by Alyse Zaftig
“Did you tell Victoria that?”
“I told her I loved her.”
“That’s big, but sometimes that’s not enough.”
“Saying that was a big deal to me.”
“Did she say it back?”
“I could tell I caught her off guard, so I told her I’d wait.”
“Losing patience already?”
“I’m not worried about patience. I can wait as long as she wants me to. What I can’t do is see her move to Chicago.”
“She’s still considering it?
“Apparently she never stopped seeing it as an option.”
“Don’t let her run away to Chicago. If you don’t want her to leave, you have to keep her here.”
“How do you suggest I do that?”
“Grand gestures can work.”
“I already told her I love her.”
“Verbal affirmation isn’t a gesture.”
“What should I do?”
Erik crossed his arms and waited again.
Andrei quirked his brow when he realized what Erik was getting at. “I thought you said we were moving too fast.”
“That was before you told me she could leave for another state. You love her and want both her and the baby.”
“I’d do anything for them.”
“Then you have your answer. Besides, slow isn’t for everyone.”
“Okay. I’ll do my best to keep her here in New York. There’s no question about it. I have to convince her she belongs with me.”
“Thatta boy,” Erik teased. “Now that’s settled, I have a serious question for you.”
“Shoot.” Andrei leaned forward, expecting something serious.
“Can I finally be Uncle Erik?”
Andrei laughed so hard, he had to grip the table. He needed the break in real talk, because there was no question Erik would be a large part in the kid’s life just like his daughters loved Erik.”
“Of course you can. Once Victoria meets you, I’m sure she’ll agree.”
“Good because I love you, man, but having no one sucks ass.”
Andrei could understand where Erik was coming from. They’d been best friend since high school, and a car accident had taken his parents just before graduation. That had been a huge blow to him, so Andrei’s family had taken him in until he decided to go out on his own. He refused any help and chose to make a life for himself, one that he was happy with until recently.
“Why don’t you come next weekend, too?” he asked Erik. “Everyone would be happy to see you, especially the girls.” Andrei also knew how much being called Uncle Erik meant. Trish had been dead set against it and wouldn’t let their girls call him that. Whenever he asked why, she’d just say it was because he wasn’t really their uncle. She’d even denied having Erik as a godfather. He’d have to ask Victoria for her blessing after she met him, which was another good reason to have Erik at the family house.
“You don’t think it’ll be too crowded?”
“It’s never too crowded for you. You’re family”
“Thanks.” He took a last swig of his beer as the waitress brought out their food. “This reminds me. Your mother will be cooking that amazing food of hers, right?”
Andrei grinned. “Her feast is sure to happen. I’ll be sure to warn her you’re coming so we don’t end up with an empty table like we’ve been cleaned out by a plague of locusts.”
“Good deal.” Erik bit into his burger with a vengeance.
As Andrei ate, he at least appreciated knowing his friend would be there to have his back for family weekend.
Chapter 18
Victoria
New York wasn’t the best city to drive in, so most people used taxis or public transportation. Victoria usually took a taxi to work because the subway was too crowded for her liking. She had been in one of Andrei’s cars before, but she was in too much pain before to actually appreciate it. The one they got in was different then the first. He opened the door of a fancy blue Rolls Royce convertible.
“This isn’t the same car you took me to the hospital in,” she said as she got inside. “I was hurting, but I’m sure I’d remember this one.”
He grinned as he got in the driver’s seat. “That was my city car. This is my country car.”
The seat molded to her and felt like the most comfortable seat she’d ever sat in. “You are definitely not a state lawyer. This is the private law lifestyle experience all the way.”
“What?” Andrei asked, starting the car up, which purred smoothly to life. “You don’t like my toys?”
“Let’s just say your toys take some getting used to.”
It felt so natural riding in the car with Andrei, and it gave her the picture of being a real couple with him. It was something she tried not to think too hard about before, but it was hard to ignore as the rode out of the city. Victoria could feel her stomach tie itself in knots as they set out to the Rusak family home. “Are you sure me coming will be okay?”
“Yes, why wouldn’t it be?” Andrei asked.
“I feel like I’m intruding.”
“You’re with me. They’ll be happy to have you there.”
“Are your parents going to make us sleep in separate rooms or something?”
“No, my parents are not traditional like that. If anyone tried to keep me from you, I promise I’d find a way to sneak into your room.”
She laughed. “I have no doubt you’d try.”
“Besides I think it’s too late to keep us from trying something.”
“I guess you’re right.” Victoria said. “Did you tell her about the baby?”
“Not yet. I wanted to wait and tell them with you.”
“What do you expect to say? ‘This is my girlfriend. Surprise. We’re pregnant?’”
“I didn’t exactly plan it out, but I think we can do it smoother than that. Everyone will be happy for us. That’s all that matters. My mom will be thrilled because she’ll have a new baby to spoil.”
“Did you tell them that I am black?” Victoria asked.
Andrei paused a while, then finally answered. “No.”
“That’s kind of important information to leave out. Now they’re getting two surprises.” The comfortable seat was starting to feel like a trap she couldn’t escape. She wiggled around a little, but she didn’t have anywhere to go.
“I didn’t want to make an issue about it. Something like that doesn’t matter to me or them.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I’m sure once my family meets you and sees how happy you make me, it won’t matter to them. If anyone makes you feel uncomfortable, we will leave. All right? But that’s not going to happen. Have some faith in me.”
Andrei calmed her a little, but having faith in people was a little hard for her to do, especially with the crimes she had to deal with on a regular basis. History had showed her people could be selfish and cruel.
But Andrei had asked her to believe in him. Was that so hard for her to do?
“This is meant to be a relaxed time for you to meet them and for them to see why I love you so much. Trust in that.” He put his hand on her thigh, and the feel of his warmth steadied her panic until it drifted away with the buildings they passed.
“All right,” Victoria asked. “I trust you.”
Andrei left out the specifics of the country house. The long driveway was surrounded by trees and flowers to make it seem more like a botanical garden then the entrance to a residence. The so-called house wasn’t a house unless you took five or six of them and merged them together to make a country mansion. Behind the house was a lake that looked private since Victoria couldn’t see another house in the area.
“This is where you grew up?”
“Yeah, but it’s been renovated since then.”
“What could you possibly have to renovate?”
“My mother wanted more space, and my father had to comply or feel her wrath.”
“I like her already.�
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A woman opened the mansion door, and Victoria saw an immediate family resemblance.
“Andrei! Finally,” she said and hugged him tight.
“Hi, mom,” Andrei said. “It’s good to be here.”
She looked at Victoria and a large smile covered her face, one that was hard to fake. “This must be Victoria.” Andrei’s mother hugged Victoria so tightly that Victoria could not breathe. The woman smelled like flowers and pie, and for some reason that helped Victoria finally feel relieved at being there.
“You’re so beautiful,” his mother said. “Come in, and we’ll get you settled.” She took Victoria’s hand and led her through the house as if she’d done it multiple times before already.
Victoria was speechless, but Mrs. Rusak didn’t seem to mind that and Victoria didn’t try to pull away. When she glanced back, Andrei had their overnight bags, and Victoria saw something she had never seen in him before. Pride. A pride like he enjoyed having her there and that shocked her more than anything.
Sam looked like his and Andrei’s father, and the oldest Rusak was the only one who intimidated her some, but after a stern calling out from Mrs. Rusak, the man seemed to soften up some.
“Where’s your sister?” Victoria asked, remembering Andrei had two siblings.
“She’s on an errand to bring something special soon,” Andrei said. “She’ll be here soon. Erik should be too.”
“He beat you here,” Mrs. Rusak said. “That boy can eat. He’s been asking if I can give him a sample of the dinner before everyone eats.”
“That’s because your cooking is so good,” a voice said. A tall man came into view, and he looked like he towered over everyone but Andrei and Mr. Rusak.
“Honey, this is my best friend, Erik,” Andrei said.
“Awful introduction,” Erik said. “But I can do one better.” Without warning, Erik lifted Victoria up into a bear hug and swung her around in his friendly embrace.”
“Erik, don’t break my girl. You may want to give her some personal space and room to breathe.”
The Rusak family was one made of huggers, something Victoria’s family didn’t do often. She admitted to herself she kind of liked the change and ended up laughing by the time Erik put her back down on her feet.
“Sorry. I feel like I know you already.”
She smiled up at him. “I don’t mind,” she said. “It’s nice to meet you, Erik.”
“Wow. You’re more gorgeous than Erik let on. Too polite for his own good too.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment for her,” Andrei said. “Not too sure about me.”
“You’ll live without a compliment,” Erik said.
“If you ate all of Mom’s cooking, I can’t promise you’ll be so lucky. I’m starving.”
“The dinner will be ready soon,” Mrs. Rusak said.
“Everything smells delicious,” Victoria said. Her stomach didn’t turn, which made her hopeful she could actually enjoy a regular meal without getting sick.
“Thank you, dear,” Mrs. Rusak said. “Why don’t you two get your things settled then come back down and join us. Erik, Sam, will you both help me set the table and carry the food to the table?”
“Yes, mom,” Sam said.
“Sure, Mrs. Rusak,” Erik added as they both followed her into another room.
“Let’s take our stuff upstairs to my room. Do you want to come up with me?”
“Miss a chance to see your childhood bedroom? How could I pass that up?” She followed him through the house until he led her up a wide staircase. The place was larger on the inside than it looked on the outside. As they climbed the steps, she saw family pictures on the walls. From private school photos and graduations to family group pictures, the images made her want to get to know Andrei’s family more and learn about his past.
When they got to the second floor, they went down a long carpeted hallway that looked beautifully furnished with wooden tables, lamps, and more pictures mixed with art. Even though everything looked expensive, it felt homey and comforting as Victoria walked through the house.
Andrei stopped at a closed door, and Victoria almost ran into him from looking around them as she followed.
“Why’d we stop?” she asked.
“Promise you won’t judge me too harshly when you see inside. I haven’t changed it much since I left for college years ago. Kind of nostalgic.”
“Andrei, open the door.”
“Just know I warned you.”
With his warning, she expected bats to fly out and attack her. She took her time going in, and the inside of his room shocked her. Instead of finding posters of bands and hot swimsuit models, there was a lot of art on the walls. This wasn’t like the commercial pieces she’d seen moments before lining the hallway. The pieces that hung had a more personal feel as if they were done by a local artist.
“Your room is awesome. It’s so big and spacious. I was thinking it was going to be atrocious or something from the way you talked about it.”
“My mother probably came up and sorted things out, so you wouldn’t think I was a pig or something,” Andrei said. “We have a housekeeper, but sometimes Mom still insists on doing things herself now and then.”
“But your apartment always looks amazing.”
“That’s because I have a maid,” Andrei said as he smiled. “Comes twice a week, although she complains that’s not enough for the damage I can do.”
Victoria chuckled. “Does that mean she needs to come every day if I moved in?”
“It probably wouldn’t hurt. Wait, does that mean you’re accepting my offer to stay with me?”
“Let’s just say I’m thinking it over. That’s it. Don’t get your hopes up.”
“Too late for that. My hopes are up and aren’t coming down until I get an answer.” He squeezed her shoulder.
Instead of answering him and disappointing him in the fact that she still wasn’t sure it was the best idea, she moved out of his arms and over to some of the pictures.
The drawings varied in nature. She recognized some New York buildings and landmarks. Most of the others showed drawings of the physical body like hands, feet, the brain, heart and other images that almost looked like they were taken from medical books. What had her interest the most were the artistic drawings of food arranged in creative ways on plates and different arrangements of kitchen items so they created art within art.
One was a simple drawing of female figure, and the detail of her muscles and skin were so realistic, she found herself moving closer to it. She could see the lines of the back and limbs although the face was hidden since it was the back of a woman. At the bottom she saw a signature that made her pause over it longer than she would have without seeing it: A. Rusak.
“Did you draw this?” she asked, moving closer to see the signature.
“I drew all of them.”
Victoria took in the entire wall before looking around the room and noticed the same signature on all the drawings. “Wow. You’re amazing.”
He moved up behind her and held her as she stared at the collage of drawings filling most of the spaces, some in color and others in black and white.
“They’re not the best in the world, but I’m still proud of them.”
“I don’t understand. You have no artwork in your apartment.”
“That’s because I stopped not long after I went to college.”
“Why would you do that?”
“I wasn’t passionate about it anymore. I did all those drawings of the body because I wanted to be a doctor, hence the multiple body and organ pictures. If my head wasn’t in a medical book, it was used to perfect the drawings I saw in them. I even interned at a hospital my mother delivered her patients’ babies in, and they allowed me to see a few things behind the scenes. That’s what I thought my life would be all about.”
“You gave that up to go to law school?”
“Yeah.”
Victoria turned so she could face him, but s
he was glad he didn’t let go. “You said before you changed because of your father. Are you passionate about law?”
Andrei stared into her eyes, and she could almost see how he thought about her question before answering.
“I’ve learned to enjoy it,” he finally said.
“That’s not the same at being passionate.”
“No, but in a way I’ve still found a way to do something that helps people. I still read medical books and journals when I can. That’s enough to satisfy me. Besides, that’s not what makes me happy.”
“What makes Andrei Rusak happy?”
“Right this moment? That would be you.” He leaned down and kissed her tenderly, exploring her mouth with ease and lingering there.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed him to erase their heavy conversation. It made her long for him to explore her bare skin with his hands and let him follow that with his mouth.
Victoria was the one to pull away from the kiss. “As much as I want to be with you, I am not having sex with you in your parent’s house.”
“They won’t disturb us. No one will.”
“That’s not the point. I am so not having sex with you while your family is in the nearby vicinity.”
“You’re no fun.” He swatted her bottom and took the sting out of his words.
“And I’d be no fun facing your parents after doing naughty things with their son and the potential for them to hear everything.”
“What kind of naughty things are we talking about?”
She slapped his arms. “Stop it. I mean it.”
“Now that I have you in a good mood, I think I should let you know something else.”
“Oh?”
“All of my family will be here this weekend, including Asya and Naida.”
“Your daughters will be here?” A new set of nerves hit Victoria. “You want me to meet them?”
“Don’t worry. I know they’ll love you. I was right about the rest of my family. As soon as they get to know you, they’ll be happy.”
Victoria felt like the pictures were caving in on her. “I feel a little dizzy.”
“You should eat and drink something. We should go back down stairs and find you something before dinner starts.”