55 Meeting the Son-in-Law

The expressions on my parents’ faces were priceless… in the worst sense of the word. Opening the door and standing there with Kirill, I left them completely confused. On top of that, my mom, stammering, blurted out:

“Oh… he’s not Dani…”

Kirill’s hand on my waist grew heavier, but outwardly he revealed nothing, maintaining a deadly calm.

“Mom, Dad,” I started, stumbling and blushing like a schoolgirl at her first gynecologist visit. “Meet Kirill…”

“The boys’ father,” Kirill continued for me, extending his hand for a handshake with my dad.

I could see my dad tense up, and my mom just stood there, silently opening and closing her mouth. My dad reached out to shake his hand, and I noticed how tightly he gripped it, glaring at my fiancé.

“So this is what you’re like, ASTRONAUT!”

From the fierce looks of the two men, I was ready to swear that a fight was inevitable. They stared unblinkingly into each other’s eyes, their handshake firm and unyielding.

Mom was the first to regain her composure, trying to defuse the tension.

“Oh, why are we just standing here on the doorstep! I’ve missed my grandchildren so much! Andry, Egor, grandma and grandpa are here!”

Quickly undressing the kids, mom nudged dad, and the men finally broke their silent standoff. Walking into the living room, I saw another shock on my parents’ faces as they noticed Nazar playing with the children.

“Oh, another astronaut!” my dad muttered angrily.

"No," Kirill interrupted. "Vicky has only one astronaut and that's me. And this is my brother, Nazar."

"Oh my! You all look so alike!" mom exclaimed, flinging her hands in the air as she examined the older and younger twins in turn.

We all sat down at the table, and mom began tending to dad, piling his plate with various delicious dishes. It dawned on me that, like a lovestruck girl, I was supposed to fuss over Kirill too, and just as I reached for the plate of roast, he beat me to it.

My jaw practically hit the floor when this pompous, audacious man began attending to me, serving me dishes with care! He kept asking if I wanted this or that, and I was completely out of touch with reality. But even here, Kirill managed to pull me back to the sinful earth, quickly kissing me on the lips in front of my parents and whispering softly that everything was under control and I shouldn’t worry.

I saw my mom’s expression immediately soften, and she now looked at Kirill with delight. Such a naive woman! How easy it is to charm her!

However, my father didn’t share his wife’s enthusiasm, looking at Kirill with suspicion.

"So, how is it that the father of our grandchildren disappeared for over a year, leaving my daughter alone with two children?" dad asked sternly, and I realized we were about to lie as naturally as we breathe.

"I completely understand and share your indignation," Kirill began to respond. "The truth is, I simply didn’t know about our children! In the past, there was a misunderstanding with Vicky, and we parted ways. It was the most difficult period of my life, because I fell in love with your daughter from the first meeting and was ready to lay the whole world at her feet"

At that moment, my food went down the wrong way. He spoke in a trembling, pitiful voice, his eyes full of adoration as he looked at me. I coughed awkwardly, took a sip of water, and stared at the man, wide-eyed.

What are you even saying?!