Pasha on the Playa Pt. 04

Our celebrity in Truckee didn't wear off. Alisa's business doubled, and redoubled. Maya never got a chance to teach because she was drafted to run the office. The mathematician in her absorbed civil engineering like a sponge and soon she was handling all the permits, swearing in Russian when bureaucrats behaved badly. "Is like Russia," she would complain with a smile.

The librarians were very popular and helped the primary school teachers with reading lessons, especially for the kids with dyslexia and other problems. They were asked for dates and kept turning down very nice guys. At least I thought they were nice.

One night, I decided on a special council of the four lovers. After dinner, I said in a firm voice, "We must talk. Talk about one man and four women."

There was no happiness on their faces. Plumber was causing trouble. They muttered to each other in Russian.

As gently as I could, I said that Elena and Katarina and Alisa were beautiful, smart young women who needed a man of their own. Not someone shared with other women. "I love you all, but there are other good guys. Men who will love you, excite you, support you and your babies!"

Maya backed me up. "Young ones, Marty is right. In Russia, would be scandal that you are not married yet."

Crying, they pulled Maya and me to the big bed we shared. "No, no, no! Have good life the way we are! Much loving! Good loving!"

They cried and pounded on me. When everyone calmed down, I proposed a compromise. "You will accept dates from guys who seem decent. Dress up and go out. Good food and dancing. Maybe hiking, or skiing. If there is a special spark, then maybe he proposes and you accept. If you marry, we are still here. The family just got bigger."

The red eyes looked very doubtful. Maya kissed them and said she loved them and everything would be ok.

Epilogue - Two years later

We were at Donner Lake on a hot day in July. Maya was looking after her two grandchildren, a girl and a boy. Hector and Fred were out sailing with their brides. The girls from Brooklyn were laughing and happy. New log cabins from Hank were rising on the additional lots Doug had sold us.

"Professor, it was right for me to push the girls out the door?"

"Marty, my love, your instincts were good! Look at them, each with their own man. And I have two grandchildren!"

Alisa was sunning while leaning on my thigh. "What about poor me?" she smirked. There was a man in her life and she had just spent a hot weekend in Reno with him.

Maya laughed, "Yes, poor you. This time next year, your belly will be very big!"

"Mama, he hasn't even proposed and you have me pregnant!"

"Engineer, I have crystal ball and see your future!"

After Alisa went for a swim, Maya leaned for a kiss and whispered, "Marty, when they are all married, do you think the two of us could maybe...?"

"Professor would marry a plumber? Crazy idea!"

Right there on a crowded beach, we shared a hot kiss, both of us teary.

I thought of Pasha and the Playa and how the wonderful, loving Russians came into my life.

"Maya, I will marry you any day you wish."

The End