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10.The floating markets of Amsterdam
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2023-04-17 21:17:21Related chapters
Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 11. Vienna Tour
DimitriI came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist and went to the bed of the hotel room I occupied in Vienna. It was past seven in the evening and I felt exhausted from all the excitement of that day. First thing in the morning I flew back to St. Petersburg and after a few hours of rest, I boarded the plane for Vienna. I turned on my cell phone, leaving it on the bed before going to the window, looking at the bright street full of old buildings where countless people were walking, despite the bad weather. My mind wandered to memories of the previous day, when Blair's company had been so present. I walked back to the bed, picking up the cell phone that vibrated with the new messages that came in.I ignored Joe's messages threatening to move to St Petersburg for good and opened the message Blair had sent me in the morning."Commander, I don't think you understood that the flowers were for your mother."I had left the bouquet at the hotel reception in the morning t
Last Updated : 2023-04-17Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 12. A gift from Austria
DimitriI ended the call until I reached the gallery. Blair loved every detail I showed her and I was glad that I could distract her at that moment, the only way that situation would improve was if I was closer to her. " Look, I'm just saying that the last painting.... WAIT.”I stopped my steps immediately, not knowing what had happened." What?”" Can you turn the camera a little? " she asked " to the left.”" NO " I turned in the opposite direction as I understood what she had seen.How can she find places like this?" Please, Dimitri," she pleaded as I backed away and headed for the flea market she had somehow spotted." I'm only going to buy one thing," I warned." Then I'll have to choose well," she hummed.I couldn't help smiling as I walked between the stalls, showing her everything on display." Dimitri, look at those old photos," Blair indicated." They are people you don't know, Blair. Don't even think about it," I warned." You have no creativity," she complained." I'm no
Last Updated : 2023-04-18Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 13. Date in Madrid
Blair " And then? What did you think? " I whirled around in front of the cell phone camera, showing my mother my outfit. " You look great with your new haircut," she complimented from the other side of the screen, "it should be easier to pin up now.” " Mom, focus please," I groaned. " Sorry, but I don't understand what you want me to see," she returned. " Mom, I showed you three different outfits," I threw myself on the bed in the hotel room I occupied in Madrid, "I have fifteen minutes to finish getting ready.” " You look nice in all the clothes," she returned. " You're not helping," I muttered. " I don't even understand what you want help with! Shouldn't you be back today?” " I am, but I have two hours before I have to go to the airport, so I can have lunch with a friend at the hotel restaurant," I hurriedly explained, "and I need to meet him in ten minutes, so if you can help.” I went through the options I had sorted out, trying to make a decision. Why couldn't I just cho
Last Updated : 2023-04-18Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 14. Wedding dress in Newark
Blair " Let me get this straight, the guy you say is just your friend spent the day introducing you to a city in another country on his cell phone and bought you an old music box? " Abby asked sitting next to me on the couch the next day. " I know what you are thinking and you are wrong. Dimitri and I just have a lot in common. Maybe she wasn't so wrong, but I would never admit it. " Like what?” " We work traveling the world, we know many countries, we speak many languages," I listed. " This is all obvious, you met at an airport," she rolled her eyes, "but what about personal tastes?” " Well…” At this point I had to admit that we didn't have much in common. In fact, it seemed to be the complete opposite. I loved beaches and he loved historic cities. I liked to find flea markets and unknown places while he opted for museums, famous sights and classic restaurants. But still I had loved to let him plan a full day for us. " Well? " Abby insisted. " He's helping me discover
Last Updated : 2023-04-18Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 15. Helping a bride from Spain
DimitriI stared stunned at the image of Blair in her wedding dress. What's going on?" Oh this… you won't believe it," she seemed amused by the situation.Two girls sat down on either side of her, watching me expectantly. One was the same one who had accompanied Blair the day we met. " Hey Commander, this is Claire and Alison. The friends I told you about," Blair smiled, "We came with Abby to pick out her wedding dress.”" I'm no expert, but wasn't she supposed to wear the dress? " I decided to tease her.Surely this was some kind of joke between them, but I would never miss the opportunity to tease her." Ahh, Abby is getting dressed now. Blair chose this dress for you," Claire confided." Wha... No," Blair widened, pushing her friend away, "that's not what happened!”I knew I should leave her alone and not tease her about it." Blair, haven't we already talked about this? " I sighed, causing her to roll her eyes on the other side of the screen." Quiet.”" What did you talk abou
Last Updated : 2023-04-18Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 16. Interactive Play in Zurich
Dimitri"I'm done getting ready, are you ready?" I sent the message to Blair, it was a few minutes before the agreed time to the date and I felt the anxiety consuming me. It had been ten days since we had last seen each other and we would have this night together in Zurich. I would be boarding again in the morning so we decided to make the most of the time we had." Almost, did you get the restaurant reservation?" she replied."Confirmed for eight o'clock, it's one of the best restaurants in town. We were lucky"I put on my overcoat, getting ready to go to the hotel she was staying at, which luckily was on the same block as mine. "You're such a snob.”I frowned at that message."I love it.” She then added, making me smile before leaving the room."I'm on my way.”A few minutes later, when I was already on the street, she replied."I'm in the hotel lobby.”I didn't take long to spot her. Blair was tucked inside her overcoat, exposed to the 40 °F temperature that plagued the city in
Last Updated : 2023-04-18Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 17. An interesting chair in Switzerland
DimitriThe lights dimmed, indicating the beginning of the play." Quiet, it's starting," I whispered, kissing her temple." One summer night, in a forest, four young lovers meet and miss each other: Lisandro loves Hermia who loves Lisandro and is loved by Demetrius, who is loved by Helena " The gentleman who welcomed us started walking among the tables and seats scattered around the hall declaring loudly and clearly.Soon afterwards a couple came on the scene, a young woman and a gentleman." Father, please don't make me. I love Lisandro!” " Hemia, I know what's best for you," the man declared, "at least try to enjoy your engagement party, Demetrius is a good man.”" This is a nightmare," Blair groaned beside me." Pay attention," I scolded.For a few minutes it worked, Blair remained silent while Lisandro and Hermia planned their daring escape. " Helena, you must help me," Hermia approached Blair, holding her hands, "You must distract Demetrius during this party.”" Ohh I... " Bla
Last Updated : 2023-04-18Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 18. A plan arises in Istanbul
Blair" What did you bring me this time? " my mother asked, looking at the bag I was carrying as I walked beside her through the streets of the great bazaar of Istanbul.In three days I would meet Dimitri in London and I had been counting the hours since we last met in Zurich." Do you want to see it now? " I rummaged through the bag as we entered a spice store. " Sure.”I pulled out the souvenir, handing it to her.Lauren frowned, shaking it only to watch the artificial snow fall around the Zurich landscape inside the globe." A snow globe? " she raised both eyebrows." What's the problem?”" I thought you didn't like snow globes. You always considered them... What was the word? " she thought for a second " tacky, right?”" I thought you would like them. Dimitri chose.”" ohhhhh, Dimitri," she imitated a slight Russian accent." Why are you talking like that?” " Like what?”" Like you've just been hired by a Russian phone sex agency" I returned. " I'm not talking like that," she c
Last Updated : 2023-04-19
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Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 66. A strange talk with Masha
Blair Taking advantage of Dimitri getting into the shower, I grabbed everything I would need to get ready, leaving the room, heading toward my sister-in-law's door. I knocked, expecting her to answer, surprising myself to hear her angry voice as soon as she approached. " Dimulya, I swear to God, if you don't leave me alone..." She opened the door in a burst, shutting herself up when she saw me. " Am I in the way of some imaginary fight between Siblings? " I frowned, staring at the girl who was wearing a robe with a red heart print on a pink background and loose hair. " Sorry, it's a... sibling thing," she said, "Do you need anything?” " Any chance you could help me get ready? " I forced a smile. " Come in," Masha smiled, taking my hand and pulling me inside. " I bought this dress the last time I was in Paris and didn't get a chance to wear it." I walked over to her bed, where a gray nude sleeved dress embroidered with some stones lay, putting the coverlet on where I carried my
Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 65. A surprise engagement dinner party
DimitriThe noise of the shower started to sound in the bathroom of the room, causing me to breathe a relieved breath before I snuck out of the room, fiddling with my cell phone in an attempt to find out if everything was going according to plan, without being able to find out anything, since we had agreed that I wouldn't deal with anything directly so that Blair wouldn't find out if he fiddled with my cell phone.I went to Masha's room, which was next door to the room we always occupied when we visited my parents, and knocked on the door, being greeted by my sister still in her robe and with a towel around her wet hair." What do you want now, Dimulya? " she rolled her eyes." Is everything all right? Someone said…”" Can you stop worrying? I told you everything will be fine," Masha complained at my insistence on the subject.But I couldn't help it, I was anxious and wanted everything to be perfect that night. It had been two weeks since I had officially asked Blair to marry me, and
Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 64. The proposal
Blair" They only returned my cell phone after I put on the dress. You should have seen the look on Dimitri's face when he answered the call and saw me in my wedding dress," I reported to the women of the Voitovich family. We were all in my mother-in-law's kitchen preparing lunch, or rather, my mother-in-law and Katia prepared lunch while Masha pretended to do something and I was forbidden to go near any food, it seems that the avocado salad story really scared them." And how did Dimitri react? " Katia asked as the others laughed." To help, he said in front of all my friends that despite my insistence on the subject, he would not marry me," they laughed even harder." It's just like my brother to do that," Masha assured, grabbing a pot of fresh mushrooms for her mother." He loved to tell everyone I knew that I was trying to convince him to get married. I swear I came close to strangling your son at least four times," I confided to Joanne.My mother-in-law motioned for me to get up
Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 63. where is the damn ring?
Blair" Dimitri, are we only going to spend two days at your parent’s house? " I asked as I sorted through the clothes to put in the suitcase we would share for the weekend." Yes, you can take that dress," he pointed to a short flowered dress as he stopped beside me at the closet door. " This one? " I took it apart." Yes, I've never seen you wear it," he smiled.I smoothed the fabric, trying to remember the last time I wore it, definitely before I met Dimitri. " Are we going out? You didn't say anything to me.”" It's my mother's birthday, maybe we'll go to a restaurant, or maybe do something at home," he separated two shirts.That's when I remembered his little burst of post-morphine sincerity almost two months ago. " Is your sister going to cook?” " I don't know," he pondered, reaching over to grab his suitcase from the top shelf of the closet.A few weeks ago I would have called him out for that kind of effort, but I had to realize that I couldn't lock him in a bubble after w
Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 62. Surviving the Russian market
BlairI walked through the streets of St. Petersburg feeling out of place. This place was still not my home, I felt lost at every moment, especially away from Dimitri. But I promised him that I could manage alone in the market, and I never ran away from a challenge.It would be quick, I just needed to get some milk and coffee, it was no challenge. At least I thought it wasn't.As soon as I entered the supermarket and started walking between the shelves, I realized that my mission would not be as simple as I had imagined.All right, coffee is still coffee and milk is milk. I just need to find them. I did a quick search in the translator and walked between the shelves, looking at several products that I didn't even know what they were for. Milk and coffee, where are they? It wasn't hard to find the coffee, I didn't know which brand to choose, so I just grabbed the prettiest package and hoped it was good. But when I found the milk, I froze at the sight of so many options. Which one sho
Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 61. A proposal you can't refuse
Dimitri" Dimitri, is your mother coming today? " Blair asked from the kitchen.I got up from the couch I was settled on, making my way to the kitchen, finding her standing in front of the open refrigerator door, investigating the contents of some jars my mother had left when she visited us three days ago.It had been a little over a week since I had been discharged from the hospital, and, despite assurances that I believed Blair and I would do just fine on our own, my mother showed up every three or four days with the excuse of bringing some food and checking if we needed anything." I don't know, why?”" I was thinking of buying food today, but if she comes, you know she'll insist on cooking," she explained, closing the fridge before opening a cupboard, "I guess I'll have to do some shopping later.”" You will Shop alone? " I frowned.Blair had started learning Russian since she moved in, and I must say she was doing well for someone who had only been learning for a week, but she wa
Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 60.A giant Dutch clog in St. Petersburg
DimitriIt was late afternoon when my mother pushed the wheelchair that she had insisted on renting so that I would not make unnecessary efforts. I obviously intended to return it as soon as possible, but in my hurry to leave the hospital behind, I accepted everything she proposed without arguing.It was so good to be home. I watched the walls of the elevator, longing for it to go up faster, all I wanted was to get into my apartment and find Blair! " I can see your anxiety, you can control yourself a little, she won't run away," Masha sneered.She had accompanied my mother while Blair continued to stay in the apartment to clean up while she waited for my arrival." Quiet," I muttered in a smile as I drummed my fingers on my leg." Don't get on your brother's nerves, he can't wait to see the new decorations in his apartment," my mother scoffed.I frowned, lifting my face to face them both. What's all this about new decorations? " What?”But before I could have any answer the elevator
Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 59.I wouldn't do any of this for you
DimitriIt was already the ninth day since the accident and I was recovering more and more. I couldn't wait for Blair to come visit me, she had landed in the morning and I longed for her presence. I couldn't stand to live away from her anymore, before I was willing to wait as long as it took and endure that insane routine from the beginning of our relationship, but after my near death experience, distance was no longer an option for me.And, lucky for me, she thought the same.So much had changed in such a short time. I walked to the window, watching the movement outside the hospital. It seemed like forever since I had been outside those walls, I couldn't even remember what it felt like. I spent a few minutes standing there, lost in my thoughts when a knock on the door caught my attention. My surprise was complete when I saw who had entered the room." Olga…”Your visit was not exactly an unpleasant surprise, the two of us had managed to find a middle ground in our coexistence over
Flights and destinations - The Lovely Life Of Blair 58. Packing up my things in Newark
BlairI arrived at my loft in Newark early the next evening, feeling exhausted from jet lag, but struggling to stay awake for the next few hours. I had a lot to do before I could move.After ordering my dinner at a local Indian restaurant, I grabbed two suitcases from my closet and started to put away some clothes and shoes. Tomorrow I would have to buy some bubble wrap to pack the decorations that I would take to my new home.My new home. How have things changed in such a short time? It has been almost a month since I received the call about my parents and left my apartment. That day I could not even imagine that I would come home just to pack everything.I managed to fill an entire suitcase before fatigue overcame me. I fell asleep amidst a pile of clothes on the bed, waking up only the next morning with the ringing of my cell phone. " Good morning, Commander," I greeted him with a yawn." I don't even need to ask if you slept well, the drool on your face already answers," he teas
