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She shakes her head. “I don't want to change you.” She looks around again. “How do you like it here? In this state? With this team?”
“Better than the last on both accounts.” We do keep in touch. Sparsely, but in touch. “How are you?”
“Good. I actually have a job here in the States now.” Galina's shoulders sag as she clasps her hands in her lap. Her entire demeanor changes. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know she’s circling back to her earlier demand.
“I can't take it anymore, Sergey; that's why I came. We’re married, but we’re not. My parents haven’t given me a moment’s peace since we went our separate ways. We need to resolve this one way or another.” She gives me a quick glance, but then focuses on her hands again. “But there is something I must tell you before we go any further.” Her breaths have turned shaky. Between that and her words, I brace myself. Something bad is surely coming. “I feel that you have the right to know that...that I was with someone else.”
I clutch the edge of the couch cushion. All this time, I remained faithful to our vows, sham of a marriage or not. It’s been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but I’ve done it. Yet she was out with someone else. My sense of betrayal is unwarranted, I know, but it’s there all the same.
Our parents insisted on pairing us together with a matchmaker all those years ago. While I wasn't thrilled about it, I also didn't mind all that much because I'd always had a crush on Galina. We even hung out some and fooled around a little. Our parents setting us up, to me, meant I might have a real chance with Galina. She’d have to give me the time of day; she’d have to spend more time with me. I always just hoped that by doing so would mean she would like me back and it could grow from there.
But Galina? She was abhorred by the idea of her parents wanting to pick her husband. I could have been a king and she still wouldn't want me. That's how much she hated the idea. She didn't dislike me; she disliked what I represented, and that was enough for her to sever ties with me aside from the occasional text.
But me? I hoped she'd come around. Letting go of that hope was futile. Even now, there’s hope. She’s here, after all. Seeing her on our wedding day, grumpy and upset, she was still the most beautiful creature to ever walk the earth. That image haunts me frequently.
“We were separated,” she says, bringing me back to the present.
“Is that why you demand a divorce? Because of this other person?” I should have tried harder during our time apart to bring us together. I’ve lost her already.
“No,” she says with a shake of her head. Relief fills me. “Have you heard from her parents lately?”
Muparents? This is the second time she’s mentioned them and I’m not sure why. “No,” I reply.
Galina smiles. “Of course you wouldn't. Why bother Mr. Success with the troubles of our fake marriage?” She sighs. “Ever since I moved here, they have it in their heads that I've come to my senses and have come here for you. They keep talking about how I need to step up, perform my wifely duties,” her nose scrunches in distaste, “and worst of all, it's apparently time to have a baby. I’m tired of hearing it, Sergey. So, either help me give them a baby or give me a divorce so I can move on with my life.”
“Why don't you have a baby with the person you've found?”
She rolls her eyes at me. “Because that would cause more trouble and,” she pauses briefly, “he's not the kind of man you want to have a baby with. I’m not with him anymore either.”
That makes me want to ask all kinds of questions, but I don't. It doesn’t feel like it’s my place to ask more. “So divorce or a baby? Those are our only options?” My brows furrow. Those can’t be our only options, can they? Does Galina truly think either of those will solve her problems? “You honestly want to raise a baby alone?” The idea makes me cringe. I'll divorce her before it comes to that. I won't allow her to do such a thing and certainly not with my child.
“I just want this to be over with, Sergey,” she says with a heavy, defeated sigh.
“I guess I'll see if I can find a lawyer to draw up the paperwork for us.” That seems to be the only option remaining. My heart breaks a little at the thought. There’s something about Galina that is hard to let go of. She never wanted to get married, but she did. This is the first time she’s asked for an out. How can I not give it to her?
Galina blinks in surprise, as if she wasn't actually expecting me to do as she wanted. I start to stand, deciding to take Scotty up on his offer because a little space from Galina sounds nice right about now. My attraction to her has only grown; it’s obvious her stance remains unchanged. I'm stopped in my tracks when Galina reaches out and grabs my wedding band that has slipped out of my shirt, exposing itself when I leaned forward.
“You wear it still?” she breathes in surprise.
As I glance over her, I see that she wears a necklace, but it's of the decorative sort. The ring on her finger is not the band I gave her.
“I take my vows seriously, Galina, even if the marriage isn't.”
She releases her hold on my necklace.
“I'm heading out,” I say. She's been back in my life less than twenty minutes and I'm already walking away from her. She already has my emotions in a tangled mess. Am I even a man? “Make yourself at home.” Hurrying out, I leave before I can worry any more about this situation I've found myself in.
Before long, I find myself knocking at Scotty's door. Sylvia's surprise is annoying.
“Where's the baby?”
“Uh, Sergey, why are you here?”
“Baby, Sylvia. Where?”
She watches me nervously. “He's upstairs asleep. Lucky for you, the girls are in the backyard.”
I brush past her and hurry up the steps. I love her girls, but babies don't talk. That's what I'd like right now. She follows after me. “Serge, I really don't think you should bother him; I just got him down.” She huffs when I carefully pick up her sleeping baby. It pisses Sylvia off, but she never stops me either. Mostly because not once have I ever managed to wake the babe up. I take a seat in the rocking chair and she sits in the small recliner.
