At first, wedding invitations for Jesse McBee and Alli Ventresca’s ceremony seemed like an easy decision on The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys Season 2. When Jesse was asked on Episode 9 about the “yes” RSVPs to his wedding, he promptly declared: “And no Russians” (referring to his father’s girlfriend, Masha, and ex-girlfriend, Galyna Saltkovska). However, within days, Jesse was handing an invitation to the McBee Farm & Cattle Co. CFO, despite her complicated past with his family.
Jesse’s brother, Steven McBee Jr., weighed in on if he would have made the same decision during his recent visit to Bravo HQ.
“I think I would have invited Galyna. Just because of all the history we have together and how much she’s been there for our family,” he said during the exclusive interview. “And I do know Galyna will always have my family’s best interests at heart. She is so loyal to everyone in my family.”
Steven went on to describe just how valued Galyna is in her role as CFO.
“Galyna has worked so hard and does so much of the work that we would never want to touch,” he admitted. “We love working out in the field every single day, working on the farm and ranch. Galyna does all of the financials, all of the reporting to banks, all of the documentation and accounting that I would never want to touch. And they wouldn’t either. And so she has quite honestly the toughest job in the company, and the job that no one wants to do.”
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Why Galyna Saltkovska wasn’t initially invited to Jesse McBee and Alli’s wedding
Galyna’s relationship with several members of the McBee family was a sticking point as Jesse and Alli weighed whether or not to invite her to the wedding. After all, Jesse’s mother, Kristi McBee, previously accused Galyna of being “the mistress that effectively ended her marriage” to Steven Sr.
“I really didn’t want to invite Galyna to the wedding in the first place because I didn’t want to make things awkward [for] my mom,” Jesse confessed on the August 25 episode. “She really just wants everything to be put behind her and put in the past.”
But then Kristi was shocked to get a text from Galyna asking to be included in the wedding invites. According to her, Galyna had written the following message: “I work with the boys every day, and in a way, I feel that they are my family. That’s why I thought I would just text you about coming to the wedding. I completely respect your decision, whatever it is. Thank you for hearing me out.”
Kristi confessed to feeling “stressed” by the request.
“I’m kind of conflicted with Galyna coming to the wedding. This day is about Jesse and Alli. I don’t want any distractions,” she said in a confessional interview.
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Why Kristi McBee convinced Jesse to invite Galyna to his wedding
Kristi, however, later called Jesse and told him inviting Galyna was up to him and Alli, and whatever their decision, she was “okay with it.”
“She’s part of my kids’ world,” Kristi admitted. “And she’s very protective of them. And she works very hard for them. And I appreciate that.”
Jesse had a change of heart, and decided to invite Galyna during the McBee car wash opening.
“I talked to my mom the other day, and talked to Alli and everything,” he explained on the August 25 episode. “You do a lot for us, obviously, and work your butt off for us and our companies. So, I just wanted to say thank you for that. You’re obviously a big part of our lives and have been the past few years.”
After he handed her an invitation, Galyna teared up and hugged him, and told him, “This means the whole universe to me.”
“Growing up, we never had [a] big family, but we always were very tight, and I wanted to have my American family because I can’t go back,” she shared in her confessional interview. “Jesse giving me this invitation makes me feel like I’m actually part of the family.”
Where does Galyna stand with Kristi McBee today?
Galyna and Kristi made a few strides in their relationship during a face-to-face meetup on Season 2, Episode 6 of The McBee Dynasty, which led to Kristi softening about the wedding invitation.
“Galyna apologized to me, and I’m not bitter with her at all,” Kristi shared with The Daily Dish. “I mean, she’s gone through enough herself. I don’t have any ill will towards her. How could I? I wouldn’t ever want to punish her. She’s getting punished enough.”
Kristi added that she blames her ex-husband for what happened in her marriage more than Galyna. “She’s a hard worker. And she’s a strong woman. She just fell under his manipulation,” Kristi said.\
Galyna also recently told People that she now “definitely talk[s] to Kristi a lot” and added she “developed a friendship with Kristi” for which she’s “super grateful.”
Don’t miss Galyna teasing all of the drama still to come on The McBee Dynasty Season 2.