The Russian Next Door

CHAPTER 52 - Meeting her parents

Summer was long gone, and autumn ended just as fast. My second and last year of college started and everything was good.

As winter came, so did the holidays. My parents decided to come and visit us. I told them about Dimitri, but they didn't have the chance to meet him yet.

And, as Dimitri's family organized that gathering every year, he came with the brilliant idea of inviting my parents to Baia. It seemed a good idea that our families would meet too. But as that day was approaching, I couldn't stop worrying. I was thinking of all the things that could go bad. What if my parents didn't approve with Dimitri? It would have been so hard for me, because in the last year my relationship with my parents got a lot better. And by not approving, that would mean that we were going to have a fight. I wasn't going to give up on Dimitri. What if our families wouldn't get along and would throw one at each other's necks? What if they would get to unite their forces into a master plan to tear us apart? Of course, I didn't say that my worries were rational. But still, I was nervous and I couldn't help it.

It was the 24th and we were now pulling into the Belikovs' alley. Dimitri got out of the car and came to open my door. But I didn't move.

'What are you doing?'

'Can't we go back? I forgot my dress.'

'No, you didn't. And even if you did, you look absolutely beautiful in everything so there is no need to worry.'

'Aw, thank you. But I miss Lil' Dimka. We have to go back to get him. We even forgot to water him before we left. He must be drying by now.'

'We gave Ivan our keys, Rose. He will be alright.'

'I, um, I forgot Viktoria's gift. She would kill me if I tell her.'

'No, you didn't. I have put it into the trunk since yesterday.'

I didn't know what other excuses to come up with. So I resumed to not saying anything while still sitting into the car.

'Roza, what is wrong?'

'I don't know. It's just this bad feeling. What if things will go bad?'

'But what if they are going to be perfect?'

I frowned. 'What if my parents don't like you? What if my father gives you ''the talk''? I would die of embarrassment'

'Rose, I would do anything for you. Do you think that ''the talk'' would make me leave you or something?'

'Well, you don't know my father. He can be very scary when he's mad.'

He gave me the look. That one that was telling me to stop it and think straight.

'Fine. But you have to know that if my father cuts your thing while you are sleeping into an access of rage, I'd still love you.' I said blinking rapidly and he laughed.

I finally got out of the car and his family greeted us.

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My parents arrived from their hotel on the day of the gathering, all fancied up. It was a while since I saw them like this. They weren't going out as much as they did when I was young. But with my departure, they seemed to resume this habit. And it was good for them. They seemed so much happier.

I was so nervous that I couldn't eat a single thing the entire day and Viktoria was constantly making fun of me.

Dimitri and I were the ones who welcomed them. Everything went well in the beginning with all the presentations and cordial conversation. The dinner went well too, except all of my father's questions (What school did you go to? Military, huh? Marine, huh? Where do you work now? You having a good income? Where do you live? Any criminal record? You taking care of my little girl? You making her happy? and others that kept coming and never ending). When I was telling him to stop, Dimitri would simply say that it's okay and he would respond. Olena would simply sit and smile every time I would intervene. I knew she had no problem with me, as she stated the exact moment I entered her house yesterday. She already considered me one of her daughters.

After the elaborated dinner interrogatory, the four of us went to the living room. As we were listening to music and sipping some refreshments, my father dropped the question:

'Dimitri, we should let the ladies talk, don't you think? Would you like to take a walk?'

'Daaaaad! Don't do this.'

Smiling, he said: 'But what am I doing? I am just letting the two of you ladies catch up a little, while your boyfriend is going to show me around. There is nothing wrong with that, isn't it?'

'You know what I am talking about. Can we jump over this step? Please?'

'Hmmmm. No. See you later ladies.'

And they left. When I turned to my mother, she was smiling.

'That's funny, isn't it?' I said gently poking her.

'Yeah, it really is in fact. It made me remember when my dad did this to your father. You should have seen his face when they returned.' she laughed, me too. So this was tradition. It had to be done.

'Do you think he likes Dimitri?'

'I think that if he didn't he wouldn't be out there in the cold giving him ''the talk''.'

'So, it's a yes?' she nodded.

'What about you?'

'Huh?'

'You. Do you like him? Don't you have a problem with, you know, his..'

'Age?'

'Mhm.'

'No, I don't. In fact, I believe that this is a good thing for you. He is making you more,' she paused a little 'rational. You act different since he is your life. So, no, I don't have a problem with that.'

This was followed by a little pause.

'Are you happy, Rose?'

'The happiest I have ever been.'

'Good. This is important. If you are happy, nothing else matters.'

They came back relatively fast and to my utter surprise, they were both smiling. It had to mean that things were alright, no? They returned and I hugger Dimitri, impatient to know how everything went:

'So, how did it go? I he going to kick your ass?'

He laughed slowly and responded: 'Nothing I couldn't endure for you.' then we broke out embrace.

The rest of the night passed perfectly. I even watched my parents dance together. They were so sweet. Sometimes I was wondering how they were still together after all this time. But when I saw the looks into their eyes while they were dancing, I knew. They loved each other as it was the first day. I hoped that Dimitri and I would get to live happily many years together.