Someone had to show up. Someone had to witness good things. Someone had to believe they were possible even when everything else said they weren't.
I foundmy way back inside as the reception properly kicked off. The ballroom had transformed completely. Tables set with white cloth and crystal, flowers everywhere, music shifting from classical to something modern with an actual beat. People were dancing already, masks making everyone look vaguely theatrical.
Viktor and Sebastian held court at the centre table, surrounded by family and friends and people who wanted proximity to power. Viktor saw me, waved me over with the enthusiasm of someone three drinks in.
“Dom! Come. Sit. Dmitri is telling terrible jokes.”
I made my way through the crowd. Dmitri looked up, grinned. “They are excellent jokes. Viktor has no sense of humour.”
“I have sense of humour. Your jokes are just bad.”
“See? No sense of humour.”
I dropped into the chair beside Viktor. He immediately poured whiskey into a glass, shoved it at me. “Drink. Celebrate. Be merry.”
“I'm plenty merry.”
“You look like someone is making you watch paint dry.” He leaned closer, dropped his voice. “You are allowed to have fun, you know.”
“I'm having fun.”
“You are thinking too hard. I can see it on your face.” He gestured broadly at the room. “Look at this. Look at these people. They are here because they care. They are here because they want to be. And you are here because you are family. So stop thinking and start enjoying.”
“I'm enjoying.”
“Liar.” But he grinned, squeezed my shoulder.
Sebastian leaned over, caught Viktor's hand. “Stop harassing Dom. Let him brood in peace.”
“He is not brooding. He is enjoying. In his own way.”
“His own way looks remarkably like brooding,” Sebastian observed. But he smiled at me, warm and genuine. “Thank you for standing with us today. Viktor's been talking about it all week.”
“All month,” Viktor corrected. “Dom was only one I was certain about. Everyone else could have cancelled. But Dom, he shows up. Always.”
“Stop talking about me like I'm not here.”
“We are celebrating you.” Viktor raised his glass. “To Dom. Who shows up. Who stands with family. Who pretends he does not care but cares more than anyone.”
“I'm not drinking to that.”
“You are drinking to it. Everyone is drinking to it.” Viktor stood, raised his voice. “Everyone! Toast!”
The room quieted. Viktor, still standing, glass raised, looked every bit the reformed criminal turned respectable businessman turned husband. “To my brother, Dom. Who stands with me even when I make terrible decisions. Thank you for being here. Thank you for being family.”
The room echoed the toast. I wanted to disappear. Instead, I raised my glass, caught Viktor's eye, and nodded once.
He sat back down, grinning like he'd won something. “See? Was not so bad.”
“You're an arse.”
“Da. But I am married arse now. Is different.” He laughed, turned to Sebastian. “What was next? Speech?”
“Your speech,” Sebastian confirmed. “The one you've been practising for weeks.”
“I have not been practising.”
“You have been muttering to yourself in Russian for weeks. I assumed it was the speech.”
