Cause I'm Five Minutes Older

“Abbi!” Everyone waved and grinned.
“How are you? We missed you? When will you be home?” A chorus erupted. I motioned for them to quiet.
“I am great. More then great. I am feeling the best I have ever felt. I missed you all so very much. I am not quite certain I know the answer to that question. I called to have you meet someone. His English isn’t very good yet, but he’s learning. He has been for a little while. Since he met me actually. Umm… Nick can you translate if he decides to speak Russian and He might Sign so mom can understand him. Maybe both if he’s feeling up to it. Um… Guys I would like you all to meet my boyfriend, Mikhail Zhenechka.” I made it so they could see him on screen.
“Hallo.” He said.
“Mikhail.” I pointed out the people. “This is my dad, Paul Sr. Mom, Denise, but everyone calls her mom. Frankie, little brother. Leila, my puppy. Kevin, my oldest brother, Danielle, his wife, my sister in law. Riley, their puppy. Joe, my other older brother. Elvis, Nick’s dog. And Nick, my younger twin brother.”
“So where are you from?” Joe asked. Nick sighed and spoke to Mikhail in Russian. The voice ticked something in my brain.
“Mikhail is from Moscow, Russia. I can answer that. Nick speak more. I‘m getting something.” I replied hurriedly with my eyes closed thinking. Nick yammered on and something was pulling.

“Nicholas takes his roles very seriously. He and Abigail are taking Russian lessons to prepare for a play he wants to audition for… Yes it’s in Russian. They are very determined to learn. Abbi likes helping him. It’s easier for them to learn together… It’s just how their brains work. They want to continue going to lessons after the role. They want to be fluent.” I scurried away to Nick in the living room my pigtails tossing behind me.
“Mother is talking about us.” I tell him sitting next to him smiling. Russian came to me easily. “Mother is talking about us.”

“Mat’ govorit o nas.” I spoke, Nick smiled.
“I remember that.” He poked mom smiling wider. “You’re talking about us.” Mikhail was chanting happily. He ran up his stairs and out.
“Okay. So he went to talk to his family.”
“You seem happier then I have ever seen you.” Mom commented.
“I think I might move here.” I tell them out of the blue.
“Your relationship is that serious?” Dad inquired.
“Oh I know that face! Abbi, you love him! Deeply.” Kevin pointed at me. I probably looked guilty.
“Yes, more then I can fathom. He’s like a drug to me. I’ve never know that love can be like this. I am trapped. In a good way of course.” I explain to them.
“Do you want to marry him?” My parents asked.
“Abbi and Mikhail sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G next come love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage!” Joe and Frankie danced singing in the background.
“So mature!” I yelled over them. They stopped. “Of course. I couldn’t stand being away from him.”
“Is he serious about this? Taking you on? With all your-”
“Yes, I told him the whole story! He’s still here. In fact I heard him talking to his mother about asking you, Dad, for permission for my hand in marriage.” That wasn’t a complete lie. I did hear them talking of it. Dad’s eyes got wide.
“You’re only eighteen. You’re so young!” He exclaimed.
“Russian’s marry young, dad. Here you are considered a old maid if you’re not married by twenty-five.” I didn’t necessarily know that was true.
“Are you sure you love him?” Mom asked.
“Completely. You guys would like him. You guys should come here soon. You’ll have to come eventually if it’s true he’s going to ask. It’ll be nice if it was in person, you know? That and I want help getting settled. I want my Leila too. I want you to be here for me.” I pleaded, Kevin as usual was the first to promise to be here as soon as possible. He was like an overbearing mother bear sometimes, but always reliable. The next to comply was Nick and Frankie. Mom then looked to dad and said she’d be here for me. Dad couldn’t help, but say yes. Everyone looked at Joe.
“Does he have any hot sister’s?” He questioned. I sighed.
“He has five sisters. They are all very good looking. But only one of them is even old enough for you to look at.”
“I thought they married young?”
“The next oldest are like thirteen, Joe. She’s maybe nineteen, twenty. Don’t be a pervert.”
“Oh don’t worry I won’t. What’s her name? Anastasia? Sasha? Tatiana?”
“Wow you suck at guessing. Way to go with all the common names. It’s Ekaterina Alekeiovena.”
“That’s a weird last name.”
“That’s her middle name. You call acquaintances who aren’t yet friends by their first and middle names here. So you should be calling Mikhail, Mikhail Alekseiovich or maybe even Mikhail Alekseiovich Zhenechka. That’s because you are just meeting, but I knowing Mikhail well and being a close friend or family can call him Mikhail.”
“How do you know so much?” Joe smirked.
“I read up on these things before I came.”
“Okay, back to business. Kev, when can you leave?” Dad got a pen out to write things down. Kevin chatted with Dani about that.
“Next week on Tuesday.” He answered. Dad moved to Joe.
“When ever.” He shrugged. I knew Nick would drop everything.
“How does Thursday next week sound to you, Abbi?” Dad asked looking at his sheet.
“Sounds great Mikhail can take me house or apartment shopping tomorrow and you guys can stay with me.”
“Where are you staying now?”
“Here in Mikhail’s bed. He sleeps on the couch. Don’t worry he’s not that kind of person.” Footsteps came down the stairs. Mikhail was back now with Verochka. “I have to go now. I am wanted for something.”
“Okay, bye Abbi.” One said. “We love you.” They all shouted even the dogs barked. I smiled at them.
“I love you too. Bye.” I followed by clicking off the window. I looked up and Verochka was gone. Mikhail was leaning against the wall staring lovingly. I moved to the foot of the bed and sat with my feet dangling off.
“Mikhail?” I ask looking over to him. He took the steps left between us. I inspected his face from down here. His fingers played with my hair and traveled across my cheekbones. Excited chills ran through my body. I closed my eyes enjoying the feel. I am aware now of his breath on my lips. Warm, calming. I couldn’t stand waiting. I stretched my arms around his neck. Pulling him closer to me. He tried pulling me closer, but it only pulled me up off the bed and into his arms unable to reach the floor. He cradled me in his arms. He kisses my forehead.
“You are wanted in the bath house.” He spoke (in Russian of course) regaining thoughtfulness, but keeping me safe in his arms.
“Tease.” I mutter back to him sticking my tongue out. He smirked and bent low and set me on the middle of the bed. He crawled over me and put his hand on my back. My body pulled up toward his. He kissed my cheek.
“Is this better, precious?” He whispered into my ear. I giggled and climbed out from under him and off the bed.
“So the bath house?” I looked at him with a questioning look. He sighed and sat up.
“Yes so the bath house, it’s usually where our family has private discussions. There are customs you must follow in there. You might be a little uncomfortable. You must not wear clothes.” At first I thought he was joking, but I saw in his eyes that he wasn’t. I nodded. “I’ll let you borrow some slippers. You’ll have two towels one for laying on and one for drying off after. Don’t worry they won’t judge you. I’ll be right there to hold your hand.” Okay this could be awkward, but if I am going to live here I must. Without warning Mikhail took off his clothes and wrapped in a robe. I childishly closed my eyes. He laughed and me. “I’ll get you a robe.” He said walking to the closet and pulling one out. I was only delaying the inevitable. I pulled the shirt Mikhail let me borrowed off. He gasped at my back. Tears pooled in the corner of my eyes. I am strong. I am beautiful. Nothing he did makes me ugly. I am fearless. I am strong. I am beautiful. Nothing he did makes me ugly. I am fearless. No one can knock me down. Mikhail’s arms came around me and held me close. I realized he was crying too.
“He’ll never hurt you again. Never. I will make sure your safe. He can’t hurt you anymore. You are mine now.” We both stopped crying and I looked at him. He kissed my forehead, then he kissed me all over my face. Making me smile and giggle.