"But Aunt Susan..." Susie wheedled. "It's like...perfect. Lots of schools let their students do a semester abroad."
"Maybe your's doesn't," Susan said flatly as she pulled the grey tights up over Lauren's diapered bottom and stood her up on the bench. "Honey, frankly...the thought of you and Natasya on the loose together...in Europe?" She cringed and shook her head.
"We wouldn't be on the loose..." Susie sighed as she absently shoved the diaper Susan handed her into the garbage can. "We'd be right here and then the following semester Natasya would be at our house. It's perfect." Susan carefully drew a brush through Lauren's dark hair and tied a dark pink bow in the half ponytail on top of her head. Susie was leaning back against the wall and frowning.
"Don't you think that Natasya's parents would rather have her living with her aunt and uncle if she came to the U.S.?"
"Chicago is only a couple of hours away. She could see them all the time!" Susan shook her head in frustration and adjusted the full crinoline slip over Lauren's head and then slipped her feet into tiny black ballet slippers. She stood her on the floor and then held her hand as she twirled in the stiff skirt. Susan smiled at her and then glanced up to see Abby watching her in the mirror. She rolled her eyes and suppressed a smile as Valerija put the finishing touches on the smooth chignon on the back of Abby's head.
"Beautiful..." Valerija said as she dropped her hands to Abby's shoulders and gazed at her in the mirror. Abby smiled.
"Thank you..." she nodded. Valerija gathered up her things and slipped them into a bag.
"I think I need to go and see how Jelena is holding up. I think that Natasya may be saying the same things to her?" she said. She bent to kiss Abby's cheek. "See you very soon." Abby nodded and looked at herself for a long moment. She wrapped the robe around herself more snugly and sighed. Susan stepped behind her and their eyes met in the mirror. Susan smiled and slipped a hand to her friend's shoulder.
"Are you ready for this?" she asked softly. Abby shrugged and then blinked in surprise as her eyes filled with tears.
"I don't really know any more," she said with a laugh as she hurriedly wiped the tears away. There was a knock on the door and Natasya entered. She glanced at Susie with a question on her face and Susie shook her head and frowned. Natasya's face fell and she handed Luka's cell phone to Abby.
"Ujak Luka said it is for you..." she said. Abby grinned and took the phone, expecting to hear his voice on the other end.
"Luka..." she sighed.
"Abby?" Abby sat straight up in the chair.
"Mom..." she gasped softly. Susan grinned and turned to usher Natasya and Susie out of the little room. She closed the door behind them and concentrated on getting Lauren's dress on the little girl who had busied herself stomping and twirling in the stiff little slip she wore. She buttoned the buttons and carefully tied the dark pink sash into a big bow her waist. She brushed down the satin skirt and then took her hands to dance with her. Lauren's giggles were infectious and Susan laughed along with her. She watched Abby out of the corner of her eye and then grinned as she closed the phone and stood up.
"It's three thirty in the morning in Minnesota," she said. Susan moved forward and wrapped her arms around Abby.
"And here is the hug from Maggie," she said. Abby clung to her for a moment and then Susan stepped back.
"Want some help with your dress?" she asked. Abby shook her head and glanced down at Lauren.
"No..." she smiled. "We'll be fine. Thank you for dressing her."
"Me?" Susan scoffed. "Give up a chance to deal with tights and satin and bows? I didn't even get to do that with Susie...who wants to do a semester abroad here with Natasya...gads!" Abby laughed and picked Lauren up in her arms. Susan turned to look back at them before she left and smiled encouragingly. She blew Abby a kiss and then left.
Abby sighed and looked at the little girl in her arms for a long moment. Lauren was playing with the silver locket around her mother's neck. Abby grinned and pulled her closer for a hug and a kiss.
"Shall we go see Daddy now?" she asked. "Can you say volim tee?" Lauren smiled and wrapped her tiny arms around her mother's neck and squeezed.
Luka sighed as his father straightened his silver tie and brushed imaginary lint off the shoulders of the dark jacket his son wore. Josef stopped and his eyes began to twinkle as he smiled at something behind his son. Luka turned his head and then slowly turned his whole body. He was totally oblivious to the people around him as his eyes took in the two figures that had stepped through a door at the side of the little chapel. Susan saw them too. Her eyes danced from Luka's face to Abby's and her face split into a huge smile. Perfect.
The circle of family that had surrounded him separated and made a path of sorts between them. Abby knelt a little and patted Lauren on the back. The little girl smiled and happily tripped across the room toward her father. Luka grinned and swept her up in his arms and held her close for a moment. She was all squishy baby softness and crinkly petticoats under the silvery satin dress with the dark pink sash. A matching wide pink bow held long silky dark curls off her face as she kissed him on the lips. Luka close his eyes and savored the sweetness of this moment. She wasn't going to be his baby much longer. If he blinked this was going to be gone.
"... tee, Dada," she said as she began to wiggle impatiently from his hug. Luka grinned and handed her to his father. Josef nodded and adjusted her long skirts over his arm and lifted a small ballet slippered toe to his lips for a quick kiss. His granddaughter chuckled and brushed a stray hair from her face with a chubby hand.
Luka's eyes lifted to Abby's and he realized that he was holding his breath as he crossed to room toward her. He let it out slowly when he stood before her and their eyes held. She was beautiful. The dress was perfect in it's simplicity. It's icy color was set off by her flawless skin and dark hair. A silver locket nestled in the folds at her breasts. Her hair was swept back in a perfect chignon and she held a small simple bouquet of dark pink roses and white lilies. The diamond earrings he'd gotten her for her first Mother's Day sparkled in her ears. But it was the sparkle in her warm brown eyes that held him. Would always hold him. Forever.
"Luka..." she whispered. "They're waiting for us." He was shaken from his private worship of the woman that would be his wife and he held out his hand to her. Abby smiled and slipped her free hand in his and they walked toward the waiting minister together. She stopped to smile at Susan and held out the bouquet for her. Susan nodded as she took the flowers. Tears of joy filled her eyes. This moment was a long time coming. A very long time. Susie leaned in toward her as Abby and Luka stepped into the center of the circle of people.
"I want to get married just like this," she whispered.
"Yeah...me too," Susan sighed softly. Susie frowned.
"You're already married," she said.
"Who cares?" Susan shrugged quietly not taking her eyes from her friends.
The circle closed around them and Abby's hand squeezed Luka's carefully. They looked at one another and smiled and then back to the minister who began his litany that would link them together...forever.