“Go to my family, little one,” she whispered in his ear, because to her mind there was absolutely no doubt that he would be looked after in heaven by her parents and siblings who had died at Ekaterinburg. They would have scooped him up at the moment of death and would already be bathing him in their love, and the love of God.

* * *

Maria was floored by misery. She couldn’t stop thinking about little Pavel and wondering what he would have been like. Artistic, like her? Practical, like Peter? Or his own person entirely? Her breasts ached until the milk dried up, and a useless pouch of flesh hung on her belly, reminding her—if any reminder were needed—of the baby she had lost.

She had halted her search for missing persons during her pregnancy but now she began again, seeking distraction from her sadness. She made a card file, such as her father used to have in his old office at the Alexander Palace, and wrote the name and address of a missing person on each, then stuck on her quick pencil sketches and filed them in alphabetical order. As word spread, strangers came to knock on the street door of her apartment block and ask if she had heard of missing brothers, parents, aunts, uncles, or friends. If their information rang a bell for her, she checked her files and wrote out addresses. The number of successful reunions grew, and some grateful folk brought her gifts in thanks: hand-knitted cardigans for the children, jars of pickled vegetables, or a freshly caught fish.

Peter smiled indulgently and shook his head at his wife’s hobby. She was a friendly woman who enjoyed meeting new people, so there was no point trying to stop her. As time went on, the chances of her being recognized grew slimmer. His only concern, he told her, was that she didn’t get her hopes up about finding Tatiana.

“No, of course not,” she lied. Still, in the back of her mind, she hoped that someday Tatiana would hear of a Leningrad woman who specialized in reuniting families and come to ask for her help. The hope grew fainter over time, but it was her secret fantasy. As a child she had been taught that those who did good would get their reward in heaven, but she hoped God might see fit to send hers sooner. She had lost her family, and then lost a baby; surely it was her turn for some luck.