Chapter 3

Ivan replying to Tommy's question said, "No Tommy, I am what you call American Russian. I was born in Brooklyn."

"But you can speak Russian and English - did you learn both at school?"

"I have spoken Russian since I could first talk, and then learned to speak English later at school."

"So how did you learn Russian first, if you were born here?"

Ivan grinned, he had heard from Madison how Tommy asked pointed questions then looking at Horatio asked, "Is it alright if I give him a bit of my Russian history?"

"Of course, he loves history." Horatio replied.

"Then let me explain Tommy, my Grand Parents, with their young son, emigrated here from Russia in 1920 along with many others wanting to flee Russia in the wake of the October Revolution and Russian Civil War. They were bad days in Russia Tommy, and they were unhappy, so decided to leave their country behind them and make their way here. Some didn't make it out, but my Grandparents were lucky, they arrived here safely and settled in Brooklyn, New York, where there was and still is a large vibrant Russian community."

"So was that civil war something like the one here in America."

"Yes something like that Tommy."

"Anyway, none of them spoke English when they first arrived, but over the years like many other Russians they learned odd words and their meanings, as did their son Maxim who married Kristina, a Russian lady in 1940. They were my parents and I was born in 1973, but my mother could speak some English and it was my mother who insisted I went to an American school that taught Russians the English language. My father went along with this but insisted we always spoke Russian at home. So that Tommy is how I can speak both languages."

"Dad's friend Eric at work can speak Russian. Is it easy to learn?"

"Well Tommy, they do say that Russian is a hard language for English speaking people, but maybe I can teach you a few words one day?"

Tommy's eyes sparkled as he said, "Yes please, I want to learn one or two languages later on at school, when we get the chance. I think this will be after the summer break."

Horatio and Aileen looked at each other; this was the first they had heard of Tommy being interested in languages. But there was plenty of time to find out what the school was proposing.

Then Tommy asked, "Are your mother and father still alive, and do you have any brothers or sisters Ivan?"

"Sadly not Tommy, I am the only one from my family still alive."

Tommy was getting on sensitive ground now and Aileen stepped in saying, "That's enough now Tommy let Ivan finish his coffee."

Tommy smiled and politely said, "Thank you Ivan." Then turning to look at Horatio he asked, "Do you have any books in the library on Russian history Dad?"

Horatio chuckled lightly; he might have guessed that question was coming. "Sorry Tommy I don't, not at the moment anyway. We will get one next time we go to the book shop if you like?"

"Yes please Dad."

Then Aileen went to fetch Hannah, as she could hear she had woken up from an afternoon nap. She wasn't crying she was just chattering in her way, as she did when she was happy enough. Lifting her out of her cot she took her to the lounge and stood her on the floor and she instantly toddled over to Horatio, who picked her up and sat her on his lap, where she stayed for just two minutes and then wriggled off of his lap and toddled over to Ivan and stared up at him, as she placed her tiny hands on his right knee, and as he smiled and said, "Hello little one."

"Can I pick her up?"

"That's what she wants you to do Ivan," said Aileen. "She has a good memory for faces she has seen and voices she has heard and you were at my Dad's Thanksgiving party, and it seems she remembers you."

Ivan picked Hannah up and smiling sat her on his lap saying, "You are such a pretty little girl." Then he couldn't resist giving her a cuddle, which hid the moisture coming into his eyes. He had sat and cuddled his nieces often in the past, and this little one was reminding him of that. But he pulled himself together and said, "You're so blessed Horatio and Aileen."

Then he surprised them and knowing Tommy had now wandered off, he said, "Suzie wants us to have a baby, and I would so love to have a daughter or son with her, but at her age it is potentially risky for the baby. I know there are tests that can be done but even they can be risky can't they?"

Aileen responded," I had an ultrasound and blood tests done to see if there were any chromosomal abnormalities, which is standard Ivan, and while the tests are not 100% accurate my tests came out high enough not to suspect any problems. Not that it would have made any difference our baby was going to be loved whatever. Had there been a cause to worry an amniocentesis test could be performed, but as there is a small risk to mother and baby it is only offered to parents with a significant family history of birth defects. I would never have taken that test, even if my routine tests had shown a possible problem."

"You never worried at all during the pregnancy?"

Horatio responded, "Yes of course we worried a bit, but trusted the test results. As Aileen just said the original tests were good."

"Ivan, look at Hannah, a perfectly happy normal girl who we may just have lost had we had the test done that can tell you almost for certain. It doesn't bear thinking about, that in testing for abnormalities you stand a chance of losing a perfectly healthy baby. I think it is best to let nature take its course. It is common now for women to have babies at Suzie's age and Suzie is very healthy now, the ratio is much higher for having a healthy baby, than otherwise."

"You never had any doubts at all from the minute Hannah was conceived."

"None Ivan, it was one of the happiest days of my life when Aileen told me she was pregnant."

Then Ivan's phone vibrated in his denim jacket pocket and grinning he said, "Probably the lady in question."Then nodded his head when Suzie came through, "Ivan we have finished shopping; do you want us to get a cab back instead of bringing you out?"

"No I'll pick you up; I am part way there anyway. I am at Horatio's and Aileen's place right now."

"Okay," said Suzie, she wasn't surprised she knew Ivan had wanted to speak to Horatio. "We will be sitting in the park and will watch out for you pulling up."

Then Madison snatched the phone from her mom and laughing said, "Hey Dad, we have spent all your money we have loads of packages. Bye will see you soon."

Horatio feeling concerned looked at Ivan who within just a few seconds appeared to have gone into a state of shock, and asked, "Ivan is everything okay?"

Ivan nodded his head and then grinning said, "More than okay, Madison just called me Dad," and then blinked the moisture away in his eyes.

Horatio smiled and muttered to himself, "Good girl Madison - good girl."

Then Ivan standing up passed Hannah over to Aileen and said, "I must be going now, but I really appreciate your time and help this afternoon Horatio, and for your hospitality Aileen." He gave Aileen a peck on the cheek, Hannah a kiss on the top of her head, and ruffled Tommy's hair, Tommy having returned to the lounge realising Ivan was leaving.

Then looking at Horatio he said, "Just got to get this trip to New York over and then we can look forward to the future. Thanks again Horatio."

Ten minutes later, now 5:30 pm and with goodbyes ringing in his ears Ivan was on his way to pick Suzie and Madison up and later that night to book his trip to New York. He did have one other question he had meant to ask Horatio but would ask Michael Hayes now when he arrived in New York.

In the meantime Horatio updated Aileen on why Ivan had called in the first place, and she said, "I hope all goes well for him in New York, he is such a nice man Horatio."

"That he is Sweetheart," said Horatio giving her a hug.

Later that night lying in bed with Horatio's arms wrapped around her she said, "Horatio, it's not really any of my business, but I keep thinking it would be lovely if one day Ivan and Suzie are able to have a baby and if so, I hope they have a son. It would be wonderful for Ivan to be able to have a son to carry on his family name. I think that would go some way to help his healing. He so loved the family he has lost."

"I think you are right Sweetheart."

"Horatio if we had had a boy what you have wanted to name him?"

Aileen turning in his arms and now facing him saw a bemused look on his face as he asked, "You're not pregnant are you?"

Aileen laughed, "No Horatio, have no fear, I guess it is talking about babies got me thinking."

"Well I would not have named a son after my father for certain. I never utter that mans name or ever will...but if say we had known your father back then I would have liked to name him Daniel...Daniel Caine, has a nice ring about it don't you think? I have always liked the name Daniel as it happens."

"That is a lovely thought Horatio, but I would have wanted him to have your name as well so let's say Daniel Horatio Caine and that sounds even better."

Horatio chuckled then and asked, "Are you sure you're not pregnant?"

Teasing him Aileen asked, "Would you mind if I was?"

"No, but we agreed our family is big enough, and our ages are against us now, well mine in particular."

"I'm just teasing you Horatio," said Aileen as she caressed his face, and then added with one of her seductive looks, "But I do like the sex that could produce one."

Horatio now had a wicked glint in his eyes as running his hands all over her body, he said. "You can be quite evil Aileen Caine." After catching her lips with his, he added, "But I so love you." Then he gasped with pleasure, as Aileen pushed his night pants down and proceeded to excite him."

An hour later, both asleep, Horatio dreamt of babies all around him, but they were not his they were all Kyle's and he was a Grandad. He remembered it the next morning and telling Aileen they both had a chuckle about it, but Aileen was quietly thinking how nice it would be if he was a Grandad one day...then she smiled as she thought maybe Kyle would oblige sometime in the future.

Three days later, Tuesday 27th January, Ivan arrived at JFK airport his flight landing at 3:30 pm. He was met by Michael Hayes as arranged, and by 4:15 pm they were on the road making their way back to Michael's apartment, and on route Michael informed Ivan, that his wife, knew his story, and was looking forward to meeting him.

When Michael parked on his drive some forty minutes later, he pointed out that the apartment next door was Aileen and Horatio's. Ivan knew it was next door as Madison had told him a lot about how things were situated here and how well all the friends in New York got on with each other. But it was nice for him to see where Madison had actually been staying when she came here on vacation with Horatio and his family last July. As they stepped out of the car Maeve opened the front door and as they walked towards her Michael said, "Maeve, this is Ivan."

Maeve smiled and was thinking that Ivan was certainly a well built man and handsome in a rugged way. "Welcome to our home Ivan, it is really nice to meet you. I hope you will feel comfortable with us during your stay."

"Thank you Mrs Hayes, I really appreciate your kindness in letting me stay with you for a few days."

"Our pleasure Ivan, and from now on please call me Maeve."

"Okay Maeve, thank you."

Then once they all entered the apartment Maeve showed him to the bedroom he would be using which had an en suite shower, and she left him in peace for a while, assuming he would want some after traveling. He had a shower, changed his clothes, unpacked a few things, he was traveling light, so not much to sort out, and then made his way tentatively to the kitchen where he heard voices and politely tapped on the door that was ajar letting them know he was around.

"Come in Ivan and sit yourself down," said Michael. "We are eating in here this evening, we often do, and dinner is almost ready to be served. Hope you like steak, most of us men do so Maeve thought this would be safe for dinner this evening. She is dishing up close to well done but not overdone. Is this okay with you?"

Ivan nodded his head, and sitting down now and looking at Maeve and giving her a nice smile Ivan said, "I love steak, my favorite meal in fact." Then as Maeve placed a plate of steak and trimmings in front of him he added, "It looks and smells wonderful."

Michael poured them each a glass of red wine which having stood to breathe for a while was just at the right room temperature. They made small talk between them while eating and when they were finished Ivan sat back and said, "My compliments Maeve; that was absolutely delicious. You know how to cook a steak to perfection."

"That's why I married her Ivan," said, Michael cheekily with his tongue in his cheek.

"Oh, I think there are many more reasons why you married this beautiful lady Michael," said Ivan giving Maeve a warm smile, which she returned as she responded, "Thank you Ivan, you can come here anytime you like."

Two hours later Ivan was sitting in an armchair in the lounge, feeling relaxed and comfortable. Michael and Maeve were making him feel most welcome and right now they were enjoying coffees, when Maeve asked him, "How are Suzie and Madison?"

"Suzie is dong very well, surprisingly well now. It wasn't easy for her the first three months, she had some horrific nightmares, she blamed herself for Malcolm Trent's death and all I could do on those occasions was to lay with her enfolded in my arms and speak to her soothingly letting her know she could lean on me. She wasn't deliberately to blame of course, but I understood why she felt like that."

"I still like to think of him as Andre though, his undercover name; I am convinced that the friendliness he and I shared was not all him just playing a game. To this day, I think we could have become good friends in different circumstances. He was damned good you know; none of us suspected him of being anything other than a port co worker."

"Anyway, Suzie was very brave after the attack regarding her own injuries, she never complained about her own pain, she was more worried about everyone else, and mostly about Madison of course. But all is really good now; in fact Suzie is looking more beautiful every day. She is fully fit now and looking forward to our future, so life is good; I just needed to come here to clear the air with regard to my own demons still niggling me a bit before we get married."

"And on top of all that Madison has recently agreed to let me adopt her." Then chuckling he added, "I know she gave Horatio a hard time about wanting her surname to be Caine when she was here last July. But he is happy and at the weekend kindly gave me his approval."

Maeve laughed, and said, "Yes she did...we were with them that evening and she was abetted by young Tommy who couldn't understand why her name couldn't be changed, because his had but that was by virtue of Horatio adopting him. Horatio did a good job that evening trying to be totally honest with her about the law and her options."

Then Michael spoke up. "I have some news for you Ivan that I hope will be of help to you, before you go to the cemetery tomorrow."

TBC