Tears of Heaven - A Love Story

Tears -

Fifteen

We had been married for a month when Sergei's family came to see us. It was the first time they had ever left Russia and Sergei was amazed they actually made the trip. They told him they figured it was about time they saw some more of the world, and the best place for them to start was Sweden so they could meet their new daughter-in-law.

Sergei's mother, Oksana, was a kind woman with laughing brown eyes, graying dark hair and a heart of gold. Her whole face seemed to light up when she smiled and I loved her immediately. She frequently took my face in her hands, kissed my forehead, and said in broken English, “You sent from heaven for our Sergei.” I always smiled and thanked her, telling her how blessed I was to have him.

Nikolai Petrenko, Sergei's father, was a very large man with a commanding presence who seemed very tough and no-nonsense when I first met him. But once I got to know him, I could see how much of a teddy bear he really was and I couldn't help but love him. Though Nikolai was handsome, I couldn't say Sergei really looked like his father all that much. I think his looks were a mixture of both his parents.

Sergei's sister, Martina, and her husband, Alexander Dmitriev, were both very quiet, but again, as I got to know them, they came out of their shells and we became great friends. The two also had a five year old daughter they named Oksana, after her grandmother. Throughout their visit, the little girl stuck to me like glue and I became very attached to her as well.

They brought us several wedding gifts and each one we opened took my breath away. From Oksana and Nikolai we received a beautifully crotched afghan. The delicate peach and ivory colored flowers were artfully placed and surrounded by a matching colored border. There was also a box of multi-fragrance candles and a set of crystal glasses.

From Martina and Alexander, we received a handmade lace tablecloth. They were all beautiful gifts and I knew I would treasure them always. We thanked his family for their thoughtfulness and for coming to see us.

The family only spent a week with us, but we kept them busy, showing them all the sights, and we had a wonderful and memorable time.

The day before they were scheduled to leave, Sergei and I took them all to dinner in Old Town. My grandparents went with us. They had enjoyed getting to know Sergei's family and were going to miss them almost as much as we were, having spent some  time with them in the evenings when the bakery was closed.

We enjoyed a meal of grilled herring, garden vegetables, decadent breads, and a variety of desserts to die for. After the meal, we sat for a while and enjoyed comfortable conversation. My grandparents and Sergei's family sipped espresso, while we savored our hot chocolate. We talked about various things, always avoiding the topic of politics. Everyone had their own personal views but were wise enough to keep them to themselves.

After Sergei paid the check, he took my hand and we ushered the group down the various cobblestone streets, occasionally stopping in a shop or two to buy souvenirs for the family. We also stopped a couple of times to watch street performers as they worked their magic on the captivated audiences. This was one of the things I truly loved about this part of town. There was so much diversity, and there was always something interesting going on.

We stopped to listen to a small group of men and women singing Swedish folk songs. Their dated costumes were colorful, and their makeup was dramatic. Sergei moved behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me close. I sighed and smiled, wrapping my arms over his and covering his large hands with mine.

I looked around at the various faces, pausing a moment to take in the expressions of Sergei's family. Though they couldn't understand the words that were being sung, it was obvious they were still enjoying themselves. This was all still so new to them, and their expressions were continually filled with awe and excitement.