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Couldn’t you change the baby’s diaper?!» Natalya exploded, returning from the women’s clinic…

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I asked you to look after our son like a human being! How can you be so heartless? The child is soaking wet, and you’re just staring at your monitor!»

«Why are you starting this now?» Vadik grimaced, glancing over his shoulder at the baby crib. «The boy is lying there quietly, not crying. Why stir things up?»

«Are you serious?!» his wife exclaimed indignantly. «Just because he’s not screaming, it means he doesn’t need attention?!»

«What, am I supposed to swing him back and forth?» Vadik smirked and dove back into his laptop.

A new project was looming, and there was very little time left to submit it—the deadlines were burning. And here was Natashka with her quirks—’watch him, I need to see a doctor.’

«I’m warning you!» Natalia yanked the back of the computer chair. «You’ll have to sit with the son, I’m going to the hospital!»

Vadik choked and forgot which keys he wanted to press.

«What?!» he barked, turning pale. «Are you out of your mind?!»

«Not out of my mind!» the wife returned to the crib and picked up the baby. «The doctor said I have a polyp that needs to be removed urgently! So, darling, you’ll sit with the child—there’s no escape!»

«How long do I have to sit with him?» Vadik stretched out, hoping his wife was joking. «Are you sure it’s urgent? Maybe he’ll grow up, and then you can remove it?»

«Are you a moron?! Who’s going to grow up?!» the young woman yelled at him. «The polyp or Mishenka?! What are you even talking about?!»

«Well, Mishka will grow up, and then you’ll lie down,» Vadik said uncertainly, glancing sideways at his son. The baby was puckering his lips and trying to catch his mother’s gaze—he was one and a half months old and didn’t understand anything yet but sensed some unease. Mishenka furrowed his pale eyebrows and amusingly wrinkled his button-nose.

Mama instinctively kissed him on the forehead and stroked his chubby hand. The boy sensed the familiar smell of his mother’s milk, and calm spread throughout his tiny body. He was ready to cry—the diaper was uncomfortably pinching, but Mommy quickly solved the problem, pulling off the overloaded diaper and replacing it with a clean one.

«Quiet, sunshine, all is well—mommy’s here,» she rocked the baby, and he drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

Vadik sat staring at one spot. He was frightened and confused at the same time. The prospect of being alone with the child scared him more than the overdue project. How to solve this problem, Vadik did not know yet, but he was not ready to give up.

«Nat, don’t make a fuss,» he whispered, trying not to wake the tiny son. «Let’s have your mom sit with him, and I’ll help her!»

Natalia gently placed Mishenka in the crib, covered him with a thin blanket, admired the boy, and then turned to her husband.

«Let’s go to the kitchen! We need to talk!» Natasha hissed and shook her head.

 

«What is there to talk about?» Vadik hissed back as soon as they were in the kitchen. «Are you out of your mind? How am I supposed to sit with him?!»

«Don’t hiss! He can’t hear!» the wife planted her hands on her hips. «You’ll sit ordinarily, just don’t forget to change the diapers, or he’ll get a diaper rash!»

«Are you stupid, Nata?» Vadik gloomily shook his head. «What am I supposed to do with him?»

«Vadik! Don’t start!» the young mother halted his complaints. «You’ll manage, where are you going to go! You can feed the child and change his diaper—you’ll last a couple of days!»

«How long?!» the young father gasped. «I thought a couple or three hours! What, a couple of days?! Are you heading to a sanatorium?! What are they going to do there that takes so long to stay in the hospital?!»

«How would I know, Vadik?» she sank onto a stool and wrapped her arms around her shoulders. «I’m scared myself—the doctor said something worrying. They write such horrors on the internet… I’m very scared.»

«Hey, mom! Don’t stir things up!» he approached her but didn’t dare to embrace her. He knew that now was not the time to touch her. Natalia couldn’t stand pity—she didn’t want to be seen as weak.

«Everything will be fine, Nat!» Vadik said and lightly tugged her ponytailed hair. «We’ll manage! I’ll think of something…»

«Vadik, what can you think of?» Natalia shook her head. «The polyp needs to be removed, even if you burst. There’s no one else to leave Mishka with but you. I’m freaking out for no reason and worrying about our son. What can you think of?»

«If it needs to be removed, then lie down and don’t think about anything!» Vadik confidently said and hugged her. «Mishka and I will not disappear—we are men or what! Worry a little and start writing a childcare manual! Understood?»

Natalia pressed against him, inhaled his scent, and felt that there was no one dearer to her in the world. Vadik and Mishenka—that was the most precious thing she had. Unfortunately, her mom had gone to the country for a week in another region, and Natalia didn’t want to bother her. She tended to panic about anything, and here was plenty of room for it—a joke, her daughter was facing surgery…

A few days later, after submitting the necessary tests and writing a detailed childcare manual, pumping and freezing breast milk, Natalia lay down in the hospital. Vadik drove her and now sat in the car, looking at his son. Nerves were frayed—the young mother understood that her son was not with a stranger, but Vadik was poorly oriented in reality. He was a programmer, and everything that happened around him, not in the monitor, often puzzled him.

The young father had no idea how to cope with a child—almost all responsibilities lay on Natalia’s shoulders. Vadik was trusted only to walk with his son outside, and that for a couple of hours. Now, by his understanding, harsh trials had come into his life, and he had a poor idea of how to deal with them, but he didn’t show it.

«Well, brother? Shall we go home, we’ll fight together,» he said to his son lying in the tiny portable crib. Mishenka’s nose wrinkled, and the child suspiciously grunted.

«Here we go…» Vadik sighed and pulled out of the hospital parking lot. «Mikhail! Hang on until we get home! Otherwise, we’ll suffocate!»

He accelerated quickly but carefully—Vadik was transporting the most precious thing his wife had entrusted to him, and he could not let her down. Vadik loved Natashka, although she was slightly scatterbrained and unpredictable. They had been married for five years and had not planned to have a child, but Mishka decided that he was very needed by his parents and appeared without asking permission. How this happened, Natasha and Vadik still could not understand—they knew perfectly well how to avoid unwanted pregnancy. If it weren’t for a moment of passion that overwhelmed them outside the city at a friend’s cottage.

That’s when Mishka happened…

At first, they were confused, not knowing what to do with it, but then, when they saw the genuine joy in their parents’ eyes, they realized that happiness had knocked on their door not by accident. And Mishenka was born.

He was a healthy and very calm child, only he could not stand hunger—the baby would start screaming as if cut, if there was even a minute’s delay in feeding.

He demanded his due, and Natalia prayed to God that her eardrums would not burst and the neighbors would not file a police report against her for abusing the infant.

Now, as Vadik drove his son home, he first began to grunt, making suspicious sounds, and then began to cry. It was not a cautious whimper—Vadik thought a siren had been turned on at full volume.

«Oh Lord!» he prayed, pressing the gas pedal harder. «Not this!»

When they raced home, Mishka was screaming like a victim and had no intention of stopping.

«Vadik, what happened to you?» a neighbor asked in the hallway as Vadik raced past her with a screaming infant in the crib.

«Oh, Mariya Gavrilovna! Don’t even ask!» Vadik threw over his shoulder as he ran into the elevator. «I wish I knew myself!»

When they were in the apartment, Mishenka miraculously quieted down, and Vadik suspiciously looked at him.

«What’s up, bro?» he tugged at the baby’s leg. «Are you alive?»

Misha looked displeased at his father and wrinkled his nose again.

«Okay! Calm down!» the father pleaded, pulling off his jacket. «I’m coming! Just don’t scream!»

He quickly washed his hands—Misha grunted unhappily, warning that he was getting hot and it would be nice to take off his suit.

«Right now, bro!» Vadik carefully pulled the baby’s body out of the clothes and realized, judging by the smell, that a surprise awaited him. «Not this! Are you doing this on purpose?!»

Rolling his eyes, trying not to breathe, Vadik unpacked the baby, discovered that there was a lot of «surprise» and that wipes would not suffice.

«Alright, bro, we’re going to wash!» Vadik decisively said, pushing the bathroom door open. «How does mom check the water, so as not to boil your butt? With an elbow, it seems?»

Somehow managing with the slippery body of the baby, Vadik dried him off, put on a new diaper, and breathed a sigh of relief—Mishka lay content and didn’t even peep.

«Well done, boy!» he praised his son. «Guess we’re good! Maybe you’ll even let me work, huh?»

Mishenka thought otherwise—it was feeding time, and delaying it was not his style.

«Ah! Here we go!» Vadik shook his head as his son began to whimper and then burst into full cry. «Then lunch! What work here?»

Half an hour later, when Misha finally fell asleep on his father’s chest, having eaten and burped on his clean T-shirt, Vadik dialed a familiar number and whispered:

«I’m screwed! Come over—I have a burning project, and I won’t finish on time with Mishka! Well, are you a woman or what?!»

 

That same evening, Natalia called her husband and heard strange sounds in the background—a female voice humming a lullaby.

«Vadim! What’s happening!» she asked sternly. «Who is in our apartment?!»

«Nobody…» the husband mumbled, and the sounds stopped. «How are you?»

«I’m fine!» Natalia roared. «Don’t try to talk your way out of this! Answer me, whose female voice is singing a song to our child?!»

«Natash, why are you stirring things up?» he said a bit more confidently. «Mishenka and I are fine! He’s clean, fed, and sleeping contentedly. Want, I’ll turn on a video call! See for yourself that everything’s alright.»

«I’ll turn you on now!» Natalia flared up, feeling that her husband was lying. «Go around the rooms and show everything! Give me Mishenka!»

«Give him the phone?» Vadik was bewildered.

«Are you an idiot?!» the wife fumed. «Show me him!»

«Ah, now…» the man turned on the camera. «Just don’t get nervous, it might be harmful for you…»

«It’s going to be harmful for you now!» she threatened, not willing to believe her own husband. «What are you even doing?!»

«Nat, what are you?» Vadik defended himself, showing her the sleeping son. «See? The boy is sleeping—satisfied and content, and you’re waking him up!»

Natalia looked at her son and couldn’t hold back her tears—she realized how much she had missed him in the few hours spent in the hospital. Everything was already behind her, and the doctor said that the patient could go home tomorrow. However, he took a promise from her that she would not lift the child for several days and then start taking care of her health very attentively.

«Can I go home today, doctor?» Natalia plaintively asked. «I have a tiny son at home…»

«I know,» the doctor smiled, an elderly man in old glasses. «But you, mommy, need rest. You’ll tire yourself out with the son—there’s a whole life ahead. And children, if you didn’t know, need a healthy mother, as does a husband… So, don’t plan on leaving before tomorrow. And now—rest! You won’t have such an opportunity at home—I know you women!»

Natalia sighed and dialed Vadik’s number. At that moment, she heard a female voice «off-camera.» Now, two feelings struggled inside Natalia—she saw that Mishenka was sleeping and everything was fine with him, but something suspicious was in all of this, and it very unpleasantly scratched the young woman’s imagination.

«You’re not telling me everything, my dear…,» a restless thought twirled in Natalia’s head. «Well, let’s see what you’ll sing tomorrow…»

«Alright, Vadik!» she said sarcastically into the phone. «Let’s talk tomorrow, I kiss you!»

«And we kiss you!» the husband hurriedly replied, relieved that it was over, and Natalia quickly believed that everything was fine with them and Mishenka. «Tomorrow we’ll pick you up! Write what time!»

They parted—Natalia lay down in the hospital bed and continued to paint terrible pictures in her mind with another woman in her house. Meanwhile, Vadik sat down at the monitor, hoping to finish the project by morning.

«Are you going to eat?» a female voice asked from the kitchen. «Because I wanted to clear the table.»

«Rit, leave everything—I’ll eat and clean up later,» Vadik responded, not taking his eyes off the screen. «I’m burning, I’m done for…»

«Come on, what are you?» the woman chuckled. «You always make it in time…»

Vadik nodded and tapped the keys, half-listening to the sounds in the nursery. Fortunately, the baby was sleeping peacefully, and the father had nothing left to do but sigh and immerse himself in his work completely.

Early in the morning, a key turned in the lock, and Natalia cautiously entered the apartment. In the hallway, she saw fashionable women’s shoes, and everything inside went cold—she thought exactly that Vadik was lying to her.

«Alright!» she said loudly, walking into the room and seeing her husband’s half-asleep, frightened expression. He sat with red, tired eyes at the laptop and stared bewilderedly at the woman appearing in the doorway.

«Natalia…» he whispered and rubbed his eyes.

«Not expecting, darling?» she frowned. «What’s up? Caught off guard?»

«Well, yes…» he mumbled, not knowing what to do. «You were supposed to write when to come pick you up…»

«I decided not to bother you, dear!» the wife venomously smirked and headed to the nursery. «You have to take care of your loved ones, look after them…»

She entered her son’s room—he was sweetly sleeping, snoring softly, and slightly smiling. Natalia adjusted the blanket and tiptoed out. Vadik stood in the middle of the room, smiling guiltily.

«Oh, Natashka!» she heard a familiar female voice from their bedroom. «You’re back already? Well, then I’m going, I need to drive the kids to school. Andryukha is there alone fighting with them!»

On the threshold of the marital bedroom stood Rita—the wife of Vadik’s older brother. The woman, in her early thirties, stretched and covered a yawn with her palm.

«Your milk I took out of the freezer, you can heat it already…,» she said slowly, starting to gather. «Mishutka almost slept through the night, only fed him at four. Otherwise, all is well—your boy is calm, not like our rascals grew up. Had to shake them in my arms all night. So, guys, consider yourselves lucky.»

Natalia stood and shifted her gaze from her husband, shuffling from foot to foot, to the half-asleep Rita. She calmly put on her shoes, kissed Natalia on the cheek, waved to Vadik, and left the apartment.

«What is this?!» Natalia finally came to her senses, asking insistently in a whisper. «How did Rita end up here?!»

«Well, how, how? Normally!» Vadik hissed back. «Through the door! I asked her to help with Mishenka! I have a burning project! How do you imagine—work and sit with a child? I’m not you—I can do everything myself! I only have two hands, not ten! Either he dumps in the diaper, or he wants a drink, or to eat! Had to call Ritka, luckily Andryukha understood me—he’s an experienced father…»

Natalia, exhausted, sank onto the sofa and covered her face with her hands.

«Nat, what’s wrong?» Vadik sat down next to her, frightened. «Did it hurt?»

Natalia began to shake with laughter—she covered her face with her hands and couldn’t stop. Vadik recoiled in fright—he thought his wife’s roof had slightly moved.

«Vadik, I’m stupid!» she stopped for a second and wiped away tears. «I thought you dragged another woman into our house! I thought you had a mistress and she was rocking our child while I was away! Imagine how stupid I am?!»

 

Vadik’s eyes bulged, not understanding how seriously she was speaking.

«What mistress?! Are you out of your mind?!» he was outraged. «I love you!»

«I’m telling you—I’m stupid!» Natalia laughed and hugged her angry, devil-like husband. «How do you put up with me?»

«And I know? Because such crazies are hard to find…» he shook his head and pressed his wife to him. «I missed you, fool…»

A mother with a newborn was crying outside the maternity hospital, not knowing where to go, when she overheard a conversation between two nurses.

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Svetlana sat on a bench outside the maternity hospital. Her heart was heavy with the realization of the mistake she had made. Perhaps it would have been better to leave the baby here for the state to take care of. But there was no other choice left — her partner had disappeared without a trace once he learned of the pregnancy. It later turned out he was a married man, looking only for some side amusement.

She couldn’t abandon her child. Now, because of her indecision, the baby risked being without warmth and food. Svetlana, through tears, looked at the tiny nose peeking out from under the blanket.

Svetlana lost her parents early. Their house burned down six months after their death; the firefighters assured it was due to old wiring. The only option left was to go to her father’s sister. However, the aunt received her coldly; she already had three children of her own.

Svetlana found a job and hoped for the best. Then she met Saveliy — a handsome young man with a fancy car. When her aunt learned of the romance, she demanded that Svetlana leave her house. Saveliy helped her find a room in a dormitory, but now even that roof over her head was lost.

Svetlana wiped her tears, trying to gather her thoughts. What to do next?

There was a noise behind the bushes — two nurses came out to smoke.

«Gal, did you see how today Tamara Ivanovna’s husband picked her up?» asked one.

«Of course. I feel sorry for her, such a good doctor. But nobody is insured against that. She lost a child and can no longer have children, yet she delivers babies every day.»

«I don’t know how I would handle it. But she’s an excellent doctor and a wonderful person.»

«Yes, they had waited so long for this pregnancy. They are already over forty. And the house they built…»

Svetlana looked at her son and whispered, «Forgive me. I hope everything turns out as I planned.»

She headed to the church to think over her decision. Inside, she silently cried for almost an hour and only left when the baby began to fuss. Finding a secluded spot, she decided to take a walk.

In the park, she watched the ducks, but she couldn’t stay there long. There were too many families with children around. She realized she wouldn’t be able to walk with her son or teach him to play ball. Her life seemed to be over, but her heart and soul remained with the child.

It was getting dark. Svetlana stood in front of a new house with a green roof. The windows were lit, but no one was visible inside. She gently kissed the baby on the nose and walked to the house, choking with sobs and pain.

On the spacious porch, she carefully placed a box she had found at the dump. Inside, she laid the infant, who immediately began to cry. Svetlana tightly shut her eyes, and his cry echoed in her heart.

She pressed the doorbell and held the button for a long time, then quickly ran away. Hiding behind a tree, she listened to the baby’s cry. A loud male voice came from the house:

«Tamara, come here, quickly!»

 

Svetlana clenched the sleeve of her jacket, suppressing the desire to scream and run to the baby.

A woman appeared at the doorstep, who gently picked up the baby.

«Tolya, come into the house quickly. Get inside!»

The door closed, and the baby’s cry dissolved into silence.

Exhausted, Svetlana sat down on the cold ground by the tree trunk. She didn’t know how much time had passed until she woke up. Opening her eyes, she saw that it had gotten dark. Svetlana headed to the city’s edge — there was nothing left for her here. Her documents were in her pocket, though they now seemed useless.

An hour later, she reached the highway, and half an hour later, a truck picked her up. The driver, an elderly man, was heading north, and she said she needed to go there too.

«Matvey, how happy I am to see you!» exclaimed a woman when her son got out of the car and warmly hugged her.

«Mom, stop sitting in the heat. You know about your blood pressure,» said Matvey.

«Ah, stop that nonsense! Where’s my sunshine?»

A young woman got out of the car, holding a toddler. The boy was about two years old; his eyes were still sleepy, but as soon as he saw his grandmother, he immediately perked up:

«Ba!»

«Come to me, my joy!» Tamara Ivanovna opened her arms wide.

The daughter-in-law handed her the grandson and playfully remarked: «You’re staying with him for two days, and we can relax a bit with Matvey.»

Tamara Ivanovna laughed: «Rest well! You have the weekend, and I have the chance to see my grandson once a month.»

Matvey winked: «Mom, we’ll definitely rest. I brought fishing rods, planning to teach Vera how to fish. How’s our river? Hasn’t it dried up?»

«Fishing?» Vera snorted. «There haven’t been fish there for a long time. And you, instead of spending time with your mom, plan to hang out by the water! Better help with the preserves. I remember how we used to make compotes and jams with your mother…»

Matvey theatrically sighed: «Ah, caught me! Alright, I’ll fix the fence. It’s about time. By the way, Pashka called yesterday, wondering how we’re doing here.»

The day flew by unnoticed, and Matvey slyly smiled, never revealing the main thing: they came not just for the weekend, but for a three-week vacation. After his father’s death, his mother changed significantly, although she tried to hide her sorrows.

Matvey had long settled in another city, continuing his mother’s business and becoming a renowned doctor. He supervised the most complex operations and deliveries. He started right here before receiving an offer to work in a new perinatal center.

Vera, an accountant at the same center, became his life partner. Despite their desire to visit relatives often, Matvey’s tight schedule made it difficult. But now they decided to take a vacation to help his mother and take care of household matters.

The next evening, the family decided to have a barbecue. Andryusha, their son, happily played in the sandbox with toy cars. Matvey and his childhood friend Pashka planned the roof repair, then discussed work on Pavel’s house. The latter joked that a good plan is already half the success, and a reason for a toast.

Tamara Ivanovna, busy in the kitchen, pretended to be angry at the men, but her face glowed with happiness. Gathering the whole family was a rarity.

«Mom, we have news for you,» Matvey broke the silence.

«What news, son?» she asked curiously.

«Wait, first I need to check your reaction,» he grinned, lightly tapping her with a towel. «We’re staying with you for three weeks!»

Tamara Ivanovna sat down on the bench, shocked by the news: «Why didn’t you tell me earlier? This is wonderful!»

She wiped away tears of joy. Matvey asked worriedly: «Mom, why are you crying?»

«These are tears of happiness, dear,» she replied, smiling warmly.

The family talked for a long time, discussing various topics, and didn’t notice when an unfamiliar woman appeared at the gate. Matvey got up and approached her:

«Hello! Are you coming to us? Please, come in, mom is home.»

The woman entered the yard and hesitantly approached the table: «Sorry if I’m interrupting.»

Vera examined the guest, then glanced at Tamara Ivanovna and noticed how she suddenly turned pale and clutched her heart.

«Tamara Ivanovna, what’s wrong with you?» Vera cried out, rushing to her.

Matvey and Pashka quickly seated her in the house, measured her blood pressure, and gave her a sedative.

When Tamara Ivanovna had somewhat recovered, Matvey went back outside:

«Where’s that woman?» he asked, looking around.

Vera looked at her husband: «She disappeared as soon as Tamara Ivanovna felt better. I don’t understand who she could be. Maybe an acquaintance of your mom?»

«Perhaps one of our distant relatives,» Matvey guessed.

Pavel and Vera exchanged surprised glances.

«How can you be so sure she’s a relative?» asked Vera. «Although… her features do seem familiar. Look in the mirror! If I didn’t know your story, I’d think you were mother and son,» she mused thoughtfully.

Matvey turned to Pasha, puzzled: «Yes, strikingly similar. I swear,» he added.

Matvey sat down on the bench, lost in thought: «What could all this mean? Could she be related to my biological parents? But why have I never seen her before?»

At that moment, Tamara Ivanovna’s voice rang out: «No, Matvey, she’s not our relative… to us and your father. But for you… Yes, she is your real mother.»

Matvey turned pale, and Vera squeezed his hand tightly: «Who?» she whispered.

Tamara Ivanovna sighed deeply: «I’ve been hiding this from you for a long time. All these years, I hoped she wouldn’t appear again… Didn’t understand why she did what she did. But I couldn’t find the strength to start this conversation.»

She began her story: how they had dreamed of a child, but fate was cruel to them. Losing their own baby was a real tragedy for her. But one evening, a doorbell brought a note: «Please give him what I can’t. Give him happiness.»

«Back then, when we had means and authority in the town, we took it as a sign from above. We had to change jobs and move to another district to avoid unnecessary questions. Over time, everyone forgot, and everyone thought you were our own son. I love you with all my heart; you’ve always been the most precious person to me. But Svetlana… She didn’t leave you just like that. It wasn’t her choice, believe me. Half a year ago, she found me, told her story. It wasn’t her fault.

 

«Mom, do you want me to meet her?» Matvey asked after a long pause.

Vera placed her hand on her husband’s shoulder: «I think it’s necessary. Otherwise, this mystery will haunt you.»

«But where do I look for her?» Matvey wondered.

Pasha, approaching the gate, noted: «She’s there, standing by the tree and crying.»

Matvey stood up, unsure what to say to this woman who once left him. His thoughts were confused: he had grown up with a loving mother and father, now deceased. These images seemed solid, but now everything was crumbling. Nevertheless, his legs carried him to her.

«Hello. We need to talk,» he said uncertainly.

The woman looked up in fright, then timidly touched his shoulder: «I don’t want anything from you, Matvey. Just listen to me…»

Three years passed. Matvey was again in the yard, where every free moment was spent surrounded by family.

«Mom! Where is everyone? Round up the grandkids!» he shouted cheerily.

Andrey ran out of the car, followed by Vera with a little daughter in her arms. Svetlana and Tamara Ivanovna ran out to meet them.

«Oh, my God! We’ve been on the lookout all day, and still we were late!» laughed Tamara Ivanovna.

Svetlana had bought a house nearby, and their relationship had warmed. Initial caution was replaced by sincere friendship. Now they enjoyed the grandchildren together and discussed family matters. In the evenings, both women shared stories: Tamara with memories of Matvey’s childhood, and Svetlana with her trials.

Now they had formed a special, but strong family. Matvey often joked: «Who would have thought—I, a doctor helping women become mothers, ended up with two mothers, and my children with three grandmothers! Life is full of surprises.»

The dog met every bus from the city for a month. But when they found out what had happened…

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«Well, son, tell me, how is it in the city?» his mother bustled around the stove, constantly adding hot pies to the plate.

Nikita smiled, looking at her gray crown. Always the same—always in motion, always busy. Just more wrinkles and a bit more bent back.

 

«It’s quiet, mom. We finally finished the renovation.»

«And how did it turn out?» she sat next to him, wiping her hands on her apron.

«My Sveta did great. She chose the wallpaper herself, even put it up. I just helped with the ceilings and changed the wiring.»

«Oh, she’s a good one…»

«Yes, a good one,» Nikita nodded. «Just gets very tired. Her school workload is huge, and then there was the renovation.»

Outside, a neighbor’s cow mooed, the smell of freshly cut grass and mom’s pies filled the air. Just like in childhood—only he himself was different now. A city dweller.

«Mom, let me at least fix the fence while I’m here. It’s really leaning.»

«Oh, son, leave it.»

«No, it needs to be done. And I’ll patch up the roof in the barn—it’s leaking, isn’t it?»

«It is,» she sighed. «Just never got around to calling someone.»

He spent the whole day tending to the house. Fixed the fence, patched the roof, even weeded the garden beds—his mother kept saying it wasn’t necessary, that she could handle it. But how could she manage? She was all alone.

In the evening, after washing up, he went to the store for bread. At the porch of the local shop, the village grannies gossiped:

«That dog’s still sitting at the bus stop.»

«How many days now?»

«Well, it’s been a month since its owner took off to the city.»

The big red dog indeed sat at the bus stop. He’d lift his head at the sound of a motor, peer into the windows of the approaching bus, and lower his head again when it drove away.

The locals were used to it:

«Ah, that’s Ryzhik waiting for his owner.»

«Poor thing, doesn’t understand that no one’s coming back.»

«Such loyal creatures, dogs.»

Nikita began to watch him. Something about this dog touched his soul—perhaps the hopeful gaze, perhaps the stubborn loyalty with which he waited.

«Whose dog is this?» he once asked Baba Klava, a local elder.

«That’s Vitka’s!» she exclaimed, waving her hands. «He moved to the city to be with his daughter. Left the dog behind.» She gestured dismissively. «Now it waits, the silly thing.»

Something snapped inside. Nikita remembered Vitka well—always drunk, always owing money. He gambled away in cards, drove his wife away to the point that she ran off. And probably got the dog on a whim when it was fashionable to have Labradors.

You scoundrel, Vitka. A real scoundrel.

The next day, Nikita brought food to the bus stop. Ryzhik initially hesitated but then approached. He ate eagerly but carefully—it was clear he was a domestic, well-behaved dog. And such sadness lingered in his brown eyes.

Returning to his mother, Nikita stood on the porch, lost in thought.

«I’ll take him,» he decided, not realizing he had spoken aloud.

«Take who?» His mother just came out to the porch, wiping her hands on her apron.

«The dog, mom. That Ryzhik from the bus stop.»

«What?!» The apron flew to the railing. «Are you out of your mind, son? What about a dog? You just did a renovation in your apartment!»

Nikita sighed. He knew it wouldn’t be easy.

«Mom, I just can’t leave him here. He’ll die otherwise.»

«And what will your Sveta say?» His mother planted her hands on her hips. «Did you even consult with her?»

 

«She likes dogs.»

«She likes them, but who will clean up after it? Who will walk it? You’re both at work all day!»

She sat down on the steps, shaking her head.

«You’ve always been like this… Jump into the deep end without thinking. Remember how you brought that kitten home in fifth grade? And then you ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. Who took care of it? I did!»

«Mom, but I’m not in fifth grade anymore.»

«And still the same!» she threw her hands up in exasperation. «Always saving someone… Have you thought about yourself? About your wife? That’s a responsibility!»

«And leaving him there isn’t a responsibility?» Nikita asked softly. «Like Vitka—got it for fun and then threw it away? You think that’s right?»

His mother fell silent. She stared into the distance, fiddling with the edge of her apron.

«Alright,» she finally exhaled. «Do what you think is best. Just—»

«What?»

«Call Sveta. Right now. So she doesn’t say you put her in front of a done deal later.»

Nikita indeed called. But he didn’t dare say right away that he was taking the dog. He decided to prepare his wife gradually. So, he just told her about the lonely dog whose owner had abandoned it.

But it turned out not so simple to just take the dog. At the leaning gate of Vitka’s house, he was met by his mother—swollen, with cloudy eyes:

«What do you want?»

«I came for the dog.»

«Ah,» she squinted. «Five hundred rubles—and take it.»

«You don’t even feed him!» Nikita protested.

«We have nothing to eat ourselves!» Vitka’s brother emerged, just as disheveled. «Give us a thousand—or get lost!»

Lord, they were treating him like an object. Like an old sofa up for sale.

He had to call the local policeman.

«Petrovich? This is Nikita Voronin. Remember, in school…»

«Ah, Voronin! How could I forget—you always stood up for someone, fought with Vitka often.»

«Well, it’s Vitka again. Rather, his dog.»

The local policeman arrived in twenty minutes. He parked his UAZ by the leaning fence, surveying the overgrown yard:

«Mmm. It’s getting worse and worse here.»

Ryzhik, seeing the man in uniform, pressed his ears back and retreated. Petrovich crouched down, extended his hand:

«Come here, buddy, don’t be afraid. Did they hurt you here?»

The dog cautiously approached, sniffed the hand. His tail twitched slightly—perhaps he sensed a friend.

«Officer!—» Vitka’s brother stumbled out of the house, trying to look sober. «We were just, you know, relaxing culturally.»

«I see your relaxation,» Petrovich grimaced. «Where’s the mother?»

«Let me call her! Mom, the cop’s here!»

Vitka’s mother crawled out onto the porch, wrapping herself in a torn robe:

«What’s again? We didn’t do anything.»

«Yeah, you always don’t!» Petrovich suddenly shouted, his voice so stern that even Ryzhik flinched. «Your son abandoned the dog—it’s a crime under Article 245 of the Criminal Code. You distill moonshine—another crime. And judging by the smell from the shed, there’s a lot more interesting stuff there. Shall we write up a report?»

The mother turned pale:

«What report, Petrovich? We’re neighbors.»

«And I’m saying—we’re neighbors. So maybe we can solve this neighborly? Give up the dog—and we’ll go our separate ways.»

Vitka’s brother started to object, but his mother poked him in the side:

«Take him.»

«Write a statement that you won’t have any claims.»

Petrovich pulled out a notebook and handed it to the owner:

«And sign here.»

In the car, Nikita asked:

«What if they hadn’t agreed?»

«Where would they go?» Petrovich chuckled. «They have such a list of charges. But the main thing—they treat the dog as property. And they know how to trade property.»

He turned to Ryzhik in the back seat:

«Well, fighter, home? To a new owner?»

The dog softly whimpered and licked the extended hand. Perhaps thanking, or asking—really going home?

They drove home in silence. Nikita occasionally glanced in the rearview mirror—Ryzhik lay down, resting his muzzle on his paws, watching the road attentively. Not whining, not fidgeting—as if he understood that he was being taken to a new life.

«Sveta will kill me,» Nikita muttered, dialing his wife’s number.

«Where are you?» her familiar voice came through the phone.

«I’m, uh, heading home. And not alone.»

«Oh God, don’t tell me that.»

«Yes,» he exhaled. «I’m bringing a dog.»

Silence hung in the phone.

«The one from the bus stop?»

«Yeah.»

«You fool, Nikita,» tears were audible in his wife’s voice. «Such a fool. I love you.»

At home, Ryzhik first toured the entire apartment, sniffing every corner. He stopped at the brand new sofa, looked questioningly at the owners.

«Just not on the sofa!» Sveta jokingly wagged her finger.

The dog sighed and lay down on the rug. Five minutes later, Sveta was sitting on the same rug, hugging the red neck and cooing:

 

«Who’s our smart boy? Who’s so handsome?»

As Nikita fell asleep that night, he felt a warm, furry body wriggling at his feet. They let him on the bed after all—where else to go.

A week later, his mother called:

«Vitka showed up! Apparently, he couldn’t get along with his daughter, sold the apartment. Now he’s wandering around here, asking about the dog.»

Nikita turned cold:

«And what?»

«Nothing!» his mother snorted. «Petrovich explained to him what would happen if he started making trouble. And what rights does he have? He abandoned the animal—he lost all rights.»

They were silent on the phone.

«Son?»

«Yes, mom?»

«Bring him over sometime… Ryzhik, I mean. I’m cooking porridge, got some bones. And I miss him already.»

Nikita smiled:

«We’ll come over the weekend, mom.»

And Ryzhik, as if understanding what was being discussed, approached and rested his head on Nikita’s knee.

A glamorous girl shoves a homeless dog into a car and drives away. But who could have thought…

0

«Did you see what she arrived in today? They say daddy gave it to her for her birthday.»

«And the bag? Easily costs a couple hundred thousand!»

«Forget the bag. Look at her manicure—those rhinestones alone are worth my monthly stipend!»

 

Marina frowned, listening to her classmates whisper. Vika Solovyeva, the only daughter of a well-known developer, as usual, sat in proud solitude at the back of the classroom, absentmindedly flipping through something on her gold-encased phone.

Her long, blonde hair fell in perfect curls over her shoulders, and her impeccable makeup made her look like an expensive porcelain doll.

«I wonder what goes through their heads?» Marina thought, sneaking a glance at her classmate. In two years of study, Vika had hardly spoken a couple of dozen words to anyone. She arrived at classes in luxurious cars (seemingly a new one every month), aced her exams impeccably, and disappeared without taking part in any student life.

«Probably just thinks about clothes,» snorted Katya, Marina’s friend, following her gaze. «Typical rich girl. I heard her on the phone yesterday—every other word was ‘Milan’ or ‘Paris’.»

Marina nodded, though something inside resisted this simple explanation. Sometimes, she caught a strange expression in Vika’s eyes—as if she saw through everyone, thinking about something distant and not at all glamorous.

«Remember how she did her environmental thesis last semester? About the impact of humans on wild animal populations. Where does a ‘typical rich girl’ get such a topic?»

«Come on,» Katya dismissed. «Probably her dad’s aides wrote it. She just put on lipstick and read it out.»

But Marina remembered that day. She remembered how Vika’s eyes lit up when she talked about the issues facing homeless animals. How her voice quivered as she showed statistics on animal cruelty. At that moment, she seemed completely different—alive, genuine.

But then she put the mask of cold aloofness back on.

Their chance encounter happened on a chilly November evening. Marina rushed out of the shopping center, clutching a bag of groceries, and stopped dead in her tracks.

At the entrance, squatting down, Vika Solovyeva was feeding a large stray dog. Her perfect fingers with holographic manicure carefully broke off pieces of sausage. The dog—dirty, with matted fur and clearly a hurt paw—devoured the treat greedily.

«Easy, easy, don’t rush,» Vika’s voice, usually cold and detached, sounded unusually soft. «Haven’t eaten in a while, poor thing? I know, I know.»

The wind fluttered her expensive coat, but she seemed not to notice the cold or the dirt under her knees.

It had always been there, Marina suddenly realized. Those strange absences from classes, mysterious departures from lectures, secretive phone calls. She remembered seeing a bag of dog food in Vika’s bag once and didn’t think much of it—maybe she had a pedigree dog at home.

After feeding all the sausage, Vika suddenly took the dog’s face in her manicured hands and spoke, looking straight into the dog’s brown eyes:

«You know, I understand you. Really, really. It’s like no one sees the real you, right?»

The dog whimpered softly.

«I remember begging my parents to get a dog when I was a kid,» Vika continued, as if talking to herself. «But dad kept saying, ‘Why do you want a mongrel? If you want, we’ll buy a pedigree puppy from a breeder. With a pedigree, with diplomas.’ But I just wanted a friend. A real one. Someone who would love not for expensive gifts and status.»

Marina felt a lump in her throat. Suddenly, she saw a completely different Vika—not the glamorous cover girl, but a lonely girl who had hidden her true self behind a perfect facade.

«Okay, no more sadness!» Vika stood up decisively, dusting off her coat. «Let’s go.»

To Marina’s astonishment, the dog, limping, followed the girl. Without hesitation, Vika opened the back door of her impeccably clean car.

«Come on, buddy, jump in. We’ll take you to the vet, then we’ll figure something out.»

«Hey, what are you doing?!» Marina blurted out.

Vika turned around, and for a moment, their eyes met. There was no embarrassment or defiance in them—only a deep, hidden sadness and determination.
«What I consider right,» she simply replied, helping the dog into the car. «You know, sometimes you just have to be yourself. Even if everyone around expects something different from you.»

With those words, she got behind the wheel and drove away, leaving Marina in complete bewilderment.

I will continue the story, revealing Vika’s story and developing the plotline.

The next day, Vika did not show up for classes. And she was absent the day after that as well. Marina found herself constantly looking at the empty spot at the last desk, wondering in her head: where did she take that dog? What happened to it?

By the end of the week, curiosity got the better of her. After classes, Marina gathered her courage and approached some classmates who were closer to Vika.

«Do you know where Solovyeva is? Haven’t seen her for a while.»

«Who knows,» shrugged Anton. «Maybe she’s off to Europe again. Although,» he paused, «lately her car has been seen often near some old warehouse.»

Marina immediately remembered a conversation she had overheard Vika having on the phone: «No, dad, I can’t come now. I have important things to do. Yes, more important than the show in Milan!»

It was as if the pieces of a puzzle were starting to fit together.

 

An hour later, Marina was driving to the old industrial district. She didn’t even know why—after all, a week had passed since that encounter. But a persistent inner voice insisted that she was on the right track.

Near the dilapidated building of the former warehouse, there was a familiar car. And from around the corner came the sound of lively barking.

Marina cautiously looked around the corner and froze. In an inner courtyard, enclosed by a high fence, dozens of dogs were running, playing, and simply basking in the sun. There were large and very small dogs, well-cared for and some not yet fully nourished. In the midst of this canine kingdom stood Vika—in simple jeans and an old sweatshirt, her hair casually tied back—distributing food among the bowls.

«I’ve been wondering when you’d figure it out,» she suddenly said without turning around.

«How long have you been doing this?» Marina managed to ask.

«Almost a year,» Vika sat down to pet a puppy that ran up to her. «At first, I just fed them on the streets. Then I started treating them. And then I realized they needed a home. At least a temporary one. Dad gave me money for a new car—I bought this warehouse. I did most of the renovations myself, spent almost all summer here.»

«That’s why you never went to parties with us?» Marina guessed.

«Yes. You know, all those expensive clothes, cars, parties—it’s all a facade. Dad’s dream, not mine. But here, I am real.»

Vika finally turned around, and Marina saw in her eyes that same expression—only now she understood it was not emptiness, but a deep, all-consuming love. Love for those who had been abandoned, betrayed, who had lost hope of finding a home.

«You know, that dog you saw at the shopping center has already found a home,» Vika smiled. «Generally, they get adopted quite well. Especially if you don’t lie about their breed and titles, but just tell their stories. By the way, do you want to help? We’re always short on hands.»

And Marina, looking at this completely new, unfamiliar, but so genuine Vika, suddenly realized—she wanted to. She really wanted to become part of this little miracle hidden behind the peeling walls of an old warehouse.

«Where do we start?» she asked, rolling up her sleeves.

Time flew by unnoticed. Marina now came to the shelter almost every evening. Gradually, she learned the stories of each dog, learned how to approach even the most distrustful ones. And she also got to know Vika better.
It turned out that behind the mask of a spoiled «rich girl» hid an amazing person with a big heart. Vika not only maintained the shelter with her own money but also ran a social media page where she shared the stories of her charges. Without embellishment, without unnecessary pomp—she simply wrote honestly about each dog’s fate.

«People need to know that they are not just taking in an animal, but a friend with its own character and history,» she explained to Marina. «Then there are fewer betrayals.»

That evening, they sat together on an old couch in the break room. Snow fell outside, and the shelter was quiet—the dogs had already had their dinner and were sleeping in their places.

«You know what I dream about?» Vika suddenly said. «I want to someday open a real shelter. A big, modern one, with a staff of veterinarians. So that we could help not only dogs but also cats. To have facilities for rehabilitating sick animals.»

«Why not now? You have the means.»

«My father,» Vika smiled sadly. «He thinks it’s a whim that will pass. He says there’s no point wasting time on homeless dogs when you could be building a career in his company. He doesn’t even know about this shelter—he thinks I spend the money on shopping.»

At that moment, Vika’s phone rang—it was «Dad» on the caller ID.

«Yes, dad. No, I can’t right now. I have an important meeting. Yes, more important than the Christmas reception.»

Marina saw how her friend was nervous, how her fingers trembled. And suddenly she decided:

«Maybe it’s time to tell him the truth?»

«He won’t understand.»

«Try it. Show him this place, tell him about your dream. You’re his daughter—surely he’ll want to make you happy?»

Vika was silent for a long time, staring into the darkness outside the window. Then she nodded resolutely:

«You’re right. Enough hiding. But I have a big favor to ask,» Vika nervously fiddled with her sweatshirt sleeve. «Could you be here tomorrow when I talk to my father?»

«Of course,» Marina replied without hesitation. «But why?»

«You see,» Vika hesitated. «I’m so afraid of this conversation. I fear his reaction, his disappointment. It will be easier if there’s someone here who understands me.»

Marina looked at her friend closely. It was strange to see her like this—flustered, uncertain. Where was the haughty beauty from the last desk?

«Of course. And you know what? Your father can’t fail to understand. You’re not just helping animals—you’re creating something important. It’s a business too, just a special one.»

Vika hugged her friend impulsively:

«Thank you. For believing in me. For staying to help that day. For everything.»

The next day she called her father and asked him to come for «a very important conversation.» Marina saw how nervous her friend was, how she nervously adjusted her hair, glancing at the clock.

When a stately Maybach pulled into the yard, Vika turned pale. But she squared her shoulders and went to meet her father.

Solovyev Sr., a tall, imposing man in an expensive suit, stopped at the threshold, surveying the territory of the shelter. His face was inscrutable.

«So this is where you’ve been disappearing to,» he finally said.

«Yes, dad. This is my shelter. These are dogs that need help. We treat them, feed them, and look for new homes.»

«We?»

«I and my friends—volunteers. Dad, I know you think this is a waste of time. But look…
Vika began to explain—about each dog, about how important it was to give them a chance, about her dream to create a real animal assistance center. She spoke passionately and fervently, and Marina saw how Solovyev Sr.’s expression gradually softened.

Then, a miracle happened. Babushka, an old dog with a gray muzzle that Vika had recently picked up on the highway, limped over to them. He cautiously sniffed Solovyev’s shoes and then trustingly pressed against his legs.

«Well, well,» he murmured. «Just like my Jack.»

«Jack? The dog from your childhood you told me about?»

«Yes. Just an ordinary mutt. Saved me from bullies when I was a boy. My most loyal friend.» Solovyev bent down to pet Babushka. «You know, I always wanted to open a shelter. After Jack. But life got in the way—business, money.»

He straightened up and looked intently at his daughter:

«But you’re making it happen. And your eyes sparkle. Will you show me your plans for the new center?»

Six months later, on the outskirts of the city, the modern «Faithful Friend» center for helping homeless animals opened. With spacious enclosures, the latest veterinary equipment, and a staff of specialists. At the opening, Vika and her father cut the red ribbon together—both in jeans and t-shirts with the center’s logo.

«You know,» Marina whispered to her friend, «you still became what your father wanted to see.»

 

«In what sense?»

«A successful businesswoman. Just in your own, special way.»

Vika smiled, watching her father enthusiastically tell the journalists about plans to expand the center.

«Probably. Sometimes you just need to gather courage and take off the mask. Then it turns out that something real was hiding under other people’s expectations all this time. You just have to let it show.»

She bent down to pet Babushka, who, as usual, was bustling nearby:

«Right, buddy?»

And the dog, as if agreeing, barked loudly, making everyone laugh.

Thus ended the story of a girl who was not afraid to be herself. And about how behind any mask, an amazing soul might be hiding—just needing a chance to reveal itself.

In the maternity ward, she was told that the child did not survive. Years later, she learned that her son was with the family of his biological father.

0

Philip had loved Elizabeth since school, and they planned to get married in the future.

Philip’s mother, Angelina Semyonovna, who managed a maternity ward at the hospital, disapproved of her son’s choice. She had long favored a nurse named Christina and hoped her son would marry this girl, who was liked not only by the hospital staff but also by the patients—a girl from a family of doctors.

After graduation, Philip enrolled in medical school, and Elizabeth in a school of foreign languages to become an English translator like her mother and grandmother. Their classmates decided to celebrate this occasion in nature and went to Philip’s family’s country house.

 

They spent almost a whole month there and didn’t want to go home. But soon, classes were starting, and they needed to prepare.

In the fall, Liza told Phil:

«I’m pregnant. How will you react?»

«What do you think? Of course, I’ll carry you in my arms to the registry office.»

«I’m not alone and I’m heavy.»

«Scare a sportsman? I used to wrestle at school. You are light as feathers to me,» joked the delighted Philip.

«But we need to figure out what to do about school?»

«About school, yes, Lizochka. Looks like you’ll need to take a break for a year after childbirth.»

«I’ll switch to distance learning, like my mom. She had me at nineteen and managed everything. But let’s agree, Phil, right away. After the wedding, you’re moving in with us. Respect your mother from a distance. I’ve known for a long time she won’t accept me. She’s quite a character.»

«Only for your peace of mind, Lizochka,» agreed Philip.

Elizabeth and Philip filed their application at the registry office and went their separate ways home. There were guests at Liza’s apartment. A friend of her father’s came with his wife and son Alexander, sixteen years old but looking older.

At home, Philip told his parents about the new event in his life and warned them to prepare for the wedding.

Angelina Semyonovna disliked this and went in the evening to Elizabeth’s parents to create a scandal. She pressed the doorbell several times, but no one opened. They were setting the table in the living room, and music was playing, similar to the doorbell melody, and no one paid attention as they weren’t expecting anyone. Guest Alexander was taking a shower at that time and was surprised that no one was reacting to the doorbell. He wrapped a towel around his hips and opened the door.

Angelina Semyonovna was initially bewildered but, realizing she had a phone in her hand, pressed record and started filming the hallway, starring Alexander in such attire.

«Are you here to see Anna Nikolaevna?» Sasha, not understanding the movement of this woman’s phone, asked.

«Not anymore,» and Philip’s mother hurried down the stairs.

At home, she showed Philip the recording, emphasizing that they took a long time to open the door.

«Recognize Liza’s hallway? It’s still unknown who she’s pregnant by.»

«I get it, mom. You were right. She’s not the one for me.»

Philip sent an angry message to Elizabeth on her phone, then turned it off completely. Liza didn’t understand anything but couldn’t get through to Philip, so she went to him despite the late hour.

Angelina Semyonovna anticipated that Liza would run to her son for clarification and watched her approach from the window. When she saw the girl, she rushed to the hallway and opened the door herself. Not letting Liza in, she stepped out onto the stair landing.

«And what did you want from Philip? He’s already asleep. And you, playing both sides? Continue to entertain yourself with other guys, two-faced,» and, returning to her own apartment, she slammed the door shut.

Elizabeth didn’t understand anything and started crying, sitting down on a step. After some time, she returned home. In the kitchen, Anna Nikolaevna was washing dishes, and her tearful daughter hugged her.

«Lizonchka, what’s wrong? The wedding is soon, and you should be happy.»

«Mom, there won’t be anything anymore, except that I’m carrying his child. It seems his mother stirred things up after learning that we applied for marriage,» and she showed her mother the fiancé’s message about the unknown Liza cheating on Philip.

«If Philip behaved like this, he will continue to obey his parents. God has kept him away from you. We’ll raise the child ourselves,» her mother tried to console her.

After the fallout with Philip, Elizabeth struggled to recover and had a difficult pregnancy. She was rushed to the maternity ward while her parents were at work. She gave birth to a son under anesthesia as it was the only way. Later in the ward, she was informed that the baby was stillborn.

After the paperwork, the deceased newborn’s body was given to the parents, and they buried him. Elizabeth was still in the maternity ward, so she missed the ceremony.

After this incident, Philip’s parents quickly sold their apartment and moved out of the area.

«It’s for the best, daughter. You struggled with random encounters with Philip, and he just walked past with a haughty look.»

«I also hope, mom, that I’ll forget him faster.»

Eight years passed.

Elizabeth worked as a translator in a small firm, and suddenly, Philip entered her office.

«Why have you appeared in my life again? I’ve long forgotten you.»

«I’m sorry, but tragedy has brought me to you.»

«That’s strange to hear, Phil. You have a cool mom. Go to her with your troubles. I don’t have time for you. Please leave my office.»

«Liza, I beg you to listen to me. It’s important for you too. I’ll wait at the café across the street after work.»

«I’ll come out of curiosity only,» Elizabeth turned her gaze to her computer screen, signaling to Philip that the conversation was over.

In the evening, Elizabeth and Philip met.

«I’m sorry, Liza, but my son is ill, and he needs a donor.»

«You’ve got the wrong address, Philip. Your mother has more resources in this area.»

«We’ve been waiting, and no donor is available. I’ve even put up my apartment for sale. You’re a mother, and you have a better chance of helping our son.»

«Is this some kind of joke, Philip? Our son was born dead. My parents buried him.»

«He’s alive, and he’s already eight years old.»

«How did that happen?»

«Remember the day we filed our marriage application?»

«I’ll never forget your nasty message.»

Philip repeated the story his mother told him about who she saw in her apartment.

Liza explained who Sasha was, and Philip turned pale. He still loved Liza and had not married. She also remained unmarried, fearing she could not bear a living child again and did not want to go through that grief a second time.

«Phil, let’s get back to our son. What did your mother do?»

«When you were in the maternity ward, Liza, my mother was there and saw you being wheeled through the corridor to the operating room. She had a 50/50 hunch that you were pregnant by me. The test confirmed my paternity, but she didn’t want to give you the son. I’m to blame for agreeing to this. My grudge against you haunted me. Apparently, God punished me, as our son Sergey is ill.»

«Let’s go to him. Let them check me for compatibility. If you’re not a match, then he must have the first blood group, like me.»

«Yes, Liza, I have the third.»

Elizabeth’s hands trembled and her heart pounded as she saw her boy in the clinic’s ward.

«Sergey, I’ve found our mom. We’ve been lost for a long time, but people helped us meet,» Philip said, while Liza was speechless.

 

«Mom, I’ve been waiting for you and imagined you just like this. Although we don’t have your photos in our apartment.»

«Sonny, everything will be alright. I’m here and will do everything to make you healthy,» Elizabeth cried, hugging her son.

«Son, let your mom go. She needs to talk to your doctor.»

Elizabeth turned out to be a match, and Sergey was cured. Philip sold the apartment and paid off the clinic for the treatment. They now live together in an apartment with Liza’s parents.

«Lizonchka, forgive me, but we need to get married, and you need to have another child. I want everything to be alright with our son, but his doctor warned me that siblings are better donors than parents.»

«I’ve read about that, Phil, and for the health of our children, I’m ready for anything.»

Philip and Elizabeth got married and now, besides Sergey, they are raising two more children: a son and a daughter.

A stranger in the park gave the girl a book. When she showed it to her mother, she gasped and turned pale.

0

«Anya, I’m home,» called Vera as she entered the apartment. A thirteen-year-old girl emerged from the room.

«Mom, you’re home early today.»

«Yes, I came home a bit early. Next week I’ll need to work a couple of hours more. How are you? How’s school?»

«Fine, nothing new.»

«You look a bit pale. You should go outside while I prepare dinner.»

Anya smiled:

«Alright, Mom. I just got such an interesting book from the library, I can’t put it down. I’ll combine pleasure with benefit.»

Anya quickly got ready and left the house. Vera sighed. She’s just like her father—he also always carried books with him. He was smart, very smart and wealthy, not suitable for Vera.

Fourteen years ago, Vera, a medical college student, fell in love. Igor was not just wonderful, he was the best. They could talk for hours, wander around the city, just sit by the water, and they were never bored. At the same time, Igor was not a nerd; he was into sports.

Back then, Vera could list his positive qualities for hours. But then he invited her home to meet his parents. Vera could only think about one thing—how to leave as soon as possible. She felt uncomfortable, like a rabbit in front of pythons.

Igor’s parents were not just wealthy, they were fabulously wealthy. A huge house, servants—for Vera, who was born and raised in a poor neighborhood where men drank more often than ate, being in such luxury was unbearable. Igor’s mother talked to her husband and son, she simply did not notice Vera, as if she were an empty space. Running home, she fell to her knees in front of her mother and told her where she had been.

«Mom, what should I do?»

«Think for yourself, daughter. Suppose Igor actually marries you, but how will his circle treat you? It’s up to you, of course, but there’s a saying: pick a mate from your own social standing.»

Vera didn’t sleep all night. Igor didn’t believe her words.

«Vera, I don’t believe you. I know for sure, you love me.»

Without looking at him, she replied:

«You know, people are deceitful creatures; it’s time to understand that.»

«What about me? I love you.»

«You’ll get over it, you’re young. It’s time for me to go.»

She glanced into his eyes for a second and, holding back tears, walked away. Just to not fall down, just to get around the corner.

She couldn’t get out of bed for almost two weeks. Her mother was seriously worried about her.

«Darling, maybe see a doctor? You can’t go on like this.»

«No, I’ll manage, just need some time.»

Two weeks later she got up, thin, with dark circles under her eyes, and started to learn to live anew. Only a month later did she realize something was wrong, something was happening in her body, and it was completely unfamiliar—pregnancy. Nine weeks pregnant.

The doctor sarcastically asked:

 

«Well, are we running to terminate?»

Vera stood up:

«No!»

The doctor caught up with her in the corridor:

«Girl, girl! Here, take these tests, you need to get them done. When everything is ready, come, I’ll register you. I’ve been working for years, I can’t stand watching those who carelessly dispose of another’s life.»

A lot of time has passed since then. Her mother quickly fell ill and passed away. Vera had to drop out of school and worked as a sanitary worker, though at a good clinic. There was no reason to complain about the salary, but her biggest dream was to educate Anya so that she could see a different life beyond this impoverished neighborhood.

Memories flashed through her mind like a shadow. Vera looked out into the yard and saw Anya turning the corner. Right across the street, almost stretching to the city center, began the park. Hardly anyone walked at this end—no kiosks, no stalls, just silence, and the river quietly carried its waters. Her daughter loved reading there.

«Anya, I’m home,» called Vera, entering the apartment. A thirteen-year-old girl came out of the room.

«Mom, you’re home early today.»

«Yes, I came home a bit early. Next week I’ll need to work a couple of extra hours. How are you? How’s school?»

«Fine, nothing new.»

«You look a bit pale. You should go outside while I make dinner.»

Anya smiled:

«Okay, mom. I just took such an interesting book from the library, I can’t put it down. I’ll combine the pleasant with the useful.»

Anya quickly got ready and left the house. Vera sighed. She’s just like her father—he always carried books around too. He was smart, very smart and wealthy, too good for Vera.

Fourteen years ago, Vera, a medical college student, fell in love. Igor was not just wonderful, he was the best. They could talk for hours, wander around the city, just sit by the water, and they were never bored. Despite that, Igor was not a nerd; he was into sports.

At that time, Vera could spend hours listing his positive qualities. But then he invited her home to meet his parents. Vera could only think about one thing—how to leave as soon as possible. She felt uncomfortable, like a rabbit in front of pythons.

Igor’s parents were not just wealthy, they were fabulously rich. A huge house, servants—for Vera, who was born and raised in a poor neighborhood where men drank more often than ate, being in such luxury was unbearable. Igor’s mother spoke with her husband and son, completely ignoring Vera as if she were invisible. Running home, she fell to her knees in front of her mother and told her where she had been.

«Mom, what should I do?»

«Think for yourself, daughter. Suppose Igor does marry you, but how will his circle treat you? It’s up to you, of course, but there’s a saying: choose a mate who matches your own kind.»

Vera didn’t sleep all night. Igor didn’t believe her words.

«Vera, I don’t believe you. I know for sure you love me.»

Without looking at him, she replied:

«You know, people are deceitful creatures; it’s time you understood that.»

«What about me? I love you.»

«You’ll get over it, you’re young. It’s time for me to go.»

She glanced into his eyes for a second and, holding back tears, walked away. Just to not fall, just to get around the corner.

She couldn’t get out of bed for almost two weeks. Her mother was seriously worried about her.

«Darling, maybe see a doctor? You can’t go on like this.»

«No, I’ll manage, just need some time.»

Two weeks later she got up, thin, with dark circles under her eyes, and started to learn to live anew. Only a month later did she realize something was wrong, something was happening in her body, and it was completely unfamiliar—pregnancy. Nine weeks pregnant.

The doctor sarcastically asked:

«Well, are we running to terminate?»

Vera stood up:

«No!»

The doctor caught up with her in the corridor:

«Girl, girl! Here, take these tests, you need to get them done. When everything is ready, come, I’ll register you. I’ve been working for years, I can’t stand watching those who carelessly dispose of another’s life.»

A lot of time has passed since then. Her mother quickly fell ill and passed away. Vera had to drop out of school and worked as a sanitary worker, though at a good clinic. There was no reason to complain about the salary, but her biggest dream was to educate Anya so that she could see a different life beyond this impoverished neighborhood.

Memories flashed through her mind like a shadow. Vera looked out into the yard and saw Anya turning the corner. Right across the street, almost stretching to the city center, began the park. Hardly anyone walked at this end—no kiosks, no stalls, just silence, and the river quietly carried its waters. Her daughter loved reading there.

Anya approached her favorite bench and smiled. She had recently started calling it her own after observing where there were the least people around. It turned out that this bench was the least crowded because there was a bush in front of it blocking the view.

The girl settled comfortably, opened a book, planning to immerse herself in reading, when suddenly she heard:

«Quiet, quiet, no need, go away.» — The voice was male, trembling with fear.

Strange, it was always quiet here, no hooligans around. Anya, by nature, couldn’t just stand by. She cautiously peeked from behind the bush and almost laughed. A grown man stood surrounded by stray dogs. They were big but kind, and no one knew that better than Anya. The dogs were probably just begging for treats, but the man thought they were attacking him. She couldn’t just watch any longer; she always saved everyone, even flies at home she wouldn’t kill but would let outside. Slamming her book shut, Anya moved towards the man.

«Girl, don’t come near, they’re dangerous!» he exclaimed.

The dogs, recognizing her, joyfully rushed towards her. The man looked on in horror and then ran after her, presumably to save her. Anya petted her friends and scolded:

«What are you doing? You scared the man half to death. Go home now, or I’ll tell your owner.»

The dogs lowered their heads and walked towards the house. Anya turned to the stranger:

«Don’t be afraid of them, they only look menacing. Besides, if you show fear, dogs can sense it.»

The man smiled:

«I know, but I can’t help it. Whenever I see a big dog, I just freeze. Thank you so much, you were right on time.»

Anya smiled, the man was likable:

«I often come here, on that bench to read. It’s nice here, nobody bothers me.»

He laughed:

«Believe it or not, I come here sometimes for the same reason—to sit in quiet and read. What book did you bring?»

Anya handed him the copy.

«Good choice. Here’s what I have.» — He showed his book. «See, it’s old, but a very dear person gave it to me, so I often reread it. We even have poems that we read together. Take it.»

Anya shook her head:

«No, what are you, I can’t. What would your dear person say?»

«He won’t say anything. We haven’t been together for a long time, I don’t even know where that person is now. So take it.» — The man handed her the small book and walked down the path easily.

The girl stood for a bit, then also went home. She couldn’t wait to tell her mom everything that happened.

«Anya, how many times have I asked you not to talk to strangers, especially unknown men? What if he had been some kind of maniac? And in a park where there’s nobody nearby!»

«Mom, what are you talking about? He was well-dressed, scared of dogs, and reading a book. How can such a person be bad?»

Vera struggled to keep a straight face and said sternly:

«Never do that again, otherwise, I’ll forbid you from going to the park.»

Anya pouted, offended, but she couldn’t stay angry for long.

«Mom, he gave me a book, a big beautiful one. Look, there’s a bookmark here. Apparently, he reads this piece often, such beautiful lines.»

Vera smiled, glanced into the book, gasped, and turned pale. She took it from her daughter’s hands, closed it, looked at the cover for a long time, then opened the first page. «To my Igor, with love.»

The book slipped from Vera’s hands and fell to the floor.

«Mom, what’s wrong?»

«Nothing, honey.»

Anya tried to figure out what happened all dinner. When they were cleaning up and washing dishes, she finally asked:

«Mom, did it seem to you, or do you know this book?»

Vera sighed:

«No, it didn’t just seem so. I gave it to Igor many years ago.»

Anya’s eyes widened:

«Mommy, tell me!»

«There’s not much to tell. We dated…»

«It seems he’s still suffering.»

«Don’t make things up, it’s been many years. He has a family, children by now. Maybe the book just came to hand, and he remembered.»

 

Anya was silent, then asked:

«Mom, did you love him?»

«I did.»

«Why didn’t you stay together?»

«Because there were too many circumstances that made it impossible for us to be together. He was getting an education abroad, and I was at a local college. You can’t deceive yourself, we were too different.»

«Mom, that’s such nonsense. You can’t compare love and money.»

Vera laughed:

«Anya, stop it. You don’t even understand what love is.»

Anya puffed up offendedly again. She understood everything. For example, she really liked Kolka, but she would never tell him about it.

And then the girl even paused. Wait. What does that mean? She won’t tell Kolka because she’s sure he wouldn’t even look at her. Because Kolka is very handsome, his dad is some big boss, Kolka has the trendiest clothes, and girls from the whole school chase after him. Turns out, mom is right.

Anya was so upset that she went to her room, pondered all this for a long time, but couldn’t come to any conclusion. It all turned out that mom was wrong, but on the other hand…

She saw the man again two weeks later. She was sitting with the very book he had given her, reading the bookmarked poem for the thousandth time.

«Hello.»

Anya jumped:

«Oh, hello.»

«Did you like the poems?»

«Yes, very much, especially this one.» — Anya showed the page.

«Yes, I agree. Perhaps, it’s the best piece.»

«My mom says the same.»

«Did you show her the book?»

«Yes. At first, she scolded me because she forbids me to talk to strangers.»

The man nodded:

«That’s absolutely right.»

«Then she cried.»

«Cried? Why?»

«She recognized this book, said that she gave it to you a long time ago.»

The man stood up, then sat down again:

«That can’t be. The person who gave me this book died a long time ago.»

Anya looked at the man frightenedly.

«Maybe mom was mistaken.»

The man irritably threw out:

«Probably. By the way, what’s your mom’s name?»

«Vera. Vera Zagorodskaya.»

The man sat down again, stunned.

«No, this can’t be.» — It seemed like he was talking to himself. — «Vera’s mom told me that she was no more, asked me to forget, not to come, and not to remind.»

He stood up again.

«Let’s go.»

Anya shrank.

«Where?»

«To your mom.»

Anya shook her head.

«I don’t think she’d be happy about it. If she wanted to see you, she would have said so.»

«And what did she actually say?»

«She said that you couldn’t be together because you were on very different levels.»

«Levels… To think only of oneself! Well, Vera, I’ll show you!»

While Igor was scolding himself, Vera, and the whole wide world, Anya quietly slipped away.

He smiled. And immediately understood that Vera still lived where she had lived. He had not been in that area since the conversation with her mother.

«Mom, I met him again.»

«Who?»

«The man who gave me the book.»

«So… what did you talk about?»

«I also thought he didn’t remember you. But he started yelling! Mom, he somehow thought you were dead.»

«We agreed to that with grandma. We couldn’t move to another place because there simply wasn’t enough money for moving. Lying is very bad, but we had to do it. It was better for everyone.»

«I wonder, for whom exactly? For you, for your mom? For whom is it better? Maybe for me? Did you ask me about it?»

Vera flinched. Apparently, Anya had not closed the door, and Igor had come into the room. He had become even more handsome and even more familiar.

Vera’s voice just disappeared, and she suddenly started crying. Anya hugged her, and they sat like that while Igor paced the room.

«You knew exactly how I felt about you. You only thought about yourself. All this time, I believed you had died… God, I never married, buried my parents, and remained alone in this world. And you… you probably have everything: a husband, a daughter.»

Vera wiped her eyes.

«No husband, never had one. But you have a daughter.» — She looked up at Igor. — «Lord, what a fool I’ve been.»

Anya looked back and forth between her mom and the pale Igor.

«Mom? Mom, is this my dad?»

Vera nodded and hid her face in her hands. Igor sat next to her, then looked at Anya.

«Well, let’s get acquainted. I’ll talk to your mom later. Now we have all the time in the world.»

Mom, you have to help me.» «I’m sorry, sweetheart, but I don’t owe you anything.»

0

Mom, you have to help me.»

«I’m sorry, sweetheart, but I don’t have to do anything for you.»

Those words hung in the air like heavy raindrops before a storm. Yekaterina Vasilyevna gripped the phone receiver so tightly her knuckles turned white. On the other end of the line, a deafening silence prevailed.

«What do you mean ‘don’t have to’? You’re my mother!» Elena’s voice trembled.

Yekaterina Vasilyevna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Outside, yellow leaves swirled in the air — autumn painting the world in its favorite hues, as if trying to hide the harsh truths of life behind a golden curtain.

«Lena, listen…»

«No, you listen!» her daughter interrupted. «You’re selling the house that you and Dad spent your entire lives building. Your entire lives, Mom! And you didn’t even consult me!»

Yekaterina Vasilyevna slowly sank into an old armchair — the very one her husband, Petya, used to sit in while reading the newspaper in the evenings. It had been three years since he passed, yet she still felt his presence in this massive house. In every corner, in every floorboard that remembered his footsteps.

«Why should I consult you, daughter?» she asked quietly. «This is my house. It was ours with your father, and now it’s mine.»

«But you do realize it’s an inheritance! It’s my and Yanochka’s future!» Elena’s voice rang with tears. «And now you’re just… just destroying everything! For what? To buy yourself a tiny apartment in the city?»

«How don’t you understand?» thought Yekaterina Vasilyevna, gazing at a photo of her husband on the wall. Petya smiled back at her from the frame, still as young as he was thirty years ago when they first began building this house.

«Lena, my dear girl,» she began softly, «it’s hard for me to live alone in such a big house. I feel… suffocated here.»

«Then move in with us! We’ve invited you!» Elena retorted.

Yekaterina Vasilyevna chuckled bitterly. Yes, they had invited her. Once or twice, out of politeness. And then came endless hints about how cramped they were, the four of them in a three-room apartment, how they couldn’t afford a new car for Vlad, how little Yanochka was growing and needed her own room…

«No, Lena. I’ve already made up my mind. I’m selling the house, buying a small apartment near the city center, and—»

«And what about the rest of the money?» There was a metallic edge to Elena’s voice now.

Here it is. Yekaterina Vasilyevna felt her heart clench. Was that all her daughter cared about? When had she become like this?

«The rest of the money?» she repeated. «Why does that matter to you?»

«Mom, stop pretending you don’t understand!» Elena exploded. «Vlad needs a new car for work. The old one is falling apart. We were thinking of taking out a loan, but if you’re selling the house—»

«Then what?» Yekaterina Vasilyevna straightened in her chair. «Go on, finish.»

«You could help us! That’s what! You’re alone anyway; you don’t need much. And we’re a family, we have a child to raise…»

Each word hit like a stone. Yekaterina Vasilyevna stared out the window at the swirling leaves, feeling something new and unfamiliar growing inside her. Perhaps it was resentment. Or maybe it was liberation.

«You know, Lena,» she said, her voice unexpectedly firm, «you’re right. I am alone. And that’s exactly why I can finally think about myself. For the first time in… how long? Forty years? My whole life has been for others — for your father, for you. And now I want to live for myself.»

«What?! How can you—»

«I can,» Yekaterina Vasilyevna replied calmly. «And I will. I’m selling the house, and I’ll spend the money on myself. I’ve always dreamed of traveling, you know. Your father promised me we would, but we never got the chance…»

There was a loud crash on the other end — Elena had likely slammed her fist on the table in frustration.

«So that’s it?» she hissed. «Traveling, she says! You should be in a coffin, not gallivanting around resorts! You selfish witch!»

Yekaterina Vasilyevna flinched, but her voice did not falter:

«Yes, my dear. Selfish. Finally.»

The sound of the receiver being slammed down cut sharply through the air. Slowly, Yekaterina Vasilyevna placed the phone back on its cradle and leaned into the back of her chair. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but a faint smile played on her lips.

Deep down, she knew she was doing the right thing. For the first time in her life — absolutely the right thing.

The new apartment greeted Yekaterina Vasilyevna with the scent of fresh paint and silence. Not the oppressive silence of her old house, where every corner screamed of loss, but a kind of… promising silence. The bright one-bedroom apartment on the fourth floor felt like a cozy nest the moment she crossed the threshold.

«Well, Katya, how’s the settling in going?» came the cheerful voice of her neighbor, Zoya Petrovna, who popped in “just for a moment” with a pie and some tea.

«Bit by bit, Zoya,» Yekaterina Vasilyevna replied with a smile as she pulled cups from a box. «I didn’t bring much, just the essentials. The rest…» — she waved her hand — «what do I need it for now?»

Zoya Petrovna — a slightly younger woman with mischievous sparks in her eyes — made herself comfortable at the small kitchen table.

«And your daughter? Is she helping with the move?»

Yekaterina Vasilyevna paused for a moment, then slowly poured the tea.

«Lena hasn’t come by. She’s upset.»

«Upset about what?» the neighbor asked in surprise.

«About the fact that her mother decided to feel like a person for once,» Yekaterina Vasilyevna said bitterly, with a smirk. «Can you imagine, Zoya, she sent me a text yesterday: ‘I hope you’re happy. Yanochka is crying, asking to go to Grandma’s house in the village.’ But I invited them! I said, ‘Come over, the apartment’s small, but there’s room for everyone…’»

«And?»

«And nothing. ‘We have no reason to be there,’” Yekaterina Vasilyevna quoted. “Just like that.»

Zoya shook her head.

«Ah, Katya, Katya… Remember how we used to live when we were young? I keep wondering: when did we forget how to enjoy life? When did our children decide we owe them something?»

Yekaterina Vasilyevna stirred her tea thoughtfully.

«You know, I’ve thought about that a lot too. Maybe it’s our own fault? We did everything for them, gave them everything… But when do we think about ourselves? On retirement? In the grave?»

«Exactly!» Zoya said enthusiastically. «And speaking of which… There’s a dance group at our cultural center, for those of us ‘of a certain age’» — she winked playfully. «It’s called ‘Silver Waltz.’ Care to join me?»

«What?! Dancing at my age?» exclaimed Yekaterina Vasilyevna, throwing up her hands.

«What’s the big deal? We’re not doing pirouettes,» Zoya laughed. «It’s just for fun. Waltz, tango… And, by the way, there are gentlemen there!» she added with a meaningful raise of her eyebrows.

«Oh, stop it!» Yekaterina Vasilyevna blushed, but her cheeks betrayed her with a rosy hue.

«Why not? A widowed woman, looking her best…» Zoya gave her friend an appraising look. «Speaking of looking your best — how about we go shopping? You need something brighter than this funeral wardrobe.»

«Zoya!»

«What? I’m just telling the truth! Enough mourning, you’ve grieved long enough. It’s time to start living.»

Yekaterina Vasilyevna wanted to protest but caught a glimpse of her reflection in the window glass. When had she become a typical old woman? That dark, drab housecoat, that dull cardigan…

«You know what?» she said decisively. «Let’s go! And to the dance group too. By the way, Petya first noticed me at a dance…»

«Well, that’s wonderful!» Zoya beamed. «The first class is on Wednesday. Just one thing…» She hesitated.

“A dress. You need a fancy one.”

And they burst into laughter, like schoolgirls. What followed was a shopping trip filled with fittings, exclamations from saleswomen, “Oh, this color looks perfect on you!” and the purchase of an unexpectedly stunning burgundy dress.

That evening, as Yekaterina Vasilyevna unpacked her purchases, she caught herself humming a tune from her youth. She walked over to the mirror and critically examined her reflection. Yes, the wrinkles were still there. Yes, her hair was streaked with gray. But her eyes… her eyes had changed. They were alive.

Her phone buzzed with a new message from Elena:
“Mom, Vlad and I did some calculations for the car. Could you at least lend us half the amount? We’ll pay you back when we can.”

Yekaterina Vasilyevna looked at the new dress hanging on its hanger, then at the phone. For the first time in her life, she simply deleted the message without responding.

Then she turned on some music and spun around the room in an imaginary waltz.

The cultural center greeted Yekaterina Vasilyevna with the echo of footsteps in its long corridor and the sound of a waltz drifting from behind the auditorium doors. Her heart pounded—whether from nerves or the brisk walk, she wasn’t sure.

“Don’t be scared!” Zoya whispered, giving her a nudge toward the doors. “We’ll be fine!”

Inside, about fifteen people were gathered—women roughly their age and, indeed, a few men. A slim, silver-haired instructor in an elegant shirt was demonstrating the basic steps of the waltz.

“Ah, newcomers!” he exclaimed brightly when he noticed them. “I’m Ignat Stepanovich. Come in, join us!”

Yekaterina Vasilyevna hesitated but stepped forward, smoothing down her new dress. “Dear God, what am I doing here?” flashed through her mind. But then Ignat Stepanovich extended his hand:

“May I have this dance? Let’s show everyone how it’s done.”

And suddenly… something clicked inside her. Like a switch being flipped, her body remembered movements it had long forgotten. One-two-three, one-two-three…

“Marvelous!” Ignat Stepanovich exclaimed after the first round. “You’re no beginner to dancing!”

“A long time ago…” she managed to say, feeling lightheaded—whether from the waltz or the compliment, she couldn’t tell.

“And you said, ‘What dancing at my age!’” Zoya teased, clapping her hands.

After the lesson, as everyone headed for the exit, Ignat Stepanovich caught up with them in the hallway.

“Pardon my curiosity, but what is your name?”

“Yekaterina… Yekaterina Vasilyevna.”

“A pleasure to meet you.” He gave a gallant bow. “You know, we have a small concert coming up next week. Perhaps you could—”

“No, no, absolutely not!” She waved her hands in protest. “I’ve just started…”

“Don’t be modest,” he said with a smile. “You have natural talent. And besides…” He hesitated. “We’re short on good partners for the waltz.”

“Say yes!” Zoya nudged her playfully. “Or else Nina Pavlovna will swoop in on our Ignat Stepanovich!”

“Zoya!” Yekaterina Vasilyevna blushed.

The three of them burst into laughter, and somehow it ended with them going to a café “just for tea.” Tea turned into a two-hour conversation, as Ignat Stepanovich turned out to be a captivating storyteller. He spoke about his travels, having just returned from Greece.

“Can you imagine? You can still dance the syrtaki right on the waterfront there!” he said with sparkling eyes. “And the sunsets… Oh, you should see those sunsets!”

“I will,” Yekaterina Vasilyevna blurted out.

“Really?” He looked at her closely. “Maybe… we’ll see them together?”

She floated home on wings. In her purse was Ignat Stepanovich’s business card (“Call me anytime!”), and in her heart, a bright melody was playing.

As she opened the door to her apartment, a familiar voice startled her.

“Mom?!”

Elena stood near the entrance with Yanochka. Her daughter looked at her with poorly concealed surprise.

“Where have you been? We’ve been waiting for an hour! I called, but you didn’t pick up…”

“I was at a dance class,” Yekaterina Vasilyevna replied simply, walking past them into the apartment.

“At what?!” Elena’s eyes widened. “Mom, have you lost your mind? You’re sixty-five years old!”

“Sixty-three, dear. And I feel wonderful.”

“Grandma, did you really dance? Like a princess?” Yanochka chimed in.

“Yes, sweetheart. A real waltz!” Yekaterina Vasilyevna winked at her. “Would you like me to teach you?”

“Yes!” The little girl jumped up and down excitedly.

“Enough of this circus!” Elena snapped. “Mom, we need to talk.”

Inside the apartment, after sending Yanochka to watch TV, Elena hissed:

“What’s going on with you? Dancing? Princesses? You’re… you’re…”

“What am I, Lena?” Yekaterina Vasilyevna asked calmly. “An old woman? A wreck?”

“For heaven’s sake, how can you… It’s embarrassing! What will people say?”

Yekaterina Vasilyevna smirked and suddenly leaned forward. Something flared in her eyes, making her daughter instinctively step back.

“Let me tell you something,” she said, her voice low and raspy. “Do you know what’s truly shameful? Hm? It’s when someone’s written off like scrap just because they’ve turned sixty. It’s when a mother is treated like an ATM—expected to hand over her last penny. That,” she tapped her knuckle on the table, “is something to be ashamed of. But my dancing? Tsk!”

The ringing of the phone interrupted her monologue. On the screen, the name “Ignat Stepanovich” appeared.

“And who’s that?!” Elena grabbed the phone before her mother could.

“He’s my…” Yekaterina Vasilyevna hesitated, “…dance partner.”

A look of horror flashed in Elena’s eyes.
“Don’t tell me you…”

“Don’t tell you what?” Yekaterina Vasilyevna asked calmly, taking the phone back. “That I’m living? That I’m enjoying life? That I may even have fallen in love?”

“Good Lord…” Elena collapsed into a chair. “You’ve lost your mind. Completely lost it!”

“No, my dear. For the first time in years, I’m completely sane.”

The phone continued to ring. Resolutely, Yekaterina Vasilyevna pressed “answer.”

“Yes, Ignat Stepanovich! Of course, I remember tomorrow’s rehearsal. I’ll be there!”

Then, putting the phone in her pocket, she turned to her daughter:
“And you know what? I really am going to Greece. To watch sunsets.”

Three months later, Yekaterina Vasilyevna stood by the window of her small apartment, looking at the ring on her finger. Simple, silver—Ignat had given it to her before their trip to Greece.
“A marriage proposal at our age is ridiculous,” he’d said. “But I want you to know I’m serious about us.”

The doorbell pulled her from her thoughts. Standing in the doorway was Elena, unusually quiet and somewhat lost.

“May I come in?”

Without a word, Yekaterina Vasilyevna stepped aside. Elena walked to the kitchen and sat at the table in silence. A heavy pause hung in the air.

“Yanochka keeps asking when Grandma will teach her to dance,” Elena finally said, staring out the window. “She asks every day.”

“You could have brought her over,” Yekaterina Vasilyevna replied evenly, setting the kettle on.

“Mama…” Elena hesitated. “I saw it on TV yesterday. Your performance at the cultural center.”

“And?”

“You… you looked beautiful. In that dress. And you danced…” She paused again. “I didn’t know you could dance like that.”

Yekaterina Vasilyevna smirked.
“There’s a lot you didn’t know about me, dear. And you didn’t care to find out.”

“Mama…”

“What?”

“Is it true you’re going to Greece?”

“It’s true.”

Elena looked up sharply.
“Forever?”

“No,” Yekaterina Vasilyevna sat across from her daughter. “For three months. Ignat rented a house by the sea. He says the velvet season is just starting…”

“And after that?”

“After that, I’ll come back. My home is here. My granddaughter is here…” She paused. “And my daughter, who I hope will finally realize that her mother is a person too. With dreams, desires, and the right to happiness.”

Elena suddenly burst into tears.
“I’m such a fool, Mom! Such a fool! All I cared about was money, that stupid car… And you… you just wanted to live, didn’t you?”

“To live,” Yekaterina Vasilyevna nodded. “Not just survive or exist—live.”

“You know…” Elena wiped her tears. “Vlad and I decided to take out a loan for the car. We’ll manage on our own.”

“That’s the right choice,” Yekaterina Vasilyevna smiled. “It’s more reliable when you do it yourselves.”

“And you… could you…” Elena hesitated. “Bring me something from Greece? Even just a fridge magnet?”

They both laughed—together, for the first time in months.

“I’ll bring you one,” promised Yekaterina Vasilyevna. “And a dress too. So you can go to dances.”

“Oh, stop it, what dances…”

They laughed again. Then they sipped tea with lemon as Elena talked about Yanochka’s achievements in school.

Before leaving, Elena hugged her mother tightly, like she used to as a child:
“Forgive me, Mom. For everything. And… be happy, okay?”

“I will, dear. Now, I definitely will.”

That evening, Zoya called.
“So, are you packing your bags?”

“What bags… I’m just picking out dresses,” laughed Yekaterina Vasilyevna. “Ignat says the sunsets there are amazing…”

“Oh, I’m jealous!” sighed her friend.
“You know, Zoya… I realized something important.”

“What’s that?”

“Life is like a dance. It doesn’t matter how old you are. What matters is that the music is still playing, and you can still waltz.”

The sunset painted the sky in soft pink hues. Somewhere far away, along the Greek coastline, the same sun was sinking into the sea. Yekaterina Vasilyevna smiled at her reflection in the window.

No, she didn’t owe her daughter anything—she owed herself. And she had finally delivered.

Outside, autumn leaves swirled in the air, just like the day she had decided to change her life. But now they didn’t seem sad. Now, they were a dance. Her dance. Her life.

And it was only just beginning.

A millionaire abused his maid. And after she gave birth, he threw her out on the street… But what happened next…

0

The wind, like a celestial shepherd, drove the dark clouds across the sky, and the air was sharply scented with rain.

In the courtyard, on an unremarkable bench by the flowerbed, a young girl sat with her eyes closed, quietly crying.

It seemed that the approaching rain didn’t frighten her at all, and she was so immersed in her own suffering that she noticed nothing around her.

The first heavy raindrops had already fallen on the asphalt, signaling that a downpour would start in a minute or two.

 

Residents from the surrounding apartment buildings hurried home to avoid being caught off guard by the bad weather.

No one paid any attention to the crying, lonely girl, except for the janitor, Klavdiya Nikitichna, who couldn’t just walk by.

«Hey, dear… Why are you crying? The rain’s about to start, and you’re sitting under the open sky… Did something happen?» she asked, touching the stranger’s sleeve.

«Something happened, auntie…» the girl said through tears, looking timidly at the janitor.

«Well, tears won’t help your sorrow… Especially now with the rain starting… Come with me to the storage room, and you can tell me everything there,» said Klavdiya Nikitichna, leading the tearful girl to the basement where she had a small room set up for storing equipment.

Once inside, the janitor first put the kettle on the electric stove and seated her guest in an old chair in the corner.

At that moment, a real downpour with thunder and lightning slashing through the sky erupted outside.

Meanwhile, the change of scenery benefited the girl, who stopped crying and looked gratefully at Klavdiya Nikitichna.

«Well, dear… Tell me, what happened and who hurt you?» the woman asked, pouring her guest a cup of hot tea.

With a heavy sigh, the girl sniffled and began her story.

As it turned out, the stranger was named Dasha and she had come from a remote, godforsaken taiga village.

Darya was an orphan who had recently buried her grandfather, the only family she had.

Seeking a better life, she had moved to the city, where she got a job as a warehouse worker at a grocery base.

After working the required month, she eagerly awaited her salary, but as it turned out, her cunning employers cheated the provincial orphan, blaming her for a huge shortfall.

Thus, the unscrupulous businessmen intended to use the unpaid debts to make the unfortunate girl work for them for free.

Having barely escaped this trap, Dasha left without knowing what to do next.

Klavdiya Nikitichna, without saying a word, patiently listened to the guest, only occasionally shaking her head in dismay at human malice.

Then, after coughing, she said:

«Oh dear, such things happen… But don’t worry, maybe I can be of some help…

My daughter works at an agency… They’re hiring staff for hotels and homes of wealthy people… It’s all honest and above board… If you want to work, everything else will fall into place.

So, shall I put in a good word for you?»

Dasha’s eyes lit up when she heard such a good proposal for herself:

«Of course, Aunt Klav! I have plenty of desire… Especially since one must live for something!»

«Well, that’s settled then. You’ll stay with me tonight, and tomorrow you’ll go for an interview. In your situation, this is a favorable option, Dashenka,» Klavdiya Nikitichna responded, encouragingly smiling at the guest.

That day, they chatted until late evening, feeling a growing mutual sympathy for each other.

Aunt Klava, as promised, called her daughter and outlined the situation.

The next morning, Dasha was already given the address of the house where she would soon work as a maid.

The house was located in an elite cottage area, where one building was more beautiful than the other.

At first, Dasha felt like she had entered a fairy-tale city where kings and queens lived in beautiful castles.

But when she found the address she needed, she was simply stunned by everything she saw.

The mansion of her future employers was so large that it stood out even against the palaces of other wealthy citizens of the settlement.

The owners of the house, Adelina Vasilyevna and her son German Viktorovich, received Dasha warmly.

Their demands were quite reasonable, so both the employee and the employers were generally satisfied with each other.

But especially, Dasha caught the fancy of German, who from the first day of acquaintance began to show her all sorts of attentions, literally undressing her with his eyes.

Darya did not understand the young master’s gaze, because at that moment, preparations for a wedding were underway in the house, and, judging by Adelina Vasilyevna’s opinion, the bride came from a very wealthy and influential family.

«Why would you need me… An orphan, a pauper…» Dasha thought, embarrassed by German’s lecherous glances.

The girl did not know that her master’s passion were girls, whose hearts he broke with imagination-shocking regularity.

Adelina Vasilyevna turned a blind eye to her son’s antics, believing that a young man needed interaction with the opposite sex to gain experience.

In relation to German, Dasha behaved pointedly coldly and politely, trying not to stand out and not attract attention to herself.

But unfortunately, her looks did not give the young master peace and one evening, having despaired, he decided to go to extremes.

Dasha had just finished up around the house and was about to go to sleep in the servant’s cottage.

But German, who ambushed the maid in the kitchen, grabbed her by the hand and literally dragged her behind him into one of the many guest rooms.

The young rogue was drunk and could no longer restrain his desires.

«German Viktorovich, what are you doing? What do you want from me? I’m going to scream now…» Dasha timidly objected.

«Scream all you want… You’ll scream, and tomorrow you’ll be out on the street. And I’ll write such a review to the agency that they won’t even take you as a cleaner in a barracks,» German said, unabashedly.

No matter how hard Dasha tried to resist the impudent master, she still failed. She liked her job and German turned out to be very persuasive. The girl cried, begged on her knees, but the rich son did not back down until he got his way.

«Why, German Viktorovich? Aren’t you getting married?» Dasha asked through tears, after it all happened.

«Of course, I’m not getting married… What a thought… So what? Keep working and keep quiet. And I’ll throw you a bonus,» the major replied, catching his breath.

Dasha felt so disgusted that she wanted to quit and leave wherever her eyes looked.

«But where will I go? Who needs me, an orphan without a penny in my pocket? And I can’t let down Klavdiya Nikitichna’s daughter… After all, she vouched for me when they took me without work experience and recommendations,» Dasha thought, crying and smearing bitter tears on her face.

Deciding that the encounter with German would be a one-time thing, the girl stayed and endured the offense.

It’s worth saying that after everything that happened, the master behaved as if nothing had happened, assessingly glancing at the maid.

 

They say that time heals, and Dasha had no other choice, so she chose to forget about the incident, erasing the unpleasant episode from her memory.

Soon, thinking about the events of that fateful night became irrelevant, as the Wedding Day approached and even the always unflappable German experienced inner anxiety about it.

The wedding ceremony and subsequent three-day celebrations were held with particular splendor and were even covered by reporters from many local newspapers.

After German’s wedding, Dasha sighed with relief, deciding that now everything was over and the master would no longer bother her.

Partly, this turned out to be true. German, pretending to be a loving husband in front of his influential wife, did not even look her way.

But Dasha didn’t get to rejoice about this for long.

One morning, she experienced mild nausea and discomfort, which, continuing for several days, accompanied her.

Trying to dispel anxious thoughts, Dasha took a pregnancy test, the results of which shocked her so much that she lost her ability to speak for a moment.

«My God… I’m pregnant.. What now? …What a disgrace… What will people think? Got pregnant by a rich man for money… what a maid,» Dasha thought, crying and burying her face in the pillow.

Not knowing what to do next, Dasha told everything to German, whose guilt for what happened was undeniable.

«Well, you really give news, especially after the wedding… You want to ruin my life?

Okay, don’t cry, silly. Good thing you came to me right away. I’ll call a doctor I know and sign you up for an abortion,» German said, recovering from the initial shock.

«It’s a sin, German Viktorovich… How can you do this?» Dasha tried to object, but the major, brushing her off, didn’t even want to listen to anything else.

When the master left, the girl covered her face with her hands and loudly sobbed, mentally complaining to herself about her unjust life.

But as much as Darya wanted to keep the baby, on the appointed day, she was already standing in front of the clinic door, where, after some time, her pregnancy was supposed to be terminated.

The girl tried twice to overcome embarrassment and fear and step inside the medical facility, but each time, something held her back.

The third time, she turned around and, with her head bowed, walked away.

Raised by her grandfather in Christian traditions, Dasha could not commit such an atrocity and deprive her unborn child of life.

Remembering the promise given to the master, the girl took the phone out of her purse and called the wealthy major.

«German Viktorovich, I’m sorry… Do what you want, I couldn’t,» Dasha sobbed…

«Yeah, well, she couldn’t… You women, only know how to spread your legs… But when it comes to paying, you all hide in the bushes… Fine, wait, I’ll come,» German said irritably and hung up.

Dasha waited for him, sitting on a bench near the clinic.

German arrived about twenty minutes later and handed her the keys to a rental apartment and a bag of groceries.

«Here, take this… You’re no longer a maid. Your belly will soon be noticeable, and everything will become clear. Live in the apartment and don’t show your face outside. You’ll give birth, and then we’ll figure it out…»

Dasha, blushing to the roots of her hair, timidly took the keys and groceries.

«Well, that’s right… Don’t look for me, I’ll find you,» the major said in farewell and, getting into the car, drove off in an unknown direction.

Dasha felt disgusting and sick, but there was no other way out. The girl, who grew up without parents, couldn’t even imagine depriving a child of life.

So she preferred disgrace and future condemnation to sin.

«It’s okay… I’ll give birth, and then… I’ll go back to my remote village and raise my son or daughter,» Dasha thought, trying to find justification for herself.

Time passed, and throughout the entire pregnancy term, German, as promised, visited the former maid, bringing groceries and everything necessary.

Of course, his visits seemed like a petty handout to Dasha, with which the major tried to atone for his guilt.

Frequent absences of the son aroused suspicions in Adelina Vasilyevna, who decided to ask him about everything directly.

Of course, the woman expected to hear anything but this.

«German, are you an idiot, brainless? Christina’s father will destroy you… Understand, we are fleas against him… There, such money and connections are involved that we don’t even stand close…

So, while there’s still time, deal with the girl…

You messed up, now learn to clean up after yourself…

Next time, you’ll think a hundred times before jumping on the first maid you come across,» Adelina Vasilyevna said angrily, and slamming the door, went to her office.

Meanwhile, German, holding his head in his hands, began to agonizingly think about what to do next.

«Fine, let her give birth… And then we’ll see. Anyway, she’s now under observation in the maternity hospital,» German thought, pleased with such a sound decision.

The major thought the situation was under control and when, a couple of days later, a happy Dasha called him to announce the birth of twins, he already knew what he needed to do.

The babies were born healthy, strong little ones, and to Dasha’s joy, they didn’t keep her in the maternity hospital for long, sending her home after a week.

The young mother’s happiness knew no bounds when she moved into the rental apartment, holding Nastenka and Kiryusha in her arms.

Of course, she didn’t see any particular joy in German’s eyes, but during the pregnancy, Dasha had become so accustomed to his sorrowful expression that she preferred not to pay any attention to it.

But, as it turned out, Dasha was deeply mistaken, underestimating German’s cunning.

One evening, he arrived happy, holding a cake. Pretending to be a caring father, he put Kiryusha and Nastenka to bed and then sat down in the kitchen to have tea with Dasha.

But the girl hadn’t even drunk half a cup when she suddenly experienced severe weakness and dizziness.

Losing consciousness, she noticed how German hid some tiny vial in his pocket.

Dasha woke up a few hours later in an unfamiliar place. Her head hurt terribly, and her vision was doubling.

Gathering her thoughts, the girl realized that she was being transported, tied up in the back seat of an unfamiliar car.

«Where am I going? Where am I?» she asked in a weak voice.

«Quiet, you damned wretch… Look, she’s come to… Don’t fidget, we’ll arrive soon,» someone growled at her from the front passenger seat of the car.

Hearing this, Dasha fell back into oblivion and woke up in a hut that looked very much like a forester’s or ranger’s dwelling.

Dasha realized this by the simple camping gear and the multitude of various herbs drying above the stove.

The atmosphere in her late grandfather Trofim Petrovich’s watchman’s hut was almost exactly like this one, only larger in size.

Dasha’s hands were tied with rope, and her mouth was sealed with adhesive tape.

Listening to the conversation behind the wall, Darya could barely make out snippets of phrases:

«Pity her… Maybe we won’t drown her?» one of her kidnappers rumbled.

«But we were paid, Fed… She gave birth to twins for some rich guy and they decided to get rid of her,» his partner replied in a vile falsetto.

Shocked by such news, Dasha looked around, trying to find a way out of the situation.

Suddenly, her gaze landed on a window, through which a forest thicket was visible.

Realizing that this was her only chance to escape, Dasha carefully turned the latch and flung open the window.

Most likely, her kidnappers hadn’t anticipated such a scenario, thinking that a city girl wouldn’t know how to open the ingenious bolts in rural homes.

But Dasha grew up in a village and had been taught all the forest wisdoms by her grandfather Trofim since childhood.

Therefore, when the kidnappers entered the hut, deciding to finally drown her, the brave girl was already long gone.

Dasha ran, pushing through thickets of juniper and wolfberry.

Of course, moving with her hands tied was more difficult, but she hadn’t run even a kilometer when she stumbled upon a young bearded man with a dog on a forest path…

Startled, Dasha shrieked and pressed her back against the trunk of a tree.

«Don’t be afraid… Trezor won’t bite… It’s a hunting breed, not a fighting one,» the man said quietly, adjusting his cap with a cracked brim.

«Please help me… There are bandits… They kidnapped me and wanted to kill me… It’s all because of my poor little children,» Dasha pleaded, stretching her bound hands towards the man in protective clothing.

The stranger, who turned out to be a local ranger, quickly freed the runaway from her bonds, and then, without saying much, took a walkie-talkie out of his pocket and contacted the local police officer.

 

Describing the situation, he gave approximate coordinates of the criminals’ location.

To Dasha’s surprise, the local law enforcement acted quickly, and soon a search helicopter was circling over the forest.

«Let’s go to the watchman’s hut… I’ll make you some tea… You’re not yourself at all… My sister just came to visit…

I wasn’t going to go on patrol today, but Trezor insisted… Probably felt we’d meet you,» the ranger said with a smile, patting the dog on the back.

Feeling sympathy for this big and strong guy, Dasha willingly followed him.

In the ranger’s hut, it was bright and cozy.

«Oh, Andryusha… Who is this with you? Is she your bride?» a girl standing on the threshold asked. At first glance, her urban upbringing and the audacity of a megacity resident were evident.

«No, she’s just a girl… well… She’s in trouble… And I helped… Just pour some tea first… and then you can start with your questions,» the boy replied, embarrassed.

Over a cup of fragrant lime tea, calming down, Dasha told her story from beginning to end, exactly as it happened, without omissions or understatement.

All this time, the ranger’s sister, Polina, listened attentively to the girl’s story, occasionally making some notes with a pencil in a small notebook.

Responding to the unspoken question in Dasha’s eyes, Polina smiled and took a journalist’s ID from her pocket.

«I came here to my brother in the wilderness… To cover the issue of poaching and corruption in local areas… But your story will be much more important, so rest assured… I won’t leave this case unaddressed, and everyone will learn about it,» the journalist said confidently.

«No, what a scoundrel this rich guy turned out to be… Decided to get rid of the mother of his own children… I would carry them on my hands, and he, you see, came up with this…» Andrey said angrily, having taken a liking to Dasha deep down.

Soon, the local police officer called the ranger via walkie-talkie and reported that the kidnappers had been detained and were giving full confessions.

«Well, soon it’ll be this major’s turn… And if it doesn’t reach him, then Polinka with her article will help… She’s known in all publishing houses… and for such a hot story, they’ll go to any lengths,» Andrey said, trying to reassure the agitated Dasha.

It should be said that the young ranger was right.

Polina’s article was published two days later and caused a real sensation not only among the public but also among the highest echelons of power and law enforcement.

Thanks to the testimonies of the detained kidnappers and Dasha’s story, German was taken into custody.

Because of the wide publicity, the investigation proceeded at a rapid pace, and soon, the rich major was given a guilty verdict, which required him to spend several years in a colony.

Darya took Kiryusha and Nastenka from the rental apartment, rejoicing that German had not managed to harm the children.

Adelina Vasilyevna, burning with shame, offered the former maid her help, but Darya refused.

The girl decided to leave the city, which had been so unkind to her, and settle in the village, together with the ranger Andrey.

The guy had a difficult past and already had experience with tragic relationships when his wife and daughter died in a car accident.

Therefore, learning about the misfortune that befell Dasha and her children, Andrey gladly welcomed them into his home, inherited from his parents.

Of course, initially, Andrey and Darya lived under one roof as friends… But over time, as often happens in life, friendly relations evolved into something more, instilling love and feelings in their hearts.

Sister Polina, who had a knack for understanding people, approved of her brother’s choice and joyfully plays with her nephews, of whom she now had two.

With a mysterious smile, Dasha and Andrey hinted that this was not the limit and they were thinking about a third child, which would undoubtedly add its own portion of happiness to their strong family life.

Antonina was lying in bed, dressed in a thermal shirt, with her legs in boots. A neighbor who dashed in became worried:

0

— Tonya, are you feeling unwell? What’s wrong with you?

Antonina did not respond; she just continued to lie on her side.

— Mom, tomorrow I will come home not alone but with a fiancé, — Larisa surprised Antonina over the phone. — I’m getting married!

Antonina was taken aback:

— Getting married? When did you find a fiancé! Well, come over, we will be waiting. It’s good that you warned me, I will inform your father.

The woman hung up the phone and stepped out of the house onto the porch.

She found her husband in the garden; he was fixing a small fence, replacing the rotted pickets with new ones.

— Roma! — Antonina called out to him. — Drop everything. Tomorrow our daughter is coming, not alone, but with a fiancé! We will meet him!

The evening was busy, Antonina and her husband were grinding meat for mince and making dumplings, the woman was busy at the stove late into the night, preparing pies and baking pancakes, while her husband washed the floors in all the rooms.

The Anokhins tried hard to make a good impression on their daughter’s fiancé.

The next morning, the house was spotlessly clean, and the table in the hall was laden with treats. Roman hurriedly swept the yard, while Antonina made the final touches inside the house, decorating the table with various jars of jam and candies.

Finally, the guests arrived, surprising the hosts with their luxurious and stylish car, which entered the yard with loud music playing.

Larisa was the first to exit with a large bouquet of white roses in her hands. Following her, a slim woman in a strict coat waited until a young man, who had jumped out from behind the wheel, opened the trunk and handed her a box with a cake.

The guest looked around the house, and her eyes settled on the Anokhins.

— Good afternoon, — she smiled. — Larisa, introduce us.

Her daughter was nervous, her hands trembling slightly.

— Mom, dad, this is Valentina Gennadievna, Oleg’s mother. And this is Oleg, I’ve told you about him.

Antonina curiously looked at the guests and gestured for everyone to come inside. A mother’s heart told her that Valentina Gennadievna was not thrilled about her son’s choice, but she maintained her dignity like a true lady.

«But that’s just at the beginning,» — Antonina felt a chill inside.

During the acquaintance, it became clear that her maternal instincts were right.

— I suggest the children do without a wedding, why the unnecessary expenses, — Valentina said at the table. — Let them register and stay at home. I, for one, don’t like noisy parties and guests. Larisa got her diploma, so we’ll find her a job in the city soon. In six months, the young ones could take out a mortgage. And it would be great if we help them a little to get settled. I will give Oleg a small amount, which I saved for him. Of course, it’s not a million, half as much, but better than nothing.

 

The future mother-in-law looked hopefully at Larisa’s parents.

— Since that’s the case, we will also not stand aside, — Mr. Anokhin said. — We also have some savings, and when the young ones decide to get their own place, we’ll give it to our daughter.

After Larisa married the city boy, the Anokhins happily began helping the young family. They had chickens, a few sheep, and a cow with a calf on their farm.

With the onset of winter, they slaughtered the calf for meat. Mr. Anokhin took part of the beef to the city, sharing it between his daughter’s family and the mother-in-law. He stayed as a guest for several days.

Antonina called her husband every hour, but Roma initially said he was visiting Larisa, then turned off his phone.

Antonina was not bored, as her household work kept her busy. She made cottage cheese, turned it into cheese, collected cream, and churned butter. All this she set aside to give to the mother-in-law, really wanting to earn her favor.

But soon trouble came to Antonina’s house. Her husband, Roman, returned home only to pack his things and leave. He bluntly explained to his wife that he had been waiting for their daughter to settle her personal life to separate. And he admitted that he no longer had any feelings for her.

— I no longer want to live with you. I leave you the house and the farm and ask you to understand. I’ve wanted to leave you for a long time, but our daughter held me back. Now she’s settled, and I have no reason to pretend any longer. Let me go!

Antonina burst into tears, clutched desperately at her husband’s jacket, and begged him to stay. But Anokhin pried her fingers loose and left.

People who can stoically endure any trials of fate are truly strong. However, Antonina did not possess such a gift.

She lay on the bed, dressed in a thermal shirt, her legs in boots. A neighbor who entered her house in the morning came across the lying hostess and got worried:

— Tonya, are you feeling unwell? What’s wrong with you? Let me call our paramedic.

Antonina did not answer her, only continued to lie on her side.

Within an hour, almost the whole village gathered at the Anokhin house, people gossiping among themselves:

— They say, Tonya’s husband left her.

— How did he leave, where to? — the women were worried.

Ravil, Roma’s close friend, came out of the crowd:

— Roma went to another woman, she lives in the city. I don’t know the other details.

— What an Asmodeus! And what about Tonya?

— Well, it’s unclear what. She’s lying down. Doesn’t get up. Doesn’t answer questions. The paramedic examined her, says it looks like a stroke. Well, he called the doctors, now they’ll come, let’s see what they say.

The news that the mother had taken ill quickly reached Larisa. She rushed from the city, dropping all her business, and began fussing around her mother.

Illness confined Antonina Anokhina to bed; she spent two weeks in intensive care.

Initially, she couldn’t speak, and her eyes were constantly wet with tears.

Roman Anokhin categorically refused to see his wife. He dryly informed his daughter that he had filed for divorce and had no intention of returning home.

He told his daughter:

— I don’t believe in her illness. I think she’s pretending and manipulating me to get me to return.

Larisa was shocked by her father’s words.

Anokhin lived with his new woman and was afraid that the situation would force him to return to his wife.

He even bitterly told his son-in-law that it would be better if Antonina «suffered through» and freed their daughter from the burden.

Larisa could not understand how her father could say such a thing about a person with whom he had lived for many years. She was horrified and furious at his words.

The girl took leave from work, moved her mother to her rented apartment, and voluntarily cared for her.

In the village, neighbors and friends of the Anokhins also did not sit idly by; in the absence of the owners, they cared for the livestock.

Oleg was angry at his young wife because of the mounting problems.

— This is not life. How long will your mother lie like this? A year, two, or maybe all her life? How long will we have to spend on medicine and her care? Sorry, but when I married you, I didn’t plan on having to fuss over a mother-in-law.

That same day, the mother-in-law came to visit, and Valentina shook her head:

— Larisa, forgive me if my words seem harsh to you, but we all, including your father, lean towards the idea that Antonina should be placed in some kind of nursing home. Or send her back to the village and hire a caregiver for her. Because you have a family, work, you can’t drop everything for a sick person.

Larisa, holding her mother’s hand all this time, looked indifferently at her mother-in-law:

— Valentina Gennadievna, my mother is part of my family. And why did you interfere in her life, after all, it was to you that dad went? Why did you allow him to live with you? How could this have happened at all?!

The guest did not want to answer the question and immediately turned her back.

Oleg realized that Larisa would not yield to his demands, and the mother-in-law would stay with them.

He asked for a divorce, explaining that family life turned out not as he had imagined.

Larisa agreed to the divorce, not hiding her tears. She thought about how lucky she was that she hadn’t gotten pregnant and hadn’t bought joint property with Oleg. They had nothing to argue about.

The money that was in Larisa’s bank account, intended for the initial mortgage payment, came in very handy. On it, Antonina and Larisa lived: they rented an apartment near the hospital, bought food, medicine, and paid for massages and rehabilitation procedures.

During one such procedure, Antonina met the smiling Raisa. This fifty-two-year-old woman was recovering from a road accident. Although Raisa was confined to a wheelchair, she remained cheerful and active.

Chatting, the women exchanged phone numbers, and their friendship began.

— I would give anything to regain the ability to walk, — Raisa shared with Antonina, her words full of pain. — Before the illness, I was a regular person, but I lived like an amoeba. Always sitting in a chair, too lazy to go for a walk. I was depressed, although I had everything: my own expensive car, a good job, and an apartment. But most importantly, I have the best son in the world. However, I didn’t appreciate this before and lived in depression. Every evening I made up problems for myself.

Now, having lost the ability to walk, I realized how much I have. I want to get back on my feet and return to my usual life. As soon as we recover, let’s go to a restaurant.

Antonina modestly smiled:

— I’ve never been to such places.

Raisa was surprised:

— Are you serious? Then all the more let’s go. I want to find myself in a decent place again, among well-dressed, laughing people.

First, Tonya sat up in bed by herself, then learned to slowly lower her legs to the floor from the bed. And finally, she got out of bed and learned to walk again.

All this time, her beloved daughter was by her side, who believed in her, patiently cared for her, and massaged Tonya’s legs.

 

Antonina assured Larisa that she would make it to the restaurant without any adventures.

The daughter still followed her when they arrived at the appointed place, and they were met by Raisa.

She was sitting in a wheelchair, which a young man was pushing.

— Hello, Tonya, — smiled the friend. — Meet my son Andrei.

— And this is my daughter Larisa.

Larisa blushed, Andrei also felt awkward:

— When mom was going to the restaurant, I didn’t let her go alone. I thought, what kind of restaurant could it be, she was just discharged.

Larisa stifled a laugh, covering her mouth with her hand:

— I was also surprised, but decided to escort my mom. I’m still worried about her health.

The restaurant had a cozy atmosphere, classical music played softly, and the women chose a table and sat down.

Larisa was about to leave but froze.

In the corner, at a table, sat her father; he was not alone, with Larisa’s former mother-in-law Valentina.

Anokhin did not take his eyes off his daughter.

— Larisa, — a pathetic smile flickered on his face, he waved to her.

Antonina also saw the couple of betrayers, she stopped moving.

— May I leave?

Antonina could see how her husband continued to sit at the table as if nothing had happened. She got angry and opened the menu folder.

— Did we come here for nothing? Larisa, dear, sit at the table, and you, Andrei, please sit down.

Antonina enjoyed the company and the food, and thought that she would also rejoice in life.

The world did not revolve around her ex-husband. She would no longer be upset: he left, and that’s where he belongs.

Anokhin looked at the table where Antonina and Larisa were sitting all evening. He really wanted to come over and find out what they were doing here. After all, the restaurant was an expensive establishment that a sick village woman couldn’t afford.

After a brief relationship, Andrei married Larisa. She did not invite her father to her wedding.

Larisa was lucky with her husband and mother-in-law—they turned out to be wonderful people.

Raisa began to walk with crutches, but at the celebration, she sat in a wheelchair, and Antonina was constantly by her side.

After her daughter’s wedding, Antonina returned to her native home. Ravil, Roman’s former friend, who lived alone and came to look after the livestock during the owner’s absence, continued to come.

He helped the woman in every way he could. Perhaps Antonina would notice him, and two solitudes would come together.

The house was bought during the marriage, so demand half!» the mother advised her son. But the daughter-in-law had a surprise they didn’t expect

0

«What are you stuck in there for? Come out, let’s go!» Anna Makarovna was banging on the bathroom door with her fist.

«Please wait just five more minutes,» responded the daughter-in-law, Albina.
You’ve lost all conscience! What could you possibly do there for half an hour? Were you unloading wagons or something?!»

It was always like this. Only three months had passed since Alya and Semyon got married, but the young woman felt as if she had been under the relentless oppression of her demanding mother-in-law forever. She hurried and, rushing out of the bathroom while buttoning up her robe, quickly disappeared into the room she shared with her husband. She checked her phone—it had been ten minutes since she last messaged her husband, then she had grabbed her things and gone to take a shower, so she had spent no more than eight minutes there, but Anna Makarovna counted half an hour.

The mother-in-law burst into the room without knocking and started to express how terrible her daughter-in-law was. Albina could repeat everything she said word for word; she knew all her phrases by heart.

«Not only are you using up the electricity—the rates have gone up again—but you’re also wasting water while the meters keep ticking. Can’t you turn off the tap while you’re washing your loofah? No, the water runs non-stop with you. Think about how much that costs. And why do you need to shower every day as if you work as a laborer? You sit at home all day, staring at the screen. Go on, make dinner, Semyon will be home soon tired, and you don’t care about feeding your husband.»

Albina obediently stood up and went to the kitchen. She had boiled pasta earlier, had taken ground meat out of the freezer in the morning. All that was left was to fry the onion, which was also already peeled, with the ground meat, and then mix it with the pasta. They would have Navy-style pasta, Semyon’s favorite dish.

«More dough!» Anna Makarovna sneered, stopping in the doorway. Right, keep giving your husband an ulcer. People need soups! And you just stuff your husband with dry food.»

Albina knew—arguing was pointless. She had tried to say something in her defense to her mother-in-law several times but quickly realized it was futile.

When Semyon came home from work and had dinner, Alya tried to talk to him again.

«Semyon, maybe you’ll change your mind, and we’ll move to a rental apartment, huh? I can’t stand your mom’s outbursts anymore. She won’t let me concentrate on work. And I work with numbers.»

Albina managed the accounts for several companies remotely, and they both wanted to save money for a down payment on a mortgage, and then they could move away from his mom.

«Just endure a little longer, baby. Mom’s just used to everything being her way. Don’t pay attention. If we pay rent, we’ll never save enough for our own place. Just endure!»

«Alright, I hope I can hold out for a while,» Alya agreed once again. She understood that in their situation, every penny in their savings account was crucial.

But with each day, her strength to endure the constant attacks and feel caged was diminishing.

It wasn’t long before Albina felt a bout of nausea one morning, and then again and again. She bought a pregnancy test, and her suspicions were confirmed as soon as the second line appeared.

That day she flitted around the apartment, rushing the minutes to share the news with her husband sooner.

She ran down to the deli on the ground floor of their building, bought a cake. She prepared a «Mimosa» salad and baked chicken. Instead of wine, she placed cranberry juice on the table. Her mood improved knowing that Anna Makarovna was not home all day and nobody interfered with her plans.

«And what kind of celebration have you arranged here?» the mother-in-law exclaimed, having just stepped over the threshold.

 

«A celebration!» Albina nodded, coming out of the kitchen in a fancy dress.

«Is it your birthday or something?» the elderly woman asked, squinting her eyes as if trying to remember something.

«No, but you’ll find out soon. Semyon will be back.»

But her husband was significantly delayed at work that evening. He came home quite drunk and immediately yelled into the depths of the apartment:

«I’ve lost my job! They’re closing down that rickety company!»

Albina came out of the room and, seeing her husband’s distressed face, tenderly embraced him.

«Well, it’s alright, we’ll manage. You’ll find something better, and I can take on a few more sole proprietorships for accounting if you start helping around the house.»

Semyon hiccupped and nodded.

«I made a delicious dinner, let’s go?! I was waiting for you to share the news.»

«No, I’m going to sleep!» Semyon stomped past the kitchen with unsteady steps.

«Well, have we come to this?!» the mother-in-law emerged from her room. You drove your husband to drinking. Not only did you sit without work, but now both of you will be sitting on my neck.»

Albina silently smirked. She had paid all the utility bills immediately since moving into this apartment after their marriage registration, and she also bought groceries. Semyon transferred his entire salary to their savings account, as did Alya make some savings. But Anna Makarovna refused to even listen to the idea that her daughter-in-law could earn more than her husband from home.

Closer to noon, when Semyon finally woke up, Albina reheated the chicken, took out the salad from the fridge, and set the table again. But the mood was completely different. There was none of the joy that had uplifted her the day before. The mother-in-law walked around frowning all morning, like a turkey, and her husband got up from bed gloomy. It was the last thing she wanted to share such joyful news in such a depressing atmosphere, but there was nothing else to be done. The family needed to know that they were expecting a new addition.

«We’re going to have a baby!» said Alya after a long silence during lunch.

Her husband silently raised a surprised and scared look at her, and the mother-in-law threw her fork on the table.

«Are you mocking me? No, you’re definitely not the brightest girl! You live here by the skin of your teeth, and now you’ll bring a baby into the house! I didn’t plan on becoming a grandmother. And what do you think you’ll live on? My answer is a categorical no! No, and again no! Either you move out immediately, or get rid of this mistake before it’s too late.»

Albina’s gaze darted from the mother-in-law to her husband, who sat head bowed, and remained silent.

«Semyon, aren’t you happy?» Alya asked cautiously, but he didn’t respond. He silently went out to the balcony, grabbing cigarettes.

«What’s there for him to be happy about?» his mother answered for him. «You think breeding poverty is joy? I didn’t dare have a child until I was forty because I wanted to acquire a home first. There was no hope on my husband. That’s how I achieved it, if it weren’t for me, where would you be living now? All together, you would be wandering from place to place. Don’t fool around, first provide a financial cushion, then you can think about children, if you don’t run away from each other by then.»

Albina silently left the kitchen, and the mother-in-law shouted after her:

«And who will clean up from the table? It should be sparkling here in half an hour! No need to breed cockroaches.»

Albina locked herself in the room, curled up on the sofa, knees to her chest, arms wrapped around them, and cried. Bitterly and hopelessly.

Semyon came, sat down in the armchair with his phone, and was silent.

«Semyon, at least say something,» Alya couldn’t stand the oppressive silence.

«What can I say if I don’t even know if I’ll have a job in the near future? It’s too early to dream about a mortgage, we’ll have to endure. Maybe, seeing a granddaughter or grandson, mom will thaw.»

Albina exhaled with relief. When Semyon cheered up a bit, they discussed how they would renovate the room, rearrange the furniture to make space for a crib. But when they returned from the store with new wallpaper, they met Anna Makarovna’s sparkling gaze.

«And what are you up to here without asking?»

«We want to change the wallpaper in the room to make it brighter, happier, these old ones though.»

Semyon said it as it was, but immediately regretted having said it.

«And did I allow you to renovate in my apartment?» Anna Makarovna glared at her son. «You can manage in your own apartment, but in my territory, I dictate the rules!»

Albina walked into the room with her head low, and Semyon stayed briefly, trying to talk to his mother about how she, without realizing it, was poisoning their lives.

«Mom, why are you starting again? If you want, when we move out, we’ll redo the renovation to your taste. But for now, we want to refresh the room. I don’t have a job now, what better reason to put things in order.»

«I’ve said my word, son, and this is no joke. You won’t live here with a child, and even without a child, it’s already cramped with you under one roof. Convince your queen to get rid of this burden.»

Semyon came into the room, as if dipped in water.

«Albina,» he sat down next to his wife and put his arm around her shoulder, «maybe… Maybe mom is right, and we should really postpone having a child? We don’t have anything of our own, we need to invest in earnings now, otherwise, we will always depend on someone else.»

«Semyon, just listen to yourself! It’s impossible to postpone having a child, there’s no such mode, and if you mean something else, then know—I will never do that!»

«Well, then we’ll have to forget about our own home! Get ready, tomorrow we’ll start looking for an apartment for rent, let’s see what you’ll say then.»

Albina sighed heavily.

«Everything will be alright, Semyon, I’ll take more work, I’ll sit day and night with reports, but we won’t need anything.»

Said and done. The next day Albina started calling from ads early in the morning, and after lunch, they went to look at the selected options. They settled on a one-bedroom apartment that was cheaper than the others, and it had more pluses. Not far from the house—a lake and a park where you can walk before bed, all shops nearby, you can walk to the women’s consultation, and the children’s clinic is nearby. The renovation, of course, left much to be desired, but they managed to agree with the owner that they would paste their own wallpaper, especially since they had already been bought.

Anna Makarovna was glad and didn’t hide it when her son and his unwelcome daughter-in-law were moving out of the apartment with their things.

 

«I hope you’ll quickly understand, son, that mother was right, and you chose the wrong wife!» she said in farewell and added, «You’ll run back, but remember, I won’t let her in! She decided she’s too independent, let her pull this yoke by herself!»

Albina didn’t pay attention to the mother-in-law’s words; now it didn’t matter to her, she had decided for herself that no matter how life turned out, she would never return to that apartment. In the worst case, she would move to her parents on Sakhalin. She stayed here after school because she met Semyon, and the matter was approaching marriage, but her husband didn’t want to leave his hometown, especially to such remote areas.

Albina, as promised, took on the accounting for several more companies and now had almost no free time. Semyon, quickly realizing that his wife was earning enough for him to not work at all, took on household duties.

«Why do I need to look for a job?» he asked. «You can save now, and we don’t need anything. And when the baby is born, it will be hard for you to manage both work and the household, so I’ll help.»

«That’s true,» Albina agreed.

But in the fifth month of pregnancy, Albina started to feel not very well. She was constantly drawn to sleep, wanted to rest more, and then she thought about it.

«Semyon, what if, suddenly, I can’t work so much, then we’ll be left with nothing, the savings will quickly run out. Maybe you should find a job after all?»

«Here we go!» the husband was indignant. «When you decided to keep the baby and leave your mother, you spoke completely differently. You didn’t even entertain the thought that you wouldn’t be able to work!»

Semyon had already gotten used to spending a good part of the day playing computer games, and Alya understood this well, but she didn’t want to argue with Semyon, and his help would indeed come in handy after the baby’s birth.

Once, during a video call with her mother, Albina accidentally let slip that it was getting harder for her to work every day.

«Alka, have you thought about expanding your company? Your organization is officially registered. You could delegate at least part of the work to other people.»

And Albina thought about it. Such thoughts, of course, had come to her, but it was somewhat scary—hiring people, being responsible. But now it didn’t seem supernatural to Albina. Without delaying the decision for long, the next day she contacted a lawyer, asking him to draft an employment contract for her, posted a job vacancy online, and in no time, Albina went from being a performer to a manager. Moreover, she could now easily expand her client base. So when her son Nikita was born, the work at Albina’s company was perfectly organized, and she only had to monitor the quality of the process.

Semyon now felt even more at ease. Albina managed everything beautifully, Nikitka was a calm child, and Semyon only had to perform minor tasks for his wife, which suited him perfectly. Anna Makarovna came to meet her grandson, but, looking at him, she declared to her son demonstratively:

«Interesting, who does he look like?! I don’t see any of us in him!»

Even Albina’s parents, coming from afar, stayed with their grandson for almost a month, although they had to rent an apartment, as Albina and Semyon didn’t have room, and Semyon’s mother no longer appeared.

When Nikitka turned three years old, Albina already had enough savings to finally buy their own house. It wasn’t as big as they would have liked, but it was just the beginning. The main thing was that now it would be their own home, and they wouldn’t have to depend on anyone. They had to check out quite a few options before choosing the most suitable one. There was a yard with a gazebo and a children’s corner, and the house was spacious. The rooms were small, but there was a separate bedroom, a nursery, and a living room with access to the terrace.

«Should we invite mom to the housewarming?» Semyon asked when they were moving into the house.

«Invite her,» Albina nodded, «out of decency, she’s unlikely to come, she hasn’t even come to Nikita’s birthday once, although you invited her. She didn’t even send a single gift to her grandson when you visit her. My parents almost every month send something for their grandson. No, of course, we don’t need anything, but the fact itself…»

But, contrary to expectations, Anna Makarovna came to the housewarming, again without a gift for her grandson.

«I live on a pension, utilities are expensive, so there’s no money for gifts,» she said, sitting down at the table. Then she looked closely at Nikitka, who was shy around her, hiding behind his mother, and muttered through her teeth, «He’s changed, looks like his father now.»

After dinner, the mother-in-law began to walk around the house, commenting on every little thing:

«The tile in the bathroom is so old-fashioned… Were there no options with separate bathrooms? You could remove the bathtub and put in a shower cabin, there would be more space. And the rooms are so small, a cow would lie down, and there’s nowhere to stretch its tail…»

«We’re all satisfied,» Albina dared to reply.

«I have no doubt that you’re satisfied,» the mother-in-law replied with a smirk. «You’ve never had any taste.»

Albina didn’t argue with her. Now she was the mistress in the house and felt free, and the mother-in-law could say whatever she wanted. Now she would leave, and everything would fall into place. However, soon Alya realized that everything would hardly ever fall into place again.

Semyon went to see his mother off when Albina noticed that Anna Makarovna had left her scarf. She picked it up from the chair and ran out of the house to give it to her mother-in-law. It was already dark outside, Semyon and his mother were standing by the gate, waiting for a taxi, and Alya, hearing the conversation, stopped in the yard.

«But I’m not working, I’m just sitting on Alya’s neck,» Semyon was saying.

«And what, she’s raking it in, buying such a house, let her share then. You’re obligated to help your mother, and if you’re not working, then let her help. Twenty thousand a month, I think, is not money for her, but a good support for me.»

«I’ll talk to Albina, but I don’t promise anything,» Semyon said timidly.

«Don’t talk, convince! In the end, if it weren’t for me, there would be neither you nor a son for her! Convince!»

At that moment, a car pulled up to the gate, and Albina, forgetting why she was there, ran back into the house. Semyon returned not very cheerful, and didn’t start a conversation about his mother right away, but Albina pretended she hadn’t heard anything. Her husband decided to talk only the next day, after talking to his mother on the phone.

«Albina, I’ve been thinking,» he started, «mom lives on a pension, barely making ends meet, it’s hard for her to cope. Her fridge is often empty. And besides us, she has no one.»

«Do you want to take her some groceries?» Albina asked.

«No,» the husband waved his hand. «I thought just that, well, now that we’ve bought a house, a lot of money will be left over. Maybe… We’ll start transferring at least twenty thousand a month to mom?»

«At least?» Albina couldn’t hold back. «Or maybe, dear, it’s time for you to find a job and transfer your entire salary to your mother? How about that option?»

«Why do I need a job if we don’t need anything?» Semyon argued, but mom is already old.

«Do you even know how I earn those twenty thousand? Do you think it’s easy for me to manage a whole team, communicate with clients, resolve employees’ mistakes? You have no idea what nerves are needed here, and you just casually say— at least twenty thousand! As for your mother’s age, my parents are almost her peers, but that doesn’t stop them from continuing to work while on a pension. Who’s stopping her from finding a part-time job for herself? Or you, if you want to help your mother?»

«Albina, you’re wrong. Just think about it, if there’s an opportunity to help, why not do it?»

«I have an opportunity to help! And I’m ready to help my parents, but they don’t need help! And your mother, who never considered me anything, I’m not going to help! Take care of her yourself!»

«Alright! I heard you, Albina! They say money corrupts people!»

Albina smirked. A few days Semyon walked around as if he’d been dipped in water, especially after a call from Anna Makarovna, but then he cheered up. Albina didn’t pay attention to such changes, but when she received a message about a debt for the developmental center where they took Nikitka, she turned to her husband.

«Did you forget to pay for the children’s center?» she asked, looking him in the eye.

«No, I…» Semyon’s gaze darted around. «I forgot to tell you… Mom asked for money for medicine, she’s feeling unwell, and I transferred it to her.»

«Seriously? You started stealing from me for your mother?» Albina was outraged.

«Choose your words! What does theft have to do with it?» Semyon jumped up from the chair.

«What is it then? You took my money without asking, intended for completely different purposes! Semyon, if this happens again, I’ll simply file for divorce! Not only do I support you for so many years, you also want to saddle me with your mother? That’s too heavy a burden!»

«Well, sorry, Albina, never again!» Semyon said, then added a bit louder, «But who else will help mom!»

Albina was silent, but the next time Semyon lied to her that the car needed maintenance, and he actually took the money to Anna Makarovna, which Albina found out not right away, she didn’t make a scandal, filed for divorce, and presented Semyon with a fait accompli.

«You’re heartless!» Semyon yelled. «No wonder my mom told me!»

 

«Yes, I am!» Albina simply replied.

Sitting on a bench outside the courtroom, Albina was very surprised when she saw Semyon accompanied by his mother. They sat down on the neighboring bench, pretending they didn’t see Albina.

«The house was bought during the marriage, so demand half. Don’t settle for less!» the mother instructed her son. «Divide the car too, leave her with nothing, since she didn’t want to sacrifice the little one!»

But Semyon was surprised when Albina declared during the court session that the house was registered in her mother’s name, Albina had made the purchase through a notarized power of attorney, anticipating this situation. And the car she didn’t mind leaving to her ex-husband, she wouldn’t even divide it, but it was bought on credit, let him pay and enjoy it! Besides, Albina immediately filed for alimony, and they were awarded in hard currency, as Semyon had no job.

Semyon left the courtroom with his head bowed.

«Well, what,» the mother rushed to him with questions, «did they divide the house? Why are you silent? What did they decide about the car?»

But Semyon didn’t respond. He quickened his pace and quickly left the building.

And Albina decided to sell all her property in this city, including the business, and return to her hometown. Now she knew how to organize a business, she could start the same firm from scratch there, and she didn’t regret anything. The main thing was that she would be surrounded by people who loved her and her son and whom she could trust.