Page 60 of Dimitri
"Enough."
"Your groom insists on memorializing every moment." The woman told her calmly. "He's the one paying me."
Giving her a dirty look, she moved from the mirror and turned to face the rest of the women. She and Anastasia had hit it off immediately and had become fast friends. All the women in her family were wearing either blue or green and looked stunning.
"Something borrowed." Elizabeth crossed over and pinned a delicate sapphire brooch on her left breast. "And something blue."
"Here's my something new." Irene Trent took her place and slipped a thin gold necklace over her head. "Picked it up in Italy." Taking a deep breath, she kissed her granddaughter's cheek. "You've made me a very happy woman."
"Thanks grandma." Allison clung a moment before stepping back. "I'm ready."
*****
He did not notice the extravagant setting, the flower bedecked pergola he was standing beneath. Nor the red carpet that stretched all the way from the front of the farmhouse to where he and his brother were standing. All he could think of was his bride on her way to meet him. He had not seen her since yesterday morning when he left for the club and was going through anxious moments waiting for her.
His nephew was standing next to his brother, holding his hand. All four Petrov males were dressed identically in midnight black with unrelieved white shirts starched to perfection.
His shoulders straightened as the music changed, announcing the arrival of the bride. His first glimpse of the woman who had taken over his life had the breath strangling inside his chest and for a second he could not breathe.
"My God." Alexei murmured. "She cannot possibly be real."
He was thinking the same thing himself. Without thinking about it, he left his place and went to intercept her as she walked in onhis grandfather's arm. Taking her gloved hand, he lifted it to his lips, eyes meeting hers. And murmured something in Russian.
"What does that mean?"
"You're my life, my heart, my all." He translated simply.
"As you're mine." She told him huskily. "Let's get hitched."
Cameras flashed and captured the moment when the groom threw back his head and laughed at something the bride said. Tucking her hand through his arm, he led her towards the makeshift altar where the priest was waiting to perform the ceremony.
*****
The ceremony had been solemn and dignified with the bride and groom repeating their vows in front of friends and family. The reception was a whole lot different. The grounds were crowded, and the food was plentiful. A live band had been hired and was playing songs that had the guests gyrating. It was an odd mixture of the elitists and the hands that worked the farm. And all of them seemed to be getting along.
Laughter and conversation flowed as freely as the champagne and hard liquor. Two persons manned the makeshift bar, and the caterers were busy transporting food to the guests. There was a combination of Russian and American cuisine. The traditional Russian chocolate cake with over a dozen white and purple orchids and the towering champagne and pink strawberry cake next to it graced the table that had been specially set up for the occasion.
The food was rich and sumptuous and completely wasted on Allison. After a few samplings of the roasted duck and pineapple chicken, she felt the nausea coming on. Her new husband, completely attuned to her moods, requested plain soup for her to consume. The speech was made, something short and sweet, with the groom thanking their guests and declaring that this was the most important day of his life.
"I came here to find myself, to try and get over the death of my beloved mother." He slid an amused glance at the woman seated next to him. "I found the love of my life. A woman who has changed me for the better. One who is the beginning and ending for me." Taking her hand in his, he drew her to her feet. "To my wife, Allison Deidre Petrov."
*****
They ended up spending a month in Moscow, instead of three weeks and he was determined to show her his favorite haunts. Her first sight of the manor had her staring in stunnedamazement. She later told her husband that it reminded her of an ice castle, with its angles and dazzlingly white structure.
He took her to the iconic Red Square, home to St. Basil's Cathedral, the Moscow Kremlin and the GUM department store. They explored the State Tretyakov Gallery for Russian art, the Bolshoi Theatre, the beautiful Moscow Metro and the historic Novodevichy Convent. Spring in Russia was a wonder to the senses. The city was bursting with blooming flowers, especially apple and lilac trees.
They went strolling through the parks and also visited the zoo. While her husband sat in meetings with his father and brother, Allison, Anastasia, and Aleksandr explored the various places along with their assigned guards.
"Does it bother you?" They had stopped at an outdoor café where they were seated at a corner table overlooking the busy street.
"You mean the guards?" Lifting a hand, she caught the attention of a server immediately.
"I recommend the Borscht and Salad Olivier." She told Allison. "Is that what you would like? I'm thinking of your stomach."
"As you well should be doing." She agreed with a nod.
Turning to the man, Anastasia made the order and included Pierogi for her son who was glued to his tablet.
