Granny Dan by Danielle Steel Page A

she had come here.
    “Thank you for arranging it,” she said gratefully. “I'm happy to be here.”
    “I'm glad you came, Danina,” he said quietly, looking relaxed and a little tired. It was the end of a long day for him, and she was sure he was anxious to get home to his wife and children. She felt guilty keeping him with her, but she enjoyed being with him. “I would have been so disappointed if you hadn't come.”
    “So would I,” she admitted with a smile that touched deep into his heart, although she didn't know it. “This house is lovely.” She looked around admiringly, still awed by the luxury they had lavished on her. She had never seen anything like it.
    “I thought you'd like it.” He smiled gently at her.
    “It would be hard not to,” she admitted.
    “Will you miss dancing terribly?” he asked, already knowing the answer, but fascinated by her life at the ballet.
    “I live to dance,” she said. “It is the only life I know, the only one I want. I cannot imagine existing without it. Not being able to dance would probably kill me.” He nodded, watching her eyes, her face. He loved talking to her. And now that she was feeling better, she had a delicious sense of humor.
    “You'll dance again soon, Danina, I promise.” But not too soon. She had a lot of ground to cover before she was strong enough to do that, and they both knew it. “You'll have to think of something else to do in the meantime.” He had already brought a stack of books for her, and she had promised herself she would read them. She never had time to read anything when she was dancing.
    “Do you like poetry?” he asked cautiously, not wanting to seem foolish and pedantic to her, but it was one of his passions.
    “Very much.” She nodded.
    “I'll bring some tomorrow. I'm especially fond of the works of Pushkin. Perhaps you'd like him.” She had read a little of him years before, and would be happy to read more of his work, since she had the time now. “I'll come and see you tomorrow after I see Alexei. Perhaps I can have lunch here, so you won't be too solitary.” And with that, he stood up, but he seemed reluctant to leave her. “You'll be all right tonight, won't you?” He was worried about her, he didn't want her to be unhappy.
    “I'll be fine,” she said with a warm smile. “I promise. Now go home to your family or they'll think I'm a dreadful nuisance.”
    “They understand what it is to live with a doctor. I'll see you tomorrow then,” he said from the doorway, and she waved from her bed, thinking again how kind he was and how lucky she was to know him.

Chapter 3
    T he book that Dr. Obrajensky brought the next day was so beautiful it brought tears to her eyes as he read some of it to her. He was slowly opening a door to a world she had never known or dreamed of, a world of intellectual pursuits and cerebral interests. Only that morning, she had begun reading one of the novels he had left her. And over lunch, they discussed it. Like the poetry he had brought, it was among his favorites. And the time she spent talking to him seemed to pass like minutes.
    They were both surprised to discover that it was four o'clock in the afternoon when he left, and he hated to admit, she looked exhausted.
    “I should not be the one tiring you,” he said, looking remorseful. “I of all people should know better.”
    “I'm fine,” she promised him, having thoroughly enjoyed the time they spent talking. She had eaten lunch in bed, and he had sat at a small table near her.
    “I want you to sleep now,” he said gently, helping her settle deeper into her bed and rearranging her pillows for her. It was a job the nurse could do, but he liked doing it for her. “Sleep for as long as you can. I am dining at the palace tonight, and I'll check on you on my way home, if that's all right with you.” It was what he had done the night before, and she had loved it. It had blown away the cobwebs of loneliness she had been