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“Thank you, Sascha,” Imogen says to my sister, holding the sweater to her chest. “Does this mean I’m part of the cool club?”
Sascha laughs. “Yep! And now we can be twins!”
I roll my eyes.
Poor Imogen. My sister insists that we all wear matching sweaters for Christmas, but my dad and I flat out refuse. Mom goes along with it because she’s a people pleaser, and I know she loves the holidays.
All day the girls have been making traditional Russian food. Olivier potatoes, spiced-rubbed pork roast, Pelmeni; a meat stuffed dumpling and my favorite dessert; Pryaniki, a sweet and crumbly cookie with nutmeg and vanilla.
My mom is an excellent cook, she’s had enough practice. And Imogen is only too happy to learn.
Seeing her with my family is like a dream come true.
My father, Aleksander, smiles on proudly.
He’s mellowed in his later years, now he’s semi-retired and has handed most of the business to me, with Sascha only just recently coming on board into accounts. She runs her own company, but now she has a team in place. I need somebody I can trust since my own accountant is on the brink of retiring.
“She’s a very good woman,” my father mutters. “She’s good for you, son.”
I watch her laughing as Sascha gets powdered sugar everywhere. She and Imogen are almost the same age, and thankfully they get along.
“I’m asking her to marry me tonight.”
I feel my father’s gaze on me. He clutches my shoulder and as I turn, he shakes my hand. “Congratulations.”
I laugh. “She hasn’t said yes yet.”
My father was never a man who could share his feelings, but in his old age, he’s mellowed considerably. “She will. She fits in. You chose well. I wish you many years of happiness, Khristian. You deserve it.”
Hearing that from him makes me feel proud. My father has always been a man who strives for perfection, and he went easy on me when Nina and Oliver died, but I didn’t want that from him. I told him not to treat me any differently.
“It’s been a long time coming.”
“It has. She’s wonderful. Bravo. Your mother is very taken with her.”
I smile. “Yes, and Sascha is insufferable. I feel bad for Imogen because she has no family to be with for the holidays. She was excited to come here and celebrate with us.”
“We’re her family now,” Dad says, and I feel that tug in my chest. “Your Mama and I see her as our daughter. You love her, and that’s all we ever wanted for you. To find love again.”
“Thank you, Papa. That means a lot to me.”
He pats me on the back hard and just as he does, Imogen looks up.
I feel the warmth in my heart burning hotter than a furnace.
This woman is going to be my wife.
I couldn’t be happier in this moment with all the people that matter to me in the world.
Krasavitsa.
My little rose.
My darling.
The woman who was worth waiting for.
I’ll never stop striving to be the man she deserves. Now and forever.
