Page 25 of Beaten

“Because we don’t even know this woman. And you expect us to just be ok with you getting married?”

“Did you think I would remain single all my life?”

“No,” she grumbles, looking away from me, her arms crossed. So much attitude in such a small package.

“We just weren’t expecting this,” Nina says, the calmer of the two of them.

“Neither was I,” Maria adds. “Alek, are you thinking straight? How did you… meet Dimitri’s sister?” She flicks her eyes at her daughters, not wanting them to know the full truth. Because Maria knows I took Katya illegally and she doesn’t want to ruin my reputation with her daughters.

“We just did,” I say pointedly. “No need to know all the details. Now, Katya and I are going to get married.”

“How long have you known her for?” Susanna asks.

“A day.”

She blinks before she scoffs. “A day? Are you being for real? You’re going to marry a woman you’ve only known for a day?”

“When you know, you know. And I know Katya is going to be my wife. End of discussion. I didn’t come here to get your approval. I came here to share the news with all of you.”

Maria places her hand over her chest. “It’s just a surprise is all.”

“I’m sure it is. But Katya will be my wife and I need you three on board. Once we’re married, she’ll be coming around more and you’ll be coming over more as well. Katya is only a few years older than you two are. I thought you could become friends.”

Susanna wrinkles her nose. “You’re marrying someone only a few years older than us? But aren’t you my mom’s age?”

“No. I’m much younger than your mom. I’m thirty-eight. Your mom is fifty-five.”

“And how old is… Katya?” Nina asks, hesitating on her name.

“She’s twenty-one.”

“That’s disgusting,” Susanna blurts out.

“Susanna,” Maria scolds but Susanna isn’t listening. She’s never been one for listening.

“How is it disgusting?” I ask.

“Because she’s so much younger than you. Why would you marry someone like that? Someone who likes old men?”

“I’m not old,” I say, trying not to get offended. “It’s just that you’re so young. You don’t realize that these things don’t matter when you get older. Yes, Katya is younger than me. But she is an adult, just like I am. And I am going to marry her. And I want you girls on board.”

“I’m not sure…” Nina says while Susanna gives me a flat look and point blank says, “No.”

I raise an eyebrow. “No?”

“No.”

“No? You can’t just say no without an explanation.”

“No, I am not ok with any of this. You meet this girl just yesterday –,”

“Today actually.”

Susanna blinks. “Fine.Today. And now you’re going to marry her? How are we supposed to be ok with this? You’ve been a father to us for years now. Is she going to be a new mommy to us?”

“No. You have your mother. No one is going to replace Maria.”

“So why don’t you just marry our mom then?”