Reunited After 25 Years 41

"Was she really?" asked Andrea.

"Oh, yes!" Anton exclaimed. "Nadya, she was a...how do you say it? A riot! We could always count on her for a good laugh."

"I suppose I'm the serious one," Andrea muttered.

"That is all right." Anton began to kiss his wife's neck. "It is nice to be funny sometimes, but it is also nice to be serious sometimes too." His mouth covered her own, and their tongues danced together. Without ending the kiss, his hands clasped her rump on both sides, and her legs went up to encircle his thighs. He carried her into the bedroom that way and gently laid her down on the bed, where he began to remove her clothing.

"Hey, that tickles!" she giggled as his lips gently swept over her abdomen. A moment later she gave a gasp of pleasure as they found their target between her legs.

Darya's former boss' trial for attempted rape was a few days later. Anton and Andrea went to the courthouse as well for moral support, as they knew she had to testify that day. Anton clasped his wife's hand tightly as his daughter, immaculately dressed in a grey dress and black heels, stepped up to the witness stand. To Andrea she looked a bit pale but very dignified. She glanced over to Denny and Fawn, sitting together and watching intently.

Darya answered all the questions asked of her calmly and clearly and refused to allow the defense attorney to intimidate her. Andrea glanced at Anton and saw his face redden in anger as the man deliberately used obscure, rarely-heard English words in an attempt to confuse the young woman. She was glad to see that Darya was able to keep her composure, calmly asking for clarification when necessary.

As it turned out, the testimony of Darya and the other witnesses was enough to get her former employer convicted of one count of attempted rape and two counts of sexual harassment.

After court was adjourned, Darya embraced Denny fiercely, then turned to Anton. "Oh, Papa," she sighed as he enfolded her in his arms.

"I am so very proud of you," Anton told her. "You did just as good a job as the other girls did, and they were both born in the U.S.A."

"I think she did a better job," Andrea said with a smile.

"You're absolutely right, Mom," Denny interjected. "She did do a better job. She was the absolute best. Are you ready to go home and celebrate, babe?"

He winked at Darya, and she grinned knowingly at him.

The county fair came to Gloucester in October. Anton and Andrea braved the crowds to visit the exhibits and go on the rides. Anton won a lavender teddy bear for Andrea by throwing darts at balloons. There were other colors for her to choose from, but lavender was her favorite.

They went to the livestock exhibit and the petting zoo. Anton told Andrea about visiting his Uncle Boris and Aunt Sonya's farm as a child. "You have never seen a newborn pig, have you?"

Andrea shook her head.

"I have held one in my hands." He laughed. "It looks a lot like a naked pink rat with curly tail and a snout. Very cute."

"Oh, that sounds adorable!"

They rode the Himalaya, the Sizzler, and the roller coaster.

"Tonight I'm actually glad I'm not pregnant yet," Andrea told her husband. "If I were, I couldn't go on these wild rides with you."

They ate corn dogs and cotton candy and went on the double Ferris wheel. Anton put his arm around Andrea, and she rested her head on his shoulder.

"This is so romantic," she sighed. "Don't you think so, Anton?"

"Da." He hugged her and kissed the top of her head, and she raised her lips to meet his.

"Maybe this time next year, we'll have a baby."

"Perhaps." Their seat rocked gently as the wheel rotated.