Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Dimitri

I slumped in a chair, feeling my head throbbing with irritation at my brother's attitude. What did he expect from the future?

Without much thought, I turned to the only person who could offer me any comfort.  Blair didn't take long to answer the video call, her face appearing on the other side of the screen.

She had her hair loose, a comb in her hands, and her makeup undone, but she looked just as beautiful as if she were already completely ready for whatever it was she was getting ready for.

" Commander, if you are calling me because you have run out of options…”

My mind flashed back to our little moment before. It was a surprise that she was still willing to talk to me.

" Hey, what happened? Why are you so angry? " she interrupted herself, looking at me with concern.

" I'm not angry.”

" Dimitri, if you were a cartoon you'd be red and have smoke coming out of your head. Come on, tell me what happened," she sneered.

" What didn't happen? Tonight has been a mess since I got here," I began to narrate, "first I told you that…”

" Forget it, I wasn't angry, although it wasn't nice to be called anyone," she cut me off.

" I didn't think before I spoke, that's all. You know that's not what I think about you," I assured her.

" Great, what else happened?”

She put her cell phone down on something on the bed and began to put on her makeup while talking to me. That's when I paid attention to her clothes. It looked like she had taken one of her many scarves and improvised a top.

" What are you wearing? Is it a scarf?”

" Yes, do you like it? I wanted to wear this skirt and there was no matching bikini," she smiled, smoothing the long light pink, lightly woven skirt.

" You are very creative, it looks great," my smile was a little more spontaneous.

" I know it does, but come on, keep telling me.”

" Then I found out that my brother's girlfriend's family was also coming to the party.”

" Your former Mother and Father-in-law? " she grimaced.

For a moment I pondered whether to tell her about Olga's presence, but I gave up the idea. I didn't want to give any further explanation.

" Exactly. I've spent most of the evening putting up with nagging and teasing, and just when I think it couldn't get any worse, my brother announces that he turned down the scholarship because he'd rather get married and work in a local restaurant than become an architect" all the irritation over that news came flooding back.

Blair stopped what he was doing, staring at me with a surprised expression.

" Wow, that's what I call a restless night. And what happened next?”

" My parents are trying to talk some sense into him, and I wanted to be there, but my sister says that's not our role," I sighed.

" And she is right. I know how frustrating it must be, but there's not much you can do but support him," she declared to my utter shock.

" Support him in this madness? Have you lost your mind? " I returned in disbelief.

" Dimitri, what else can you do? It's his life, he has to make the decisions.”

" He's making the wrong decision!”

" Just because you had plans for his future? What would you do if you had been forced to abandon your career and get married?

" It's different, Blair.”

" It isn't. Of course it would be great for him to graduate and become a great architect, but if that's not what he wants, don't you think it's unfair to force him to follow that path?”

She was right, I knew it. But I wanted my brother to always have the best!

" He will regret it in the future.”

" At least he will regret a decision he made, and not one that was imposed on him," she stared at me indulgently, "he probably admires you, doesn't he think he deserves your support, even though you disagree with his decision?”

I balked at her statement. I knew she was right, but I didn't want to give in.

" I wanted to be in the Bahamas with you.”

" I'm sure you would, and you would have the best bahama mama of your life," she teased me.

And that was all I needed, to enjoy paradise with my girl and a good cocktail, but I ended up stuck in the middle of the mess.

" What's your schedule for today?”

" Well, since I can't spend Christmas Eve with Abby, I am going with the flight attendants to a restaurant by the sea, they are having a party and it looks like it will be fun.

" I'm sure it will be.”

I fell silent when a voice from the kitchen entrance interrupted me.

""Dimulya, I totally agree with you and... Sorry, I didn't realize you were on a call" Olga alternated her gaze between my cell phone and me.

Damn it.

" Who is it? " Blair asked, probably not understanding a single word Olga said.

Damn, damn, damn.

" How rude of me, I'm Olga Borisovna. I am his brother's sister-in-law," she spoke in English, so that Blair could understand.

" Olga, this is Blair, the girlfriend I told you about.”

" Wow, Dimulya, you really knew how to choose. We'll see if you have enough time for this one," she scoffed, causing me to give her a tired look.

This was all I needed to make my evening better.

" Ahh, we made the time," Blair forced a smile in response, not even close to the smile she usually flashed to captivate everyone.

" Great, it would be a shame for another failed relationship, right, Dimulya?

" I can handle my relationships without your help, Olga. Thank you," I murmured.

" We'll decide what to do with those two later, I'll let you two talk in peace. It's been a pleasure, Blair," she didn't flinch at my answer.

She didn't answer, she just waited for Olga to leave us alone one more time, and by the look on her face I knew what was waiting for me, and I wasn't in the least bit of patience for this conversation.

" She's lovely, you forgot to tell me that your ex was with you the whole time," Blair remarked with a frown.

" I told you my sister-in-law's family was here.”

" Oh sure, like it's the same thing. What's the point of her being so intimate and calling you Dimulya?”

More of that now!

I stood up, walking out of the kitchen to the back yard. It had started to snow and I had left my coat inside, but I was hoping to solve this quickly and with as much privacy as possible.

" Everyone calls me Dimulya here, Blair, it's no big deal.”

Actually, Olga hadn't called me that in a long time, but I preferred not to reveal this information.

" No? I thought her family couldn't stand you, and suddenly they call you by an affectionate nickname?”

" Her parents don't like me.”

" So she does?”

I had never seen Blair so angry, I knew she was jealous, but this was bordering on the absurd.

" Her sister calls me that sometimes too, are you going to pick on that too? " I returned angrily.

" Are you serious? Don't you see the problem with your ex having an affectionate nickname for you?”

" It's a matter of habit, Blair!”

" You didn't even break up on good terms, if it's a matter of habit, your nickname should be the damn devil!”

" What is your problem to pick on something so unimportant?”

" My problem? You're going to blame it on me, when you're the one who's been nicknaming your ex?”

" I have nothing to do with my ex. You're the one acting like a jealous lunatic and that's the last thing I need right now! " I raised my voice, feeling frustrated with where this conversation was going.

I realized that I had overreacted when Blair shut up, and I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Why was everything going wrong today?

" Blair, I think I'd better…”

" You better get in the house, Dimitri.”

She warned before ending the call, leaving me alone in the snow.