Chapter 73: Refining Relationships

January 18, 1988, McKinley, Ohio

I’d had a pleasant dinner and evening with Maryam, and just after she’d left, Subdeacon Mark and Alyssa had come to the house to stay with Rachel. I’d gone to the hospital and had been non-stop busy from the moment I walked into the ward, with four overnight consults which kept me from getting any sleep.

“You look beat, Mike,” Nurse Julie said on Monday morning when I had finished suturing a seven-year-old boy’s arm and sent him and his parents to Patient Services.

“You weren’t on last night,” I said. “Four pediatric consults and the Emergency Department was slammed.”

“It was a new moon last night, not a full moon!” Julie protested.

“You realize that’s confirmation bias, right?” I asked lightly.

“Meaning?”

“That there’s no correlation, but your mind works such that you remember what happens on those days, and you assign meaning to it that can’t be backed up with statistics, the way post-Thanksgiving coronary visits or stress-related ailments around Christmas can be.”

“Well, it’s fun to think about! Could I ask you a question?”

“Certainly.”

“Are you dating?”

“You’re married!” I protested with a smirk.

“Not me, you dope!” she replied with a soft laugh that was almost a giggle. “Though if I was inclined to cheat, I think Ellie is correct in her assessment!”

“Ellie can keep her assessments to herself, along with her assets!”

“And her ass?” Julie asked with a smirk.

“That, too. Why are you asking?”

“Would you answer first?”

“I am, though I’m keeping things casual at the moment. I’m still working through what happened with Elizaveta.”

“I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how shocked we all were. I’ve been an ER nurse for nearly ten years and it shocked me, which is saying something, given some of the tragedies I’ve seen, like with the two-year-old last week.”

I’d learned his name was Carl, and fortunately, he had an aunt and uncle who could take him in, and they had two kids who were one and two years older. It was probably the best outcome I could hope for in such a terrible tragedy.

“That was rough,” I said, “though the accident where teens who drove in front of the train has to be my worst.”

“Mine was a fire about seven years ago, with three patients horribly burned, one of whom was a baby. None of them made it through forty-eight hours.”

“Burns are the worst,” I agreed. “So, why are you asking?”

“Tami, of course,” Julie replied. “She asked if you were ‘spoken for’ and I explained what had happened as best I was able. I suspect she’d accept an invitation to have coffee.”

“How long is she working in the ED?” I asked.

“Through the end of March, why?”

“If I’m going to ask, it would be better next month when I’m doing my psych rotation, if our hours line up. Then it could be in the cafeteria, which keeps it totally casual.”

“What should I tell her?”

I smiled, “That she’s free to ask me to have coffee when she sees me in February.”

“Will do. Ellie will be jealous!”

“Ellie needs a hobby!” I chuckled.

“She has one!” Julie smirked.

She did, of course, and it was bedding doctors and medical students!

“True! I’m going upstairs for rounds. I will be very happy when this shift ends.”

I went back upstairs, just in time for morning rounds, then got breakfast, and did the usual scut until the end of my shift. I headed home, explained to Lara what had happened, then went upstairs and collapsed into bed.

January 20, 1988, McKinley, Ohio

“Thanks for inviting us to dinner,” Clarissa said when she and Tessa arrived at the house late on Wednesday afternoon.

“You’re welcome! Lara is putting the finishing touches on dinner, and Rachel is keeping her company.”

“Women in the kitchen?” Tessa teased. “How enlightened!”

“Barefoot and pregnant works for me,” I chuckled. “Though totally bare and pregnant is better!”

“You’re one of those guys who finds pregnant women sexy?” Tessa asked.

“I certainly found Elizaveta to be sexy when she was pregnant.”

“As if there was a time when you didn’t?” Clarissa asked.

“There is that,” I chuckled.

Five minutes later, we all sat down to eat, and after I prayed, everyone dug into the creamy mac and cheese Lara had made.

“When do you start teaching, Lara?” Clarissa asked.

“I report on August 17th. The first day of class is the 29th.”

“Math?”

“Yes, but I also have a current events class. I student teach until December, and then, in theory, get hired full time. As I told Mike, I’ll apply to Hayes County, Harding County, and the Parochial school at the Catholic church. If there’s some reason none of those work out, I’ll look to surrounding counties and act as a substitute. But one of the math teachers at Hayes County High is retiring after this year, so there’s at least one spot, even if I have to sub during the Spring.”

“What are you doing then, Mike?” Tessa asked.

“I’ll make use of the hospital daycare, my in-laws, and Rachel’s godparents. There are others who can fill in if necessary.”

“You have a very good team assembled,” Tessa observed, “and it’s clear that you dote on your daughter.”

“Wait until she’s fifteen and wants to date,” Clarissa teased. “And speaking of dates, how did things go on Sunday?”

“Dani and I are having lunch again next Sunday. Her grandmother told her she was to marry me and have five kids!”

“You Russians are nuts!” Tessa declared.

“She’s Serbian!” I declared.

“Whatever! So, Slavic then!”

“Compared to Irish Catholics?” I asked with a grin. “Father Clifton told me about an Irish family in his parish who had eight kids! Dani said five seemed extreme and three was reasonable.”

“I meant the ‘told her to marry’ part, not the kids part! I have four younger sisters!”

“Your poor dad is drowning in estrogen!”

“He traveled a lot on business when we were teenagers. He said it kept him from going prematurely grey!”

“What does he do?”

“He’s a patent attorney in Boston. He’s considering a move to California because the San Francisco Bay Area has eclipsed the Route 128 Corridor near Boston.”

“My friend Katy is at Stanford and is going to stay there and work for a computer company. Another friend is planning to get a job there when she graduates from Taft. Are you from Boston?”

“Yes. I didn’t want to go to college and my cousin invited me to live with her and got me the job with police dispatch. I was never thrilled with the city, and McKinley is way more my speed.”

“My visit to Chicago and big cities in Europe confirmed that I belong here.”

“Petrovich being here confirmed I belong here!” Clarissa declared.

“What she said!” Lara declared. “He’s an awesome friend.”

“Friend?” Tessa asked, sounding skeptical. “I thought you two were, well, looking towards the future.”

“We are,” Lara said. “We discussed the future, and we both concluded we’re better off as friends than as a married couple. I think Clarissa can relate.”

“I can,” Clarissa replied. “Mike needs someone who is as deeply faithful and spiritual as he is, because his current struggles really are temporary.”

“Easy for you to say, Lissa,” I replied.

“Come on, Petrovich. You know this is temporary, and you’re no longer a deacon, so you can basically ignore the bullshit. Isn’t Tasha the main source of problems right now? At both parishes? Well, and the jackass who’s ‘treating’ Angie.”

“Yes. I felt more at peace last Sunday than I have in several months.”

“Temporary, as I said. And you know that. Don’t get down now, when you’re making such good progress.”

“You’re right, Lissa. As usual.”

“And I’m not even Russian!” she declared, causing everyone, including her, to laugh.

We finished dinner, then spent a few hours chatting before Tessa and Clarissa left, and Lara and I went up to bed.

January 21, 1988, McKinley, Ohio

On Thursday, Antonne came for lunch and to have a mentoring session. He’d started a small study group with two other pre-med students, so I offered advice on studying and lab reports. He let me know that his mom had spoken to Viktor, and they were going to speak again. I made a mental note to speak to Viktor about it when I dropped Rachel at the house on Saturday.

Michelle didn’t call, but Dani did, and invited me to dinner on February 6th. I’d stay in the guest room at her grandmother’s house, and then we’d attend Liturgy together on Sunday and have lunch afterwards. After she provided her address and directions, I hung up and dialed Susana’s parents’ house to get her number in Columbus. I called her to let her know about the minor change.

“How early can I be there on Saturday?”

“10:15am would be good,” I said. “I have band practice at 8:00am.”

“Six hours ought to be enough!” she declared. “Make sure you buy rubbers!”

“I’ll have plenty!” I replied.

We said ‘goodbye’ and I gathered Rachel’s things, got her dressed, put her in the stroller, and headed to Taft for band practice. I left Rachel with Anicka, then went to the music room where Kari was waiting. We hugged, I set up, and a few minutes later, Kim arrived. Practice went well, and when it finished, Kari and I went to get Rachel, then walked to the house.

“Should I leave before Serafima arrives tonight?” she asked.

“That’s up to you,” I said. “But I don’t care what she thinks about us.”

“I think it’s just easier if I stay on campus after Vespers.”

“Whatever makes you comfortable,” I said.

“I’d be way more comfortable with fewer clothes on!”

I smiled, we took Rachel up to her crib, then Kari and I spent an hour with no clothes on in bed and in the shower. After the shower, we made dinner, I fed Rachel, and after Kari and I ate, we went to Vespers.

After Vespers, we walked Kari to the dorm, and then Rachel and I headed home so I could get ready for work. Fortunately, Serafima kept quiet, and I was able to leave for the hospital in peace.

January 22, 1988, McKinley, Ohio

“I’ve been thinking,” Kari said as we cuddled together after a very enjoyable coupling on Friday evening.

“OK,” I replied noncommittally.

She moved on top of me and rested her chin on her crossed arms.

“I’m not ready to care for a baby,” she said. “And I can’t tell you when I will be ready.”

That didn’t surprise me at all. She’d been uncomfortable with Rachel from the start, and it was the thing she’d said from the beginning. Faith was a potential stumbling block, but Rachel was a roadblock.

“I could tell you weren’t entirely comfortable with Rachel,” I said. “The question in my mind was whether that was a short-term thing, or what you just said. I wasn’t sure which conclusion you’d reach. I guess the question is, what do you want to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“We can’t break up because we aren’t a couple,” I said with a smile. “So it’s simply a matter of redefining our relationship. Well, unless you don’t want to be friends.”

“I do want to be friends. I enjoy spending time with you, and I can take Rachel in small doses. It was the idea of being a full-time mom that led to me saying what I did.”

“At nineteen, I don’t find that surprising. Please tell me this doesn’t have anything to do with Serafima.”

“Not really. I mean, it made me wonder, but I knew you weren’t listening to her, so ultimately it didn’t matter. It really is about Rachel, and not because there’s anything wrong with her or you, but I’m just not ready.”

“As I said, I understand. I wasn’t ready to care for a baby, but I didn’t have a choice; you do. I’m also five years older than you are.”

“I actually don’t have an answer to your question about our relationship because I thought we’d break up. I realize that was WrongThink, so I need to give it some thought.”

“Nice Orwellian reference!” I replied. “I grok it!”

“Nice Heinlein reference!” Kari exclaimed. “I loved the book, by the way!”

She flexed her hips, shifted up, and kissed me, then proceeded to make love to me, using her mouth to get me hard, then gently riding me to wonderful mutual orgasms.

“Does ‘redefining the relationship’ include the option of sex?” Kari asked when she was stretched out on top of me again.

“It does, at least until the end of August. After that, it would depend on where things go.”

“What would you say if I came over on Thursday afternoons and we have dinner? That keeps Fridays free for dates for both of us.”

“I think that would work OK. I’ll be going to bed around 8:00pm, though, because I have to be up at 3:00am.”

“Starting next month, I was thinking 4:30pm, and stay until around 7:30pm. That gives us time to talk, eat, and fool around.”

“That will work for me,” I said. “What about next week?”

“Let’s play it by ear. Again?”

“Absolutely!”

January 23, 1988, McKinley, Ohio

As we usually did on Saturdays, Rachel and I dropped Kari at the dorm before heading to my in-laws so that Rachel could stay with her aunt during my shift at the medical office.

Just over four hours later, I returned to get my daughter and spoke briefly with Viktor about Antonne’s mom. He was inclined to hire her, but wouldn’t be able to offer her any relocation money.

I wondered if that would prevent her from moving, or if she could scrape together the funds to do it. Doctor Stanton had spoken to the county social services department and Antonne’s mom would qualify for subsidized housing, which in our county involved vouchers which would be applied to rent she paid.

I thanked Viktor, then Rachel and I headed home where Oksana was waiting for us.

“I’ll take her while you change,” Oksana said, then added, “Unless you need help!”

“Not since I was around five,” I chuckled. “But I’ll remember for the future!”

I handed her Rachel and went upstairs to change. Oksana had no way to know it, but her chances had improved significantly with Kari dropping out. That probably had been inevitable, given my conversation with Anicka, and I felt it was the right decision by Kari. I finished dressing and went downstairs to have lunch.

“Rachel ate, right?” Oksana asked.

“Yes. Anna gave her a bottle just before I picked her up.”

“I did Rachel’s laundry and cleaned while you were at the doctor’s office this morning. What would you like to do this afternoon?”

“That’s up to you,” I replied.

“Anything?” she asked with a soft smile.

“Yes, though please keep in mind what I said the other day.”

Oksana took a deep breath and let it out.

“Cuddle and listen to music,” she said. “And take care of Rachel, obviously.”

We finished eating, I helped with the dishes, then we went to the great room where I put Rachel on the rug in front of the fireplace, which was something she loved, and Oksana and I sat on the couch, cuddling and watching as Rachel did her best to try to crawl.

“She’s close to being able to do it,” Oksana observed.

“She is,” I agreed. “And then she’s going to crawl over to the couch and try to stand up.”

“PA!” Rachel exclaimed.

“She wants to be held?” Oksana asked.

“I’m not sure because that’s her ‘pay attention’ sound, too.”

I was proved right because a few seconds later, Rachel managed to get on her hands and knees and crawl about two feet before collapsing on her chest.

“Good job, Rachel!” I said.

She tried again and made it about three feet. In a week, I wouldn’t be able to walk away from her lest she crawl someplace and get into trouble.

“I need three gates,” I said. “One for the kitchen, one for the foyer, and one for the hallway to the study and laundry room.”

“I saw outlet covers, and the cabinet locks are installed, so I assumed you had them.”

“I had meant to, but being so busy, I just hadn’t gotten around to it. Want to take a trip to K-Mart?”

“Yes!”

We bundled Rachel, headed to K-Mart, where I bought three gates, and then headed home. Rachel had fallen asleep, so I put her in her crib, then set up the gates. Once that was done, Oksana and I went to the couch, where she sat on my lap and put her arms around my neck. We kissed a few times, and then she put her head on my shoulder and pulled her legs up.

“I want to ask a question,” I said, “and it’s not because I detect anything, but are you comfortable being a wife and mom by this time next year?”

“Are you asking?” Oksana inquired, sounding hopeful.

“Not yet,” I replied gently. “That would have to happen after Rachel’s first birthday.”

I’d decided to use that as the dividing line because it was a happy thought, as opposed to the sad thought of Elizaveta’s untimely repose. The day would be full of mixed emotions, and I hoped it was a day I had off.

“It’s a big step, obviously,” Oksana said, “and a bit sooner than I had expected, but yes. You’d be OK with me finishing my Associate’s degree?”

“Not just OK, I’d encourage it. The hospital has daycare, which we’d use when you were in class, assuming things go the way we’re discussing.”

“I guess there isn’t much chance of an actual honeymoon, is there?”

“Unfortunately, no. My next guaranteed vacation is after PGY1 — my first year of Residency, which is sometimes called ‘Internship’. I may have time off between graduation and starting my Residency, but I can’t count on it. Is that a problem?”

“No, not really. It was just something I was looking forward to. I totally understand the limits you have.”

“I hadn’t really thought about it, but I think what would have to happen is to postpone it until I had time off. The trip, anyway!”

“Yes, of course,” Oksana replied, her voice low and sultry. “That’s also something I’m looking forward to!”

She squeezed her arms more tightly around me, and I pulled her closer to me, enjoying the contact. Unfortunately, after a few minutes, Oksana had to get up to make dinner, which included freshly baked bread. The food was delicious, and after we ate, we cleaned up, and then Oksana headed home.