She waved him away with a flick of her wrist.
Heather returned her hug, taking in the shocked expressions of the rest of the family.
“Heather is like the child I never had.” Babushka patted her cheek.
Jase’s dad cleared his throat at the comment. “You have a son. That would be me.”
“I help her at her shop,” Babushka ignored him. “We have vonderful time together. No judgement. Just happiness for me.” She glared at her son. Man, when Babushka laid it on, she laid it on thick.
“I want happiness for you.” Jase father’s voice went softer. “I love you, Mama.”
“You say this, but you forbid this and forbid that.”
“I forbid because I do love you. Can’t you see that?”
“No.” She turned her attention to the rest of the room. “Now, vere is Rome? Ah, my boy. You come home.”
“Babushka, I’ve missed you. I hear we’re going to have another huge birthday party this year.” He returned her hug.
Jase’s dad shook Harry’s hand. “You are the man who took money from my mother?”
Harry paled and glanced to Babushka.
“No, that’s the other one,” Jase mumbled under his breath.
“That is Morty. Different man.” Babushka poured herself a tumbler of vodka. “This is Harry. We live together.”
Oh God. Jase’s father’s face started to turn purple, but credit to him for keeping it together. “You live together?”
“I guess I’m off the hook, huh?” Heather muttered quietly to Jase.
“You live with this man?” his father asked again.
“I think she means, they live together at the retirement home,” Heather tried to help.
“Details.” Babushka waved a hand toward Heather.
“What the hell did I miss while I was gone?” Rome asked Zach.
“Babushka’s having a very late midlife crisis.” Zach went to work on his own glass of vodka.
Jase pulled at Heather’s arm and shook his head. “Rules of combat in the Dvornakov house: stay low, don’t say anything, don’t let them see weakness.”
“I think you’re being a bit dramatic.” Heather watched him over the rim of her wineglass.
“Also, if it’s stupid but it works, then it isn’t stupid.” Rome lifted his glass to her.
“Heather, sweetheart, we missed you at book club last week.” Harry strutted her way.
“You know this man?” Jase’s father asked.
“Heather volunteers at the retirement home. She likes committees.” Jase placed his hand at her back, a silent gesture of support that meant everything. “Mom likes committees, too.”
So he’d said.
“What committees do you serve on?” his mother asked.
“Right now, I’m helping with the senior ‘senior’ prom at the retirement home up the street from our shops. I thought it’d be fun for everyone and help bring in some new potential residents.”
