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Two long tables are set up in the middle of the patio, lace tablecloths fluttering in the wind. Both are littered with pastries and cakes, pitchers of lemonade, finger sandwiches and more. Our new chef, Vitaly, went to great lengths to make this a memorable first birthday for the twins.
It’s still strange to see new faces in my kitchens and hallways. I feel the weight of the people they replaced. We still see Rada every Christmas, when she comes to town from her new job. The others’ families receive yearly stipends. Paige and I do what we can to honor their sacrifices.
My mother is at the head of the table, trying to light the candles on the two birthday cakes she’d insisted on baking for the twins, though the wind keeps snuffing them out.
“There you guys are!” Paige is holding a disposable camera. Rowan is right beside her, carrying a bottle of champagne in each hand.
“Mama!” Ava cries, though she makes no attempt to reach for Paige. Her brother, on the other hand, practically jumps from Ilya’s arms into Paige’s. He’s a mama’s boy to the core.
She laughs and kisses his brown hair. It’s lighter than mine, but our eyes are almost identical. It’s uncanny. “Are you ready for cake, Ant?”
He nods excitedly and licks his plump lips.
I’m doing the same, albeit for very different reasons. My wife is wearing a simple white dress that hugs her curves. Her body has changed after having children—but in all of the right ways. She sees stretch marks and scars—I see reminders of what she’s done to bring our family into the world.
“Can you take our picture?”
I sling my arm around Paige’s shoulders, and we both smile while the twins squirm in our grasp. The moment the picture is taken, Cyrille rushes forward to take Ava off my hands. My mother does the same with Anton.
People say it takes a village, but some days I’d prefer a smaller village.
The perks are that Paige and I get quite a bit of alone time.
We watch our misfit band of friends and family in silence for a moment. Mother and Cyrille, both doting over the babies. Rowan and Konstantin chatting in the shade up by the house. Niki posing for the camera while Ilya snaps a picture of her. And then another. And another.
But that’s nothing new. Whatisnew are the two dour men standing a few feet away from the rest of the group. They came to pay their respects, and Paige insisted that they stay for a piece of cake.
It didn’t shock me that Paige asked them to stay. But it shocked me when they accepted. It’s weird to socialize with men whose names you don’t even know. You treat someone like the star of a ghost story long enough, and you almost start to believe in the fantasy.
But the Babai are only human. Just like the rest of us.
Paige turns to me, wrapping her arms around my body. I lean down and kiss her long and slow. Usually, Niki would yell for us to get a room, but whenever the twins are around, they’re the star attraction.
“This is exactly what I wanted for their first birthday,” Paige says with a contented sigh. “It’s a beautiful day and everyone I love is here to celebrate.”
“I’m glad you got what you wanted.”
She smirks. “You would have been happy doing nothing at all.” She pinches me playfully, then loops her arm around my waist. “I know they won’t remember this. But we will. And now, we have pictures to show them when they’re older.”
I kiss her forehead. “If you’re happy, I’m happy. Although, why you asked those two to stay, I have no idea.”
She glances back at the Babai and shrugs. “I like them. Both of them. I know they’re a bit odd. But we all are.”
“Speak for yourself.”
She pinches me again and giggles. “You know, the taller one isn’t bad-looking.”
I spin her around so that her back is to him. “Keep talking like that, and I’ll be forced to go over there and mess up his face.”
“But he’s Babai,” she says with teasing false reverence. She’s never been able to understand the legend of the Babai. I suppose it’s just something you have to grow up with. “He could totally take you.”
I snort in her face. “And I’m Misha fucking Orlov. He doesn’t stand a chance. But if you need me to prove it…”
I start marching toward him with a fierce scowl. Paige pulls me to a standstill and kisses me through her laughter. “I only mention it because I was thinking… you know, maybe him and Nikita could…”
“No. Absolutely not.”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s not really your call, Oh Great One. Niki is her own woman. She’s smart enough to make her own decisions.”
