Chapter 4

Linka heads downstairs to call her brother. She switches her brain from "English Mode" to "Russian Mode," as she prepares to speak to her brother for the first time since telling him she was engaged. She fondly recalls that conversation and how surprised, happy, and excited he was for her.

Seven months earlier…

"Hello big brother!"

"Linka! This is a pleasant surprise. Is everything alright?" he ask, suddenly concerned by the unexpectedness of her call.

"Yes, everything is fine. I am calling because I have news."

"You are moving back home?!" he asked hopefully.

"No, sorry."

"I figured. I have lost my sister to New York," he teased.

"You will never lose me. I am moving though."

"Where? Closer I hope."

"Probably about the same distance. I am going back to the Planeteers."

"Really? That is sudden. I do not understand, I thought the music teaching computer program making and selling was doing well. Why give that up?"

"I am not giving it up. It will be a few years before it is due for an upgrade. Gaia asked us to come back. The kids she got to replace us are now getting the same opportunity that the original Planeteers had to pursue a higher education," she explained.

"So why not find a third generation of new Planeteers?"

"She tried. She could not find anyone suitable enough in such a short amount of time."

"So are ALL of the former Planeteers coming back?" he asked.

"Yes, we are ALL back," she said, knowing exactly what he was getting at.

"So Wheeler…he knows now that you were in New York this whole time?"

"Yes."

"I assume he did not take it well?"

"No. He took it quite badly actually. It was not pleasant."

"Are you ok?" he asked.

"It took much explaining, but we resolved things. Things are fine between us."

"That is good. For both of you. He seemed like a nice guy, you told me he was, and I would hate to see a good friendship ruined. Although, I can see why he would be upset with you. I still do not understand your reasons for not letting him know you were in New York, even though you have explained it to me a million times."

"Ah Mishka," she sighed. "Sometimes I do not understand it either. What's done is done though."

"This return to the Planeteers…I assume it's only temporary until replacements are found? So, what do you think the future holds for you?"

"I do not know the length of my current duty with the Planeteers; however, my future has a little more certainty. Which is another reason why I am calling...I am getting married."

"What? To whom? I did not know you were seeing anyone seriously. What if I do not approve of him?" He teased.

"I think that you will approve…I believe your exact words were that you thought he was 'a great guy,' years ago."

"Is it…Wheeler?!"

"Yes."

"Really? After all those years of being apart? Now after just a few days of being reunited, suddenly you are ready to marry him? It is not like you to be impulsive."

"I know. But when you know something is right, why wait? Besides, we have already wasted so much time, do you not agree?"

"Yes, of course. I always thought he was the one you were meant to be with. I just did not know how to tell you. In your letters, you always spoke so fondly of him, and after I saw the lengths he went to in order to save you and help Grandma, I knew he was worthy of my sister and that he loved you deeply. I could never figure out why if I could see it, why could YOU not see it?"

"You are not alone. Many people wondered that same thing. And who says I did not see it? Do you all think I am stupid? Of course I saw it! It scared me to death. I had no idea how to respond to it. No one has ever been so forthcoming about their feelings for me as Wheeler has, and I had never liked anyone enough to express an interest in them. Wheeler was so direct about how he felt, I was not sure how to react. I was attracted to him, but did not want to seem too willing to be with him. I did not want to seem like he had 'won me over' so easily. But then I had given the impression that I was not interested, so in order to not seem like a weak, silly girl who caves into flirtations, I had to keep up that impression."

"Oh Linka. You have ALWAYS been SO stubborn and bull headed. Looks like it finally backfired on you!"

"Yes, it did…but now it has worked out for the best, and I could not be happier."

"And I am happy for you. Please keep me informed as to where and when. I will be there," Mishka says.

"Thank you. I will talk to you soon. Love you."

"Love you too."

Linka excitedly dials the phone, anxious to tell her big brother that a date has been set.

"Hello?"

"I know it is getting late, but I hope it is not too late for you to get a call from your favorite little sister!" she says.

"Linka! I will always have time for you, no matter how late it is! How are you?"

"Good, and you?"

"I am doing well. Even better hearing from you. I am assuming you have news?"

"What are you doing in three weeks?" she asks.

"Hopefully I will be attending my little sister's wedding…am I right?"

"Yes, you are. Actually, not only will you be attending, I was hoping that you would give me away," Linka says.

"Of course! I will be honored. It will be hard letting go of my little sister, but at least I know a good man will be taking care of her."

"Silly, you have not had to take care of me for 10 years! You let go a long time ago!"

"I know, but now it is official. And just to make it clear, I will never fully let go!" he says.

"I know you will not! We were hoping that the family members could come a few days before the ceremony, make something of a vacation out of it, get to know one another, you know? We would come get you with the Geo Cruiser whatever day you decide to come. I realize it is a long trip, so I do not expect you to bring Svetlana and the kids, but if you think they would like to be there, I would love it if they came. I have not spoken to Wheeler about it, and I am sure he would agree, but perhaps Illyana and Alexei can be flower girl and ring bearer?"

"And I am sure they would love to be there and the children would be honored to be involved in their Aunt Linka's wedding if it is ok with Uncle Wheeler. It will be a nice vacation; the children have never been to the beach before…I am assuming you are still having it on Hope Island?"

"Yes. I am so excited to have you all there! I cannot wait to see you!" Linka exclaims.

"And we cannot wait to see you. I will talk to Sveta and get back to you on when we will arrive."

"Great! What the…? Is that…? Mishka, I have to go!"

Just then, Wheeler came running down the stairs, jumping from the final few and sliding to a halt in the kitchen.

"Hey Babe, did I tell you the others were on their way here?"

"Nyet!"

"Well…they are," he says just as the Eco Copter touches down in the back yard.

"Da, I noticed! Wheeler?! I do not have any food for them to eat, I did not clean up the house, I did not wash the linens for the guest room beds…"

"Sorry! Remember how we talked about having them come up and get some of the wedding stuff like tuxes and dresses done?"

"Da."

"Well, when you were sleeping, I called them to see if they'd come up here today."

"Why today, the day is half over? We will hardly have any time to do anything. And I am sure they are tired from the flight…"

"I wanted to hurry up and get them up here just incase you were so mad, you didn't want to go through with it. The extra pressure of having our friends around might change your mind!"

"Bozhe moy. Do not be silly. NOTHING could make me change my mind," she says as she kisses him before walking out the back door to greet their friends, with Wheeler following close behind.

"Hello!" she calls to them. "What a pleasant surprise!"

"Oh my, Linka! This is beautiful," Gi gushes. "I want a full tour!"

"Me too!" Ma-Ti shouts.

"As do I," Kwame adds.

"Yes, of course. How about we first show you to your rooms so you can put your stuff away. We only have two guest rooms, so you'll have to fight over who gets those and who gets the futon on the loft."

"I'll take the futon. I'm the smallest, now that Ma-Ti is all grown up!" Gi says, never missing the opportunity to tease Ma-Ti by pointing out how much he has changed.

Linka and Wheeler show the others to their rooms and then give them a quick tour.

"This is amazing Linka. You have a lovely place. Sure beats the little brownstone I had in DC," Kwame says.

"Ha! Do not complain Kwame. Your place was much nicer than the little one story home I shared with some of the other interns," Ma-Ti adds.

"Nah, my studio apartment in the middle of Manhattan takes the cake for lamest living quarters. I'm definitely marrying up!"

"Ahh, now the truth comes out…Wheeler saw Linka's house, THEN he proposed!" Gi jokes.

"Aw man, busted," Wheeler jokingly confesses. "Hey, my Ma's making dinner for us. We should probably head over there in about 45 minutes…in the mean time, if you'll excuse me, I've got garlic bread sticks to make!"

"Outstanding! I love Wheeler's garlic bread sticks!" Kwame says.

"Yes, those were one of the foods that I missed the most when we moved away," Ma-Ti adds.

At dinner, they all discuss their plans for tomorrow. Kathy has a few ideas of dress shops that the girls should stop at to find their dresses as well as a tuxedo place close by that the men should go to, plus bakeries that are known for their delicious cakes. They bid each other good night and the younger crowd goes back to Linka's place for the night. They go straight to bed so they can get an early start the following day.

To be continued...

Sorry, nothing exciting going on in that one. Gotta build up to the good stuff though (maybe 2 chapters from now) and after the good stuff, it gets BETTER!