“But he’s right. Andre’s more fun now. He can sit up and stand and walk. Huh, Andre?” He emphasized nodding and rolling his head a little, which Andre mimicked.
“You boys are quite the experts,” I admitted.
“Aren’t you?” Lev asked.
I shook my head. “I don’t know what to expect, honestly.” I put my hand on my bump, but Andre picked it up and patted it like clapping. “This is my first baby.”
“I’m excited,” Lev said with a smile.
He was excited for my baby? He’d just met me! Clearly, all these Dubinins knew about me because Emil had searched for me with his family at his side, but this felt like a personal welcome.
“It was only me and my mama for a long time,” Lev said, smiling at Raisa as she laughed with Gabriella and Ivan across the room. “I like having a big family.”
“I think you’re blessed to haveafamily,” I told him.
Misha nodded. “We are. You will be too.” He started to wrangle Andre off my lap, much to his protest. “Come on, my stomach is growling. It’s dinner time.”
“Oh. Um. Okay. I won’t hold you up.” I tried to encourage Andre to go with him so I could stand and go back to Emil’s room.
“I think you’re going to have to bring him.” Lev shook his head at Andre fussing.
“No, that’s okay. I’ll?—”
Misha shook his head. “Nope. He wants you.” He held him long enough until I stood.
My plans to excuse myself weren’t going to hold up according to Andre. Once I adjusted to holding him, with Misha and Lev’s guidance, I felt ready to tote the little toddler on my hip while making sure my baby bump wasn’t bothered.
“Like this?” I checked, glad the boys wanted to help me.
I was fitting in so well like this, with them.
“Yeah—whoa!” Lev jumped up to grab Andre’s hand as he took a fistful of my hair and yanked. “Andre. No. Be gentle.”
Gabriella and Luka noticed me carrying their son, but they didn’t seem bothered.
“Andre,” Luka said with a sigh. “Be a gentleman.” He spoke with the fatigue of having told him that many times before.
“Impossible,” Emil said as we headed to the dining room. He slung his arm around my shoulders, tickling Andre when his fingers were near him. “I’mthe only son you’ve got who is a real gentleman.”
“Ha.” Luka grunted it as a laugh, giving me a look like he doubted it. “Tell me, Sadie. Is he a gentleman?”
Lev and Misha rushed ahead toward their parents at the table.
“A gentleman?” I asked playfully.
“Aside from the kidnapping, of course,” Emil said.
Luka rolled his eyes.
I smiled up at Emil, happy with how relaxed he seemed with me at his side, holding his baby brother. During the meetings, he was at ease with me there, and in this family setting of a dinner, he was just as calm and content.
When I handed Andre over to Luka then took my seat, I dared to think that just maybe, I could fit in with these Dubinins.
Perhaps I could belong with them—for good.
29
EMIL
