Once Upon a One Night Stand

Part 2

When I woke up in the morning three days after seeing Gonchar, I checked on Logan and since he was still asleep, I jumped into the shower. I was unsurprised that I never heard from Evgeni. Why would he even believe me? Afterwards I realized that I probably sounded like I was after his money or fame or something. I tried not to think about it very much. Being a single parent was stressful enough, especially when my mother hated my "bastard son." We hadn't spoken much in the past three years and really the only person I had helping me was my best friend, Ezra. It wasn't easy but I was happy. Some of my happiest times were sitting curled up on the couch with Logan, sharing a bowl of dry cereal and watching cartoons. That's what we had chosen to do that morning, and so I was disgruntled at the unexpected knock at the door.

     "No, Mama, stay wif me," Logan said, as I slid out from under him.

     "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere," I reassured him and kissed the top of his head. I swung open the door and my jaw dropped. 

     "Oh my God," was all I could think to say. He looked the exact same. Same thick dark hair, long curling eyelashes, eyes like melted chocolate... I felt the familiar tingles in the bottom of my stomach.

     "Vivi," he said.

     "I guess Gonchar talked to you."

     "I get first flight here.... I didn't know what else do," Evgeni said.

     "Come in," I said. I felt myself wanting to reach over and touch him. My body remembered all too well the last time I had seen him. Evgeni stepped through the door and looked around.

     "Looks good. Better than last time," he said.

     "It's not the same house," I said. He laughed. I could tell he was nervous.

     "Mama!" I heard the call and then the sound of barefeet running across the floor. "You miss it! Coyote got acme boom-boom on his head, Mama." When Logan saw Evgeni, he stopped running. He grabbed onto my leg.

     "Mama, he is not on the TV and not on the computer. He is in real life. Is it the same?" Logan whispered.

     "Hush, sweet pea," I said, ignoring his question. "Go watch the TV, I'll just be one minute." I had told Logan his father was Evgeni Malkin. I had showed him on TV and on the computer. I read him the Wikipedia page. What was I supposed to do? I wasn't going to let his father be a mystery.

     "He is real," Evgeni breathed.

     "What, did you think I made him up?" I asked. I crossed my arms over my chest.

     "No, not what I meant..." Evgeni ran a hand across his eyes, clearly flustered. "I just am much in shock." I said nothing. I didn't know how to react. A long time ago, I had stopped imagining Evgeni coming into our lives. I had accepted that I would be Logan's sole parent.

     "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Evgeni demanded, suddenly disrupting our silence.

     "How was I supposed to?" I asked. "I didn't know your number, your address, anything! I didn't even know the next time you would be in town." Evgeni sighed, sitting down on the bench by the door. He knocked a coat off the hook but didn't seem to notice. I continued, "Seriously, Evgeni! What was I supposed to do? I don't even know why you're here now."

     "What? Why would I be not here?"

     "Because you weren't here before!" I said, stamping my foot. I felt exasperated. I didn't want disruption. Logan and I had a good thing going and this was too confusing. Making things even more difficult was my almost uncontrollable attraction to Evgeni.

     "I didn't know! But I would have been," he protested.

     "I don't expect anything of you, Evgeni. I didn't talk to Gonchar because I want you here, I just thought you had the right to know. I made the decision to have Logan, to keep him and raise him alone. I have no intentions to force him upon you," I said. I felt angry. 

     "You don't want me here?"

     "I just don't see why you are. What's your plan?"

     "I... I don't have a plan," Evgeni said. He was frowning and I wanted to touch his face. I grabbed the coat from the ground beside him and hung it back up.

     "It's been hard enough, I don't need you coming here and making things worse." I straightened the other coats, trying to keep my hands busy.

     "I would have helped you." His voice was sincere and I froze as we locked eyes, him looking up at me, a pleading expression twisting his face. I ran my hands slowly down the coat.

     "What makes you think I need help," I whispered. I didn't feel so defensive anymore.

     "Not that you need. But that you can have. Help is good, yeah?" he said. Most of the time I didn't notice his accent, but this sentence brought a smile to my face. I tried to fight it. I sighed.

     "Come on," I said, beginning to walk down the hall, "Come and meet your son." Evgeni got up, and started to follow me.

     "Vivian," he said, pausing. I turned back, our eyes locking again. "You still so beautiful." I bit the inside of my lip to hide my smile. I turned away and tried not to skip into the living room. Logan stood infront of the table, crashing pieces of Lego into each other and making explosion sounds.

     "Logi-Bear," I said, calling his attention with a nickname.

     "Heey Boo-Boo!" He responded, as always. Then he saw Evgeni, and looked back at me confused. I watched his eyes move back and forth between the two of us.

     "Mama," he whispered. I smiled at him. He walked up to Evgeni, who didn't move, but smiled. Logan walked in a circle, looking him over from head to toe.

     "Mama! It's Him!" Logan yelled, jumping up twice and clapping his hands together. He hugged Evgeni's leg tight, his feet doing a little dance. I laughed and he seemed to collect himself after a moment. He backed up.

     "Hi, I'm Logan," he said, holding out his hand. Evgeni crouched down, shaking Logan's hand.

     "Evgeni," he said in his deep voice. Logan giggled.

     "Did you come for my birfday?" Evgeni looked up at me.

     "Sunday," I said.

     "I wouldn't miss it for the world," Evgeni said.

     "Come on, you're missing Samidy Sam!" Logan said, pulling first Evgeni and then me to the couch. He sat us down side by side and then climbed up beside me. He rested his head against my arm, and my other arm was pressed against Evgeni's. I looked over at Geno, and he was looking at Logan.

      Sometimes, the world can truly catch you off gaurd.