December 26, 1991
"Yesterday was a day of great historical significance for the country formerly known as the Soviet Union," the newscaster announced. Erica sat in her recliner watching the evening news while Toni and Sonya played hide and seek.
"Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev resigned, declaring his office extinct and handing over the Soviet nuclear missile launching codes to Russian President Boris Yeltsin. At 7:32 PM yesterday evening, the Soviet flag was lowered from the Kremlin for the last time and was replaced with the Russian tricolor, thus bringing an end to the Cold War."
"What's that mean, Mommy?" asked Toni.
"That means that your Daddy's country and this country aren't enemies anymore."
"Does that mean Daddy can come back home now?"
"I sure hope so, sweetheart."
One Saturday afternoon a couple of months later, Erica was cleaning the bathroom when Toni called to her. "Mommy! Daddy's here!"
"I don't think so, sweetie." After all this time, how could it be? With her heart in her throat, she dashed to the door.
Although he was a bit thinner than she remembered, and he had a beard now, she knew that it was him as soon as she saw him. There was no mistaking those green eyes. She flung the door open, and the next instant, she was in his arms.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Toni shouted excitedly. He let go of Erica and picked the little girl up and hugged her tightly. "I told Mommy it was you!" she cried triumphantly.
Yuri chuckled. "She did not believe you, no?"
"How'd you ever get here?" asked Erica.
"My country's new president let me and the others go. I work and save up money for airplane ticket. No longer have to have exit visa."
"So you were in prison all this time?"
"Yes, but it is all right. I am free man now, will be free man from now on."
"Where's Sonya?" Erica looked around for her younger daughter, but there was no trace of her anywhere. "Sonya!" Erica searched all throughout the house and finally found the little girl underneath her bed, crying.
"Sonya? It's OK, sweetheart. Your Daddy's here!"
"Daddy?" Sonya stopped crying and stared at her mother with round eyes.
Slowly Sonya crawled out from her hiding place and stared up at Yuri.
"Come here, malenkaya." Yuri held his arms out, and Sonya slowly went into them. Yuri hugged her and kissed her cheek. "You were little baby the last time I saw you."
"Are you all right, Yuri? Did they hurt you?" Erica asked anxiously.
"I am all right. They did not hurt me very much. It is long story. I will tell you later."
The family went back to the living room. Yuri sat on the sofa with one daughter on each knee and Erica beside him as he looked around.
"It is nice home you have here. So it is just you and two girls all these years? You take care of them all by yourself?" Yuri sounded impressed.
"My friends helped me a lot," Erica said modestly.
'You are wonderful woman, Erica." He kissed her lips as Toni giggled happily. "So you have job now?"
"I've been working at a bank since I got here. I wrote to you a bunch of times, Yuri. Did you ever get any of my letters?"
"I was allowed no contact with outside world at all."
"You mean you couldn't even see your family?"
"That is what I mean."
"Oh, Yuri, that's terrible!"
He gave her a quick hug. "It is all right, Erica. No need to feel sorry for me. I have my family back now, and I am happy man."
He turned to Toni. "You are big girl now, Tonika. You go to school?"
Toni nodded enthusiastically. "I'm in first grade. My teacher's name is Mrs. Morrison."
"I am so proud of my big girl!"
They talked and laughed and hugged until, to Erica's astonishment, it was way past dinnertime. She hastily threw together a meal, then got the girls ready for bed.
"I want Daddy to read my bedtime story!" Toni announced. So Yuri read stories to both girls while Erica took a shower and settled into bed to wait for him.
At last he entered the bedroom. He'd shaved the beard off so looked much more like himself now. He came to the bed with a towel wrapped around his waist, and he and Erica began to kiss. She lay back on the bed and pulled him on top of herself, feeling the towel slip away.
Her searching fingers soon found his manhood, fondling it until it was hard while he massaged her breasts. She rolled him over and onto his back, then kissed her way down his body until she reached his hardness. He gasped raggedly as she slipped it all the way into her mouth, lovingly suckling him with three years of pent-up passion.
"That is enough," Yuri finally said softly, raising her head. "Now it is your turn."
Erica was over the edge almost immediately as his tongue touched her most intimate spot. She moaned and grasped the sheets, arching her back. Whimpering noises escaped her mouth as he continued his ministrations.
At last he changed position and entered her, and she clung to his back as she begged him not to stop. When it was over, they lay in one another's arms, drowsy and content.
"Oh God, Yuri, it's just so good to have you back." Erica softly cried tears of happiness.
"Darling Erica, do not cry." Gently he kissed her tears away as her hand reached to softly caress his hair.
"Tell me the truth, Yuri," she said at last. "Did they torture you?"
Yuri sighed heavily. "They want to know why I stay in Canada when I am ordered to return home. I tell them I have wife and child and I will not abandon them. They say that my duty to my country is more important than wife and child. They keep me in tiny cell with many other men. There is not enough food, and sometimes there is no food at all. In the day they make us work very hard, and at night we lie crammed together like sardines. It is very hard life, but what hurt worst is missing you and girls, wondering if you are all right and safe."
"Jed and Matt smuggled us out of the Soviet Union a few months after you disappeared," said Erica. "We've been here in San Diego since then."
"I am glad," said Yuri. "I would not want you to have to stay there all alone."
"I love you, Yuri." She yawned.
"I love you too, Erica." He chuckled and brushed the hair back from her eyes. "Now, get some sleep."
Both of them were asleep within seconds.