by Kat Mizera
“Welcome to the Mile High Club, Mrs. Petrov,” he whispered against her mouth.
Tessa wasn’t nervous until the limo pulled up in front of what was Toli’s parents’ building. They lived in a high-rise condo and she was surprised to see how updated and modern it was. She looked around curiously, not sure what she’d expected, but certainly not a beautiful building with a doorman and valet parking. The limo driver got out and Toli slipped a few bills in his hand before reaching for Tessa’s. Anton was holding Raina and they stepped into the building as if they were royalty. That was when Tessa paused, her gaze moving to Toli’s face. She’d never seen him so aloof; she didn’t quite know what to make of it.
“Toli?” she whispered his name, a frown creasing her features. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry, love.” He pulled her tight against his side. “I told you that here in Russia I have a status to maintain. Personally, I don’t give a shit, but it’s important for my parents. I have to be careful. The political climate is unstable at times, and you know I worry about my father’s affiliations.”
“To what end?”
“Who knows?” he sighed. “I’ve given up trying to figure it out. I do my best to behave when I’m here and do what’s expected.”
“Are things expected of me?” she asked softly.
“No.” He shook his head. “This is my burden to bear. You and Anton aren’t subject to the same standards.”
“Toli.” She touched his face. “I’m your wife—if there are expectations, I need to know what they are. You’re not in this alone.”
“Sweetheart, I love you for even thinking about this, but it’s impossible for me to explain how it all works because I barely know myself. You don’t speak the language or know the customs, and the political part of it is a mystery. I muddle through pretending I’m this big super athlete—and most of the time I succeed in nothing more than alienating people.”
“But what should I do?” she pressed. “Should I be quiet and obedient? Should I hide the fact that I’m American when we’re in public? I mean, I’m completely overwhelmed with the full-time driver and the hordes of fans waiting for us at the hotel…”
“I just want you to be yourself,” he said, brushing his fingers across her lips. “My beautiful, sweet, loving wife. That’s it. I don’t care what anyone thinks.”
“I care. Tell me, in a perfect world, who do I have to be to make your father like me?”
Anton snorted. “Wouldn’t happen even if you were the Queen of England.”
Toli gave his son a look. “Anton.”
“What? You’re going to lie to her? He’s a cantankerous old fu—, uh, man, who hates everyone, even his own grandson.”
“He doesn’t hate you.”
“He hates that I was illegitimate.” Anton rolled his eyes.
“Look, after all the wedding drama, this trip was necessary, so let’s make the best of it.” Toli looked down at his wife. “Honestly, I have no idea what you could do to make him like you. So be yourself and see what happens. I like you enough for all of them!”
Tessa chuckled in spite of the situation. “Okay, but when your dad hates me, it’s your fault.”
He rolled his eyes. “Sweetheart, according to my father, everything is always my fault.” The limo driver pulled a suitcase full of gifts out of the back and put it into the elevator for them. It was filled with things that had startled Tessa when she’d seen what he’d brought. They had several sets of queen-size sheets; apparently bedding was low-quality and expensive so this was the perfect gift for anyone who had a daughter of marriageable age. There were half a dozen jars of peanut butter; his mother loved it and it was really expensive to get, so Toli and Sergei made sure to bring her a supply whenever they came to visit. They also brought Levi’s for several cousins and soft, fluffy towels for an elderly aunt. They’d filled an entire suitcase with these gifts, as well as extra diapers for Raina because those were expensive in Russia too.
They got off on the fourth floor and Tessa unconsciously squeezed Toli’s hand, causing him to look down and wink. “I love you,” he mouthed.
“I love you more.” She smiled, pausing to look down to make sure her clothes weren’t out of place. She wore pressed beige linen capris and a short-sleeve blouse that was looser than she normally wore, hoping she could minimize her ample chest. She had black flats on her feet and carried a black blazer for later, when the temperature would drop from the mid-70s to the mid-50s. Raina looked adorable in a lime green dress, cream tights, black Mary Jane shoes and a green bow in her hair that matched her dress. Anton was dressed up too, wearing gray dress pants and a button-down navy shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Only Toli was dressed casually, in jeans and a polo shirt. This was his family’s home and he wasn’t going to be on display here. There would be time enough for that when they had their reception and the inevitable times he would face the media.
He knocked on the door loudly, knowing his mother was waiting. It was flung open immediately and a tall, slender woman who had almost the same face as Toli was grabbing his cheeks and talking a mile a minute in Russian. Toli kissed and hugged her, pulling Tessa forward as he introduced them.
“Very nice to meet you,” Anastasia Petrov said in slowly enunciated English. She hugged Tessa firmly, kissing her on both cheeks before turning to her grandson and sweeping him up in hugs and a torrent of Russian that made Anton laugh.
“This is Raina,” Tessa said, when Anastasia turned to her questioningly.
“Hello!” Anastasia waved and Raina scowled at her. “I am Grand-mama,” she said in her stilted English.
“Banana-mama?” Raina cocked her head.
Anastasia nodded happily while Tessa and Anton snickered.
“Cookie?” Anastasia tried helpfully.
Raina held out her arms and they were fast friends. Tessa sighed, glancing at her husband. “Why does everyone bribe my child with cookies?”
“Whatever works,” he murmured.
They were hustled inside and Tessa took in the small rooms and dark furniture. It was elegant, though, with lace curtains, embroidered tablecloths and what appeared to be imported rugs. Standing at the far end of the main room, by double doors that led out to a balcony, was a tall, muscular man with thinning hair who had to be Toli’s father. They had the same build and there was no doubt his hair had once been blond like Toli’s. He didn’t turn as they came in, even after Anastasia called to him.
Toli wasn’t cowed by his father’s attitude and merely shook his head. “Papa.” He spoke quietly, his right hand down at his side and the left in its sling.
“Anatoli. You have come.” The thick accent was broken but discernable.
Toli said something in Russian that obviously annoyed the older man because he spun around scowling. He shot back something that made Toli laugh and the two men stared each other down.
“Stop it, Papa,” Toli continued in English. “I’ve brought my wife—will you at least be civil?”
The senior Petrov, who spelled the name he shared with his son with a Y at the end, looked over at Anton and a small smile played at his lips as he eyed him carefully. “You are big boy,” he said finally. “Good hockey player.”
“Thank you, sir.” Anton nodded and held out his hand. His grandfather took it, and then pulled him into a hug.
Tessa stared in wonder at the man who wouldn’t hug his son or acknowledge his new daughter-in-law, but would comment on his grandson’s athletic ability. Toli hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d told her they kept each other at an emotional distance because of Anatoly’s purported ties to the KGB. She didn’t understand their relationship and watched them with a mixture of concern and sadness.
“Banana-papa?” Raina came toddling into the room, a cookie in her hand, staring up at the older gentleman questioningly.
Anatoly stared down at her in surprise, taking in her blond curls and big blue eyes as she looked at him guilelessly. He glanced at
Toli with arched eyebrows.
“Grandfather,” he said simply. Then he switched to Russian. “She’s not even three yet, and long words seem to elude her. She called you a banana.”
Anatoly looked startled but burst out laughing. He got down on his haunches and stared at the little girl. “Cookie?” he asked, motioning to her hand. Without hesitation, she put it to his mouth so he could have a bite. He did so and nodded. “Good,” he said.
“Banana-papa? More cookie?” She held out her empty hand.
Tessa wanted to say no, but instead she just watched as her daughter melted the heart of a crotchety old man. He picked her up and said something in Russian that made Raina nod her head vigorously. Then they disappeared into the kitchen.
“What the hell was that?!” Tessa demanded in a hushed whisper.
Toli sighed. “At least he likes Raina.”
“Well, thank God for something.” She sank onto one of the plush red couches and Toli sat beside her, linking their hands.
“I wish I could have brought a friend,” Anton muttered.
“I’m sorry, son.” Toli looked genuinely regretful. “But we’ll have some fun too. We’ll spend some time with my friends from the team I used to play for and we’ll see a few of the sights. It won’t all be like this.”
“Thank God.” Anton sat in a chair by the window and looked outside, already bored.
Anastasia came bustling in with a tray containing glasses of water, fruit and a plate of delicate chocolate cookies. She passed out glasses and napkins, chattering to Toli in Russian. Anatoly and Raina came back in with the toddler sporting a cookie in each hand this time. She settled on her new grandfather’s lap and babbled the way she did to Zakk, completely oblivious to the fact that he didn’t understand much.
Finally, as the conversation went on for a while, Toli interrupted his mother. “Mama, English. Tessa can’t understand us this way.”
“Sorry.” Anastasia smiled. “I am excited you are here! Your daughter is very pretty.”
“Thank you.” Tessa nodded.
Anastasia glanced at Toli and asked him something in Russian. He nodded. “Yes, we brought a photo album of the wedding for you to have.” He pulled it out of the bag and handed it to her. She immediately opened it and began turning the pages, enthralled. Obviously, the reception had been cut short so the pictures were mostly of the wedding and the formal pictures of the wedding party. There were a few shots of Toli and Tessa arriving at the reception, the cake, and them sitting up on the dais, but nothing else. She seemed to sense that as she got to the end, and she glanced up.
“You are well?”
“The shoulder is healing nicely,” he nodded.
“When will you return to hockey?” his father asked suddenly.
Toli shrugged. “When the doctors tell me it’s okay.”
“You are doing the physio?”
“I start physical therapy when I get back,” he said. “But I’m already stretching the shoulder several times a day and running every morning.”
“You must not get soft!” his father admonished.
Toli nodded. “I know, Papa.”
“Tomorrow we will have dinner, yes?” Anastasia gently changed the subject. “With…” She rattled off names of aunts, uncles and cousins while Toli nodded, a strange look on his face.
“And I suppose the bill will come to me,” Toli said, leaning back and sliding an arm around Tessa’s shoulder.
Anastasia froze and Tessa glanced at him in surprise. Although they’d known each other less than a year, he’d always been the most generous man she’d ever met. Whether it was for her or one of their friends, Toli never thought twice about spending money on people he cared about. To hear him question a dinner bill made her wonder yet again about the dynamic going on within the family.
“Toli!” His father spoke sharply but Toli merely raised an eyebrow.
“I didn’t receive so much as a card from these people for my wedding,” he said quietly. “I don’t expect gifts because I know they don’t have the money, but a card? A phone call? How about a goddamned email after I got shot?!” He stood up and glared at his father. “In fact, I didn’t hear from you either, Papa.”
Anatoly also stood up and fired off a torrent of Russian that made Anton cringe, but Toli pointed a finger at his father and continued. “Maybe you can cow your wife and your younger son, but you don’t scare me. I don’t call or write because I don’t like getting lectured like a five-year-old. I’m almost ready to retire—you really think I need advice on my game? I’m 36 years old and I already have a coach.”
They exchanged more heated words that caused Anton to dip his head and Anastasia to wring her hands. Ironically, it was Raina who got between them. She put one tiny hand on her new grandfather’s leg and shook her head.
“No no, Banana-papa!” She shook a finger at him. “No yell Toto! Toto eats elephants with best friends!” She blinked at him and once again, he turned to Toli questioningly.
“No idea,” Toli said in Russian. “I believe she told you not to yell at me because I’m her best friend, but we can’t be sure.”
“Is something wrong with the child?” Anatoly asked gently after a moment’s hesitation, his big hand on Raina’s head.
“The doctors don’t think so,” Toli said. “Her brain works faster than her mouth, so everything gets confused. She understands everything, and follows directions, so while there may be a speech impediment, there’s nothing wrong with her intellectually.”
Anatoly nodded and then looked down at her. “Banana-papa will not yell anymore. O-kay?”
Raina nodded. “O-kay! Cookie?”
“No more cookies!” Tessa said, shaking her head. “You have to have lunch first.”
Raina jutted out her lower lip. “Banana-papa?”
“Mama says no,” he said gently. “But after…lunch?” He glanced at Toli, who nodded.
“We will eat,” Anastasia said. “Tessa, come.” She motioned with her head and Tessa cut a quick glance at Toli before following her into the kitchen.
Tessa followed slowly, unsure how to make conversation with someone who spoke very little English. She’d hoped Toli would be with her when dealing with his parents, but she couldn’t very well tell Anastasia that now.
Anastasia was bustling about, stirring something on the stove and smiling pleasantly.
“Can I help?” Tessa asked.
“No, is okay.” Anastasia smiled. “You are happy to come to Russia?” she asked, pulling plates out of the cupboard.
“Yes, of course!” Tessa took the plates from her and carried them out to the dining room, where Anastasia pulled fancy crystal glasses from a hutch. “This is Toli’s heritage—his family.”
“You are good girl,” she smiled. “You will make good wife—and many babies!”
Tessa laughed. “Yes, I think Toli wants a lot!”
“Children bring love to family.”
“Yes.” Tessa put out silverware as Anastasia went back to the kitchen.
She came out a moment later with a smile. “Few minutes, yes? Come.” She headed down a hallway and Tessa followed her into a small but pleasant bedroom with twin beds and pictures of Toli and Sergei all over the walls.
“Was this Toli’s room?” Tessa asked curiously.
Anastasia shook her head. “We live in small apartment when Toli little boy—we move here only since ten years. Now we hope grandchildren will come.”
“Well, you have Anton and Nikolai.”
“And now little girl too.” She pulled an envelope out of the drawer of a small bureau and handed it to her.
“What’s this?” Tessa asked in confusion.
“Pictures.” Anastasia closed her hand over Tessa’s. “Now you are head of family—with Toli—and you will keep memories.”
“What about Tatiana and—”
“Tatiana is foolish,” Anastasia said impatiently. “She is not strong with family, only thinking of school and me
dicine. This is why Toli does not marry her. Toli needs woman who will be…” She trailed off, trying to think of the right words. “Woman who will love when days are difficult.”
“Difficult?”
“All marriage have difficult days, yes?”
“Yes.” Tessa nodded.
“The wedding, the shooting—this is difficult, no?”
“Of course.”
“But you are strong—you are here.” Her blue eyes focused on Tessa’s. “Maybe more things will happen, but you must be strong for Toli.”
“I’ll always be strong for Toli,” Tessa said quietly. “I love him.”
“Yes, I see this.” She reached out and hugged her tightly, pressing her lips to her ear. “You must not be afraid—Toli will fix problems.”
Tessa blinked in confusion, but before she could ask what she was talking about, Raina came skidding into the room. “Mama, hungry!”
“I’m sorry, baby. We’ll eat now.” Tessa picked her up just as Anastasia gave her a wink and hurried out of the room.
They left after lunch, claiming to suffer from jet lag. It had been a friendly but strangely reserved meal and it seemed like Anastasia was as anxious for them to go as they were to leave.
“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Toli said gently, kissing her cheek.
Anton was already up and gathering Raina’s diaper bag on one arm, picking her up with the other. Tessa got up more slowly, completely overwhelmed with the visit they’d had; she wasn’t used to family like this. She was grateful that they headed back to the hotel, where she was able to lay Raina down for a nap. Toli and Anton went to Anton’s room, which adjoined his and Tessa’s, to keep distractions to a minimum. Toli sank into a chair and stared out at the busy Moscow street, lost in thought after the awkward visit with his parents.