The rain in early summer is not as lingering as in spring. The drizzle gently adheres to the hair, and the direction of the rain can only be judged from the hair that suddenly becomes foggy.
Yesterday's sunshine was like a dream, but this morning, it was light rain again.
Mr. Goldman and Mr. Prokhov went out, and only Anna and Miss Oria were in the shop.
Miss Oria didn't hold a book in her hand as usual, or sort out the latest design draft for Mr. Goldman. In fact, what she was flipping through was indeed Mr. Goldman's design draft, but the thick, bound one could be seen from the paper to be from a long time ago.
"Are you going back?" Miss Oria raised her eyes and asked, although it was a question, her eyes were calm.
"Actually, not yet," Anna said. Even though she already understood Miss Oria's choice, she still didn't know how to mess with her.
This penetrating little girl must have figured it out, she smiled slightly, and there was a mature expression on her not-so-pretty face.
"I want you to stay with me." She begged, because she rarely did so, so even the begging was soft-spoken, making it impossible to refuse.
Oria looked outside again, and said, "It's raining outside, but I don't think it will last long. You'd better wait until the rain stops before you go."
"Okay," Anna said, feeling relieved.
Miss Oria closed the drawing, she wanted to make tea, but Anna stopped her: "Let me do it."
Miss Oria smiled: "This is not a difficult thing." She gently refused Anna's help.
After a while, the fragrance of tea diffused in the moist air.
The small table is near the window, so you can clearly see the scenery outside. Anna noticed that the previous two days had not been like this.
"I asked Dad to move it." Miss Oria said, she put down the teacup delicately, and lightly touched the saucer with the side of her little finger, softening the impact a little, making this action look very elegant.
"I like rain," she said.
Anna doesn't like rain, rain always makes people feel melancholy.
"You don't like rain, do you?" Miss Oria asked.
"I prefer sunny days," Anna replied.
Miss Oria laughed, as if she had expected it. After drinking the warm tea, the girl's cheeks also had a warm blush, and she didn't look so pale.
"Most people don't like rain very much." She thought for a while, and then confirmed, "I probably didn't like rain when I was very young, but I liked it later." She smiled, and the rain in those beautiful eyes , her eyes sparkled a little, making her look like she had the vigor and vitality that a teenage girl should have.
After a while, or being emotionally infected, or something else, Anna heard Miss Oria asking her suddenly.
"Have you ever caught snails in the rain?"
"No." Anna recalled that the rainy season always made her feel unmotivated, whether it was before or now.
"You can try it next time," Miss Oria suggested. "With your husband, it will be fun."
Anna looked at the girl in front of her, from her delicate eyebrows showing a trace of friendship, to her slightly opened lips, which were as shallow as peach blossom petals but implying deep affection.
Suddenly, she seemed to understand something.
Anna opened her eyes slightly, and something seemed to be revealed in those gray pupils. She held back the answer she wanted to say, but asked, "Did Mr. Goldman take you there?"
Miss Oria froze for a moment, looking a little flustered, she raised her hand to reach the small ear of the teacup, but flinched again when her skin approached the gradually cooling temperature.
Anna softened her expression, raised her hand, and gently patted the back of Miss Oria's hand opposite to comfort her.
The movement of Oria's hands stopped, she took a small breath, and then smiled a little shyly.
"He did take me there, but," the girl paused, her lips curled slightly, "it was my father who made me fall in love with rainy days."
"Ah, yes, Dad is not my real father."
After the initial shock, Anna felt that she really wouldn't be surprised anymore. So everything made sense. For those things that occasionally made her feel wrong, in this small shop, apart from the stories of three people, it turned out that there were other stories belonging to one or two people.
Anna began to withdraw her arms, quietly listening to the girl tell her story.
In that story, Oria is the main character. Since her father with strong arms died, her beautiful mother was in love with a dark haired young man, they never married, she knew that her mother was always in love with her father who died young, even years later , she also contracted lung disease and died.
"Actually, he doesn't need to take care of me all the time." Oria said softly.
"He loved my mother. I was just a bonus to him. He never even got justice."
In such a relationship, even though there is no love that can be returned, that person still insists on staying by their side. During those years of running around, when the mother kept thinking about her father, the black-haired young man gradually left an imprint on her heart.
A woman will only learn to miss after she has her own love. She was too young at that time, just a girl doll. She doesn't know what love is, so before love begins, the first thing she learns is not missing, but attachment.
"After my mother died, we went to other places, but we didn't always stay long because of debts. Then when we were about to move here, things got better, and he asked me to call him 'Daddy'."
"After all, Dad has been with me for ten years. I never thought that I could live past the age of eighteen, but now I hope I can." This sentence, compared to the low voice before, Anna noticed Miss Oria's tone was firm.
She has always been such an amazing girl. A slender body, and then, a mature mind, as well as firmness like this, and extraordinary intelligence.
"So..." Anna said, asking with her eyes. She wanted to know if it was love, and if so, how unfair it would be to the girl in front of her.
Miss Oria slightly exclaimed, then shook her head with a smile.
"No, it's not."
She thought for a while, and said: "I don't think it's that simple, maybe I don't know, but what I know is that for me, they are the most important."
"And you to Mr. Prokhov?" asked Anna.
Miss Oria blinked, and then looked a little guilty: "I think, compared to my father, I am still more like my mother."
"Mr. Prokhov is a good man, I think he knows all this, but he doesn't say anything. He always says it's his own fault, he takes it all on himself, I know it's not, I Miss Oria paused, and murmured, "I know."
"He is a good man, and he should have his own happiness. I can't give him that happiness. If I grow up, maybe I can give him love, but I still can't accompany him for too long!"
"Dad, he has taken care of me for too long. He is a person who longs for freedom, but he is willing to let love bind his feet."
"And I, I'm not his love. But he still stayed. But now, I, I should set him free. I've depended on him for too long."
"Just like I was worried about Prokhov. He is such a good man, there should be a good girl to love him in the future."
Oria raised her head, her eyes were gentle, and Anna didn't see any confusion on her face.
She may be fragile, a little sad and helpless, but she is more gentle and mature. For her age, Anna even felt that she was not as mature as the other party.
"Before, I only had my father, but now, I still have him and you."
Oria looked at Anna and laughed again.
"Although the time is not so long, for me, these experiences are very precious."
"But these are not for a lifetime. So many are good. If I always monopolize them, I will be overwhelmed by guilt. So, I have to find someone who is completely mine. Even if I ask for something, There is no burden..."
When the last trace of temperature on the teacup cools down, the porcelain regains its unique cold feeling. The person who warmed them is no longer there, and they are not sad, they just return to their original appearance, under the bright enamel color, they are still gorgeous that cannot be concealed.
"It's raining less." Miss Oria said softly. She looked out the window, then turned her head and smiled at Anna, "After all, it's summer rain, so it won't last too long."
Anna heard this not long ago. At that time, the man who said he was not brave said the same thing, smiling frankly and relieved.
Anna really hopes that she has magical powers and can fulfill their wishes, but this is life. Anyone who has a wish, in the final analysis, except for fulfilling it from the bottom of his heart, who can help whom for the rest of his life
Seeing Oria's clear eyes still smiling, Anna thought: It turns out that among these people, she is the one who is obsessed.
She thinks that love is very important, and the responsibilities in marriage cannot be shirked. But I don't know that in this world, besides this, everyone also has what they think is the most important thing.
Miss Oria's love has not yet begun, but for her, there is now something more important than love.
Thinking of this, she finally let out the turbidity in her heart, and smiled:
"When will you let me meet that person?"
Miss Oria laughed and nodded: "Daddy will arrange it."
"I'm looking forward to it." Anna said lightly.
The clock has pointed to three o'clock, Mr. Goldman and the others should be back soon, and the rain is about to stop, only the wetness on the road is quietly telling others that there was a short period of heavy rain before.
Anna was also about to leave. Just as she was about to speak, Miss Oria's eyes lit up. She then looked at Anna and blinked, "Your husband is here."
Anna turned around, and sure enough, a familiar carriage appeared at the door, and a tall man was holding a hand-made black umbrella. When Anna turned his head, his eyes met, and the latter rushed towards her. Gently nodded.
Although it was a little unexpected, a smile still appeared on Anna's mouth like raindrops wrapped around the eaves.
She saw the man come in, put away the umbrella meticulously, the water dripped neatly at the door, and then became quiet in the umbrella tube.
The humid air made Karenin's hair look like some kind of rainy moss, with a little bit of mist on it, making the brownish gold deeper.
The dark suit made his thin body look more upright. When he raised his eyes, there seemed to be a tenderness conveyed from that nod.
Ana knew it shouldn't be so obvious, and maybe it was her own emotions that reinforced the feeling, but whatever, she was just sure that her love was there. It blooms in marriage, and it is not crumbling because of daily trivialities. Instead, it becomes more colorful and brilliant under protection and after being stained with rain.
For example, at this moment, because of reasons she didn't know, he knew that she hadn't come home at this time. Maybe it was because he went back early and didn't see her, maybe it was because his clever head guessed that she couldn't go home so early, the reason was not that important. At least for now, when her husband approaches her, it doesn't matter so much.
"Tell Mr. Goldman that I look forward to his arrangement."
Miss Oria responded with a smile.
Karenin nodded his goodbyes to Miss Oria. Although he was only facing an underage girl with an immature face, this high-ranking Petersburg official gave him enough respect.
A delicate and mature soul will never show traces of ashes because of the fragility of the body, and it will only become more and more beautiful under the precipitation of time.
Compared with his wife's sensibility, a rational man actually understands this truth better.
After going out, Anna didn't ask to walk like last time.
She rode home with Karenin in the carriage, and on the way she told him slowly and calmly the stories she had heard during that hour.
No complaints, no annoyance. Compared with the previous few days, Anna appeared to be more mature.
Karenin naturally noticed the change in his wife, but he said nothing. He just chose, gently held his wife's hand, and listened to what she had to say.
After arriving at home, Anna got out of the carriage and got closer to her husband.
Even in early summer, it is still a bit muggy when it rains. Anna could feel the temperature on Karenin's body, but she just didn't want to move.
To be honest, it was a bit crowded, and she knew that at the distance Karenin was used to, it was at a level that would make him frown. Therefore, Anna carefully observed her husband, but there was no wrinkle between the latter's habitually frowned eyebrows at this moment.
He is, holding the umbrella so steadily, carefully looking at the road ahead with his eyes, and gently leading her to the clean and stable road.
Anna was stunned for a moment, because she found that under the umbrella held by the other party, although the sky was covered, but because she was a trusted and loved person, without the scenery of the sky, she could still look at the ground to her heart's content on the scenery.
Shallow puddles, occasional jumping frogs, shiny leaves washed by rain, and those snails who accidentally pressed the page down.
Just so suddenly, Anna asked a little foolishly: "Alexey, would you like to accompany me to catch snails on a rainy day?"
The footsteps stopped.
Anna looked up slightly, although she said it subconsciously, but for some reason, she now became serious in her heart.
"Now?"
A familiar faint gully appeared between the eyebrows.
Anna nodded seriously, almost holding her breath. After seeing the other party's somewhat relaxed expression, Anna began to breathe naturally again.
"I don't think it's a good idea," Karenin said, pointing to the possible benefits of such an idea.
"Snails aren't very useful, and if you do that, you might get sick."
Seeing Anna's smiling face, he swallowed more reasons why this idea was unfeasible, and then asked uncertainly, "You, like snails?"
"No, I don't like it." Anna shook her head.
Karenin was a little relieved, but based on his wife's uncertain character, he still asked.
"So you want to do this?"
"No, I want to go home with you." Anna said. Holding her husband's arm again, her steps became brisk. She affirmed, "I want to go home with you."
"I want to drink some soup with you. Want hot water and change this wet clothes. Then I want you to read me a story."
"They're healthy, so you'll give them to me, won't you?"
Although he understood that this was just a joke from his wife, Karenin still answered seriously.
"Yes, I'll give it to you," he whispered.
Hot water washes away sorrow, mist evaporates restlessness. The summer nights don't come that early, and like Ana said before, when a snuggle needs a hug, she always gets it.
On the soft chair in the bedroom, the woman's soft gauze skirt hangs down on the carpet. Compared with the intricately textured carpet, the white long skirt looks elegant and casual. The end of the skirt was entwined with the instep of the man's dark trousers, it was alluring, as if swearing something.
But looking up, the woman was not able to rest on the man's lap.
"During the day, Anna." Karenin looked at his wife with condemning eyes. He still insisted not to change into home clothes during the day, but just unbuttoned his suit jacket, leaving a white shirt as before. However, at Anna's insistence, at least his cuffs were undone, revealing a little forearm.
So, Anna just crossed her legs, with a pillow on her back, and leaned against Karenin with a little bit of resentment, listening to him read some stories that were not at all childlike and interesting in a bullying tone.
But no matter what, in early summer, although the skin is a little sticky, the familiar smell still makes people feel at ease.
After the rain stopped, the man stopped reading.
For a while Karenin did nothing. He just tilted his head slightly, staring at his wife's sleeping face.
The small lips were gently closed. Unlike himself, Anna's delicate nose was close to the center of the eyebrows, without any wrinkles.
Those inappropriate things that were not allowed were gently removed after the wife fell asleep.
Karenin put down the book, put his hands on Anna's shoulders, and moved his wife's body onto his lap with a gentle force that a man shouldn't have.
After placing his wife, the man picked up the book again with his left hand, and his right hand, after the master thought carefully, finally landed gently on the woman's cheek.
His fingers went down from the edge of the hair and brushed the side of the ear, revealing his wife's beautiful side face.
The skin is tender, and the left cheek is a symbol of youth, and it will naturally swell up slightly like an apple. Press with your fingertips, and a small depression will soon be filled again.
As if he had discovered something, or had such a rare opportunity, the high-ranking Petersburg official put down his book for the second time.
He looked at his wife's cheek with some curiosity, and slowly moved his callused fingers over it, and finally, the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
Because the index fingertip finally found its destination.
Gently press down, it is a familiar position in memory.
Dimples that show when Anna smiles.
This dimple seems to have the power of a smile, and people can't help but observe and explore.
After confirming the location, the man blinked. After a long time, he leaned over and kissed it. Under the eyelashes, the blue eyes showed deep love.
And all of this, the owner of the dimple may not know it, maybe she knows it. Otherwise, who can explain the slightly turned corner of the mouth under the closed eyes
The author has something to say: A friend's article:
Brother Bambi: Are you playing games
Bambi: Okay =V=
Brother Bambi: If I win, I will kiss you; if I lose, you will kiss me
Little Bambi: Enen=v=[I didn’t notice anything wrong at all]
Ten minutes later, little Bambi kissed his brother twenty-five times
Bambi: [Not sure] Is there something wrong? (?.?)
Bambi's brother: no [upright face]
Little Bambi: Well, that's alright [Although I feel a little bit wrong, but I still believe my brother]
PS I thought about this chapter for a long time. I was very moved by watching the episode of the old story of the soul ferry. The father of the blind girl borrowed a usury loan for her and couldn’t pay it back. The other party said that he would sell his daughter to a brothel. The father of the blind girl Slapped the other party, and finally the blind girl got divorced because of her father, but in order to survive, the blind girl decided to sell herself in. Then I thought of Miss Oria