Chapter Thirty-Six
In which this time, she means it. Iris is going to tell Andrey. She really means it this time.
Iris…
"What is this again?" Rose asks, holding up the stuffed toy. "Is it a monkey?"
"It looks like a mouse," Violet says. Avros doesn't care, his chubby legs push off from his mom's lap, seizing the Cheburashka toy I'd brought back for him from Moscow, cackling at its high squeaky voice when he presses the toy's stomach.
“No mouse. Monkey shit!” Avros shouts joyfully.
Violet winces. “He’s been around the guards too much.”
We’re lounging in her great room. She started the first fire of the season in the enormous fireplace there, though it's still probably sixty degrees outside.
"So, Moscow was a triumph, I hear." Rose puts her feet in my lap, wiggling pointedly.
Rubbing her soles, I think about a bloody Andrey fucking me against the dirty brick. A little zing lights up my center.
That's probably the wrong response, but I have never come that hard.
"It was interesting to get a feel for the politics," I say. "We've all heard about the Moscow Six and how they're oligarch crime families and blah, blah, blah. While the Morozov Bratva has modernized considerably since being primarily based here, The Six are a lot more old-world and mysterious."
"When I was there with Roman, I noticed there was a lot of focus on protocol," Violet says.
“Yeah, and a lot of arranged marriages."
"Alexsey and Liria have an arranged marriage," Rose points out. "They’re happy."
“Yeah, I don’t get the feeling some of those girls are as lucky,” I sigh.
Violet jostles Avros, who is attempting to swan dive off his mother's lap headfirst onto the floor. He has his father's dark hair and supremely reckless instincts. "So… while you were in Moscow," she says leadingly, "did you talk to Andrey about the baby?"
"I didn't find out until you were safely in Moscow and I couldn't attack you in my joy," Rose sniffs.
"I'm still holding it against you." She can't keep the pissy act up and grins, giving me a strangle hug.
"It's still the best thing in the world.
You and Violet having babies at the same time! It's almost like twins."
Avoiding Violet's pointed stare by glancing out the windows, I watch two of the Morozov guards pass each other in the front yard. They give each other a hard shoulder bump, and its sort of hilarious to see two monstrously scarred, tatted men be so childish.
"It was really a busy, complicated time," I say evasively. "I didn't want to complicate... I thought I should wait for a quieter time."
Rose gives an inelegant snort. "There's no quieter time in the Bratva. Who are you kidding?"
Avros is bouncing on Violet’s lap, he's cackling in his glorious, high pitched toddler voice. "Sweetie, I don't want to push you. But you're edging in on four months, and he has the right to know. If you have decided to keep this baby -"
"I have," I say emphatically.
"Then he deserves to know. He is the father."
"I've learned a lot about how he reacts to things versus, you know, neurotypical people," I say as my grip on Rose's feet loosens.
She wiggles her toes, and I continue rubbing.
"So, there are reactions now that I can kind of anticipate, but a baby is so out of left field.
What if he hates me?" My chest heaves. "What if he doesn't want the baby?
Violet's eyes shimmer with held-back tears for a moment before she says, "I still hate his guts for pushing you into marrying him.
But everything I see now tells me that he is in love with you.
Maybe in his own heartless, soulless way, but yes.
Remember that some men just aren't huge fans of kids until they have their own. "
Rose chuckles. "Some women are like that, too."
"But you've seen how he's treated Dasha," Violet points out, "who I suspect will essentially remain a child in an adult's body for the rest of her life."
"Rude!" Rose and I say it at the same time.
Okay, admittedly, Dasha did just get arrested for lewdness and public intoxication while making out with the mayor's son on a park bench in her underwear. But he wasn’t wearing pants, so it’s not all on her.
Thanks to the power of their respective parents, it took one call from the chief of police and the charges disappeared.
Dasha had the balls to complain that she, "Didn't even get a mug shot out of it!"
"I think you might be underestimating him," Violet continues, undeterred. "Since you made this choice to stay in the marriage and to have this baby, it's time to tell him."
My throat closes up as a surge of fear goes through me. "Things have been so good," I say. "Andrey may not love me, he adores me, I've never been so well taken care of."
"Yeah, rub it in," Rose says sullenly.
"Once again, what do we know about Jeremy?" I ask.
"He's a choad." This time, Violet, Rose, and I all say it together.
"How's he doing with that accounting job out in Bismarck, North Dakota?" I ask, grinning unpleasantly.
"He's sharing an apartment with five other guys, it's all he can afford," Rose says happily. "Roman was kind enough to send me a report. It looks like that broken leg of his should heal up soon."
"Good," Violet snarls, always unwilling to forgive a slight against her sisters, which is something I love about her.
"Then maybe he'll think twice about running away screaming when his girlfriend is in danger next time.
" I think I'm off the hook but she circles back.
"Iris, honey, what are you going to do?"
"I'm... going to tell him," I say, finally feeling the certainty I've been grasping for.
"It's been almost a month since I found out.
It's been too long to waffle around with this.
The man fathering my child should certainly know, huh?
Andrey cares for me. I know he does. He'll care for our baby, too. "
"Well, then get your ass up. Put on your shoes, and go," Violet says sharply, sliding back into her stern 'mother to my sisters' era.
"Fine!" I snap, feeling like I'm eighteen again.
Rose gives me a big sloppy kiss and shoves me off the couch. "Get going, then!"
"I am!" I shout back.
"Then why are you still here?" Violet says. She's looking stern as hell.
Giving Avros a long, squishy hug and many kisses, I unwind his fat little baby fingers from my hair and head out the door, Melina following me to the car.
I can do this. Andrey won't be a typical father, but he's going to be a great father. I know it.