Alexei’s parents shrink backwards in fear when they shake hands with my mother. This has to be the first time I have seen any adult get scared of my Ma. It’s unsettling to watch, because she is one of the nicest people on earth; she wouldn’t hurt anyone.

“I’m sorry for the way this was all arranged,” Ma speaks directly to Alexei’s mother before turning to his father, “it was all very sudden and as you can imagine, quite pressing.”

I sneak a glance at Alexei as our parents converse with one another. He looks as nervous as his parents, but he still smiles when I catch his eye. In that way, at least, it is nice that our parents are pretending we don’t exist.

When I look back over to Alexei’s parents, they are nodding at Ma without responding, but she doesn’t miss a beat. “Is there somewhere private we can talk?”

“Of course,” Alexei’s father gets up and leads them out the door of the dining room. I get up to follow, but my mother places her hand on my shoulder to stop me.

“Maria, you will stay here with Alexei. This doesn’t concern you.”

“But I-”

It certainly does concern me. It’s my life we’re all discussing.

“No. You and Alexei will remain here,” it was clearly an order. I had never seen her face so stoic.

“Yes, ma’am,” Alexei spoke on my behalf, “we will, of course, wait here.”

I sat down in a chair and stared at a patch of wallpaper as I listened to my Ma’s footsteps disappear down the hallway. Soon, I cannot hear them anymore.

Alexei speaks first, his voice soft as a whisper, “I’m sorry you had to see this.”

I pull my eyebrows together in confusion. “See what? It’s my Ma who is acting in a way no one wants to see.”

His eyes beg me to understand as he waves his arm in a circle around his head. “This,” he sighed.

Suddenly I realize what he means. “Have you been keeping me away from your house on purpose?” I ask him.

He shrugs, “Yes. I thought it was obvious.”

Could this day get any more weird?

“Why?” I thought we were going to get married one day. Why was he hiding things from me?

His breath is shaky as he crosses his arms. “I am scared if you see how we live, you won’t want to be in this family. I thought if I could get a nice house and a position, you’d never have to know.”

I cannot believe he wouldn’t have shown me his home before we got married, “Never have to know what?”

“How I grew up,” he answers as though it is obvious.

“Why would how you grew up have anything to do with my choosing to marry you?” it slips out before I can stop it, and I slid my hand over my mouth in horror. Why was I being so candid?

I am expecting him to be nervous at my proclamation, but instead he starts laughing. I want to be upset with him, but he is laughing so hard I’m actually concerned he might forget to breathe.

“Are you okay?” I ask as he is doubled over holding his side.

“Yes,” he manages to squeak out between fits of laughter. “Yes, I’m fine.”

He has finally snapped.