The Gentle Giant

The flight to Slovakia seemed like it took forever. Andreja was fussy and Andrej spent most of his time walking around with her, trying to get her to calm down. Once we finally landed, I breathed a deep sigh of relief. I hated flying, never have enjoyed it.

We were greeted by Michal and taken to his mom and dad’s house. I had never been there. It was a quaint house, set in the “Old World” style. Slovakia was a natural beauty, and the quaintness of the towns just made it even more beautiful. His mom gave me a huge hug and stole Andreja from her Daddy’s arms. “Go go go, I watch her, wander around.” She said, pointing to the door.

Andrej grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the door smiling. “Let’s give her some time with her granddaughter. Come on, I will show you where we are getting married.” We walked a few blocks from his mom’s house and there was a beautiful courtyard, in full bloom. “Here baby, you like?” It was beautiful. I had never seen such a rich color green and lavish flowers like I was viewing now. It was every bit perfect. His mom was a genius.

We walked around for an hour, just taking in the fresh air before heading back to his house. His mom insisted we stay at the house before the wedding. It was welcomed though, she would help with Andreja and all of the plans.

Danny called Andrej not long after we got back to the house. Mostly everyone was flying in tomorrow, the day before the wedding. They spoke about what time they needed to be picked up and we sat down and ate dinner with his family. The food was amazing. She was a great cook and I was beginning to like Slovakian food more and more. “Dreja sleeping mom?” he asked and she nodded.

“My beautiful princess. I want to show her off later, we walk in town.” I nodded to his mom and we sat back and finished dinner. Andreja woke up and Andrej’s dad was presently feeding her a bottle. It was adorable and I took several pictures. Once he fed her, they got her into the stroller and left for a walk. Michal was out with friends and Andrej and I sat out on a bench in front of the house.

“So, what happened to the apartment you had here sweetheart?” I asked.

“I let it go. Michal didn’t want it. I figure we wouldn’t get much use out of it.”

I shook my head at him. “Can’t we buy something small here? I’d love to be able to do the summers here and holidays in Canada, since it is closer. Then we can just go back a little early and spend like one week with my mom before the season starts. Obviously we won’t do it this year because of all Andreja's check-ups, but the next few years we should. Its cozy here.”

He smiled and wrapped me tighter to him. “So you are falling in love with my country?”

I smiled. “I do love it Andrej, it is beautiful and everything is so laid back, opposite of the States and what we live most of the year. Andreja isn’t going to be in school for a while so we will be able to leave as soon as the season is over.” He leaned over and silenced me with a kiss.

We ended up in bed fairly early. All three of us were exhausted from traveling. It was weird to sleep in his childhood bedroom. I had to smile at all of the kid’s hockey stuff around the room. “I can’t wait to have a little boy Dani.” He kissed from my navel to my chin.

I just smiled. “Not tonight big boy, not happening. You have to wait until we go to the hotel. I am so not doing it where your parents can hear us.”

He frowned like a little boy. “Fine Dani, you make me beg.” It didn’t take much before I gave in and he had me on the floor in an effort to keep the noise down.

He held me for a long time. “Hopefully, that will be my little guy” he whispered into my ear as he emptied into me.

I just laughed and kissed him on the forehead. “You are a piece of work. I am still taking birth control.”

He looked at me seriously. “Where are they Dani?” I handed him the pack from my purse and he threw them in the trashcan. “That’s settled, let’s get some sleep” he said as he pulled me onto the bed with him.

The next morning he left to pick up Danny, Raina and the kids after breakfast. After they returned and everyone got reacquainted, Raina and I took the twins and Andreja for a walk. “Wow it is beautiful here Dani. I love it.”

I agreed with her quickly. “I know, we just talked about buying a place here last night that way we can do most of the summer here since we won’t be able to do holidays here. And by the way, he tossed my pills last night so if Danny and I have the same genes I will be pregnant by next week.”

She grinned. “Ok, that’s exciting, how are you with it?”

I let her know the truth. “I’m scared, but I definitely want more kids so I’d rather do it now, than when I am older. I don’t want to be having kids when I am thirty-five.”

She nodded. “Hear that.”

We walked back toward the house where Danny, Andrej and the boys were playing soccer out front. “We gotta go pick up Mike, Jeff, Pam and Lil Mikey. I think we may just hang around for Geno and Max too. I think they land in an hour or so.” Andrej kissed my cheek and yelled for Michal to take his car as well.

Danny stayed with us and the kids and was currently sitting at the table holding Andreja. “She is getting really big sis. It goes too quick.”

I laughed. “Look at Jolie and Daniel bro, they are huge already.”

We hung out for a while outside until everyone returned. Andrej’s mom and aunt had prepared a huge lunch which they served on long picnic benches in the front yard. Jeff came over and gave me a hug. “Dani, you ready for tomorrow? When will your mom be here?”

“She is landing closer to dinnertime. I guess I am ready. More nervous for how many of his family I am going to meet than the wedding itself.”

He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead, “you will be fine.”

Us girls sat together and tried to figure out what we were going to do tonight. The guys were going to the bar to celebrate and us girls were hanging out in Raina’s hotel. Danny had ordered someone to come in and give us massages, facials and all of that but we also had the kids still to take care of. All eight of them. The boys had their video games to keep them occupied and we hoped the babies would go to sleep early. We had super Maman to help though. Andrej’s mom was even coming over to get a massage. I knew we could convince them two to stay and help with the babies.

I was right, they played with the babies while Pam, Raina and I got massages in the other room and gossiped like little girls. “Ok so hottest current NHL player?” Pam asked and I shrieked.

“By far has to be Sid. Amazing.” I said and Raina laughed.

“Imma go Mike. If I wasn’t married to your brother Dani, I’d fall in love with him in a minute.” I just laughed. I knew them two were close. I never had to worry about Raina’s love for Danny though.

“So, Pam?” I asked and she coughed. “Patrick Sharp. So banging him in my next life.” I smiled at her. He did have some beautiful eyes.

“Ok, so best feature on your man.” I asked and Pam burst out laughing.

“His package, plain and simple” she said. I looked at Pam and burst out laughing because she looked so serious.

“If we are talking about in a purely pleasure sense then his mouth” Raina said and turned bright red.

I just took a deep breath “Umm his handcuffs” and we all started laughing.

“You guys seriously have used them?” Raina asked.

“Umm only twice, once on each other. It was great.” I said and she laughed.

“OK your turn to ask Raina” I said and turned to look at her.

“Are you guys truly happy with your guys?” she asked.

I smiled. “Andrej and I have been through so much, between the Claude thing and then Andreja been born so early. He has been there through everything and supported me. I am. We argue, no one is perfect” I said.

Pam looked up, “Ok so Jeff and I argue like cats and dogs half the time, mainly about the opposite gender. I think both of us just give off that vibe that people are attracted to. But honestly, I love him and couldn’t picture myself with anyone else. Besides, he ain’t getting free now with me having a second kid.”

We both looked at Raina for an answer. It was no secret they have had problems lately. “I love Danny more than anything, he annoys me, I’m sick of him half the time, but I don’t think I could ever leave him. Even after he cheated on me when I was pregnant with Jolie and Daniel, I couldn’t let him go.”

I just laughed. “So I guess we are stuck with them huh?”

Notes

:)