“I’m not going to waste time,” Kyle said. “You are listed as the biological father on the papers of a boy we are very close to adopting.”

“I am married with children of my own. This must be a mistake.”

“The mother’s name is Anya.”

“I do not know an Anya.”

“She had the boy at a hospital near Saint Petersburg and then gave it up. He’s at the Volkov Infants Home. Our adoption hearing is today.”

“Congratulations. I wish you much happiness. This has nothing to do with me.” There was fear in his face.

“You talk to Anya,” Kyle continued, “and you tell her that it will all be fine. We will give Sasha a great life. He will never lack for love or any material comfort. His future will be bright. We live in a town with a great school, and many kids there go to the best universities in America.”

“How fortunate for the child.” But he didn’t get up and leave. He didn’t open the door and order us out. His gaze flickered between us both.

“So you need to explain this to her, and she needs to stop going to the infants’ home. And she needs to stop asking for the baby back. She did that before and it didn’t work out.”

He stared. “There was an earlier child?”

“Yes. And she asked for him back, and then returned him, neglected.”

“Boris,” I said. “We don’t want to interfere with your domestic life. But we don’t want Anya to interfere with ours. It must be so hard. We are so grateful to you both for your courage. But we want her to know in Sasha’s case, she need not worry. He will be so loved.”

He cleared his throat. “I don’t want you to think…badly of us.”

“We couldn’t,” I said, and I meant it.

“I was working on a project in our Paris office and she was working as a model there. Many Russian girls in Paris. My wife and I were separated…having problems. My family was back here and I was lonely in Paris. Anya was like having a friend from home. We were friends, first. Then…it was a mistake. We are not matched for each other, but I care about her. I want her to be happy. Now…my wife and I are back together. Please. My father-in-law owns this firm. I cannot shame them…and Anya promised me that she would give the child up.”

“We understand.”

“I will call her. You will not have further trouble, Mr. and Mrs. Pollitt. But please don’t come back here.”

“Are you smart?” I asked.

He blinked at me as he stood for us to leave. “Pardon me?”

“Well, you speak great English and you have what appears to be an excellent job. Are you smart?”

“Yes,” he said. “I’m considered smart.”