Dimitri
It was late afternoon when my mother pushed the wheelchair that she had insisted on renting so that I would not make unnecessary efforts. I obviously intended to return it as soon as possible, but in my hurry to leave the hospital behind, I accepted everything she proposed without arguing.
It was so good to be home. I watched the walls of the elevator, longing for it to go up faster, all I wanted was to get into my apartment and find Blair!
" I can see your anxiety, you can control yourself a little, she won't run away," Masha sneered.
She had accompanied my mother while Blair continued to stay in the apartment to clean up while she waited for my arrival.
" Quiet," I muttered in a smile as I drummed my fingers on my leg.
" Don't get on your brother's nerves, he can't wait to see the new decorations in his apartment," my mother scoffed.
I frowned, lifting my face to face them both. What's all this about new decorations?
" What?”
But before I could have any answer the elevator arrived at my floor, opening the doors so we could disembark.
" What do you mean by "new decoration", Mama? " I asked as she pushed my wheelchair toward the doorway of my apartment, where a lively song was playing.
" If she's as excited as when she got off that plane, I swear I'm going to jump out the window," Masha scoffed.
My heart raced every inch as we approached the door, not knowing for sure what I would find on the other side.
My sister stepped forward to unlock the door and I soon heard Blair's voice arguing with someone.
" It's not for hanging there, I told you on the other wall! That was the Italian Mask!”
" Well, they're both still alive," my mother scoffed.
They?
Before I could ask, my mother pushed me into the living room, where Blair was fighting with Joe, who was standing on a chair, hanging a sizable cuckoo clock on the wall.
I looked around, where three large suitcases lay open on the floor. I couldn't tell what was more surprising, the amount of decorations strewn about my living room or the presence of my cousin.
" Commander, you're here! " she came toward me with a smile on her face.
" What?" I stammered, still absorbing all the chaos that had taken over my living room.
" Cousin, I hope you're feeling better. I took advantage of the fact that the gallery where I work will be closed for a few weeks for renovations and decided to pay you a visit.”
" And I decided to put him to work," Blair smiled, "Dimitri, is there a problem?"
She asked as my gaze focused on the object in the corner of the room.
" Blair, why is there a giant pair of Dutch clogs in our living room? " I blinked dazedly.
My sister stifled a giggle as my mother went into the kitchen.
" I had a layover in Amsterdam and couldn't miss the chance," she leaned over to kiss me.
" But…”
" According to your fiancée, Dutch clogs bring good luck," my sister hummed.
" I even convinced her to leave some decorations in the apartment for me," Joe scoffed as I began to come to my senses.
" Can you believe that in the end your cousin was looking for a new place to rent and is living in my loft?”
I stood up, walking slowly among the tinsel and bubble wrap scattered about the floor, ignoring Blair's sentence.
" Dimitri, is there a problem? " She held up my hand, and I looked in her direction, finding a worried expression on her face.
I felt a chuckle begin to grow inside me at the overall situation.
" Blair, did you by any chance bring any clothes? " I tried to hold back my laughter.
" She must have left them in Amsterdam to bring the clogs," Masha laughed.
Blair hugged me from behind, planting a kiss on my back.
" The clothes are in the bedroom," she assured me. “Ignore your sister, she is jealous.”
" I sure am," Masha sneered.
I turned, hugging Blair and kissing her forehead.
" I know how to handle this, we already have the perfect wedding gift, right, Blair?”
I saw my fiancée's eyes light up at my phrase, while my sister's expression changed to pure terror.
Soon a small commotion took over as Joe began teasing Masha and my mother decided to interfere from the kitchen.
Blair made room on the couch for me to sit down, taking a seat beside me.
" Do you mind the decorations? " she asked in a low tone.
" No," I assured her.
" Sorry, I should have talked to you before I brought everything over," she forced a smile.
" Blair, when I accepted your marriage proposal, I accepted the whole package. Including your drool, your almost uncontrollable desire for shopping, and your weird decorations.”
She laughed, laying her head on my shoulder, entwining our fingers.
" Well, actually it was your sister who propose," Blair commented after a few seconds, making me laugh.
" I love you.”
I looked around, and there was only one thing I knew for sure, and that was that I would never find that apartment empty and lifeless again when I returned from a trip.