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I clear my throat. “Well, this is awkward.”
Pyotr laughs, clapping me on the shoulder. “Father of the year, ladies and gentlemen.”
“Shut up. I’m still getting used to it, okay?”
“Maybe you should tattoo numbers to the bottom of their feet,” Luka says, completely serious.
I glare at him. “We’re not tattooing numbers on my babies’ feet.”
“Why not? No harm in trying to stay organized.”
“I’m not going to dignify that with a response, little brother.”
Natalya looks at someone behind me. She tosses her chin toward them, signaling to me that I should probably turn. When I do, I spot Lev and Catherina approaching. They cross the dance floor and join us to look at my daughters.
Dad looks even better than the last time I saw him. He still relies on his cane to get around, but not as heavily. He stands a bit straighter, a bit prouder. There’s a glimmer in his eyes, so full of life and alertness I can’t help but smile. He’s come a long way, and I honestly couldn’t be prouder.
“This is for you,” he says, handing me a large bottle of premium vodka. “To open on the day your first-born gets married.”
I smile. “Thanks, Dad.”
Catherina’s reaction has me waiting with bated breath. We haven’t spoken much lately, neither of us particularly eager to make the first move and reach out. While Lev’s changes are night and day, my mother is the same as she’s always been. With her lips pressed into a thin line, she towers over my sleeping daughters as if to inspect them.
“Cute,” is all she says before turning. “Come along, Lev. You should take a seat. The doctor doesn’t like you being on your feet all the time.”
“This is a party, my love,” Lev says. “Join me for a dance?”
Leave it to my father and his charming smile to sway the ever-fearsome ice queen. After rolling her eyes, Catherina gives in and takes his hand, guiding him out to the dance floor. My brothers and I watch them together. It’s a little surreal, seeing our mother and father reunited after so many years apart. A tiny voice in the back of my head is convinced that none of this is real, that it’s all a dream.
I sometimes mourn what they never had. Perhaps that’s why I can forgive my mother for her callousness. Everyone deserves to find the other half of their soul, the person who helps them feel complete. They found that in each other only to be torn apart. If I ever lost Natalya, I wonder if I’d end up like my mother—hard and jaded and cold. The more I allow myself to dwell on the thought, on the fact that I did almost lose Natalya, it fills me with a cold, quiet dread. I can’t stand the thought of spending another day without her.
With that in mind, I turn toward all our guests and clear my throat. I thought about doing my big speech at the end of dinner, but now I see there’s really no better time than the present.
“Thank you all so much for coming,” I say, my voice big and clear. All my years working as the head of PR for CyberFort are proving useful. I’ve never had an issue addressing a big crowd. “It means the world to me that you could be here with Natalya and I to celebrate the birth of our daughters. There is no better feeling than getting to celebrate with a room full of our family and closest friends.”
Several people raise their glasses in acknowledgement. I continue to smile at the room, my palms suddenly sweaty. I’m not nervous about making big speeches, but what I’m about to do next is arguably the most nerve-wracking thing I’ve ever had to do. With a sweeping hand, I gesture toward Natalya.
“This woman is my sole reason for being,” I say unabashedly. “It’s safe to say we didn’t have the most conventional of starts. I guess you could say she really blew me away.”
Natalya groans, blushing furiously as she smiles from ear to ear. There are no words in either English or Russian that I can use to describe just how beautiful she is in this very moment.
“And she continues to blow me away with her kindness, her patience, and her love. To say I’m truly blessed by her presence is an understatement. I recognize what a gift she is to me and my family, and that’s why…”
Very slowly, I kneel before her. Natalya’s eyes widen as I reach into the inner pocket of my suit jacket to pull out a purple velvet ring box. I pry it open to reveal the diamond ring inside. It catches the lights above, glimmering wildly upon the polished band of white gold.
“Natalya Chekov, I’m really glad you tried to kill me.”
She laughs, one hand over her mouth as tears of joy gather at the corners of her eyes. “Dimitri,please!”
“I love you, Nat. More than anything in the world. I want to raise our children with you. I want to grow old with you. And I want to cherish you until my last dying breath. Will you marry me?”
She nods, practically throwing herself at me to give me a kiss. “Yes!”
I kiss her to the sound of thunderous applause. I don’t pay our audience any mind, however. Everything I need is right here in my arms. I slip the ring on her finger and pull her back to me, grinning like a madman. I’m so happy I think my heart is about to burst.
“Join me for a dance, angel?” I ask her as the music picks up again.
Natalya smiles. “Lead the way.”
