All Amazing Babies

– Gena, are you sure you’ve thought everything through?

– Mom…

– I know what I’m talking about. She’s with you only for the money, isn’t she?

Gennady sighed heavily.

 

– Mom, I understand your concerns, but they are completely unfounded. Arguing with you is pointless; you won’t change your mind anyway. Think what you want. We’re not planning anything grandiose.

– Gena, stop it. I’m sure she’s just using you. You know it very well yourself. This girl…

– Mom, please, let’s not continue. Lena and I have known each other for more than five years, and we have prepared for this step for a long time.

– I just want to remind you: you are a desirable groom. Any woman would go for you. Don’t you realize our situation?

Gennady closed his eyes as if shielding himself from fatigue.

– Mom, tell me honestly: what’s more important to you—our status or my happiness?

Anna Nikolaevna looked helplessly at her husband.

– Sasha, why are you silent?

Alexander, putting down the newspaper, smiled slightly.

– Anya, you know, you have one peculiarity: you only address me when you hit a dead end. All the rest of the time, for 27 years now, you make all the decisions on your own. And if something goes wrong, you always blame me.

Anna Nikolaevna squinted.

– Done? Now let’s talk seriously.

– Gena is an adult, fully capable of making decisions. I don’t understand why we should interfere with his choice. In my opinion, Lena is a fine girl.

– Fine, my foot! In our time, no one survives without money.

– By the way, weren’t you not always wealthy yourself, have you forgotten?

Anna Nikolaevna was clearly beginning to lose her composure.

– Sasha, you’re irresponsible! Our son is about to ruin his life!

– Calm down. Nothing terrible is happening. He’ll continue his treatment, and maybe his wife will even have a positive influence. What are you so dissatisfied about? I don’t understand.

Anna Nikolaevna abruptly left the room, and Gennady struggled to get up from his chair.

– Thanks, Dad.

– How do you feel?

 

– Fine, don’t worry.

When their son turned 17, something strange happened to him. The doctors could never determine the exact diagnosis. One hypothesis followed another—treatment helped only partially. One famous professor once said:

– It seems as if your son has lost the ability to fight off illnesses. If this had happened a hundred years ago, I would have called it a curse. But now… all we can do is shrug our shoulders and watch.

Alexander knew that money wasn’t everything, yet he spent huge sums on treatment in the best clinics. However, one day Gennady asked:

– Please, let me get a little rest. I’ve forgotten what our home looks like, and I can’t even remember the last time I slept in my own bed.

Unexpectedly, the mother—who until then had insisted on every possible treatment method—supported her son:

– Sasha, maybe it really is time to let Gena rest? Let’s follow the doctors’ recommendations.

Alexander waved his hand. He would have argued if he had seen even the slightest improvement. But there was none. However, at home, Gena felt better: his appetite returned, and he even gained a little weight.

Since then, he went to the clinic for check-ups twice a year, and then returned home with new doctors’ instructions.

Gena still managed to graduate from university thanks to his father’s financial support. He was a capable student, but regular absences due to illness did not win him popularity among the teachers.

He and Lena met during their student years. Their friendship lasted several years, until recently when Lena confessed her feelings to him. That gave Gena strength, as if wings had sprouted behind his back.

As he had anticipated, the wedding turned out to be much grander than he expected. His mother organized such a celebration that it seemed the whole town had been invited. Lena tried to keep a smile on her face all evening, ignoring the tense atmosphere.

The relationship between Lena’s mother, Galina Ivanovna, and Anna Nikolaevna never got off to a good start. The latter believed that Galina, having neither status nor money, should be grateful for such a marriage. However, Galina preferred to keep her distance from the groom’s parents.

The climax of the evening was the gift-giving. When Lena’s mother announced that the young couple was being presented with a small house inherited from her grandfather and located in a reserved area, Anna Nikolaevna couldn’t hold back:

– My goodness, how can you present that dilapidated shack on the edge of nowhere as a valuable gift? – Anna Nikolaevna protested.

Gena looked at his mother reproachfully: – Mom, enough.

– Enough of what, Gena? Now nothing can be fixed!

After Galina Ivanovna left, Anna immediately turned to her husband: – Did you see her? Not only does she do nothing herself, but she also acts all high and mighty, as if she were a queen!

A few days after the wedding, Gena announced to his parents: – Lena and I have decided to move into the house that Galina Ivanovna gave us.

Anna Nikolaevna nearly lost her senses: – Are you out of your mind?! It’s all her influence! She wants to hide you in the middle of nowhere so that you’ll deteriorate faster and she can take the inheritance!

Alexander frowned: – Anya, what are you talking about? Have you completely lost it?

Anna exploded: – I’m speaking absolutely sensibly! He needs constant medical supervision, and he’s planning to go to the middle of nowhere! I won’t allow it!

– We already have the tickets, – Gena answered calmly.

– Fine, – Anna said coldly. – If that’s the case, don’t come to me for help anymore. Let your new family take care of you.

– Gena, don’t be mad at Mom; you know her character, – Alexander said conciliatorily. – She’ll come to her senses. If you need anything, call me, and I’ll help.

– Thanks, Dad.

– But still, why exactly there? In this respect, she’s right—that place is a real dump.

Gena smiled: – Maybe you won’t believe it, but there are healing springs there. Lena and her mother are sure that this place will help me get better. Honestly, I don’t really believe it myself, but why not try?

– You’re such a skeptic. Sometimes what cannot be explained turns out to be the most effective. I wish you good luck.

When they arrived at the house, Gena looked around in surprise at the overgrown yard: – It’s all wildly overgrown here!

Lena smiled: – Of course, no one has lived here for many years. But don’t worry, a little work and it’ll be as good as new.

She opened the door, and they stepped inside. To Gena’s surprise, the house turned out to be quite cozy, and there was hardly any dust. He was so exhausted from the journey that he barely sat on the sofa before he instantly fell asleep.

At first, Lena took care of the cleaning, while Gena helped as much as his strength allowed. To his astonishment, he began to feel better—more energy, and his appetite became voracious. A week later, he completely devoured his dinner and even surprised himself: – I can’t understand how it happened, but everything went in!

Lena gave a sly smile: – I told you, miracles happen in these places.

Gena looked at her curiously: – Why are you so sure?

– When I was a child, I used to come here often and saw many strange and amazing things.

– Of course, and all the local guys were chasing after you!

– Stop it, – Lena laughed. – By the way, tomorrow a surprise awaits you!

Despite all his attempts to coax Lena into revealing what the surprise was, Gena never found out. They went to sleep, happy and full of hope, embracing each other.

— Sasha, I don’t understand how you can be so indifferent! It’s been half a year since that girl took our son away, and you haven’t lifted a finger! — Anna Nikolaevna grumbled.

Alexander tore himself away from his papers: — And what do you propose? To call in riot police and forcibly bring him home? Don’t forget, he’s married now and living his own life.

Anna stamped her foot: — Nonsense! A month ago, he was supposed to be admitted to the hospital, but all he does is assure me that everything is fine and immediately hangs up the phone. How can he be alright without treatment?!

Alexander realized that behind this torrent of words lay the mother’s anxiety. Setting aside his documents, he gently suggested: — If you’re so worried, let’s go visit them. Let’s see how they are settling in.

Anna thought for a moment, then smiled: — That’s a great idea.

— Then get ready. I’ll call Gena, and tomorrow morning we leave.

They reached the village only by evening.

— My God, what a wreck! — Anna Nikolaevna sighed.

Alexander smiled: — I like it. Fresh air, no trash… Oh, look, a hare!

Anna watched in amazement as a hare dashed in front of the car: — It’s like a nature reserve! I wouldn’t be surprised if bears roamed the streets here.

— Looks like we’re here, — Alexander noted.

At that moment, the house’s gate swung open, and Gena appeared on the doorstep. Anna froze, and Alexander nearly lost his speech. Standing before them was a robust, healthy young man, completely different from the previously pale youth.

— Mom, Dad, I missed you so much! — Gena exclaimed joyfully.

 

They embraced for a long time, and Anna couldn’t hold back her tears: — Gena, how you’ve grown!

— It’s all thanks to Lena. And also—to the bees. You wouldn’t believe how interesting it is!

Lena stepped onto the porch, smiling shyly. She too hugged the husband’s parents.

— Thank you, dear, — Anna Nikolaevna said through tears. — You did what even the best doctors couldn’t do.

After mutual greetings and embraces, they finally unloaded the car and handed over all the gifts they had brought. Lena, smiling warmly, invited everyone to the table. Anna Nikolaevna inspected the dishes with interest, as if they had transported her back to her childhood: everything looked incredibly appetizing and homely. Meanwhile, Gena took out a bottle:

— Dad, here’s some mead. Real, homemade.

Alexander laughed: — You act just like true hosts! You have everything right here!

Everyone tasted the mead, except Lena.

Noticing this, Anna Nikolaevna asked with a hint of irritation: — What, still offended? You won’t even drink for our sake?

Lena blushed and replied sheepishly: — I can’t.

Anna looked at her son in surprise: — Is she sick?

Gena smiled broadly: — We’re going to have a baby. So, Mom, get ready to become a grandmother!

These words unleashed a flood of emotions in Anna Nikolaevna. Tears streamed down her face; she alternated between hugging her son and Lena, and then bursting into tears of joy again. At one point, completely unexpectedly for everyone, she decisively declared:

– That’s it, I’m staying here for a couple of weeks. I need to buy a few things and help you settle in. Sasha, haven’t you been promising me a new car for a long time? Well, buy it! And a big one, so I can bring everything the granddaughter will need before she—or he—arrives. We’ll definitely take Lena back to the city—let her give birth in a good clinic.

She continued giving directions, but those around couldn’t help but laugh. Anna Nikolaevna blushed slightly:

– Well, I just want the best!

Lena approached her and hugged her: – I’ll listen to you. Gena knows nothing about these matters, and I’m a bit scared.

Anna gently embraced her: — Don’t be afraid, I’m always here for you.

Under the warm side of this shaggy giant, who became a kind caretaker for them…

It so happened that Nikolai Sergeyevich lived alone in a large house on the outskirts of the district center with two small children in his arms. All household responsibilities fell on his shoulders. Nikolai worked as the chief engineer at the district car depot, sometimes having to travel on business trips for spare parts, equipment, and cars. If it were not for the help of old Pakhomovna—a kind and responsive woman—he would have had to either quit his well-paying job or send the children to an orphanage.

Nikolai’s younger daughter, Nina, could hear but did not speak. Doctors recommended waiting until she was six years old and, if the girl did not start speaking, to enroll her in a special institution. Nina did not want to be without her brother Sasha, who was a year older and understood his mute sister very well. For this reason, the children did not attend kindergarten.

Not only her brother understood little Nina. In the yard, in his kennel, lived a large shaggy dog named Sultan—a formidable guard whose barking made the window panes ring. Sultan recognized only his master and Pakhomovna, not allowing too much familiarity, as befits a guard chain dog. Everyone else, who was behind the wooden fence or appeared in the yard, were enemies.

However, Sultan adored the children; they could climb into his kennel, ride on his back holding onto his long thick fur, dress him in their father’s old jacket—in short, do whatever they pleased. The dog happily played with the children, supporting all their childish antics.

The father often watched as his daughter whispered something into the ear of her huge friend. Sultan listened attentively and responded with action, as if he heard a command or caress, “washing” Nina with his rough tongue amid the delighted children’s laughter. Deep down, Nikolai was convinced that they understood each other—the little mute girl and the big serious dog.

Pakhomovna was a very reliable person, but her old age ailments made themselves known. «You need a housekeeper, Nikolai Sergeyevich. I would be glad to help you with the household, but I no longer have the strength, my joints give me no peace. You can’t manage without a housekeeper,» sighed Pakhomovna, admonishingly.

During the November holidays, Nikolai was visited by a former colleague passing through. The friends sat at the laid table, talked, and in the evening Nikolai went to see his friend off at the station for the evening train. Killing time, they stopped by the station buffet. The waitress—a pleasant-looking middle-aged woman—smiled warmly at Nikolai while pouring beer. That’s how he met Galina.

Nikolai began to frequent the station buffet, escorting his friend in the evenings to the old wooden house where she had a small room. Galina told him that she was a lonely woman, having recently moved to their city from another region; her husband had died on the front, and they had no children.

Soon Nikolai invited his friend over for a visit. Galina came dressed up, with treats and toys, spent the whole day playing with the children, drawing and reading them fairy tales. Nina and Sasha took to this cheerful, energetic woman. The acquaintance with Sultan did not go well. The dog greeted every one of Galina’s movements with a deafening growl and did not accept the peace offering she brought. «Don’t worry, he’ll get used to it, he’s just very unsociable,» the owner reassured his frightened friend.

For the New Year holidays, Galina moved in with Nikolai for good, leaving her cramped room. They got married. Galina quit her job and became a housewife. She really liked her husband’s large house and immediately set about putting it in order. She moved the furniture, beat out the carpet, washed the windows.

Nikolai finally felt happy. The children were looked after, the house was in order, no need to worry anymore when leaving on business trips—what else does a person need for peace of mind? Galina, however, began to be annoyed by the other children who constantly demanded attention and took up almost all the free time she now had, thanks to her fortunate marriage. No more could she sit with girlfriends over a bottle of wine, meet men, go on barbecues, or spend evenings in restaurants.

Over time, forgetting her role as a caring mother, Galina began to vent her growing malice on the annoying and burdensome children. As punishment for loud conversations or laughter, she would lock the children in a pantry—a tiny dark closet—where they could only sit on the floor, not daring to move from fear. Aunt Galya forbade Sasha to tell their father about the punishments, threatening the most severe punishment.

Over time, the children learned to avoid punishments, trying not to catch Aunt Galya’s eye. They ran out into the yard and hid in Sultan’s kennel, feeling safe only under the protection of the formidable dog. The dog hated Galina, not allowing her even to approach him.

Galina complained to her husband. She asked to get rid of Sultan, but Nikolai wouldn’t even hear of it, advising his wife to simply stay away from the dog. The enraged woman couldn’t poison Sultan; she was afraid her husband would find out, besides, the dog flatly refused to eat the food she brought, raising his fur, growling, and baring his big teeth.

When the father went away on business trips, Aunt Galya had guests who stayed late into the night at the table, loaded with wine and snacks, dancing to the sounds of the radio and records. The children, hungry and tearful, ran away from home in advance and spent the night in Sultan’s kennel under the warm side of this shaggy giant, who became a kind caretaker for them. A tall, solid fence hid from neighbors’ eyes everything that happened behind it. Only Sultan’s barking at strangers or passers-by was heard—nobody was interested in that.

 

At the end of summer, the woods were full of mushrooms, nearly every weekend they gathered an incredible amount. During one of these trips, Galina went to an old abandoned quarry and, approaching the edge of the cliff, saw a rusty iron trailer below, abandoned long ago by workers.

The first night frosts began. Nikolai left early in the morning for another business trip. After seeing off her husband, Galina woke the children, washed them, dressed them up, and took them shopping. They bought sweets, toys.

They walked down the street with their new toys. Neighbors praised such a caring stepmother, and the children rejoiced at the attention of suddenly kind Aunt Galya. When they returned home, Galina unexpectedly locked them in the pantry. Sasha cried and begged for food and drink for himself and his sister. No one answered. Thus, the children sat until late evening.

When it got completely dark, Galina, after drinking for courage, took the lightly dressed children, ordering them to be silent, and went with them to the back alleys «to dad for mushrooms.» Nina had to be carried all the way. After crossing the deserted highway, passing a strip of roadside forest, they reached the quarry. In the trailer, the woman tied up the children and gagged Sasha. With difficulty, she slid the rusty bolt on the door and left for home.

Her drunken mind suggested further actions. Galina flung open the gate, the front door, dismantled the children’s beds, and scattered toys around the room. In the morning, when the frost did its job, she would sound the alarm, but now she could sleep peacefully.

Sultan howled loudly and prolongedly, and these sounds grated on her nerves, Galina habitually finished her vodka and fell asleep. The dog, exerting tremendous effort, moved the heavy kennel, the carabiner broke, and Sultan disappeared into the night darkness.

Stepan—an experienced driver, a former frontline scout, was driving his truck, returning from a trip, on a deserted night highway, tired, he was hurrying home to his family. Suddenly, a huge shaggy dog ran onto the road and lunged at his vehicle. By some miracle, it wasn’t hit. The dog barked and then dashed toward the forest. Returning back to the car. This repeated several times. The concerned driver, realizing something had happened, got out of the car and followed the dog and the woman.

 

Untying the frozen children, Stepan wrapped them in his jacket and ran to the car, the woman and dog were no longer nearby. He took the children to the police. Coming to his senses, Sasha told what had happened and gave the address. The children were sent to the hospital by ambulance. The local policeman and a detective drove to the address in Stepan’s car. Sultan was in the yard, but for the first time in his life, let people onto the porch. Stepan recognized the dog and pointed him out to the policemen. The dog, growling and barking, wanted to burst into the house, but they didn’t let him.

In the house, the police found the intoxicated Galina. She denied everything, but, completely tangled in her lies, under the pressure of the police officer, confessed to the committed crime. Neighbors began to gather, alarmed by the noise. «Please describe the woman who stopped you on the road and led you to the quarry along with the dog,» the policeman asked Stepan, taking down his testimony.

Stepan stood up, approached the portrait of a young woman, and said firmly: «Why describe her? It was her!» The neighbors gasped, and a grave silence fell. «Look closely. Are you sure?» «As sure as I see you before me now. I’m completely sure. It was her!» Stepan pointed at the portrait again.

Returning from the trip earlier than scheduled, Nikolai, learning from the policemen what had happened, turned pale and clutched his heart. Somewhat calming down, he told them that the woman in the portrait was his first wife, Olga, the mother of Sasha and Nina, who had drowned about three years ago when the children were very small.

As they led Galina away, begging Nikolai for forgiveness, Sultan burst out of the darkness and sank his teeth into the leg of the hateful woman, leaving her with a lasting reminder of himself and the children for the rest of her life. It was barely possible to pull the enraged dog away from the screaming criminal. Left alone, Nikolai could no longer hold back, he cried like a child, led Sultan into the house, hugged and kissed his snout, leaving salty drops on it. In the kitchen, he gave the dog a whole stick of sausage and, locking him in the house, ran to the hospital to his children.

Over time, in Olga’s hometown, next to her black marble monument, on the white snow bright with flames, lay a large bouquet of red roses

The mother left on Wednesday afternoon and told her daughter not to go outside. When Polinka went to bed, the stove was still warm, but by morning the house had cooled down.

There was no sign of her mother, so the girl climbed out from under the blanket, slipped her feet into her felt boots, and ran to the kitchen. Nothing had changed there.

 

A sooty pot stood on the table. In it—Polinka remembered—lay four potatoes, boiled in their skins. The girl had eaten two the night before going to bed. A nearly full bucket of water stood on the floor.

Polinka peeled two potatoes and had them for breakfast, dipping them in salt and washing them down with water. The cold draft from the cellar made her return to bed.

She lay under the blanket, listening to the sounds from the street. Polinka waited for the gate to slam shut and her mother to return. She would fire up the stove, and the house would warm up. Mom would cook potatoes and dump them on the table, and Polinka would roll them around, trying to cool them faster.

Last time, her mother brought two pies with cabbage, and Polinka ate them, washing them down with hot tea. Now, there were neither pies nor tea, and most importantly—it was already getting dark outside, but her mother still hadn’t returned.

Before it got completely dark, the girl sneaked into the kitchen and ate the remaining potatoes, scooped a mug of water, and placed it on a chair next to her bed. Then she wrapped herself in her old mother’s sweatshirt, pulled the hood over her head, and climbed back under the blanket.

It was dark outside, and cold in the house. Polinka, a little girl of six, lay in bed under an old quilted blanket, trying to warm up, and waited for her mother to return.

In the morning, nothing had changed, except it was even colder in the house and there was nothing to eat.

Polinka dragged five logs from the hallway—it took her two trips to do so. Then the girl pulled a stool to the stove, stood on it, and used the poker to open the damper. It didn’t work the first time, and flakes of soot and some debris fell on her.

Polinka had seen her mother fire up the stove many times and tried to do everything just the same. First, she placed two logs inside, then tore several sheets from an old newspaper, crumpled them, and stuck them between the logs, and on top she placed dry birch bark and another log. Then she lit the paper and birch bark. When the logs caught fire, she added two more and closed the door.

After that, Polinka washed about a dozen raw potatoes, placed them in a cast iron pot, filled it with water, and, standing on the stool, pushed it under the stove.

The girl was tired by the time she finished all this, but it seemed to her that the room had gotten warmer. Now she just had to wait for the stove to properly heat the house and cook the potatoes.

Once Polinka had a father, but she didn’t remember him. He had packed his things and moved to the city because her mother often visited her friends and, as grandma used to say, «drowned her sorrows.»

While grandma was alive, Polinka had a good life. The house was always clean, warm, and smelled of pies. Grandma often baked pies with cabbage, carrots, and berries.

She also cooked delicious millet porridge in a cast iron pot—she would place a plate in front of Polinka and next to it—a mug of baked milk.

Back then, there was a television in the house. Polinka watched cartoons, and grandma watched movies, which she referred to by the strange word «serials.»

Without grandma, life became quite bad. Mom would leave during the day and return at night when Polinka was already asleep. There was often no food at home, and the girl made do with boiled potatoes and bread.

Last spring, mom didn’t plant a garden, so this year there were even fewer potatoes. Polinka didn’t know what happened to the television. Mom had never left for as long as this time before.

The house was warm now, the potatoes were cooked. Polinka found a bottle of sunflower oil in the kitchen cupboard. There was only a tablespoon of oil left, but hot potatoes with oil tasted much better than cold ones without anything.

After brewing a cup of raspberry leaf tea, Polinka drank the hot tea and felt warm. She took off her mother’s sweatshirt, lay down on the bed, and fell asleep.

She was awakened by noise. In the room, the neighbors were talking—old lady Masha and old man Egor, and some unknown person.

«Zakharovna,» the stranger addressed old lady Masha, «take the girl for a couple of days. I called her father—he will come on Sunday.»

«An investigator and a doctor from the district will arrive soon. I’ll wait for them here.»

Old lady Masha searched for something to dress Polinka in, but finding nothing, she put the same old mother’s sweatshirt on her and wrapped her in an old grandmother’s scarf on top.

When they stepped into the hallway, Polinka saw something lying near the woodpile, covered with two sacks. A leg sticking out from under one of the sacks wore her mother’s boot.

Old lady Masha took Polinka to her house and ordered her husband to heat the bathhouse. She washed the girl, steamed her well with a birch broom, wrapped her in a large towel, sat her in the ante-room, and told her to wait. A few minutes later, she returned with clean clothes.

Polinka sat at the table in flannel pajamas, wool socks. A white scarf with tiny blue dots was tied around her head. A plate of borscht was placed in front of the girl.

A woman entered the room, looked at Polinka, and sighed heavily.

 

«Here, Maria Zakharovna,» she handed old lady Masha a large package, «some things for the girl. My own have outgrown these. There’s even a winter jacket. Such a tragedy.»

«Thank you, Katya,» old lady Masha replied and turned to Polinka, «have you eaten? Come, I’ll put on some cartoons for you in the other room.»

That day and the next, several women visited Maria Zakharovna. From snippets of conversation, Polinka understood that her mother had been found frozen in a snowdrift, quite by accident. And someone had called her father, and he would be coming soon.

Polinka felt sorry for her mother and missed her. At night, she cried quietly under the blanket so that no one would hear her.

Her father arrived. Polinka curiously watched the tall, dark-haired man she didn’t remember at all. She was a bit afraid of him, so she kept her distance. He also studied the girl and only once, when they met, awkwardly patted her on the head.

Father couldn’t stay long, so they left the next day. Before leaving, he closed the shutters, nailed the windows and doors shut crosswise, and asked the neighbors to keep an eye on the house.

Old lady Masha told Polinka as they parted:

«Your father has a wife—Valentina. She will be your mother. Listen to her in everything, don’t argue. Help around the house. Then she will love you. Besides your father, you have no one, and you have no other home either.»

But Valentina never came to love Polinka. The woman had no children of her own, and perhaps she didn’t know how to love children. But Valentina didn’t mistreat the girl. She made sure Polinka was always neatly dressed, although she rarely bought new clothes, making do with what colleagues and acquaintances gave her for the girl.

As soon as father brought Polinka home, Valentina «arranged» to put the girl in daycare. In the morning she would drop her off, and in the evening after work, she would pick her up. At home, Valentina immediately started making dinner or doing other household chores, while Polinka sat in her room, looking out the window or drawing.

Father also rarely talked to his daughter, believing he was doing everything she needed: fed, dressed, shoed—what else?

When Polinka went to school, she didn’t cause any trouble to either her father or Valentina. She did okay in school, mostly getting B’s, and C’s in math, physics, and chemistry. But the teachers said the girl tried, it’s just that exact subjects weren’t her forte.

However, she excelled in craft classes, especially when the girls sewed, knitted, or embroidered. Even the teacher was surprised at how skillfully Polinka mastered everything. Olga Yurievna would just show a new stitch or pattern, and Polina would repeat it as if she had known it for a long time.

Thus, Polina lived in her father’s family: from about ten years old, she cleaned the apartment by herself, could iron a mountain of laundry, and from the age of thirteen, she cooked for the whole family. She only interacted with Valentina on household matters, but it seemed Polina didn’t need more than that.

Father was pleased that there were no crises typical of teenage years, which his colleagues with daughters had warned him about. And his daughter’s silence and introversion he considered a trait of her character.

After ninth grade, Polina said she wanted to go to college to study to be a pattern maker and tailor. Father went with her to the industrial-economic college, they submitted the documents, and in September Polina began her studies.

She still did a lot of housework, but now she also started sewing. Valentina had an old sewing machine; Polina fixed it, and now there was no problem if she needed to hem towels, sew new curtains, or mend clothes. The girl did all this herself. Neighbors started approaching her—some needed trousers shortened, others needed custom-sized bedding sewn. She charged little, but she didn’t spend the money—she saved it.

Three years flew by unnoticed. School ended, and Polina turned eighteen.

Unexpectedly for her father, the girl announced that she wanted to return to her native village.

«Isn’t it good for you here? Why are you leaving?» her father asked.

«You raised me, and I am very grateful. But from here on, I’m on my own.»

Polina barely recognized her home. Her village, unlike many others, was not dying but growing—several years ago, a new road was built nearby, new residents arrived, new homes were built.

The house that used to seem huge to Polina now looked like a shabby hut against the backdrop of newly-built two-story cottages. True, several neighboring homes remained the same. There was old lady Masha’s house on one side and old man Egor’s on the other. I wonder if they are still alive?

Polina opened the gate—it creaked just as it did back when little Polinka, listening to that creak, awaited her mother.

The girl climbed onto the porch. «Can’t get into the house without tools,» she thought.

Leaving her things on the porch, she went to old lady Masha’s house. Polina entered the gate and saw an elderly woman weeding a flower bed.

«Hello,» said Polina.

The woman straightened up and looked intently at the girl:

«Hello,» she replied. «And who might you be? The face seems familiar…»

«Maria Zakharovna, it’s me, Polinka.»

«Indeed, Polinka! And you look just like your mother! – exclaimed old lady Masha. – You’ve arrived!»

«I’ve arrived, but I can’t get into the house. Do you have a crowbar or something else to pry off the boards?» asked Polina.

«Just a moment, wait!» she said and shouted towards the house: «Zakhar! Come here!»

A young man in his twenties came out onto the porch.

 

«Grandson! Grab some tool, help your neighbor open her house.»

Within an hour, all windows and doors were open, and Polina entered the house she hadn’t been in for twelve years. Here, in the hallway, lay her mother the last time she saw her, or rather her legs, clad in brown boots with worn toes.

There on the bed was the quilted blanket under which she tried to warm up. The bucket, the cast iron pot, the sooty pot. Polina felt like she had returned twelve years back.

She remembered old lady Masha’s admonition: «Behave well, and you will be loved. You have no other home besides your father’s.»

«How can there be none? Here it is, old, with a leaning porch, but so dear! – thought Polina. – Here, I will be happy!»

For almost a week she washed, cleaned, laundered, painted. She found a chimney sweep in a neighboring village—he cleaned the chimney and fixed the stove, and Polina whitewashed it. She threw out a heap of old junk from the pantry and the attic, hung new curtains.

Zakhar helped her fix the porch and the fence that had collapsed in several places.

And all this time, villagers who remembered her and her mother came to her house—they were surprised that she had decided to move here from the city.

Father probably wouldn’t recognize his quiet, introverted daughter—the smile never left Polina’s face. She was talkative and friendly.

The local tractor driver plowed her garden, and although it was late, but with Maria Zakharovna’s guidance, Polina managed to plant something and tidy up the berry bushes.

«It’s alright, this year you were late with the seedlings, but next year you’ll plant everything you need,» old lady Masha said.

Having finished with the house, Polina got a job—not yet in her field. There was no atelier in the village where she could work, and she didn’t have a sewing machine. So, she went to work at the post office. And not behind the glass but delivering mail to three neighboring villages.

She was issued a government-issued bicycle, and Polina went pedaling: two kilometers to one village, three to another.

With her first salary, she bought a sewing machine, with the second—an overlock. She started sewing—first for the home, then customers found her. Of course, the village wasn’t the city, but little by little, even people in neighboring villages learned about her. People started coming.

And after a couple of years, another postman was delivering the mail—Polina had enough from her garden and sewing earnings. Especially since it was already hard for her to ride a bicycle—she and Zakhar, whom Polina had married, were expecting their first child.

Polina kept in touch with her father and Valentina; they came to the wedding, invited the young couple to the city. But they refused:

«My home is here,» Polina said

Lisa sat in the living room, listening to her son Artem arguing on the phone. He was speaking loudly with a friend, and Lisa couldn’t help but overhear snippets of the conversation.

«Yes, mom doesn’t understand anything!» he shouted, making Lisa flinch. «She never knew what I really needed.»

 

Her heart clenched. She couldn’t imagine that her son, for whom she had lived and worked, thought this way about her. When Artem slammed his room door, tears welled up in Lisa’s eyes. She went to his room to say something but stopped at the threshold.

There was a note on his desk that read, «Mom, forgive me for everything…»

Lisa felt a chill run down her spine. What did this mean? She hastily grabbed her phone and started dialing Artem’s number, but she heard the front door’s lock quietly turn.

Lisa rushed into the hallway and caught Artem at the door. His face was tense, but his eyes showed hesitation. He was holding a backpack as if he was about to leave the house.

«Artem, wait,» Lisa said with a trembling voice. «Can you explain to me what’s happening?»

 

He froze, not looking at his mother, but he didn’t move. Lisa cautiously approached closer.

«I found your note,» she continued. «You can’t imagine how it scared me.»

«Mom, it’s not what you think,» he said softly. «I just… just don’t know how to explain everything to you.»

Lisa noticed how his shoulders drooped, and she realized that something serious was troubling him. She took a deep breath and tried to speak calmly:

«Artem, you can tell me everything. Whatever happened, I’m always on your side.»

He finally looked up, filled with internal struggle.

«I’m tired, Mom,» he exhaled. «Tired of being who you want me to be. I know you want the best for me, but I feel like I’m losing myself.»

These words stunned Lisa. She hadn’t expected such an admission.

«Do you think I want to make you someone else?» she asked quietly.

«Sometimes it seems so,» he replied. «I try to meet your expectations, but it’s too hard.»

Lisa felt her heart squeeze. She realized that all this time, her love and care might have been perceived by her son as pressure.

«Artem,» she said gently. «You are more important to me than any of my expectations. If I made a mistake somewhere, forgive me. I just wanted you to be happy.»

Tears welled up in Artem’s eyes. He dropped his backpack to the floor and hugged his mother.

«I just wanted you to understand me,» he whispered.

«I will try,» Lisa replied, holding him tightly. «We’ll get through this together, Artem.»

This conversation marked the beginning of a new stage for both of them, where they learned to truly listen and understand each other.

Fyodor Petrovich had long dreamed of visiting the cemetery to see his son. However, his health hadn’t allowed him to fulfill this wish for a long time. Paint and tools were prepared in advance, and today he woke up feeling better. After breakfast, he began to get ready. Two months ago, he noticed that the fence at his son’s grave was leaning and the gate was hanging unevenly. It was not surprising, since it had been almost ten years since he buried his boy. In fact, Sasha was not his biological son. Fyodor Petrovich and his wife had been together for 20 years, but they had no children. After much contemplation, they decided to adopt a child from an orphanage. There, they immediately noticed a thin five-year-old boy who looked at them sadly. Fyodor Petrovich felt his heart clench.

«Why is this boy sitting alone?» he asked.

«Sasha is special,» they replied. «His mother brought him here six months ago. It was a difficult scene. He cried, didn’t want to part with her, and it broke our hearts. Since then, he has been on his own, unable to forgive and understand this betrayal. Despite our efforts, he doesn’t connect with anyone.»

Fyodor Petrovich and his wife immediately decided that they could help Sasha believe that life isn’t all that grim. While processing the paperwork, they took him on walks. Sasha did everything they suggested: ate ice cream, rode on carousels, but his eyes remained empty.

It took a whole year for Sasha to look at them without fear. Only after a year did he approach Fyodor Petrovich one evening and asked:

«Do you really never leave me?»

«Never, I promise you.»

 

Little Sasha pressed against him and cried. From that moment, they forgot that Sasha was not their biological son. The boy delighted them in everything. He studied well and after school, he entered a military academy. They lived in a small village, and few of the youths continued their education after school, so the parents were incredibly proud of Sasha. During holidays and vacations, he came not to rest but to help his parents. Everyone in the village was envious, seeing how tenderly Fyodor Petrovich and his wife treated their son.

Sasha remained in the service. His parents worried, especially when he didn’t make contact. They knew he was in dangerous places. Later, he was discharged due to health reasons. Sasha became sad, and two years later, he fell ill. The doctors just shrugged their shoulders. The disease was discovered too late.

Soon after the son’s death, his wife also passed away, and Fyodor Petrovich was left alone…

He went out into the yard, and an old dog named Buyan ran up to his feet. The dog was already in years. If translated to human age, he was Fyodor Petrovich’s peer.

«So, Buyan, shall we go to Sashenka? Let’s go.»

The old dog, it seemed, understood the owner’s words and wagged its tail joyfully.

They closed the gate and headed down the dirt road. The cemetery was on the other side of the village. They had to walk through the entire settlement and then another kilometer.

«Good day, Fyodor Petrovich! Where are you and Buyan heading?» called out Maria Stepanovna.

«Hello, Maria Stepanovna. I’m going to my son and wife. Need to fix the fence and paint it.»

«Oh, how are you yourself? You’re ill, after all. Isn’t there anyone you can ask?»

«God didn’t give us grandchildren, and asking a stranger… You know, they’ll take the money, and then I’ll have to redo it. Times are such…»

Fyodor Petrovich and Buyan continued on their way. At the entrance to the cemetery, they met a man, clearly not a local. He passed by without greeting. Fyodor Petrovich was surprised: in their village, everyone greets each other, even if strangers. But here…

The cemetery was in disorder. A week ago, there was a strong wind that broke branches. Fyodor Petrovich sighed…

«Oh, how much work we have ahead of us, Buyasha.»

The dog growled.

«What’s making you angry? Didn’t you like that passerby? Me neither. But what does it matter to us…»

When Fyodor Petrovich had already gathered the branches, Buyan suddenly began digging the earth at the very fence. The soil flew in all directions. The dog dug while simultaneously barking and squealing. Finally, he stopped and barked loudly.

Fyodor Petrovich approached the hole and froze. In the pit dug by Buyan, the corner of a cardboard box was visible. It had clearly been buried recently, as the cardboard had not yet soaked through from the moist soil. Perhaps it was hidden by that same stranger. Fyodor Petrovich cleared the soil around the box, which turned out to be quite large, and with difficulty pulled it out.

And then something moved inside the box. He began to tear the cardboard, and Buyan circled around, continuing to bark.

«Quiet, quiet…»

 

Inside were rags. Fyodor Petrovich carefully pushed them aside and gasped. In the box was a tiny, naked baby girl. She moved, opened her mouth, tried to breathe, but had no strength to cry. How long had she been under the ground? Probably no more than half an hour. There was enough air in the box that she had not suffocated.

«Oh, Lord!»

He grabbed the baby and ran to the cemetery exit, while Buyan ran ahead, barking loudly. The dog hadn’t run like that for many years. Fyodor Petrovich’s heart pounded as if ready to jump out of his chest, and his breath burned his throat. But he didn’t stop. They rushed to Olga Sergeyevna, the former paramedic of their village. Although the medical post had long been closed, residents still turned to her for help.

Olga Sergeyevna was digging garden beds when she noticed that Fyodor Petrovich was running towards her house. Clearly, something serious had happened. Quickly rinsing her hands in a barrel of rainwater, she ran to meet him.

«Fyodor Petrovich, what happened?»

He could barely extend the girl to her and hoarsely said:

«Found… in a box… buried…»

At that moment, the baby squeaked quietly, and Olga Sergeyevna, as if waking up, quickly took her in her arms and ran into the house.

She skillfully swaddled the baby in a soft towel while her husband frantically dialed emergency services and asked Fyodor Petrovich many questions. Half an hour later, at Olga Sergeyevna’s gate, there were emergency doctors and police officers. Curious neighbors bustled about. Someone gave Fyodor Petrovich drops for his heart.

The next day, an unusual vehicle pulled up to Fyodor Petrovich’s house, which he had never seen before. The man tried to stand up from the couch, but his legs, tired from the previous day’s events, did not obey. Sasha, the husband of the paramedic, peeked out the door.

«Who’s there?»

«Hello. Are you Fyodor Petrovich?»

«Yes, that’s me,» replied the old man, struggling to rise from the couch and approaching the door.

«I’m German, the grandfather of the girl you saved.»

Fyodor Petrovich saw how a sturdy young man carried a large box and placed it on the table. German put a stack of money next to it.

«This is for you, treats. And this is money for your needs. I understand that thanking with money may not be entirely appropriate, but I don’t know how else to express my gratitude. Please accept it, it’s from the heart.»

Fyodor Petrovich sat down. German continued:

«My daughter married against my will. I immediately understood that her husband only wanted money, but she wouldn’t listen. When she became pregnant, I thought, perhaps, I was wrong. Alas, she died in childbirth. I knew nothing about it. The girl survived, and the son-in-law wanted to quickly inherit. That’s why he decided to get rid of her. I could never imagine such a thing was possible. The investigation will clarify everything. The son-in-law has already been arrested, and the girl… She’s the only thing that connects me to my daughter. I should have insisted on my own, but I didn’t want to interfere in her family.»

Fyodor Petrovich understood how hard it is to lose loved ones.

«Is the girl all right?» he asked.

«Yes, everything is fine, you were just in time. Thank you very much.»

Fyodor Petrovich again and again recounted how everything happened. He also mentioned that the fence at his son’s grave was leaning, and he came to fix it.

Fyodor Petrovich was able to move normally only two weeks later. In that box of gifts, there was so much that the money would have been enough not only for a new fence but also for a monument. One clear day, Fyodor Petrovich took a tape measure and left the house, and his loyal dog ran beside him.

 

«Will you come with me, buddy?»

The dog wagged its tail joyfully and barked loudly. They passed through the gate and almost immediately met Maria Stepanovna.

«Where are you heading, Fyodor Petrovich?»

«To the cemetery. The girl’s grandfather came, left money. I decided to take measurements and order a new fence. The old one is completely leaning.»

«Go ahead, of course.»

Fyodor Petrovich continued on his way, and the elderly woman watched him go and involuntarily crossed herself. She knew more than he suspected, having been to the cemetery herself the day before.

Fyodor Petrovich walked, occasionally turning back and talking to the dog:

«The main thing is that everything goes smoothly today, right, buddy? Yes, without any trouble, we’ll manage.»

Suddenly, the old man stopped and looked around, not understanding where he was. In front of him rose a majestic memorial complex. High and elegant fences made of massive black chains, white gravel, tiles, and majestic black monuments. Fyodor Petrovich froze in amazement, noticing that the monuments had the names of his son and wife engraved on them. They looked so realistic that they seemed alive.

«Sanechka…»

Turning to the second monument, Fyodor Petrovich immediately understood who had arranged all this. Of course, it was German. He quietly bowed and whispered:

«Thank you, kind man. You did everything right.»

Fyodor Petrovich sat down on a bench next to the graves.

«Well, my dear ones. Now you can rest. Everything is done, just as I dreamed. I didn’t come to you until I finished the work, but now everything is in order.»

In the evening, Maria Stepanovna noticed that the dog Buyan returned alone, without the owner. The dog whined plaintively as if trying to say something. The woman understood: something had happened, and she went to Fyodor Petrovich’s house. As she expected, the house was locked. She quickly gathered neighbors, and they hurried to the cemetery.

Fyodor Petrovich sat on the bench with a smile on his face. He had passed away. The funeral organization was taken over by German. And Buyan did not want to leave Maria, despite German’s offer to take him to a country house. The dog often ran to the cemetery. He lived another two years after his owner and died near the beautiful fence, where he was buried to remain close to the family and Fyodor Petrovich

The day passed as usual. Christina was about to finish work when her phone rang — it was her worried husband:

Where are you? How much longer? Come on, hurry up, I’m waiting for you.
Without giving any explanations, Nikita hung up. Christina began to worry and called a taxi to get home faster. At the doorstep, her husband met her with suitcases — What happened? — the girl asked in confusion.

— I should be asking what happened. When did you become so mercenary? — I don’t understand…

— We agreed on how we would manage the household, spend our common funds, and so on, remember?

— Suppose. But everyone must adhere to the conditions, Nikit, — the wife replied more firmly.

 

— Unlike you, I hid nothing. Today at lunch I met an acquaintance. His wife works in your department, and I found out how much you really earn. Your deceit has been exposed. I’m not going to support you and your parents. We are breaking up, — the husband said calmly.

Christina looked into the room and saw the doors of an entirely empty wardrobe. Nikita had taken care in advance and packed all the things. Two years of married life fit easily into a suitcase and a couple of bags.

— I packed all your things that you brought from your mother to our rented apartment. The rest, sorry, — Nikita clarified matter-of-factly.

The wife sighed heavily. She had previously thought about her husband’s excessive stinginess, but the girl tried to dismiss these thoughts. After all, she loved Nikita very much.

— Here, you’ll pay for it. I promised the landlady that tomorrow you will bring everything to her at work, — Nikita pulled out receipts for the apartment payment and handed them to his wife.

— Why should I pay for utilities? I need to rent a new apartment, it takes time and money. You put me in front of a done deal, — Christina got nervous.

— Yes, it was convenient on my neck, wasn’t it? — the husband smirked.

— Not true, I also bought groceries and things. And about the apartment, we had an agreement. You pay the bills, — Christina pointed at her husband.

— I found a report from your card that you hid. You lived at my expense, and you spared yourself nothing. And you made a gift for your mommy. I am not your cash cow! Let’s go our separate ways before we have kids!

— I don’t remember such a deal that I had to give you all my salary, and still report to you!

— I just thought I had found a kindred soul, but you ruined everything! You’ll be biting your elbows and going back to your village to your mother! — Nikita yelled, but his wife had already left the threshold.

Christina didn’t think about how to live further, she only thought about how to get to her mother in the village. Well, anyway, a normal town. Yes, small, not the capital, but still well-kept, and they build new houses. Nikita crossed the line today everywhere he could.

The girl decided not to waste even more nerves and called a taxi again. The husband, seeing from the window how his wife got into the car, became even more confident in his decision: «What a spendthrift! And she left me the bills to pay.»

That same evening, Nikita decided to pack his things and go to his mother. Ekaterina Alekseevna was a woman who was used to solving everything herself and did not tolerate detours, so she immediately asked bluntly why they broke up. She saw no other more suitable match for her son, a bit infantile and naive Christina suited Nikita perfectly.

— I found the receipts she was hiding. Moreover, I’ll tell you, my wife spent all her bonus on herself, which is not a small amount — twenty thousand. I suspected something was wrong when she went to the beauty salon for the second time in a month. Twice a month is too much, — the son complained about his wayward wife.

— But on the other hand, it’s her earned bonus, — the mother shook her head. — Why did you indulge her whims?

— That’s the thing, she didn’t ask me for anything. Christina began to hide her income from me. Yes, she bought groceries and things for the house, but she did not forget about herself. I travel to the office by transport, but she looks like a doll, buying new things for herself. And I didn’t understand right away where the money came from. I thought she found someone on the side, — Nikita continued.

— It would have been worse if you had paid for all of it. And you kicked her out, foolish. I personally liked Christina very much. And now what are you going to do? You’ll have to look for someone else. I can’t shelter you, — the mother cut him off.

— I’m noticeable, handsome, I definitely won’t be without attention. I already have one girl in mind, — the son boasted, glowing with pride.

Angelina from accounting — a beautiful girl, a couple of years older than Nikita, but that didn’t bother him. She had a car, an apartment, and a good salary. Isn’t she the ideal wife?

— Nikit, are we going to some special restaurant tonight? — asked Angelina when the young man delighted her that he was divorcing and wanted to invite her on a date.

— In a restaurant? No. We can eat at home. You have your own apartment, — Nikita was surprised.

— But… you also rented a place, didn’t you? — Angelina shrugged her shoulders.

— Yes, I now moved to my mother’s. I thought we’d go to your place.

— Home is very boring. First, we need to go out to eat and have some fun, after all, it’s Friday. And I hardly cook. I don’t like it, and it doesn’t turn out well?

— So how do you eat?

— At mom’s, in a cafe or a little restaurant, — she batted her eyelashes, and Nikita was already counting the upcoming expenses. Interest and the desire to get back at his ex-wife took over.

They went to a new cafe near their office. Lina agreed, and for the first time in his life, he came on a date with flowers. His ex-wife used to say she didn’t like flowers, but now he had to spend money for such an occasion.

— Such a simple bouquet… — scoffed Alina.

— What do you mean simple? Do you know how much it costs? — Nikita was outraged.

Nikita turned out to be a very stingy man. Angelina understood everything right away and tried to leave the date as quickly as possible. The same happened with two other girls whom the young man met after breaking up with Christina. Nikita had already thoroughly enjoyed his freedom and was not in a hurry to file for divorce. In turn, Christina healed her emotional wounds and worked a lot hoping to rent her own housing soon and move away from her mother.

 

Almost a month had passed since the husband kicked Christina out. There was no time to miss or be sad, work did not let go. To rest from bad thoughts, Christina and her sister went to a local restaurant, where the girl met a guy. Well, as met… She knew Kostya from the school bench, so nothing serious was planned, but yesterday’s boy had grown up and become a noticeable man, showing interest in the girl himself.

Almost simultaneously with this event, Nikita, having gathered courage, came to Christina to clarify everything and take her back. But the girl approached her mother’s house not alone. Kostya drove her in a new car. Nikita almost burst at the seams, noticing some strange man next to his wife.

— What is this? What kind of clown brought you here?

— Why did you come? We already decided everything, — Christina was stunned.

— I thought about it and decided to give you a second chance, — Nikita answered business-like.

— Too late! I don’t need it anymore. Find yourself another fool, — the wife cut him off.

Later, the mother-in-law called Christina several times about the divorce. She tried to persuade her that, look, you rushed, where else will you find such a husband. The ex-husband and mother-in-law completely tired her with their calls, so the girl also decided to change her phone number. They got the divorce finalized successfully, and as for a new marriage, Christina is now not in a hurry to enter into one.

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

In the courtyard, on an inconspicuous bench near the flower bed, sat a young girl, who, with her eyes covered by her hands, wept softly.

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

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

Residents of the nearby high-rise buildings hurried to return home, to avoid being caught off guard by the bad weather.

Nobody paid attention to the crying lonely girl, except for the janitress Klavdia Nikitichna, who could not pass by without stopping.

«Hey, dear… Why are you crying? It’s going to rain any minute now, and you’re sitting under the open sky… Has something happened?» she asked, touching the stranger’s sleeve.

«Something happened, auntie…» the girl managed to say through her tears, shyly glancing at the janitress.

«Well, you can’t help your sorrow with tears… Especially now that the rain is starting… Come with me to my backroom, you can tell me everything there,» said Klavdia Nikitichna and led the tearful girl to the basement, where she had a room set up for storing equipment.

Once inside, Klavdia, first of all, put a kettle on the electric stove and seated her guest in an old armchair standing in the corner.

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

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

It turned out that the stranger’s name was Dasha, and she had come from a remote, godforsaken taiga village.

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

In search of a better life, the girl had headed to the city, where she got a job as a warehouse clerk at a food base.

After working the required month, she eagerly awaited her salary, but, as it turned out, the cunning employers had tricked the provincial orphan, pinning a huge shortage on her.

Thus, the unscrupulous dealers wanted to make the unfortunate girl work for them for free by using unpaid debts.

Barely escaping this trap, Dasha left without knowing what to do next.

Klavdia Nikitichna, without uttering a word, patiently listened to her guest, only occasionally shaking her head in dismay at human wickedness.

Then, after coughing, she said:

«It happens, dear… But don’t worry, maybe I can help you with something…

My daughter works at an agency… They’re hiring staff for hotels and homes of wealthy people… All honest and without deceit… Basically, if you want to work, everything else will come along.

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

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

«Of course, I agree, Aunt Klav!!! …I have plenty of desire… Besides, I need to live for something…

«Well, that’s settled. You’ll spend the night with me today, and tomorrow you’ll go to the interview. In your situation, it’s a profitable option, Dashenka…» Klavdia Nikitichna replied, smiling encouragingly at her guest.

 

That day, they chatted until late in the 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 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 turned out to be so large that it stood out even against the palaces of the other wealthy citizens of the village.

The homeowners, Adelina Vasilievna and her son German Viktorovich, received Dasha warmly.

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

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

Darya did not understand the young owner’s gaze, because at that time, preparations for a wedding were underway in the house, and according to Adelina Vasilievna’s opinion, the bride was from a very rich and influential family.

«And why do you need me… An orphan, penniless…,» Dasha thought, embarrassed by German’s salacious glances.

The girl did not know that her owner’s passion was for girls whose hearts he broke with shocking regularity.

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

Towards German, Dasha behaved extremely coldly and politely, trying not to stand out or attract attention to herself.

But, unfortunately, her appearance did not give the young owner peace, and one evening, in desperation, he decided to go to extremes.

Dasha had just finished her housework and was about to go to sleep in the maid’s house.

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

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

«German Viktorovich, what are you doing? What do you want from me? I’ll start screaming now…» Dasha timidly protested.

«Scream as much as you can… You’ll scream, and tomorrow you’ll find yourself on the street. And I’ll write such a review to the agency that they won’t take you even as a cleaner in a barracks…» German said, unabashed.

No matter how hard Dasha tried to resist the insolent owner, she still failed. The girl liked her job, and German turned out to be very persuasive. The girl cried, kneeling and pleading, 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 when it all happened.

«Of course, I’m not getting married… Imagine that… Well, what of it? Work and keep quiet. And I’ll throw in a bonus…» the major replied, catching his breath.

Dasha felt so disgusted that she wanted to quit and go 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 Klavdia Nikitichna’s daughter… She vouched for me when they took me without work experience and recommendations…» Darya thought, crying, spreading bitter tears across her face.

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

It must be said that after everything that happened, the owner behaved as if nothing had happened, occasionally glancing appreciatively at the maid.

They say time heals, and Dasha didn’t have much of a choice, so she preferred to forget about the incident, erasing this unpleasant episode from her memory.

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

The wedding ceremony and the subsequent three-day celebrations were held with special pomp 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 owner would no longer care about her.

To some extent, this turned out to be true. German, portraying a loving husband in front of his influential wife, didn’t even look her way.

But Dasha didn’t have long to rejoice.

One morning, she experienced nausea and mild nausea again, which had been accompanying her for several days.

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

«God… I’m pregnant… What now? …What a disgrace… What will people think? Got pregnant by a rich man for money… good maid, nothing to say,» Darya thought, crying and burying her face in a pillow.

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

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

Well, don’t cry, silly. It’s good that you came to me right away. Now 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 shrugged and didn’t want to listen to anything more.

When the owner left, the girl covered her face with her hands and cried loudly, mentally lamenting her unfair life.

But, as much as Darya wanted to keep the child, 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.

And on the third time, she turned around and walked away, her head bowed.

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 owner, the girl took out her phone and called the rich major.

 

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

«Well, well, things… She couldn’t… You women, only know how to spread your legs… But when it comes to paying, you all run into the bushes… Well, wait, I’ll come,» German grumbled 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 rented apartment and a bag of groceries.

«Here, take this… You’re no longer working as a maid. The belly will soon be noticeable and everything will become clear. Live in the apartment and don’t go outside unnecessarily. 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 myself,» the major said as he left, getting into the car and driving 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 that one could deprive 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 the wilderness and raise my son or daughter,» Dasha thought, trying to justify herself.

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

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

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

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

«German, are you a complete cretin, brainless? Kristina’s father will destroy you… Understand, we are nothing against him… There, such money and connections are involved, that we haven’t even stood close…

In short, while there’s still time, sort it out with the girl…

You messed it up yourself, so learn to clean up after yourself…

Next time, think a hundred times before you jump on the first maid you come across,» Adelina Vasilievna snapped 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.

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

The major seemed to think the situation was under control, and when a few days later, happy Dasha called to inform him of the birth of twins, he already knew how he should act.

The babies were born healthy, strong little chubs, and to Darya’s joy, they weren’t kept in the maternity hospital for long, being discharged after a week.

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

Of course, she didn’t see much joy in German’s eyes, but during the pregnancy, Dasha had become so accustomed to his mournful 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, joyful, holding a cake. Pretending to be a caring father, he put Kiryusha and Nastenka to bed, and then sat in the kitchen to have tea with Dasha.

But before the girl could drink even half a cup, she suddenly experienced severe weakness and dizziness.

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

Dasha woke up several hours later in an unfamiliar place. Her head hurt terribly, and her vision was double.

Gathering her thoughts, the girl realized that she was 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 move, we’ll be there 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, which looked very much like a forester’s or gamekeeper’s dwelling.

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

The situation in her late grandfather Trofim Petrovich’s watchman’s hut was almost identical to 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 barely made out fragments of phrases:

«Pity her… Maybe we shouldn’t drown her?» one of her kidnappers grumbled.

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

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

Suddenly, her gaze stopped on a window, beyond 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 had not anticipated this scenario, thinking that a city girl would not know how to open the clever latches in village houses.

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

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

Dasha ran, pushing through thickets of juniper and wolfberry.

Of course, it was harder to move with her hands tied, but before she had run even a kilometer, Darya stumbled upon a forest path on a young bearded man with a dog…

Surprised, Dasha screamed and fearfully 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 softly, adjusting the cap on his head, cracked from time.

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

The stranger, who turned out to be a local gamekeeper, quickly freed the runaway from her bonds, and then without a word, took out a walkie-talkie and contacted the local police.

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 completely beside yourself… My sister came to visit me…

I wasn’t going to go on patrol today, but Trezor insisted… He probably felt that we would meet you,» the gamekeeper said, smiling and patting the dog on the back.

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

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

«Oh, Andryush… Who is this with you? Could it be your fiancée?» asked a girl standing on the doorstep. From the first glance, she had the upbringing and audacity of a city dweller.

«No… This is a girl… well… She got into trouble… And I helped… Just pour the tea first… and then you can start questioning,» the guy replied bashfully.

Over a cup of aromatic linden tea, calmed down, Dasha told her story from beginning to end, exactly as it really happened, without any omissions or understatement.

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

 

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

«I came to my brother in the wilderness… To cover the issue of poaching and corruption locally… But your story will be much more important, so rest assured… I won’t let this go, and everyone will find out about this case,» the journalist said confidently.

«No, what a scoundrel that rich guy turned out to be… Decided to get rid of his own children’s mother… I would carry them in my arms, and he, you see, came up with this…» Andrei said angrily, to whom Dasha had taken a deep liking.

Soon, the local police officer called the gamekeeper and informed him that the kidnappers had already been detained and were giving full statements.

«Well, soon it’ll be the 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 material, they’ll go to any lengths,» Andrei said, trying to calm the agitated Dasha.

It must be said that the young gamekeeper was right.

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

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

Due to the wide publicity, the investigation proceeded at a rapid pace, and soon, the rich major was sentenced to several years in a colony.

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

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

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

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

Therefore, learning about the trouble that had happened to Dasha and her children, Andrei joyfully accepted them into his home, which he had inherited from his parents.

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

Sister Polina, adept at understanding people, approved of her brother’s choice and joyfully plays with her nephews, of which she now has two.

Mysteriously smiling, Dasha and Andrei hinted that this was not the limit and they were thinking about a third child, who would undoubtedly add his portion of happiness to their strong family life

I never considered myself a simpleton. On the contrary, I had a lot to be proud of in this life. I managed to get out of a tiny town, move to a big city, get a good job there, and even buy a three-bedroom apartment. Then I got married, and it seemed like my happiness knew no bounds. How wrong I was then!

Hello dear readers! Today I will share with you another case from practice, which I found quite amusing. I hope you like it too. A client came to me and told me about an event that happened in her family.

 

I met Vlas a year and a half ago. We met on a river rafting trip, which was a first-time experience for both of us. A charming young man, he caught my liking instantly. He played the guitar wonderfully and sang beautifully. We spent two weeks in the forest, on the banks of the river, rafting on huge inflatable boats, sitting by the fire in the evenings, eating grilled fish, canned chickpeas, simple soups, and drinking amazingly tasty tea from tin mugs. Pine branches and fireweed flowers floated in it, reflecting the endless starry sky.

I moved to the big city from a provincial tiny town of ten thousand people. There were no jobs there for young people except in a quarry. Young people went to the North to earn money, working in shifts. Such a fate did not appeal to me at all. I wanted to enter the bigger world, especially since I graduated from school with honors and did very well on my exams. My parents supported me, and I enrolled in the history department. However, I never went into my field of study and ended up working at a real estate agency. I quickly earned a reputation as a professional, recommended by friends and acquaintances, and I was never out of orders. Our agency was one of the oldest and largest, so I was lucky to get a job here.

I worked a lot, not wanting to return to my parents. Of course, I never forgot about them, helped them with money. Soon, I was able to buy myself an apartment, paying off even before the due date. I was quite satisfied with my solitude, not looking for a relationship. I always thought that family was something too complicated. Moreover, I wasn’t a beauty. Perhaps men did pay attention to me, but I simply didn’t notice and lived peacefully. But Vlas was someone who I liked immediately, and he looked at me with openly admiring and loving eyes. After returning from the rafting trip, we had dinner together in a small cozy restaurant, and gradually began to date. The guy seemed to me a good and reliable person.

He too had moved here from a village. His parents lived far away but were happy that their son had settled down in life. Vlas worked in a building materials store. They didn’t pay too much, but he liked his job, and for me, money was not the main thing. I looked at a person’s soul, his thoughts. It turned out that Vlas was also in no hurry to start a family, looking for the right person. And that turned out to be me, and after six months, the guy proposed to me. I happily agreed. We decided not to celebrate our wedding too lavishly. We just quietly registered at the registry office. Our parents couldn’t come, so only close friends attended the celebration. We later sat in a cafe and returned to my apartment, now officially husband and wife.

I made our family nest cozy. Bought new beautiful bedding, sewed curtains for the living room and kitchen. We bought a large comfortable bed with a good mattress, changed the tile in the bathroom. In the evenings, we cooked dinners together. Vlas loved to cook, and he did it simply excellently. Especially his soups and fish were great. His Finnish roots on his mother’s side made themselves known. My husband’s fish soup with cod and cream could have conquered even the English queen.

 

We had almost enough money for whatever our souls desired. Next year we planned to go on a seaside vacation. I had never been there, and I really wanted to see the endless turquoise sea expanses.

But lately, my relationship with my husband had become tense. Vlas, who had been delicate and tender before, now allowed himself, for example, to joke quite roughly and sharply about my appearance. I didn’t consider myself a beauty, I had an ordinary appearance. One time he really hurt me, and I asked:

«If I don’t suit you physically and am too old, then why did you marry me, Vlas?»

«You’re a good person, I’m comfortable with you,» replied my husband, realizing that he had gone too far.

My husband was three years younger than me, and this also often became the reason for his inappropriate jokes. Such behavior hurt and irritated me greatly, and I repeatedly asked him not to behave like that with me. But my husband, initially apologizing, soon even stopped doing that, continuing to mock my nose, my very curly hair, or something else. It was like a kindergarten!

Such behavior of my husband soon brought its rift into our happiness, and I increasingly wondered why I tolerated such treatment with myself. When I was alone, nothing like this happened; I lived peacefully, no one insulted or upset me. It would have been better to get a cat than to live with a person who constantly tries to devalue me! My confidence was also shaken. I caught myself critically examining myself in the mirror and also beginning to criticize my appearance.

And one day I returned home early. Vlas was already in the apartment, talking to someone on the phone.

«My wife is a simpleton, she trusts me unconditionally. Her apartment will be mine,» I overheard my husband’s conversation.

I froze like a little mouse hearing the steps of a cat.

«Very simple, my sweet! I will persuade her to become a guarantor for a loan I take from the bank. I’ll say I want to open my own tire shop. She’s kind-hearted, she’ll support, and sign everything. A familiar notary, my good friend, will slip her the purchase agreement, and voila! The apartment is mine! And we will marry, as I have loved you for so long, and I only lived with Lena for the money. You know how tired I am of tolerating this cold herring?»

I listened and couldn’t believe my ears – and I had lived with this person for almost a year! However, I quickly pulled myself together, quietly left the apartment, closing the door, and rang the doorbell.

«Ol, is that you?» — my husband opened the door, looking at me in astonishment. — «Why are you ringing?»

«I forgot my keys.» — I tried to smile as cheerfully as possible. — «Mm, it smells delicious! I’m as hungry as a wolf!»

«Yes, I tried especially for myself. Salmon with oranges!» — Vlas proclaimed with pride.

We sat down to dinner, I poured myself some orange juice, and waited for my husband to start telling me fairy tales. And so it happened.

«Listen, Kolyan and I have wanted to open our own tire shop for a long time. I think I’m ready to start my business now.»

«That’s great news. Really, it’s time to stop working for someone else!» — I took a big sip of juice and put a piece of salmon in my mouth.

«You’ll be the guarantor when I take the loan?»

«Of course, darling, I believe in you so much!» — I smiled as sincerely as I could, nodding.

My husband beamed, got up from the table, and came over to kiss me. With effort, I restrained myself from flinching from this simple affection. After what I learned, I wanted to push the traitor out the door, throwing his things into the hallway. But I decided to teach my husband a lesson.

We went to the notary the very next day, not to delay. The happy husband chattered about how smart I was and how lucky he was with me. I mechanically dropped smiles, nodded, and soon we entered the office of a lanky-looking young man in a cheap suit not of the first freshness. He made the most repulsive impression.

Before the trip, I went to get a haircut. Rather, I told my husband I would go to the hairdresser, but I actually went to law enforcement. I laid everything out as it was, without hiding anything, and they promised to help me.

Now we were sitting in the notary’s office, and he, obsequiously, was sliding papers toward me.

«Right here and here you need to sign, dear Elena Mikhailovna!» — said my husband’s accomplice.

At that moment, law enforcement burst in, arresting both of them. The bewildered Vlas looked at me, hurt and confused.

«How could you, Lena?»

«How could you? You cheat on me, and you try to swindle my apartment. Aren’t you ashamed?»

They took my husband away. Afterward, I fully cooperated with law enforcement, though it was clear — my soon-to-be-ex-husband would go away for a long time. I filed for divorce, and since we had no common children or jointly acquired property, the process took less than a month. Already free, I remembered our life with Vlas and decisively did not understand what I did to deserve betrayal from the person I loved. After all, we lived well, we didn’t argue. But guessing what’s in the dark depths of another person’s soul is pointless. There are such inherently petty and nasty people whom you don’t recognize right away. Their nature is rotten, their intentions the lowest. And that was Vlas, whom I simply hadn’t noticed the alarm bells for a long time.

He even had another woman on the side. She came to me with accusations that I had packed her would-be groom off to places not so far away. I didn’t talk to Victoria for long, slamming the door right in her face. She still yelled insults at me for a long time, giving the neighbors a free show. I resolutely didn’t care what people thought of me. I needed to sort myself out, calm down, and get over the betrayal of someone I trusted. After all, I couldn’t have imagined Vlas would do something like this. He seemed so guileless, simple, bright, and warm. But, as they say, still waters run deep.

 

Left alone, I got a dog. It was the right decision. Labrador Marshmallow became my faithful friend. We walked with him in the evenings and mornings in the park, went to training. I doted on him, and solitude with Marshmallow didn’t weigh on me. My parents fully supported my separation. Mom came to visit, brought treats, lived with me for almost a month and a half. We talked a lot.

«I thought it would be like you and Dad. You don’t think that a person harbors evil.»

«I understand, darling. But don’t think, there are worthy men in the world.»

«At least Marshmallow!» — I patted the grinning labrador, who was vigorously wagging his tail, fiercely slapping me with it.

«And a bride will be found for Marshmallow. And you’ll meet your person. I didn’t find your father right away either. You know, this is my second marriage.»

I knew that Mom had married very young the first time but didn’t live with her ex-husband for even a year. But she went with Dad when she was almost thirty. And she was happy, and gave birth to me and my younger brother, Vanya. Dad became the man of her life, loved Mom and us very much. And Mom became his guiding star, his soul. We always felt that our parents loved and valued each other. They never argued in front of us, never raised their voices at each other. There was always peace and order at home, although difficult situations in life, like in every family, happened to us. And I desperately wanted the same – tightly-knit, soul to soul, and as my little brother used to say when he was a tiny baby, «nose to nose.»Perhaps Mom is right, and I will still meet my happiness. But for now, Marshmallow and I will live and gather goodness. I was warm and cozy with Mom, I missed her very much. But I still didn’t think about returning to my hometown. Stable work, my familiar apartment – all this held me. I tried not to remember Vlas, to erase him from my life. Misunderstandings happen to everyone. Everyone can make a mistake, the main thing is to learn the lesson fate presents and find the strength to move on. Even if I never get married, I will still be happy by myself. I don’t know what’s in store for me, but I try to live every day with joy and dignity.

Alexandra wearily sat down on a chair in the narrow utility room of the cleaning company «Blesk». It had been a busy day—three apartments, a country house, and an office. Every step was a struggle: her back ached, her legs buzzed. Only forty years old, yet she felt much older. She sadly smiled at her thoughts and began to take off her work uniform.

«So, getting used to it?» the energetic voice of Lyudmila, her colleague, rang out, snapping Alexandra back to reality.

«It’s okay so far, nothing special, thought it would be harder.»

«Ah, just wait! You haven’t faced the real challenges yet,» Lyudmila nodded importantly as if she were an expert on other people’s problems.

«You know, sometimes this happens… A ‘new Russian’ comes. Looks all decent, you think, what could be special? But no! You arrive at the place—oh dear! It’s as if a whole platoon of soldiers partied there non-stop for a week.»

Lyudmila gesticulated for emphasis, and Alexandra skeptically snorted:

«Come on, it can’t be that bad! And you handle this all by yourself?»

«What choice do I have?» Lyudmila shrugged. «We’re short on people, and the owners demand perfect cleanliness. Reputation is everything. So, we pretend to be professionals. Believe me, you’ll see plenty!»

«Guess they won’t trust me with such serious orders right away. Probably need to pass a probation period first, to be let into the wealthy homes?»

«Basically, yes,» Lyudmila agreed. «But don’t relax. Something unexpected might happen. Okay, I must go, swamped with work!» She grabbed her bag and hurriedly left, leaving only the click of her heels behind.

Alexandra watched her go. Where did that woman, over fifty, get so much energy? She never sits still!

Alexandra’s life hadn’t turned out as she had dreamed. Born without a father—her mother raised her alone, working to the point of exhaustion. At eighteen, foolishly, she became pregnant. The guy, of course, vanished instantly. Her mother just sighed heavily: «Seems like our fate—to give birth as maidens and then suffer alone.»

That’s when Alexandra decided: she wouldn’t suffer! As soon as her daughter turned two, she would find a job and start living independently. But the years passed, and no decent men appeared. Every time she tentatively tried to start a relationship, men immediately backed off, learning about the child. They recoiled from a single mother as if from the plague. Life was slipping right under her feet.

One day, in a moment of despair, she asked her mother:

«Mom, who was my father? Could he have been rich or famous? Why do we live so poorly?»

Her mother looked at her strangely, paused, then replied:

«He was rich, that’s for sure. Famous or not—I don’t know. But I decided to have you. He didn’t plan on a child.»

Alexandra understood everything. Her mother was right—one shouldn’t impose oneself on someone who doesn’t need you and your child. She just had to cope on her own.

It also didn’t work out with her daughter. As soon as she grew up, she distanced herself from her mother. She wanted a different life. Left at the first opportunity, hardly ever called or visited. Sometimes asked for money, but never about meeting.

Now her mother was seriously ill. Health problems—her legs were failing. Alexandra felt a lot of work ahead to provide for her mother’s treatment. Though she herself was over forty, she might have lived a little for herself, but honestly, that desire had almost vanished. All her energy went into just holding on and moving forward.

A loud door slam brought Alexandra back from her thoughts. How time flies when you’re lost in memories!

Olga Sergeyevna, the wife of the cleaning company’s owner, rushed into the utility room:

«Alexandra, great that you haven’t left yet! Listen, there’s an urgent matter. We have no one else. Are you free today?»

Alexandra blinked in confusion:

«Yes, Olga Sergeyevna, I was just about to go home. What happened?»

«We need to completely clean a huge house… In short, no time for explanations, let’s go!»

Alexandra sighed and, grabbing her bag of belongings, hurried after her boss.

After passing through several corridors, they entered Olga Sergeyevna’s office. Seating Alexandra across from her, she began:

«I understand you’re new here, not much experience. But there’s no choice—you’ll have to go. It’s an important client, a lot depends on this order for the company. I’m sure you’ll manage!»

Alexandra nodded, realizing it was impossible to refuse.

«Great!» Olga Sergeyevna was pleased. «So, you need to tidy up the mansion. Our client’s father lived there, recently passed away. Now we need to remove everything unnecessary and prepare the house for sale. I think there will be little dirt—these people are wealthy. But there’s plenty of work.»

«How long do I have?» Alexandra asked.

«Four days. The client is already there. Valentin will drive you. Come on, hurry!»

Alexandra raised her eyebrows in surprise. Olga Sergeyevna’s personal driver usually didn’t transport ordinary cleaners. However, the situation was exceptional. She obediently nodded.

«Wait,» her boss stopped her. «Be careful there. In rich homes, there are many temptations. Don’t even think about taking anything—the consequences will be very serious. And you’ll never be able to work in this specialty again.»

Alexandra was stunned by such a turn in the conversation. Indignation slowly began to boil inside:

«What are you saying, Olga Sergeyevna?! How can you even suggest?!»

«Now, now, don’t get heated,» she murmured conciliatorily. «Just had to warn you. But the pay is decent. Your mother is ill, right? Need money for treatment?»

Alexandra just nodded tiredly. Her mother had indeed recovered significantly, and the cost of medications was astronomical. There was no room for principles here.

«Alright, run to the car! Valentin knows the address, they’re already waiting for you.»

The client indeed awaited Alexandra at the massive gates of a luxurious three-story mansion. A distinguished middle-aged man dressed in a strict black suit, with an impassive expression. His stern look gave Alexandra a slight chill.

«Listen,» the client began without preamble, «while you were on your way, I thought it over and decided: the house needs to be completely cleared of all personal items. You will have four days instead of two. Leave the dishes, vases as they are. But clothes, photographs, and other trinkets—remove without a second thought.»

Alexandra almost objected, thinking about valuable items or memorable souvenirs that might be among the belongings. But she bit her tongue in time. It was not her place to question. What was said, must be so.

 

The client continued with instructions:

«Once everything is ready, the house can be put up for sale. The exterior must be impeccable. If you find anything truly valuable—jewelry, gold—report it to me immediately.»

Alexandra obediently nodded.

«Alright, get started. I’ll check the results in four days,» he said sharply and, turning around, headed to his car.

She watched him with a thoughtful look and set to work. Circling the mansion, she decided to start from the second floor. At first glance, the rooms were in perfect condition. The study, apparently the owner’s favorite place, pleased her especially. Everything sparkled, items were in their places, only a light dust and cobwebs revealed the long absence of residents.

In the bedrooms, however, more serious tasks awaited. Closets, like overstuffed barns, threatened to collapse under the weight of clothes and boxes. With a sigh, Alexandra descended to the first floor for trash bags, bracing herself for a long day’s work.

By nightfall, Valentin drove up for her, calling from the hall, but she asked him to wait a bit.

«Probably enough for today,» she thought, approaching the last cabinet. «I’ll start sorting, and finish tomorrow.»

Pulling up a chair, she stood on tiptoes to reach the contents of the top shelf. That’s when her gaze fell on a small, quite ordinary box.

Curiosity got the better of her. She carefully retrieved the find and, holding her breath, lifted the lid. Inside were old photographs and several documents.

The first photo made her freeze. It showed a young, beautiful mother. A version of her mother Alexandra had never seen—radiant, smiling. She began to sift through the other photos with trembling hands. There was her mother with a man—tall, elegant. His portrait she had seen downstairs, in the hall. Another photo showed herself—a chubby, little baby. This photo was kept at her home.

Her brain worked feverishly. Why were family photos here? Who was this man next to her mother? Could he be her father?

Her hands shook so much that she could hardly unfold the documents. The first was a will, covered with seals and signatures. Skimming the text, Alexandra gasped and collapsed onto the chair, powerless.

It turned out, the owner of the house—the man in the photograph—was her father! The will stated that many years ago, against his own will, he had left his love and child. All these years he had been tormented by remorse but did not dare to interfere in their lives. Feeling the end approaching, he decided to provide for the future of his daughter and her mother, leaving them the mansion, a significant sum of money, and an apartment.

Alexandra’s head spun. Could all this be true? No doubts—the names, dates matched. So, the father hadn’t just abandoned them? He loved them? Why then hadn’t he found them earlier? How much could have changed over the years!

A sudden noise and Valentin’s voice snapped her out of her stupor:

«Hey, Alexandra, are you coming soon? Are you even alive?»

«Yes, coming down now!» she replied, hurriedly stuffing the papers into her bag.

On the way home, she was silent, lost in a whirlwind of thoughts. She didn’t even notice how she got out of the car and climbed the steps. Only when her mother spoke did she realize where she was:

«Sasha, darling, what’s with you? You seem strange. Something happened?»

Alexandra slowly sat down on the couch next to her mother, took a deep breath, and blurted out:

«Mom, we need to talk. Today I learned something about my father.»

Her mother froze, her face twisted with anxiety:

«Lord, Sasha, what are you saying? So many years have passed… And probably, he’s no longer alive…»

«Exactly, he isn’t!» Alexandra pulled out the photographs and documents, handing them to her mother.

She put on her glasses, scrutinizing the pictures. Recognition, amazement, and deep pain sequentially reflected on her face. Taking the will, she slowly scanned the text, occasionally wiping away tears. Finally, she put down the paper and quietly said:

«Victor and I loved each other madly. We dreamed of being together all our lives. But he was born into the wrong circle… His family was wealthy and influential.»

She paused, gathering her thoughts:

«When our relationship became known, his parents were enraged. For them, it was a disgrace. They decided to marry him to a girl from a good family, who already had a child from a previous marriage. And by that time, you were already growing inside me…»

Her mother sobbed, and Alexandra tightly squeezed her hand, barely holding back her own tears.

«When the truth surfaced, Victor resisted for a long time. He didn’t want that wedding. He knew I was expecting you alone. But his father gave him an ultimatum: either the wedding or they would crush us both. What could we do?

«We spent a whole night talking. Cried, thought… And decided that the best way out was to part. He promised to help, but I refused. I was too proud, foolish…»

Now her mother was stroking Alexandra’s hand, and she, with shaking shoulders, allowed her silent tears to flow. How unjust everything turned out! They loved each other, wanted a family, but fate decided otherwise.

«We could have met many years later, even in old age… Embrace each other, talk. But we didn’t make it. It wasn’t meant to be…»

A heavy silence hung in the room. Alexandra, wiping her tears, broke it first:

«Mom, understand… He didn’t abandon us. Just circumstances. He thought of us all his life! Wanted to help, even if only in the end. We got everything he could leave.»

«Oh, Sasha, I don’t know…» her mother sighed. «So many years have passed. There will probably be other heirs.»

«But we’ll try!» Alexandra declared firmly. «Tomorrow I’ll go to a lawyer. Find out everything to the end. We’ll fight for what Dad did for us.»

The legal proceedings dragged on for almost half a year. The women desperately fought for the inheritance, proving their kinship with the deceased. Sometimes it seemed impossible to win—the other claimants were too strong and influential.

But one day, Olga Sergeyevna unexpectedly took their side:

«Sasha, forgive me, you old fool! I didn’t understand the whole story right away. When I delved into it, I realized everything at once. My husband and I had a similar situation. Then his kin was against our marriage. Threatened to disinherit, kick out of the house. But he stood firm, endured all the hardships for me. We won then, no matter what. And you, forty years ago, had it even tougher. Never mind, Sasha, we’ll manage! We’ll fight to the end!»

And they did indeed win. The court recognized Alexandra and her mother as the lawful heirs. To their surprise, they inherited the mansion, a significant sum of money, an expensive car, and even an apartment, whose existence no one knew.

 

«So this is our first little apartment!» exclaimed the mother, recognizing it. «We rented it from an old lady when Victor and I secretly met. Seems he bought it for us later…»

«Great, mom! You know what? Let’s gift this apartment to Milka. Your granddaughter, my wayward daughter. She seems to have straightened out, found a job. Let her live there, start her own family.»

The mother joyfully agreed. A few days later, she invited Alexandra and her granddaughter with her:

«Girls, shall we go to the cemetery today? I want to visit Victor.»

At the beautiful marble monument, the mother knelt, unable to hold back her tears:

«Hello, Vitenka. Forgive me for coming so late…»

«So many years lost, we didn’t meet in the end. Well, what can you do now. I’ll join you soon. Just wait a little…»

Alexandra tried not to listen to her mother’s words. Her heart squeezed from unspoken pain. Nearby, Mila tightly held her grandmother’s hand, also struggling to hold back tears.

When the mother, staggering, headed to the cemetery exit, Alexandra lingered at the gravestone. She couldn’t decide to leave. She wanted to stay here for at least a minute, talk to the person she never knew.

Shaking her head and casting one last glance at the monument, she hurriedly caught up with her relatives:

«Well, girls, home? There’s still so much to do!»

Oleg slammed the refrigerator door so hard that the contents on the shelves inside trembled. One of the magnets decorating its surface fell to the floor with a dull thud.

Lena stood opposite him, pale, with tightly clenched fists.

«Well, do you feel better now?» she exhaled sharply, tilting her chin up.

«You just drive me crazy,» Oleg’s voice cracked, though he tried hard to speak softly. «What kind of life is this? No joy, no prospects.»

«So it’s my fault again?» Lena laughed, but her laughter sounded bitter. «Of course, everything is not as in your dreams.»

Oleg wanted to reply, but just waved his hand. He opened a bottle of mineral water, took a sip straight from the neck, and set it on the table.

«Oleg, don’t be silent,» Lena’s voice trembled. «Just tell me what’s the matter?»

«What’s there to say?» he sneered. «If only… but you wouldn’t understand. I’m sick of all this. To the devil!»

They looked at each other in silence for a few seconds. Finally, Lena took a deep breath and went to the bathroom. Oleg sank onto the couch. From behind the door, the sound of running water could be heard: Lena probably turned on the tap to drown out her tears. But Oleg caught himself thinking that he no longer cared.

Oleg and Lena had been married for three years. They lived in Lena’s apartment, which she had inherited from her parents. After retiring, her parents moved to a country house, and the city apartment was transferred to their daughter. The apartment was spacious but with a simple renovation, and the furniture was almost from the Soviet era.

At first, Oleg was content: after all, the apartment was almost in the city center, close to work, in a decent area. But after six months, the daily grind began to irritate him. Lena felt cozy in her family fortress with familiar brown wallpaper and her grandmother’s sideboard. Oleg, however, found everything too mundane.

 

«Lena, explain to me,» he repeatedly started the same conversation. «Don’t you want to change that horrible yellow linoleum? Or re-paste the wallpaper? Make everything modern, stylish?»

«Oleg, we don’t have the extra money for a major renovation right now,» she answered, trying to speak gently. «Of course, I’d like to change everything, but let’s wait for the bonus or save up.»

«Wait?! That’s your whole life — waiting, enduring.»

Oleg often recalled how he met Lena. She was a modest student, but her blue eyes and kind smile conquered him. He told his friends, «I see a flower bud in her — just wait till it blooms, and everyone will be amazed.» Now, he seemed disappointed: «She hasn’t bloomed; she withered at the root,» he thought, watching as Lena wiped the dust from her mother’s fragile vases, fed sour cream to a kitten picked up from the street, or adjusted the frames with childhood photos on the walls.

But Lena didn’t feel like a «grey mouse»: she simply lived the way she thought was right. Small things pleased her — a new napkin, a quiet evening with a book, a cup of tea with mint, the warm light of a table lamp. Oleg, however, saw this as stagnation.

However, despite constant complaints, he didn’t want to divorce — deep down, the thought of having to move out of the convenient apartment to his parents’, with whom he never got along, held him back. Especially since his mother, Tamara Ilyinichna, tended to take his wife’s side in any argument.

«Son, you’re wrong,» she often repeated. «Lena is a wonderful girl, a smart one. You live in her apartment… be happy.»

«Mom, how would you know?» Oleg grumbled. «What do you even understand in life? Stuck, just like Lena, in your stone age.»

Tamara Ilyinichna sighed: her son had long drifted away. His father, Igor Sergeyevich, knowing Oleg’s temperament, only said:

«Let him figure it out, Tamara, don’t interfere.»

Meanwhile, Oleg came home and grew increasingly angry: «Lena is like a shadow, a grey mouse, and she even tied me to this apartment,» he kept telling himself. During another argument, he shouted:

 

«I once saw a beautiful flower in you! And now? I live with a frozen bud…»

Then Lena cried for the first time in many months.

And on that hot day — the same day it all started — they seriously discussed divorce for the first time. Oleg stood by the window, watching neighbors in the opposite house hang things on the balcony.

«Lena, I’m tired,» he said quietly, continuing to look through the glass.

«You’re tired… of what?» she tried to speak evenly.

«Of this life, of our endless quarrels. You’re locked in your pots and napkins. Do you think I want to aimlessly pass the years?»

Lena was silent for a minute, then took out the trash and left the corridor. Oleg heard the door slam. He hoped she would return in a couple of minutes, maybe explain herself. But Lena was gone for half an hour, returning more composed.

«You know,» she said, leaning against the wall, «maybe you really should be alone for a while. Move out.»

«No way,» Oleg snapped as if stung. «I’m not leaving my home.»

«Oleg, this isn’t your home. It’s my parents’ apartment,» Lena said bitterly. «Let’s be honest: it’s not working out. We need to accept that.»

He found nothing to reply, so he retreated to the room and sat at the laptop. But the thought haunted him: «Where will I go? To my parents… with whom I have strained relations.» The argument hung in the air, and in the following days, it repeated: they argued over trifles, but the root of each conflict was the same — indifference to his wife, whom he considered a «grey mouse,» mixed with the fear of being left without a roof over his head.

It reached a breaking point: Oleg finally got angry and filed for divorce himself. «I decide, not her,» he stubbornly muttered. «In the end, I have parents, I have somewhere to go.» He packed his bags and went to Tamara Ilyinichna and Igor Sergeyevich, though without much enthusiasm. Lena agreed to the divorce calmly.

Applications in the registry office — and soon they were officially no longer husband and wife.

Three years passed. Oleg lived with his parents all this time. Initially, he thought, «I’ll rest a couple of months and return to normal life: rent an apartment, find a new girlfriend who will share my ideals.» But he got stuck, as in a swamp. Work was joyless: money was only enough for modest pleasures. And the prospects somehow didn’t materialize. His parents grumbled that their son was over thirty and still living off them.

And then one cold spring evening, Oleg was returning after meeting a friend. He walked past a small cozy cafe, where bright lights shone in the window. Oleg decided to stop by to warm up. But, as he approached, he suddenly froze: Lena was standing at the entrance. The same Lena he left three years ago in her apartment. But this was a different woman: confident posture, neat hairstyle, strict but elegant clothes, and a calm gaze. In her hands were car keys, judging by the make, not cheap.

«Wow…» thought Oleg, not even realizing how he approached her.

«Lena?» he called out.

She turned around, didn’t recognize him at first, but then smiled. Oleg noticed that the smile wasn’t the same as before — shy and embarrassed, but truly calm and confident.

«Hi, Oleg,» she said. «Glad to see you! How are you?»

«Fine…» he adjusted his scarf, feeling somewhat bewildered. «I see you’re doing well.»

«Let’s just say, I now live as I always dreamed,» Lena answered without a trace of pomp.

«Is that so…» Oleg swallowed, trying to swallow along with the lump in his throat and the growing envy. «And… well done. Are you still working there?»

«No, I changed fields. I opened my own floristry studio. I was afraid at first, but…» she smiled. «Someone supported me.»

«Who is that?» the words slipped out before he could stop them.

Before Lena could answer, a tall man in a coat emerged from the cafe doors. He approached Lena and embraced her shoulders:

 

«Darling, a table just freed up, shall we go?»

Lena turned to Oleg, introduced the man:

«This is Vadim, meet him. Vadim, this is Oleg,» she smiled at the man, touched by his care. «Anyway, Oleg, I was glad to see you. I… hope you’re doing well too.»

Oleg nodded, feeling a storm brewing inside. Looking at Vadim, he suddenly realized: Lena was completely different, not the «grey mouse» he considered her. She had bloomed, like the flower he himself described, but not with him, with someone else.

«Lena…» he wanted to say something like «forgive me,» but all words stuck in his throat. «Happy for you, really.»

«Thank you, Oleg,» she replied softly but confidently. «Take care.»

Vadim smiled at Oleg, nodded slightly, and they disappeared behind the glass door of the cafe. Oleg felt the cold wind literally piercing him through. He closed his eyes for a moment and remembered: «Living with a frozen bud…» — he once harshly threw at Lena. And now the bud had bloomed, and he himself was left outside, both literally and figuratively.

Through the large windows of the cafe, he could see Lena and Vadim talking about something, laughing. He watched their gesticulation, sincere smiles, and caught himself thinking that his evening was already ruined. And not just the evening — the feeling of emptiness in his soul was growing. Once, he could have been the source of confidence for Lena, encourage her to change, support her aspirations. But he chose something entirely different.

Oleg, lowering his head, walked away from the cafe. Perhaps, if he could see himself now, he would realize that he had turned green — from envy, from regret, and possibly from the agonizing feeling of a missed opportunity.