Chapter 26 - A New Life.
"So how was the trip?" dad asked Yana and mum.
Yana and mum had a quick glance sideways at each other, does he really want to know EVERYTHING? I thought. Reasoning that were some things they weren't going to tell. Knowing the peculiarities of Yana and mum's relationship.
"Well, it was quite good, we did several things, some girly things that you two boys wouldn't be interested in. But the cruise was good, the two soaking places were good, and the Horse trek was excellent. " mum responded.
I quickly glanced down under the table and saw Yana's foot starting to make it's way up my leg aiming for my inner thigh.
I suspected that they would get up to some antics, but my father was oblivious to everyone's antics. Yana looked at me with those puppy dog eyes. I knew she loved me and wanted nothing more to shout it from the rooftops but until her divorce was finalised. We both just had to keep it under wraps.
"It's good to hear you enjoyed yourself, What about our house guest? Did you enjoy yourself Yana?" Dad asked.
"Oh Da, yes very much. Me and my friend Svetlana did some things that the others didn't, but we enjoyed all our activities very much and I look forward to going again." Yana answered.
"Oh, while you two were away something came in the mail for you Yana. Looks like a lawyer's letter, going by the names on the outside." Dad said.
I reached back onto the bench and grabbed it and gave it to Yana. It did indeed look very much like a lawyers letter, going by the number of names printed on the envelope.
I handed it to Yana. She looked at it.
"Why don't you open it dear. Dinner's almost done." Mum encouraged her.
Yana put her finger underneath the tongue of the envelope and started to open it. Her nicely painted light pink nail polish becoming visible.
"Gosh what nice fingernails you have Yana, and such a nice colour too." I commented.
"Yes she got them done at Polynesian spa to match some flowers she saw." Mum said, hinting that there was something more to the tale of the flowers and the colours.
Yana opened the envelops and pulled the letter out. And unfolded it. She read it then she showed it to my mother. Both her and my mum nodded as if they both knew what it was.
"Something wrong Yana?" I asked.
"Nyet." Yana replied.
"Jason why don't you clear away the dishes, Yana and I have something to tell you and your father. But I think it is best if we do it in the lounge." Mum said.
I got up and cleared away the plates, cutlery and glasses and moved them into the kitchen ready to wash. Dad got up and moved into the lounge and sat down on his armchair.
Yana and Mum both remained seated next to one another, discussing something. Then mum got up and walked down the hallway.
"I'll be a couple of minutes don't start without me." Mum said as she walked away.
I moved and sat on the two-seater, just like my dad I had no idea what to expect.
After two or three moments Yana joined me on the two-seater couch. Mum came back from the hallway a moment or two later and sat down on the armchair between dad and myself.
She had something small in her hand.
"Right, you are most probably wondering what all the fuss is about. So, I've got you all here as some of the news is pretty heavy particularly for you John." Mum explained and touched dad on his knee.
"What has someone died?" I asked.
"Yes this is bad news." Dad mentioned.
"No, no far from it." Mum announced.
"As you know Yana received a letter on Friday which she just opened recently as you know. But it was a letter stating something that Yana and myself already knew because it was also emailed to her. I shall let Yana tell you." Mum said and then motioned for Yana to take over.
"The Letter was from my divorce lawyer, as you may or may not have guessed. It is good news. My ex-husband is not fighting the divorce and he agrees to letting me have the house when it's sold. But the business is covered by the pre-nup agreement. This, I already knew because the same lawyer emailed me on Friday. So, once I sign the acceptance, it will take a few weeks to get the judge to sign it and then I am officially divorced and when the house sells the money comes to me." Yana said.
"Oh, that's good, so single again?" Dad asked.
"How much is the house worth?" Mum asked Yana.
"It's got a value of between two and two point four million dollars, so I get half of that. And now I have residency I don't have to go back." Yana said. During the whole conversation Yana had progressively run her hand up my leg and onto my thigh resting it there.
"Hmm, Yana I'm noticing that you seem to be being very affectionate with Jason at the moment, resting your hand on his thigh and so on." Dad commented.
"Yes that brings us to another piece of news. This might come as a bit of a shock for you John. But it is a secret that us three, Yana, Jason and myself have been keeping and for good reason until the time was right. I feel the time is right now." Mum said.
Dad looked worried.
"Hmm, should I be worried?" Dad asked.
"Not really. Would you or Yana like to tell him?" Mum said motioning towards myself and Yana. Yana and I looked at each other. Seemingly each wanting the other to tell him.
"Yana this is what we discussed at the table." Mum prodded.
Yana leaned forward and cupped her hand over my ear and whispered.
"We discussed coming out about the wedding and twins." Yana whispered. I nodded.
"I'll tell him." I whispered back.
"Will somebody please tell me?" Dad implored.
"Okay, dad this is going to come as a bit of a shock. But Yana and I have grown shall we say quite fond of each other. In fact, I love her very much, and I know she loves me too. I love her so much that we are engaged, I asked her a few weeks ago and she accepted. We were just waiting for her divorce to be finalised before we told anyone. Saying that mum has know for a while. We just cant go public until I'm out of school, which is only a few weeks away anyway. And as you maybe aware. Yana here is expecting. She is expecting twins. MY twins. I am their father. So, you will be a father-in-law and a grandfather." I very matter of factly said to dad.
I felt like a great weight had been lifted off me. And I think Yana and mum felt the same. Yana expressed it by hugging and kissing me. As we hugged my hand instinctively went to her stomach.
Dad noticed as did mum.
"Ah, Ah, Ah. So, Yana is no single, she is engaged to you? And carrying your twins? And you start med school too?" Dad asked.
"Yes dad, that's about the sum of it. You can see why we kept it on the down low for a while." I answered him.
"Who else knows?" Dad asked slightly panicky.
"Well, I know, Penny, Grace, Yana's friend Svetlana, Our friend Brandi. We all know and agreed to keep it secret for a while." Mum said.
"Please give your blessing, please?" Implored Yana.
"john, I have known about both things for a while but for practicality reasons I kept it quiet and didn't tell you. But it isn't stopping him going to med school. Yana and I have insisted on that. And I know call it mother's intuition that they do genuinely love each other. I gave them my blessing a while ago." Mum told dad.
"Well, it's all so sudden. That's all. I think Yana is wonderful. And in all truth I've often thought that Yana and Jay would make a good match. Obviously, I was right. But did you know she was expecting? And did you know they were his?" Dad asked his questions directed at mum.
"Yes I knew they were Jay's." Mum answered.
Dad went quiet and held his head in his hands. He was like that for a few minutes and then raised his head.
"Well, I suppose I have to give my blessing, and you are going to go med school my boy. But I just have to know something. Is it because of you that Yana got divorced?" Dad asked.
"Dad, I now have more incentive to go and finish med school. And the other question, I'll let Yana answer it." I said.
"Papa, Jason had nothing to do with the divorce. My ex-husband and my stepson, have been very mean to me since I moved in. But I had nowhere to go. I was going to divorce him after I got residency anyway but falling in love with your wonderful son, just made me do a little bit quicker. And I do love him with all my heart. And I know he does love me in the same way. So please give us your blessing." Yana answered.
"Happy you old fart?" Mum asked dad teasingly.
Dad wringed his hands.
"Well, what can I say? But welcome to my family Yana. I suppose we will have to combine rooms now and make Jay's old room into a nursery until he qualifies. But what has he done about a ring?" Dad said.
At this Yana grabbed her right hand and tore her old wedding ring off, the one that was made out of three gold bands.
"I suppose we have a wedding to plan? What are Russian weddings like?" Dad said abit relieved.
" I have already asked Anne, Mama to help me plan it. " Yana said.
"yes she has, I have to do some research on Russian Orthodox weddings. But now it can be a family activity. And in regard to the ring, I can help." Mum said.
Mum opened her hand to reveal what she was holding. It was a red velvet ring case. She took it out of her hand and gave it to Yana.
Yana took it from mum. And held it.
"Yana this is what we talked about on the way home. This is the family ring that has been in my family since 1880. I am giving it to you to welcome you into the family. Open it please." Mum said.
Yana opened the box and inside was one very antique looking ring. It had a large diamond in the middle with a garnet, a ruby, a pearl and an emerald in circular pattern around it. It had a thick gold band.
"Now the diamond is because it is an engagement ring, but when it was set back in 1880. The ruby is for love and passion, the emerald is for luck, truth and love, the pearl is for innocence, beauty, sincerity, and new beginnings, the Garnet signifies trust, commitment, and love. And the fact that is four of them well, in Victorian Ireland the four stones represented, your past, your present, your future and togetherness. The four stones also represent Hearth, Home, Husband, and children. I want you to have it Yana." Mum said tears welling up in her eyes.
"Spasibo mama, sorry I speak Russian again. Apologises. I will take it and cherish it forever." Yana said on the verge of tears. Then mum and Yana hugged each other as they both cried tears of happiness.
"Are you going to wear it?" Mum asked. Yana slipped it on her ring finger, of her right hand.
"fits perfectly." Yana said. And she proudly displayed it on her finger for everyone to see.
