Grigor was being a very expansive and mellow host. As we finished our desserts, he told the me that, in keeping with the Russian theme, we were going to share a great Russian treat. Just the men. Meaning he and I. Excluding Tomas and Lev. He called in the nanny. He told her she could have the night off. There were two young women, Kaylee and Allison, who would be happy to watch over Leo. Women loved sharing childcare together, he declared, like playing with dolls, but better. Everybody else could go home after the table was cleared.

We went downstairs. Disrobed. Then walked outside as the cold air came down from the Arctic and the snow fell. People will tell you it can’t snow when it’s that cold, but it’s not true, it can, and it did. We were behind the house. The hill had been shaved to create two flat areas. The higher and smaller one, next to the house, had a banya. A step down, there was a much larger area that had a small pond and a hot tub beside it. The traditional way that a banya works is with heated stones. Left alone, they create dry heat like a sauna. Pour water on them, it’s like a steam room. Grigor brought a bottle with him. He complimented me. He said I was a very good skier and quite fit for my age. That I was a good conversationalist and had good taste in women, like that girl.

I said, “She’s my niece.”

Assuming that I was lying, he said, “I will never understand Americans, leaders in puritanism and pornography. Both. At the same time.”

“I don’t either,” I said. “But it’s not like that, with her.”

“Rick,” he said, “May I call you Rick?”

“You can, but why would you, my name’s Victor.”

“Small towns, small towns. Do you come from a small town?”

“No. No, I don’t. I’m a New York City person.”

“I’m a city person, too. St. Petersburg. But you see, in Russia, more than America I think, we have small circles. The higher you go, the smaller they are. Everyone knows everyone and if there’s someone you don’t know, you do know several people who know that person, and you get to hear everything about everyone.”

“Uh-huh.”

He got off the wooden bench and went over to a bucket. It had a big ladle in it. He picked it up and poured water over his head, gave a shudder, shook the wet from his hair, and said, “Try it. It’s good.”

I went over. Did the same. The water was icy cold. It shocked. It was good.