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Calm.
That’s what I asked for, for my wedding. And I got it.
Once that song ends, Luka is about to invite everyone onto the dance floor, when Arseny motions for the microphone.
I go to stand beside him, holding his hand.
“Ladies and gentlemen, before we invite everyone onto the dance floor to celebrate with us, there’s just a small announcement we’d like to make.”
People mumble and look around. Mama Milov smirks and nudges Penny. My father frowns, and stands beside his chair, gripping the backrest hard. My heart beats like a drum in my chest.
Arseny squeezes my hand. “Firstly, thank you all for joining us on what is the happiest day of our lives. We couldn’t ask for a better way to celebrate our love than with the people who stand beside us today.”
I watch everyone’s faces. Most are smiling, some are laughing, but my father is still frowning. Oh, God. I grind my jaw. Arseny squeezes my hand again.
“Unfortunately, Elena cannot join me with a champagne toast, because if you’ve been paying attention, my wife is pregnant with our first child.”
The room erupts into complete chaos. Our guest rise to their feet to clap and shout. Mama Milov hugs Penny. And my father sits down hard on his chair, a soft smile on his face. Phew!
I laugh as Arseny tries to calm everyone down again.
Epilogue - Elena
I hold Tatiana on my hip as we walk down the stairs. Arseny is standing at the front door, waiting for the guests to arrive. I walk over to him. “My love, why are you so nervous?” I kiss him softly.
“Hello, Tiana,” he coos, kissing his daughter's head. “Because I hate it when the families get together; it’s always so awkward.”
“It’s fine,” I say. “Here, hold Tiana while I go make her a bottle.”
“The guests are going to arrive soon,” he says.
“And my child will be fed before I do anything else,” I say with a huff.
He wisely doesn’t respond to that. I bump into one of the maids on her way out with Tiana’s bottle. “Oh, thank you, Helena. I’ll take it.”
“Yes, ma’am. Everything is ready to be served,” she gives a little bow and goes back into the kitchen. I go back to Arseny and hand him Tiana’s bottle so he can feed her.
“Go, it’ll take your mind off things. Go to the dining hall and feed Tiana. I’m sure Kervyn and Penny will be here soon.” I kiss his cheek, and he walks off, cooing again at our daughter as he carries her to the dining hall.
I run my hands over my clothes and straighten them as a car pulls up. To my surprise, it’s not Kervyn or Penny who are normally early to these events, but it’s Ethan and Sevan.
They walk up the stairs, with Ethan holding a wrapped box.
“We said no gifts…” I start to say, but Ethan interrupts me.
“This is for my niece,” he chides me. “Where is she?” He kisses my cheek quickly. “Tiana,” he calls, “Uncle Ethan is here.”
Sevan smiles at me. There is still a sadness in his eyes, even though we’ve adopted him as our own brother. I kiss his cheek, and he walks in.
Kervyn and Penny arrive next. Penny carries little Natasha in her arms while Kervyn holds Samuels's hand and lets him waddle up the short flight of steps. Samuel slips and Kervyn catches him, picking him up.
“Hi, Elena,” Penny says, kissing my cheek.
“Hi, Penny. Is Natasha asleep? You can put her in Tiana’s bed upstairs.”
“Thanks,” she says, going that way.
Kervyn kisses my cheek awkwardly and gruffly says hello before he goes inside.
