Chapter 58: A Tangled Mess

November 9, 1985, McKinley, Ohio

"How does that work?" I asked, immediately understanding the potential implications.

"She just had to fill out a form at the County Clerk's office. She has a hearing in three weeks. Supposedly, all she has to do is claim she was pressured, and the judge will annul the marriage."

"Does your dad know?"

"I don't think so."

"If the judge rules she was pressured, it's going to cause big problems for him. He should know."

"I really don't want to be involved," Tasha sighed. "Nik agrees it's better to stay out of it."

"I think I have to talk to Father Nicholas about this, now that you've told me."

"Whatever you think is best, Father Deacon."

Her response made it clear that was the goal she had in mind in telling me.

"Let me do that tonight," I said. "He's hearing confessions, so I'll have to wait. See you tomorrow?"

"Yes."

Tasha and Nik said 'good night' and left the church, while Elizaveta and I went to sit on a bench at the back of the nave to wait for Father Nicholas to hear several confessions. About twenty minutes later, he finished, and came to where Elizaveta and I were sitting.

"Deacon, did you or Elizaveta want me to hear your confessions?" he asked.

"No, Father," I replied. "I learned something which I need to share with you. According to Tasha Antipova, her sister Sasha filed for an annulment yesterday, claiming that Father Deacon Vasily pressured or forced her to marry."

"Lord have mercy!" Father Nicholas exclaimed. "Did Tasha say anything more?"

I shook my head, "No, but she also doesn't believe her father knows, and Nik very much wants her to stay out of it, which, I suspect, is why she told me."

"Knowing that you would have to tell me or His Grace."

"I'm assuming that was her intent. I probably should tell you something else I heard, which I understand is not my business — Father Herman may have asked for reassignment."

Father Nicholas sighed, "Given everything that's happened in that parish, I could understand a request of that nature, but I haven't heard anything, which doesn't surprise me. A request of that nature would be very private, and subject to a very lengthy process with the bishop."

"May I ask what you're going to do?"

"That's a good question, really. Do you think Sasha was forced to marry Yaroslav?"

"Forced? No. Pressured? I suppose that depends on how you look at it. I'm sure she felt pressured simply by the situation; whether there was active pressure from her parents, I can't say. Tasha mostly tried to stay out of it, too."

"Which is probably best for her. I think, at this point, the best course of action is for me to call Father Herman."

"Do I have any obligation to report this to the bishop?"

"No. It's up to Father Herman or me at this point."

"Thanks. We'll see you in the morning, then."

We asked for Father's blessing, and once we'd received it, we left the church.

"I'm surprised you mentioned the thing Tasha said about Father Herman," Elizaveta said as I pulled out of the church parking lot.

"Given what's likely to happen with Tasha's dad, I felt Father needed to know the rumor."

"What do you mean?"

"Think about what has to happen if the court rules that Sasha's parents forced her to get married and annuls the marriage?"

"Whoa!" Elizaveta gasped.

"Yeah, and if Father Herman is leaving, and Deacon Vasily is deposed, things are going from bad to worse. They'd have to assign a new priest, and sending a just-graduated seminarian into a situation like that would be nightmarish. In a situation like that, the bishop might consider ordaining Deacon Vasily, but if he can't somehow make the problem with Sasha go away, he'll be lucky to stay a deacon."

"That's just terrible!"

"I agree. That parish is going to be in turmoil for a long time due to all the things that have happened. The bishop is going to have to work hard to restore it to some kind of peacefulness."

"There's more than just your parents and Sasha, isn't there?"

"I get that drift, yes, but it's not any of my business unless the bishop or one of the priests makes it my business. And I certainly have enough to worry about on my own."

"We don't really have any concerns in our parish, right? Well, there's Vickie, but her parents have really stepped up."

"I'm glad to hear that. I've basically stayed out of that because you and your friends were helping Vickie, and Father was working with her parents. You know, I haven't asked you, but how are things going at school? I mean, besides your grades, which you tell me about."

"You mean my friends? It's funny because they all know I know everything about sex, but I'm careful about what I tell them because I don't want to encourage them."

"Is that all teenage girls talk about?" I asked.

"No!" Elizaveta replied, laughing softly. "Makeup, clothes, boys, and music; usually in that order."

"And the cheerleader?"

"Given I've lost four pounds since we started running, there's not much she can say!"

"And the claim about an abortion?"

"Nobody believed her, and she pretty much dropped it. She's still her usual bitchy self, but she doesn't bother my friends and me."

"Good!"

"When we get home, would you like me to demonstrate how much I know about sex?"

"I would!"

"Then drive faster!"

November 10, 1985, McKinley, Ohio

"I spoke with Father Herman last night," Father Nicholas said when we went into the vestry after saying our entrance prayers. "He wasn't aware, and he's positive Deacon Vasily isn't aware. I didn't realize, but after speaking to Mrs. Malenkov on the phone last night, a minor can file the papers on their own behalf without a lawyer or informing their parents. That's apparently what Sasha did, but obviously, nobody knows for sure because nobody has seen the papers."

"Sasha is eighteen," I countered.

"I wasn't sure, but when I spoke to Mrs. Malenkov, she said a minor had until age 20 to make the claim. After that, she would need a divorce."

"This isn't going to end well, is it?"

"No, it's not. According to Mrs. Malenkov, Sasha could voluntarily withdraw the petition, but I'm going to take a wild guess and say that's not going to happen. That means her dad will have to appear at the hearing and answer the accusation. The thing is, her word carries tremendous weight, so it's very likely the marriage will be annulled on the grounds she stated."

"What happens with Vika? I'm pretty sure Yaroslav adopted her, and Tasha told me that Timmy gave up parental rights. And, for that matter, Sasha? Living with her parents is going to be difficult after this."

"I share your concerns, Deacon, and I think we just have to see how this plays out. Father Herman is aware, and promised to speak to Deacon Vasily and the bishop today. I'll speak with Tasha as well, but if Nik is advising her not to put herself in the middle of this, I have to defer to his judgment on what is best for his family."

"I had considered speaking to Deacon Vasily, but I wasn't sure that was a good idea."

"As a brother clergyman, you should offer your support, certainly, and help him if he requests it, but obviously only within whatever boundaries you set. I'd wait until perhaps tomorrow before contacting him, if you're so inclined."

"I'll probably do that."

"Did you see your dad yesterday?"

"Yes, I did, and we're going to have dinner either this week or next. Holly was with him, so I was very careful about what I said. She was very obviously uncomfortable."

"I can imagine. Will it be just you and your dad?"

"Yes. Elizaveta will get together with her friends."

"Good."

We finished vesting, then began the morning services with the Proskomide, finishing the morning four hours later when the Divine Liturgy concluded. While Father Nicholas made announcements, I consumed the remaining Eucharist from the chalice, cleaned it, replaced all the coverings, then joined the congregation for lunch before teaching Sunday school, and, finally, attending the Parish Council meeting.

My proposal was well-received, and the brief conversation I'd had with Doctor Evgeni at lunch had confirmed his willingness to lead the hospital ministry. It would take some time to get it going, including coördinating with the other 'liturgical' churches in McKinley — Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Episcopalian, with all of which the Orthodox Church in America had fairly good relations.

When the meeting finished, I rode home with Viktor, and Elizaveta and I had a quiet hour together before our Dinner Club gathered. The main topics of conversation were Tasha's pregnancy, Mark and Alyssa's upcoming marriage, and Elias and Serafima's acceptance to Taft and their choices of majors. Tasha avoided talking about her sister or her dad, and I was happy to not discuss my family.

After our meal, our guests left and Elizaveta and I quickly cleaned up and set out snacks, and my study partners arrived.

November 14, 1985, Rutherford and McKinley, Ohio

"Hi, Dad," I said when I sat down across from him in a booth at Lou's on Thursday evening.

I'd checked with Liz and was very glad she had the night off. Had that not been the case, I'd have suggested a different place to eat.

"Hi, Mike," Dad replied. "How are you?"

"Mentally exhausted, but otherwise OK."

"I remember some of my engineering courses being bears, but nothing like what you're going through. I take it your grades are good?"

"Everything is pass/fail, so the only thing you can do is earn honors, and I should have enough points in all of my classes for honors in all of them."

"I'm not surprised by that; you were always a very good student. How are your weekly observation sessions going?"

I decided it wasn't worth saying anything about being transferred. The less anyone knew, and the less that was said about what had happened, the better.

"Fine," I replied. "My ER observation ended, and now I'm in Pediatrics at the hospital."

The waitress came to take our orders, then went to put them in with the kitchen.

"How long do those go on?" he asked when the waitress had walked away.

"Until the Summer after my second year. At that point, we'll start Clerkships and Sub-Internships, which is when I actually start doing simple procedures like inserting IVs, suturing, and so on. That makes up the last two years of school, with some classwork, but mostly practical training."

"How are things at home?"

I smiled, "Elizaveta and I are very happy together. She's a wonderful young woman, and I'm lucky to have her."

"I suppose you think I'm a hypocrite," Dad said quietly.

"I'm in no position to judge," I replied. "No matter what else happened or happens, you're my dad, and I love you. I'm here to spend time with you, to have dinner, and to try to repair our relationship. Nothing else really matters."

Dad nodded, "Which is exactly what you did with Liz, and I condemned you for it."

"What's in the past is in the past. All we can do now is learn from what happened and move forward."

"I honestly don't understand how you can do that."

I smiled, "I honestly don't want this to become a theology discussion, but after confession, we're told to have no further care for the sins which we've committed. If God doesn't remember them, why should we? And please don't answer that; just understand that's how I do it. Let's change the subject, please. What projects do you have for the Spring?"

"I'm evaluating a proposal for a new strip mall in Rutherford, working with a manufacturing company that wants to build a plant just outside of the city limits, and a developer who's about to buy some farmland between Rutherford and West Monroe to build a subdivision. Plus, all the usual inspections and permit reviews. During the Winter, most of what I do is paperwork because there isn't much construction from mid-November to mid-March."

"I take it everything else has calmed down?"

"You mean the investigations? As far as I can tell, but you know the County Prosecutor — if he can find something to pin on you, he will."

"I remember what happened the Summer after I graduated. Fortunately, the Harding County Sheriff and his deputies aren't like that. The McKinley police, on the other hand..."

"They gave your black friends some real grief, didn't they?"

"Yes, they did."

"Have you had any more trouble with anyone in McKinley?"

I shook my head, "Not to speak of. Dean Parker is rumored to have taken a job in Chicago, and otherwise, there's really nobody there to give me grief about anything."

"How is your mother?"

"She's doing fine. I don't remember if I told you that she's moving in with Liz and Paul next month, as planned. Liz is doing well in school, and she's happy. The motel is also doing well."

"How are you adjusting to being a deacon?"

I shrugged, "Other than wearing my cassock when I'm out, not much has changed outside of the altar. Well, I have to attend the Parish Council meetings but those are fairly boring affairs, really. Everything else I was already doing."

"And Elizaveta is doing OK in school?"

"Straight A's," I replied. "May I ask where Holly works? Or is she going to college?"

"She works for an insurance agent as his office clerk. She's going to start studying for her insurance license in the Spring."

The waitress brought our food and Dad sat quietly while I gave the blessing, but didn't respond with 'Amen' when I finished. I let it go because I wanted to keep things friendly, and there was nothing to be gained by making a point about it. We ate, talking only briefly, and when we finished our meal, we declined dessert.

"Thanks for having dinner with me," I said as we got up from the booth.

"I feel like I should be saying that to you," my dad replied.

"I love you, Dad. Nothing is going to change that."

"I love you, too, Mike, even if I don't always show it."

We hugged, which was something we hadn't done in a long, long time, then left the restaurant. I got into my car and headed back to McKinley. Elizaveta wasn't home, so I put on Standing on the Edge by Cheap Trick, pulled out my anatomy text, atlas, and plates, and studied the abdomen for about an hour until Elizaveta arrived home.

"How was your dinner?" she asked after we'd exchanged a kiss.

"Fine. We talked about work, school, and that kind of thing. My goal, as I said, was just to keep the lines of communication open, work on restoring some kind of relationship, and let him know that I love him. I'll call him in a week or two and arrange for another dinner. At some point, we'll both go, and I'll ask him to invite Holly."

"How weird would it be to have a stepmom younger than you?"

"Very, but I don't get that impression from my dad."

"So it's just an affair? A mid-life crisis, or whatever they call it?"

"This is going to sound weird, but I think my dad is punishing himself for what he perceives as all of his failures."

"Punishing himself by having an affair?"

"As strange as it seems, yes. He decided he was a terrible father, a terrible husband, and a terrible Christian, and he did the one thing that would not only wreck his family but prove that he's reprobate. I'm not saying he did it consciously, but once he decided he was going to Hell, everything just spiraled out of control. He has no hope, and as such, thinks he was harmful to me and Mom, and probably Liz, too."

"I just don't understand how he can think that way. I mean, I know you explained Calvinism in Sunday School, but how anyone can think that way is beyond me."

"Calvin was a lawyer, and it's no surprise that he took a very legalistic view of salvation. Calvin's God demands justice, in the legal sense, and makes justice supreme. We, on the other hand, make love supreme. That's the point my mom made to me when I was struggling with my sinful behavior."

"And that allowed you to continue to sin and not worry about it?"

"I was always worried about it, but I ignored my conscience and the admonitions of the priests."

"I'm curious; what would you tell our kids?"

"The same thing my mom told me — that God loves me."

"You talked to your mom about having sex?"

"Jocelyn and I didn't hide the fact that we were going to Cincinnati together. But everyone thought we were going to marry, including both of us. After the accident, when everything fell apart, I asked my mom about it."

"I don't think I could ever talk to my mom about something like that!"

"It was about faith, not about sex," I replied. "How was your evening with your friends?"

"Great! We had pizza and ice cream, then went to Johanna's house to listen to music."

"Want to turn on the TV, listen to music, or fool around?"

"Duh!" Elizaveta exclaimed.

November 15, 1985, McKinley, Ohio

On Friday morning, Elizaveta and I were up even earlier than usual so that we could attend the Divine Liturgy for the beginning of the Nativity Fast. There would be just enough time for Elizaveta to get to school if she left immediately following the service, and I could get to school even with my duties at the end of the Liturgy, but I'd lose my morning study time.

"Made it just in time!" Clarissa declared when we met in the parking lot of the medical school.

"I couldn't very well miss the liturgy this morning. Maryam should have already arrived, as she could leave the church before I was able to."

"Of course you couldn't! So, fasting until Christmas, right?"

"Yes."

"How did things go with your dad last night?"

"Exactly as I had hoped. We talked but mostly stayed away from the issue of Holly. Elizaveta actually asked me what I thought of a stepmom who was younger than I am!"

Clarissa laughed, "Now that would be weird!"

"As I told her, I don't think that's going to happen. I think this is all bound up in my dad's worldview and everything that happened for the past four years."

"You think he'll get it out of his system, so to speak?"

"Yes, though don't ask me how long it will take or what will happen when he does."

"And you're going to handle it the same way you did Liz, obviously. What will your mom say?"

"I think she learned from what happened that forcing me to decide wouldn't work out very well for her. I think, perhaps, we have peace. At least for the moment."

"What drama are you expecting now, Petrovich?"

I chuckled, "My mom and Liz living together."