're back. When do you plan to return anyway?”

Carol thought about it. She wants to spend as much time as she can in nature. She spent so much time in the concrete jungle and rude people. Much needed peace and quiet before the storm of motherhood hits sounds good. “I want to spend as much time as I can in nature with my roots as I can. I spent too much time in the city with skyscrapers and rude people. I will talk with a doctor in Anchorage about a birthing plan and when I should return to the city to at least give birth. I might return to grandma’s camp after birth. Six and a half months just don’t seem enough to me.”

Ray was concerned “Sweetie, forgive me, it sounds like you would like to give birth out there in the middle of the woods. Alone. No support and no doctor. Please tell me I am wrong and you do not plan to give birth out in the middle of nowhere Alaska!”

Which Carol had to look away at. “Precious, if my doctor says I have to come to the city for birth I will follow directions. Do I want it to be out there, yes. But I will not harm my child by going against doctor's orders.”

Ray was flabbergasted by her best friend and her ideology. Yes women gave birth in less than ideal conditions back in the day. However, there is no way to give birth on her own with no back up. It just isn’t heard of. But she figured Carol said she would ask the doctor’s in Anchorage about birthing plans and what she could/couldn’t do. She hopes that the doctor’s beat some sense into her friend about coming to the city for her birth. With Carol being so stubborn there was no talking her out of it. She can just pray someone in Alaska had enough sense to tell her no.

They were about to discuss more when Carol’s guard said “I can head out there when the time is right and help her deliver. I’ll spend the last month of her pregnancy out there waiting. That way she isn’t alone, she has a trained individual there to help and she gets her wish to give birth in nature and not the city.”

Now Ray was annoyed that her own employee dashed her hopes away. Carol was ecstatic that she might be able to give birth in her grandma’s camp with nature instead of the city.

She calmed herself though. “Thank you Tyler, however I would like to talk to my doctor in Alaska before making any plans regarding birth. I am only 12 weeks along, so I have time to get their opinion and let you all know.”