A month later all three of Red's boys were arriving to the house for the wedding. They were stuffed in every room, the grandkids included. Natalya was moved into the master bedroom to make room for Zara and Vasily's blow-up mattress. Alexander had helped clean up the house and kept Natalya busy. One by one as the boys and their families arrived, he started to get to know the boys, and he could see his future wife interacting with her family in a homely environment. The house was alive with the sound of excited Russian chatter.

Everyone was sent to bed early, Red piled in the middle of the grandkids who were crammed together in the downstairs sitting room in sleeping bags and read them all a bedtime story. Even the older ones were calmed by it and soon they had all drifted off to sleep. Red made sure to kiss each one her children before she went to bathroom to get ready for bed. She rocked Natalya back and forth after reading her two bedtime stories, her regular nighttime routine. Once Natalya's head hit the pillow on her toddler sized bed, she was sound asleep.

Alexander's sister, a wedding planner, showed up bright and early to set up chairs in the backyard. It was just big enough for each of their families and with the high fence around the property, it gave them privacy as well.

Natalya woke up extra early, she made her way out of her toddler bed and pulled on Red's hand that was draped over the side of the mattress just a few inches. Red pulled her into bed and rested her head back on Red's chest. Alexander was already up and making coffee for everyone.

"Galina?" Zara knocked on the bedroom door before poking her head around the corner.

Red rolled over. "Yes?"

"Time to get ready," she brought in a white silk robe and a box of makeup. Red rolled her eyes and flopped back over while Natalya, in her footed pajamas, crawled over her mother and sat at the edge of the bed by Zara. "Will it help if I caffeinated you?"

She brought back two full cups of coffee and a cup of juice for Natalya.

"Change into this and I'll do the rest." Zara handed Red the silk robe and patted her on the hip. "You're going to look like a rock star today honey."

She felt her stomach flip. She loved Alexander, but it was still strange that she was getting remarried.

She waited behind the door until she was ready. There would be no bridal tune. Red would just walk down the aisle with Natalya walking in front of her. Zara would be waiting for the toddler at the front of the rows of chairs. Red took a deep breath and held onto her bouquet of fake flowers.

"Are you ready?" Vasily waited with her. He would walk her down the aisle and give her away.

"Yes," she slipped her arm around his and told Natalya to walk up to the front.

Natalya, in her fluffy dress, walked straight up to the front and settled into Zara's lap. Vasily kissed Red on the cheek before giving her over to Alexander. He had tears streaming down his face and a smile wider than the ocean.

Half way through the ceremony, just as they were getting to the vows, Natalya started to fidget in the corner of Red's eye. She wouldn't stop, and two lines into the vows, Red wiggled her finger at her and Natalya ran up to Red and Alexander. She hoisted her onto her hip and continued with the vows.

They both said 'I do' with tears in their eyes and Natalya by their side.

THE END

Stay in touch for Volume Two