Guests

I stumbled out of the couch to trace the ringing telephone. With eyes half-open, I trudged towards the table where the telephone sat.

"Hello?" I mumbled after picking it up.

"Arystan! I had been calling you on your phone."

It's mother.

"Good morning ana. My phone was set to silent mode."

"Hm. Seeing that you answered the telephone from the studio, you must have stayed up until morning again."

"Hm mm," I responded, my eyes closing.

"Okay. Go back to sleep. I just called to let you know that we are about to leave Nursultan. We will see you later."

I nodded with my eyes closed.

"Are you still there?"

"Yes ana. I will see you later."

I put down the receiver and stumbled back to the couch.

I don't know for how long I was out. I was woken up by sharp stabs of pain in my lower back and a shrill little voice calling my name.

"Arys aga! Arys aga! Wake up!"

I took hold of the little girl bouncing up and down my lower back and led her by hand to stand up on the floor.

"Lana... that hurt," I groaned as I sat up.

"I'm sorry," she said sweetly.

I chuckled despite the pain. She doesn't look sorry at all.

She took a step towards me and grabbed my right hand, urging me to get up.

"Why are you still sleeping? Everyone is already downstairs and I saw a pretty auntie."

I stood up, disoriented.

"She said she is your new manager. I like her better than Tatiana. She's pretty, and kind too. I like her hair," she babbled on as she grasped my hand, leading me towards the door.

Tatiana? Who is Tatiana??

She let go of my hand to open the door but she grabbed it back as we went out of the studio.

"How did you come up here?" I asked her as she dragged me through the hallway.

"I came up with Rayana taté," she answered.

"And who is Tatiana?"

I carried her up on my arms and walked down the stairs.

"She is Uncle Ruslan's niece. She is from Russia. You know, she is pretty too but I don't like her."

"Why not?" 

"I don't like that she keeps talking about you," she responded with a shake of her head.

"Is that a bad thing?" I chuckled.

"I think she likes you," she whispered in my ear.

I burst out laughing. Lana can be so observant sometimes.

"Do you like her?" she scrunched up her nose at me when I put her down at the foot of the stairs.

"No. I don't even know her," I laughed.

"Good," she said in her bossy way and walked on ahead.

"Go to your mother first okay? I need to go back up to my room," I called out after her.

She looked back and nodded.

I climbed back up and went straight to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and washed my face. The cold water woke me up.

I went back down and head to the family room. It was Ms. McCrae who saw me first when I walked in, relief written all over her face.

The corner of my mouth turned up into an amused smirk.

Okay.

What happened?

I noticed teacups and pastries on all four coffee tables. Of course. It's tea time.

"You're here son," I heard ana call to me and my attention shifted to her.

"Sorry for being late ana. Good morning. It's nice to see everyone."

I walked over to her and äke and gave them a kiss. Then I turned to papa and mama who are sitting next to them. 

"Have you been well son?" papa asked me after he released me from a hug.

"I had been well papa," I answered him.

I turned to mama next to him and hugged and kissed her.

"I missed you mama. I'm happy you and papa are here."

She also kissed my cheeks.

"We missed you too my dear. Your Aunt Dasha and Uncle Ruslan are here. Go and greet them."

I walked over to Aunt Dasha and Uncle Ruslan. Aunt Dasha stood up and hugged me while Uncle Ruslan just shook my hand.

"It's nice to see you Dasha taté, Uncle Ruslan," I greeted them.

"You've grown to be a dashing young man," Aunt Dasha beamed at me.

I thanked her with an embarrassed smile and then also shook hands to Uncle Roman and Aunt Aigerim who are sitting next to them.

Finally, I moved on to Dias, my cousin, and his company of young people. They gathered around the last two coffee tables. I gave hand slaps to everyone, except Tatiana to whom I offered a handshake. Her hands were cold and shaking. 

Besides Diana, Ayaru also came and there's Alikhan, Aunt Aigerim's older son, and of course Rayana and Adilet.

I don't see Lana.

"Did Lana came back to you taté?" I addressed Aunt Aigerim.

"Yes son. She insisted on going with Leila to get her baursak," she answered me.

That reminds me of someone who loves sticking around Leila.

I looked to where Ms. McCrae sat. She is sitting alone on the double sofa opposite my parents. She and ana are talking to each other but she looks very much isolated from the rest of the family.

Her eyes strayed to my direction as I walked towards her. She gave me a grateful smile. I took my seat beside her and leaned forward to the coffee table to make myself a jam sandwich. I'm starving.

"Have you had your breakfast?" I asked her.

"Yes Sir. I waited for you for some time but Leila advised me to eat ahead," she responded.

I bit my lip to keep myself from smiling. Oh. So she waited for me.

"How are you holding up?"

"Honestly Sir I want to get out of here," she whispered.

I chuckled. I remember her first tea with the family well. This is an upgraded version. There are more people around.

"I have everyone assigned to their rooms already Arystan. All the boys will sleep with you in your room," ana said to me from across the table.

"Okay ana," I responded.

The room is buzzing with everyone absorbed in their own conversations. I'm glad no one is paying attention to me anymore. Well, except for Tatiana. I can feel her staring at me and Ms. McCrae. 

"What did you have for breakfast?" I asked Ms. McCrae.

"Manti. I helped Leila make them earlier this morning," she answered.

"You woke up early."

"I slept early Sir."

I smiled.

"Right. You must have slept well after all that hard work."

"Yes Sir."

I poured tea in an unused teacup on the table and took a sip. I would prefer coffee but I don't want to bother Leila. She must be busy with lots of people to feed for lunch.

"Leila and I brewed coffee Sir. We left some for you."

I leaned back on the sofa chair and looked at her with wonder.

"Really?"

"Would you like me to bring it here Sir?"

I stood up.

"It's okay. I'll go find Lana and get my coffee."

"Can I come with you?" she whispered again.

I nodded at her, amused. She got up from her seat in split- second.

"I'll be in the kitchen ana, äke. I need my morning coffee," I addressed my parents.

"Ms. McCrae is coming with me if that's alright with you," I added.

"Oh sure dear. We are almost done anyway. We will take some rest in a little while," ana responded.

"Thank you for being patient with everyone's questions Miss Dionna," äke said to Ms. McCrae.

Ms. McCrae gave him a polite smile in response.

"I want to say sorry on behalf of the family dear," ana also said to her.

I wonder how it all went. Ana even apologized.

Ms. McCrae just gave them again a polite nod.

I turned to mama and papa on our left.

"We are going mama, papa. I'll see you later after I have my coffee," I said to them.

"Okay son. Take your time. We are not going anywhere," papa smiled.

I heard Ms. McCrae let out a sigh the moment we stepped out of the family room.

"Are you okay?" I asked her.

She gave me a wry smile.

"I am now Sir."

She looked adorable for a second there.

"What happened? What did they ask you about?"

"It was not about the questions Sir."

"Oh. Then what is?"

"It was keeping up with everyone's attention that was draining and then feeling like an alien--"

I stopped walking and she halted with me.

"What is it Sir?"

I looked at her.

"I'm sorry."

She frowned.

"For what?" 

"For not being there with you. I have a feeling you're not used to a large family."

She looked at me for a couple of seconds then broke into a laugh.

Mirth also bubbled up in my chest. She got an infectious laugh.

"What?" I asked trying to contain my laughter.

"I felt kind of silly Sir but you don't know how glad I was when I saw you walked in the door," she grinned, the dimple lines sculpting her cheeks.

Am I staring at her? I think I am.

She waved a hand in front of my face.

"Sir?"

"Oh. Coffee. Let's get going."

***************************