While I supervised the twins splashing in the wading pool, I made a list on my phone of the things I still had to buy before the arrival of my in-laws:
Flowers
Baguette
White wine
Oysters
Skim milk
“Hello.”
Oliver, the stay-at-home father, was standing before me. He was directly blocking the sun and I had to squint to look at him, blinded. I smiled, peering through slitted eyes. I must have looked ridiculous.
“The kids aren’t with you?” I asked.
“Oh sure, they’re right over there,” he said, pointing to the little girl in bathing shorts, holding her brother’s hand as he moved uncertainly, his feet in the water.
I didn’t know what to say to him. I was still uncomfortable from the last time, and I stupidly hoped he had forgotten the secrets I’d told him.
“How is your wife?” I asked, saying the first thing that came to mind.
“She’s well, but she’s working in intensive care this week. It’s hard,” he said calmly, not seeming to notice my nervousness.
“I was about to get a coffee,” he said. “Would you like one?”
“Absolutely!” I replied with schoolgirl enthusiasm. I don’t know why he had this effect on me. Granted, he was a good-looking man, but still. He was already on his way back with two recycled cardboard cups.
“I tried to guess how you take it. I gave you a little milk and a little sugar. Is that okay?”
He really was charming.
“That’s perfect, thank you. Oh! Coffee! I also have to get coffee. Forgive me, my husband’s parents are arriving tomorrow and I still have a ton of things to pick up. They haven’t met the boys yet.”
Here I was again, showcasing my life for him.
“This is an important visit, then. Do they have other grandchildren?” he asked.
“Yes, my husband’s brother has four girls.”
“Four! He’s a brave man. I’ve got my hands full with two.”
It was strange talking to a man with the same daily routine as me. The boys got out of the pool, their lips blue.
“Oh my—that water is cold!” I cried.
They weren’t shivering, but I rubbed vigorously as I towelled them off. I was about to take off their wet bathing suits, but they gave me a scowl that stopped me cold. They had never showed any modesty before; it must have been Oliver’s presence that embarrassed them.
“Excuse me, Oliver, we have to go. Thanks for the coffee.”
I put the twins in the stroller, letting them warm up in their towels and piling their clothes into the basket under Daniil’s seat. Since leaving the orphanage, we had kept the same arrangement: I always put Vanya in the top seat, Daniil below. There looked to be enough room in the string basket for the things I had to buy. If I was lucky, the twins would sleep through my errands.
I pushed the stroller all over town for several hours, getting everything I needed, sweating as it grew heavier and heavier. When I finally got home, the boys were howling with impatience. We were all dirty and tired and I couldn’t wait to take a shower. Then I noticed the car.
They were already here.
I didn’t even make it up the driveway before Gregory and my in-laws were already out on the porch.
“We decided to come a day early!”
I could feel the sweat on my cheeks as my mother-in-law kissed them.
“They’ve got quite a set of lungs!” said my father-in-law jovially.
I tried to undo the straps of the stroller to release the children. I hadn’t had a chance to dress them after the park, but at least they were diapered. Under the watchful eye of my in-laws, I forgot the correct order in which to do things: I tried to get the boys out of the stroller at the same time as all the groceries. Finally, Gregory came to help me bring everything in, throwing the wet clothes in the front hall and carrying the groceries to the kitchen.
“Excuse us, we’re just going to go clean up. I’ll just be a minute,” I said.
I was about to escape upstairs when my mother-in-law started following me up.
“I’ll help you.”
I stared back and tried to smile. “That’s sweet, but you don’t have to. I’ll be right down.”
“Not at all. You take your shower, I’ll take care of them.”
I didn’t know how to get rid of her. We were squeezed into the middle of the staircase. She tried to take the boys by the hand, but they escaped to their bedroom, growling.
“They’re shy,” I said.
“I see that,” she said with disappointment, finally giving up on following us.
I wiped the boys’ faces, dressed them in clean clothes, and quickly showered before making my way to the living room. I took the stairs slowly, holding the boys’ hands.
“Monique, André, this is Daniil and Vanya.”
My mother-in-law, wiggling a finger, invited them to sit next to her on the couch. I tried to bring them closer, but they wouldn’t budge from the foot of the stairs.
“They’re still uncomfortable around new people.” I tried to pull them by the hand, but they resisted.
“We’re going to let you get used to everyone, okay?” I didn’t insist, because I knew it was pointless to force them.
“Well then,” I said. “What can I get you to drink? We have beer, white wine, I can make you a kir…”
“I’ll take a 7UP, if you have one,” Monique interrupted.
Yes, I did. I knew my mother-in-law and had filled the cupboards with soft drinks, even though I’d hoped that time would have loosened her up.
“I’ll take a coffee,” said André.
“Espresso or cappuccino?” I pressed my lips together.
“A what? A normal coffee will do,” stammered my father-in-law.
“We don’t have regular coffee,” I said. “We only have an espresso maker.”
He was already starting to get to me. Gregory laid a hand on my shoulder and said, “It’s okay, Dad. I’ll make you an Americano. It’s just like your drip coffee, you’ll see.”
When I met them over ten years ago, André
