Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94624 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94624 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Mikhail took a breath. “I will be honest and tell you that I was quite upset when I found out you were adopted by a homosexual couple.”
I fidgeted in my seat, getting more annoyed with him by the second. As though he had any say about a child he had nothing to do with.
“Why?” Kola asked, and I heard the bristle in his tone.
“That’s not important,” Sam was quick to say, soothing him, patting his knee. “Because the agency had more information about us that I’m certain changed your mind.”
“This is true,” Mikhail agreed. “Danique and I read the file and were quite impressed.”
“Well, the more people I meet, the more I’m impressed with my parents,” Kola stated, reaching over for my hand. “They’re both amazing. You couldn’t have chosen any better for me.” He looked at Danique then. “I appreciate you making the decision to give me a new life.”
She nodded, but I saw the tears welling in her eyes. “You were such a loving child.”
He smiled at her. “May I ask, did you name me, or someone else?”
“I did. I named you after my grandfather. He was the first Mykola in our family and a wonderful man.”
“That’s good to know.”
Everyone was quiet a moment.
“Tell me, Mykola, what are you studying in school?” Mikhail asked.
It made sense he would ask. The detective he hired had probably reported that Kola was attending the University of Chicago and that was all.
“I’m finishing up my undergrad degree in biology, and then I’ll start medical school in the fall.”
“You’re going to be a doctor?” I heard both surprise and happiness in Mikhail’s voice.
“I am. I want to be an ER doctor.”
“Why that?”
“My father has always stressed the importance of service, and my pa––”
“He calls you Pa?” Danique asked me.
I nodded. “He started using it when we were in Rotterdam for those two weeks when we met him, and it’s stuck since then.” I took a breath. “For both of my kids.”
She glanced at Hannah.
“Since my brother used it, and I copied everything he ever did,” she said, chuckling. “I’ve always called my father that as well.”
“That is lovely,” she murmured.
“Service and compassion,” Kola finished, glancing over at Hannah. “That’s what they taught both me and my sister, so that’s what I’m gonna do.”
Mikhail nodded. “You come from a long line of doctors. Perhaps someday you could meet the rest of the family.”
Kola exhaled like he’d been holding his breath. “Maybe.”
“Well, we’ve heard all about Kola. Tell me, Emil and Katya, what are you both studying in school?” I wanted to include them; they both looked a bit lost there on the end of the couch.
Emil explained that he would be starting at the University of Amsterdam, or UvA, as he called it, in the fall to begin his degree in biology.
“You gonna be a doctor too?” Kola asked him.
He nodded, smiling at his older brother. “I am.”
“Awesome. We’ll have to email and keep each other up to date.”
“I would like that.”
“And you?” I asked Katya.
She was still in high school, and was leaning more toward the law.
“Not this again,” Mikhail said with a sigh. “Doctors run in––”
“As do teachers and artists and many other things,” Danique said quickly. “She will follow her heart in all things.”
“Same,” Hannah agreed, smiling at Katya. “Service is taking care of people, helping, and when you champion the rights of someone who otherwise wouldn’t have a chance at justice, that’s amazing.”
Katya was beaming at my daughter. “You know, I follow you on Instagram. I have one myself, not with a following anywhere near yours, but my passion is old homes, coffee, and food, so I do lots of tours and tastings.”
“Oh my gosh, you gotta show me,” Hannah said, getting up and walking to the couch where Katya was and flopping down beside her so that Mikhail had no option but to stand and make room for my daughter.
He looked a bit disgruntled, but only for a moment, and then I saw his shoulders fall with the release of tension. I had my first flicker of sympathy for the man. It was hard, I was sure, to come see a son he didn’t originally even know about, and now was hoping to have a relationship with.
Hannah and Katya were chatting, and Danique stood up as well and asked if she could see the backyard. She loved flowers, but they lived in a condo, and though they had a million houseplants, they didn’t have their own garden. There were many in the city of course, but only to visit.
The rest of us, including Emil, all walked outside, and once she and I went down the stairs to go look at our hydrangeas, Sam asked Mikhail if he could get him a drink.
“Do you have any bourbon?” he asked.
“Yessir, I do,” Sam said, and I finally heard the thaw in his voice.