“Vera, you can’t continue to keep this from Jaroslav. He deserves to know,” Katya said gently.
“I know. I just don’t want him disappointed, especially when we’ve been so careful.”
“Are you kidding?” Ninel scoffed. “Jaroslav will probably brag he got another kid before Lev and Katya. You know it’s impossible to one-up Lev. This might be his only shot.”
Vera finally laughed. “You’ve got a point.” Then she bit her lip and turned to me. “Sienna, do you mind if the guys come over so I can tell everyone? At least in a crowd, he won't take it as badly if he is disappointed.”
“Not at all,” I said. “Maybe we can order out? I’m not much of a cook.”
“And maybe buy another test and give it to him in a gift box,” Kira squealed.
“I’m not giving Jaroslav a stick I peed on. That’s weird and gross. But maybe we can put a few baby items inside the box.”
“Wait,” Mariya said, brow furrowing. “How far along are you?”
“Five months.”
“What?” Kira shot to her feet. “You’ve been pregnant as long as I've been married?”
“Yeah. Well, things got a bit crazy after we got home from your engagement party. And with everything with Anton, I thought it was just stress.”
“Do you know the gender of the baby?” Katya asked, her eyes sparkling.
Vera smiled. “I do.”
Katya stood, grinning widely. “Well, ladies, we have a few hours to pull off the most spectacular gender reveal party!”
Over the next few hours, we put on the radio, danced, chatted, and laughed as we planned the party. Ninel had called the men and told them where we were, so after the meeting, they’d come by.
By the time we were finished, pink and blue balloons covered the living room. A large banner stretched across one wall:Congratulations on your expected bundle.
A table was set with different dishes, and of course, burgers, fries, and pizza for the kids. A portable bar had been wheeled into the corner, stocked with every kind of alcohol imaginable and rows of colorful juices.
By seven o’clock, we heard cars pulling into the yard. Mariya grinned. “Okay, wives, let’s get you in position.”
We lined up in front of the banner. Mariya handed Vera her designated card color and gave the rest of us white slips of paper. We tucked them into our back pockets and waited.
When the men walked into the living room, they froze.
Every single one of them went still, but their facial expressions faltered, eyes widening as they took in the balloons, the food, the banner, and then us.
Then Avit's eyes locked onto mine. His gaze intensified with each second that passed and my heart stumbled.
“Looks like we’ll be having a new addition to the family,” Zahkar chuckled.
“Things have died down in the factions but definitely not in the bedrooms,” Pyotr teased.
“The question is,” Mariya said, her smile mischievous and her tone suspenseful, “which wife is pregnant?”
“Could we cut to the chase already?” Marten added gruffly.
“Ah, Marten, looks like you're eager to join the fatherhood gang,” Yegor patted him on the shoulder.
Marten growled and Kira giggled.
“Zahkar, Yegor, let us unmarried folk head to the bar.”
They each took one of the kids and moved toward the bar as Mariya continued, “Gentlemen, check the back pocket of your wife’s jeans. White paper…you’re in the clear. If not…” she smirked. “Remember, this is a family space. Don’t start anything you can’t finish.”
