She was an extraordinarily beautiful woman, Anatoly thought as he gazed at her, struggling for something to say. He'd been dazzled by her from the first moment he met and hadn't rested until he'd charmed her into being his wife. They had been happy for a few years, and he had tried so hard to be everything she asked of him - husband, lover, father.

But slowly, their marriage had disintegrated into arguments and tears and even now, he couldn't pinpoint where and when it'd gone so wrong. Did they marry too soon, too young? Have children too early? Should they have even married at all? So many questions and so few answers.

"It has been a very long time since I've seen you," he said awkwardly. "They are treating you well here?"