Epilogue - Ruslana
It’s been four months and things are still a little tense between my brothers and Avraam, but I know that eventually things will work out how they are meant to work out.
I stand in front of the long mirror, looking at my dress. Turning to the side and then to the other side.
I don’t feel right.
Sighing, I brush my hands over the beautiful fabric. It’s not the dress that’s bothering me.
Avraam walks into the room and comes to stand behind me. He wraps his arms around my waist. “You look as beautiful as ever,” he says tracing kisses over my neck and across my shoulder.
I bite my lips, tense and agitated.
“Hey, it’s going to be fine,” he says, and I shoot him a are-you-sure-about-that look in the mirror.
He laughs, turning me in his arms so that he looks directly at my face.
“It is going to be fine,” he says with so much assurance that I can almost believe him.
“It’s the first time you’re ever coming to our family dinner though. You’ll meet everyone. All of my brothers will be there at the same time and I’m freaking nervous.”
He grins at me, holding my jaw in his hand. “Butterfly—I love you—that’s all that matters. If things don’t go well today—we will try again and again until your family accepts us.”
“Do you promise?” I ask tensely.
Avraam leans down and takes my hand in his, lifting the gorgeous diamond ring so that it’s right in front of my face.
“What is this?” he asks.
“It’s a ring,” I smirk.
“And what does this ring mean ?” he shakes his head, knowing I’m being difficult.
“It means we’re married.”
“And why did I marry you?”
“Because you love me, and you want to be with me forever.”
“And this ring means that it’s you and me against anything that wants to tear us apart. You are my everything, Ruslana. If you get nervous tonight or feel like your family isn’t accepting our relationship, just look at this ring and know that one day they will. Because our love is real—they will see it—and I will never stop loving you.”
“They wouldn’t even come to our wedding,” I sigh.
“I know—but remember, I already promised you a second wedding whenever they are ready.”
I smile, remembering how I didn’t want to wait, I wanted to elope and marry him right away. He was just as eager as me.
I twist my ring around my finger, loving how it feels. Loving what it means.
I pull my mouth to the side. “How are you always so good at calming me down?” I ask, standing on my tiptoes, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him down to kiss me.
“Ugh, you know, I just know you better than anyone else in the entire world.” He laughs.
I reach around him and grab his butt cheeks, squeezing tightly.
“Hey, if you start that now we are going to be late,” he warns me.
I roll my eyes. “Fine, I’m ready to go.”
In the car, my nervous tension all comes back, and gets especially bad the closer we get to Rodion’s place. Avraam reaches over and places his hand on my thigh, sensing my discomfort.
“Roda will be understanding,” I nod, thinking about each of my brothers and how they will react. “Roda is calm and open to change. I’m not worried about him.”
“Who are you worried the most about?” he asks, as we turn into the driveway and he parks the car near the front door.
“Rigor—I guess—he’s the one who had the most to say about it.”
“Let’s just focus on the good things for now. Roda will be fine with it, and then rest of your brothers will all come around one by one.”
I nod, hopeful that he’s right.
Avraam walks around the car and opens my door for me. He holds out his hand and I smile as he pulls me against him, kissing me one last time before he leads me into my brother’s house.
Things are tense.
In fact, they are horribly awkward.
But mostly it’s coming from me.
I need to relax.
I’m so nervous I’m building it all up too much in my head.
Rodion walks towards us. He hugs me against his side and then holds his hand out to Avraam. Avraam shakes his hand and the hope inside me grows. “Welcome to our home. Can I get you a drink?” he asks politely.
“I’d love one. Whiskey if you have it.”
“A man after my own heart.”
We walk through the house and Rodion introduces Avraam to everyone. Even my brothers that have already met him during the rescue mission when they took Royce down—he introduces everyone again, because this is a new situation—a calm setting. We can all start again.
Each of my brothers reacts slightly differently. Some are more rigid, some are polite, some are actually friendly. But as I guessed, Rigor is just downright rude.
When Rodion walks towards him, Avraam walking with him, Rigor snarls and shakes his head. “Keep that fucking brainwashing asshole away from me, Roda,” he warns, loud enough for me to hear. My heart sinks.
“Grow the fuck up, Rigor,” Roda snaps, angrily. “And pull yourself together, this is a family dinner.”
Rigor shakes his head again. “No, this is a joke. He’s not family. I don’t have to be here for this. You can all play pretend and sit at the table with him—I’m leaving.”
“Rigor—,“ Rodion calls out as he walks away, but Rigor ignores him.
In a desperate move to reach out to my brother, I run after him and stop him before he gets into his car.
“Rigor, please—come inside. Just try—“
Rigor sighs, angry, not willing to budge. He looks up at me with sadness in his eyes. “I love you, little sis. You mean the world to me—but this is a mistake. Being with him is a mistake. You deserve so much more than that.”
“Rigor, you’re wrong. If you just take the time to get to know him, you’ll see he’s—“
He slams his car door, cutting off my plea to make him understand.
Without looking at me again, he starts the engine and pulls away. I am forced to jump out of the path of the tire.
I tried.
And I will try again next time.
Just like Avraam says. Rigor not being willing to accept our relationship doesn’t change anything.
I still love him, and I will still choose to be with him.
Rigor will come around one day.
I climb the stairs back into the house. At least Roda is trying.
When I walk through the door, Roda is waiting there for me.
“Don’t let him get to you, kiddo.”
“We were always so close, I don’t understand why he won’t even try.”
“You guys were always close, that’s why he went a little crazy when you were kidnapped. You have to understand that you were gone for months and he blames all of that anxiety and worry on Avraam. Give him time.”
I lean into my brother's hug as we walk back towards where everyone is standing.
Avraam smiles when he sees me and Roda steps away.
I snuggle against Avraam’s side.
“You ok?” he asks quietly.
“Are you ok?” I whisper back.
“I’m the happiest man on this entire planet—in the universe in fact.”
I giggle and punch him playfully in the chest. “I’m being serious,” I laugh.
“So am I, butterfly. I really am the happiest man alive. You are my whole world. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The rest of the night is better than I expect it to be. Avraam is calm and ignores any poked remarks. He chats with my brothers and their wives and Raisa is particularly sweet to him which I really appreciate.
Even though the evening goes well, I am still so relieved when we walk out of the house and climb into our car.
Avraam chuckles, “You look like you just took your first breath of air all night.”
“I feel that way,” I sigh. “It will get better though. I think you were right.”
He starts the car, pulling out onto the road, he drives with his hand resting on my leg.
Instead of taking us home, he takes us to a gorgeous outlook point, on a hill high above the city.
We climb out of the car and walk to the edge to get the best view.
Avraam wraps his arms around me.
“As long as you remember that I’m not going anywhere,” he whispers against my ear. I lean into him, my back resting against his chest.
The stars are bright tonight, there aren’t even any clouds to block our view, and below is the city, sparkling like a jewel, filled with endless possibilities.
As I stand there with my husband, my heart is filled with love and I feel at peace.
These are the moments that matter the most.
I take a deep breath and let myself melt against him.
Everything is going to be perfect.
As long as we are together—everything will be perfect.
*****
THE END