З життя
Жорсткі докори: Свекруха і чоловік змінили думку після розлучення.
На сирітство поклали печатку! Докоряли Настю свекруха та чоловік. Але гірко пошкодували про свої слова після розлучення.
Чи щасливі діти, що виросли в дитячих будинках? Настя потрапила до дитячого будинку, коли їй було 13 років. Її батьки загинули в аварії, а родичі відмовилися від неї. Розумна, красива, інтелігентна і здорова Настя одразу сподобалася одній із виховательок. Коли Насті виповнилося 18 років, вихователька видала її заміж за свого сина Олега, який був старший за неї.
Це був холодний розрахунок. Квартиру, яку отримала Настя від держави, продали і оформили на себе. Думка Насті нікого не цікавила.
— Ти маєш щодня дякувати за те, що тебе прийняли до сім’ї, — сказала Анна Петрівна.
Життя зі свекрухою було гірше, ніж у дитячому будинку. Після школи їй не дозволили вчитись і влаштували працювати посудомийкою в кафе. У Анни Петрівни були гарні зв’язки в місті. Зарплату Насті забирала свекруха. Їй доводилося доношувати одяг Анни Петрівни та її подруг.
— Чому зі мною так поводяться? Ледача, нікчемна, утриманка, потворна, як кінь, свекруха часто дорікала дівчині.
Знайомі родичі жаліли дівчину і приносили їй одяг та взуття.
Через кілька років Настя народила доньку Алісу. Однак ніхто в родині не був задоволений зовнішністю дитини. Анна Петрівна щодня відправляла Настю на роботу і часто нарікала:
— Вона ні крапельки не схожа на мого сина. Він гарний, а це якесь диво-звір.
Настя продовжувала мити посуд, а її маленька дочка спала поруч із нею у візочку. Коли Настя була зайнята, її колеги із задоволенням нянчилися з її донькою.
«А що я маю робити? Ця невдячна жінка завжди бере дитину з собою. Вона нам зовсім не довіряє. Це моя внучка, я б також хотіла з нею посидіти» — розповідала всім свекруха.
Олена, яка працювала в бухгалтерії, збиралася знову йти у декретну відпустку. Перед відходом із кафе вона підійшла до Насті і сказала:
— Досить мучити себе і дитину. Покинь свого чоловіка і переїжджай до мене. У нас багато місця. Мій чоловік і його мати живуть у будинку, а ви поживете у прибудові, там гостьовий будиночок з усіма зручностями і невеликою кухнею. Не бійся, ти не будеш одна.
На очах Насті з’явилися сльози.
— Олена Олександрівна, я не можу так жити. Навіть без мене у вас велика сім’я. А ми з дочкою — це просто зайвий рот, що потрібно годувати.
— Так, наша родина чималенька. Але мама вже старенька, і їй важко все робити самій. Ти житимеш з нами і працюватимеш помічницею. Ми добре платимо тобі.
Настя довго вагалась. Це була значна зміна в її житті. Але бачити свою маленьку дочку в поношеному одязі та грати з чужими старими іграшками змушувало її серце обливатись кров’ю. Тому вона зважилася на цей складний крок.
Вона швидко зібрала свої небагаті речі. Серед них були дитячі речі, підгузки та іграшки. Настя збирала речі дуже швидко, щоб свекруха не встигла повернутися.
Олена Олександрівна відвезла Настю та Алісу до себе додому. Вони оселилися в невеликому будиночку. Сім’я Олени прийняла Настю дуже добре, діти хотіли з нею постійно гратися з дівчинкою.
Коли свекруха і чоловік дізналися про всі обставини, вони по-справжньому злякалися. Вони боялися, що Настя забере у них частину квартири і навіть більше.
Тому свекруха вирішила, що їй потрібно розлучити дочку з Настею. Вона пішла до опікуна і розповіла, що Настя забрала у неї дитину в п’яному угарі, не годує, б’є і навіть привела свідків. Анна Петрівна була «страшною» і жорстокою жінкою. Їй нічого не вартувало найняти гарного адвоката і відібрати дитину у Насті.
Навіть зв’язки Олени Олександрівни виявилися марними в цій боротьбі зі свекрухою. Але одного чудового дня все змінилося…
Хтось настирливо дзвонив у двері. Відчинила мати Олени. Перед нею стояв високий імпозантний чоловік у піджаку і з портфелем. Чоловік був похилого віку.
— Тут живе Світлана Пильцова.
— Хто ви? Жінка відреагувала насторожено, можливо, вирішивши, що це черговий адвокат, надісланий свекрухою Насті.
— Мені терміново потрібно з нею поговорити.
Мама Олени впустила чоловіка в дім і покликала Настю.
Настя прополювала грядки, а діти наглядали за її маленькою дочкою.
— Здрастуйте, Світлано. Я Сергій, — представився чоловік і заплакав.
Виявилося, що Сергій — біологічний батько Насті. Колись у нього був курортний роман з її мамою. Дівчина, дізнавшись про вагітність, написала Сергію, але листа забрала його мати і сховала. Після смерті матері, Сергій розбирав речі і натрапив на цей лист…
Сергій так і не знайшов свою сім’ю, але як виявилося у нього була дочка. І нарешті вони зустрілися обличчям до обличчя.
Сергій був забезпеченим, і йому нічого не вартувало вирішити справу про розлучення і допомогти Насті відстояти права на дочку. Сергій забрав їх до себе в інше місто, в великий будинок і забезпечив їм все необхідне для щасливого життя.
Коли чоловік дізнався про складену ситуацію, він спробував помиритися з колишньою дружиною, але вона змінила номер телефону і більше не повернулася в місто.
Is the Orchid Really to Blame? “Polly, take this orchid or I’m throwing it out,” Kate said, carelessly picking up the clear pot from the windowsill and handing it to me. “Thanks, Kate! But what’s wrong with this orchid?” I was surprised. After all, three more gorgeous, well-tended orchids stood in her window. “It was a wedding gift for my son. And you know how that all ended,” Kate sighed heavily. “I know your Denis got divorced before their first anniversary. I won’t ask why—I bet it was a serious reason. Denis adored Tanya,” I said gently, not wanting to reopen a fresh wound. “I’ll tell you the full story one day, Polly. For now, it’s just too much,” Kate said, getting a bit teary. I brought the “banished” and “rejected” orchid home. My husband looked sympathetically at the wilting plant. “Why do you want that poor thing? There’s no life in it. Even I can see that. Don’t waste your time,” he insisted. “I want to revive it. Give it some love and care. You’ll see—soon you’ll be impressed by this orchid!” I replied, determined to breathe life back into the drooping flower. He winked playfully: “Who ever turns down a bit of love?” A week later, Kate called: “Polly, can I come over? I can’t keep this bottled up anymore. I want to tell you everything about Denis’s failed marriage.” “Of course, Kate. I’m here whenever you need me,” I assured her—remembering how she’d supported me through two rocky marriages of my own… After all, we’d been friends for years. Kate arrived within the hour, settled in the kitchen, and for hours, over a glass of dry wine, a mug of coffee, and some dark chocolate, she shared the whole, tangled tale. “I never imagined my ex-daughter-in-law was capable of such things. Denis and Tanya were together for seven years. Denis left Annie—who I adored, by the way—for Tanya, who was just stunning. He was absolutely besotted, following her around like a lovesick puppy. Tanya looked like a model—men couldn’t help but stare. But for all those years, they never had a child. I figured Denis wanted everything by the book—get married, then have kids. Denis is private, and we never pried. Finally, Denis told us: ‘Mum, Dad, I’m marrying Tanya. We’ve booked the registry office. I’m throwing a huge wedding—no expense spared.’ He was thirty. We were thrilled that he’d finally settle down. But, Polly, the wedding date had to be postponed twice—once Denis got sick, then I was held up at work. It felt odd, but Denis was glowing with happiness—I didn’t say anything. Denis even wanted to have a church wedding with Father Christopher, but the priest was called back to his home parish. Nothing was going smoothly. It seemed like the world was warning us… The wedding was spectacular, noisy, extravagant. Here—look at the wedding photo. You see that orchid? Glorious, in full bloom. Its leaves stood tall like soldiers. And now? Just limp rags remain of it. …Denis and Tanya planned their honeymoon in Paris, but right at the airport, Tanya was barred from leaving the country—something about an unpaid fine. Denis swatted away these troubles like flies. …But then Denis got seriously ill. Ended up in hospital, things looked grim. Doctors were at a loss. Tanya visited for a week, then bluntly told him: ‘Sorry, but I can’t handle being married to an invalid. I’m filing for divorce.’ Polly, imagine my son—bedridden—hearing that. But he only said: ‘I understand, Tanya. I won’t fight you.’ So they divorced. But Denis got better—thanks to a wonderful doctor named Peter. And Peter had a lovely 20-year-old daughter, Mary. At first, Denis turned up his nose: ‘She’s just a slip of a girl—not even pretty.’ ‘Give her a chance, son. Looks aren’t everything. You’ve already had a model for a wife…Better to be happy drinking water together than sipping honey in sorrow.’ …Time passed. Mary totally fell for Denis—called all the time, trailed after him everywhere. So we tried nudging them together—day at the park, barbecue, campfire. Denis looked miserable, barely noticing Mary’s devotion. I told my husband: ‘It’s hopeless. Denis is still obsessed with Tanya. She’s a thorn in his heart.’ …Three or four months later—ding dong! It’s Denis, holding that infamous orchid. ‘Here you go, Mum—remnants of past happiness. Do as you like with it—I’m done with it.’ I took it reluctantly and basically ignored it, blaming the poor flower for my son’s heartbreak. One day, a neighbour says: ‘Kate, I saw Denis with that petite girl. His ex-wife was more glamorous, for sure.’ But then Denis announced, hand-in-hand with Mary: ‘Meet my wife—Mary. We got married quietly at the registry office, then Father Christopher married us in church. Mum, Dad, no big fuss this time! It’s forever now.’ I pulled him aside: ‘Denis, are you sure you love her? Is this for revenge against Tanya?’ ‘No, Mum. I’m over it. That woman is my past—I’m done even saying her name. Mary and I are right for each other.’ And that’s the tale, Polly. Kate finished her story, right down to the last detail. …Two years passed. Life swept us along. But the orchid? It flourished again—blooming beautifully after care and love. Flowers know how to say thank you. I met Kate at the hospital maternity ward: ‘Hi, mate! What brings you here?’ ‘Mary just had twins—being discharged today!’ Kate beamed. Denis and his dad hovered nearby, Denis clutching red roses. Out came exhausted but glowing Mary, with two sleeping bundles in tow. Then came my daughter, holding my own new granddaughter. Meanwhile, Tanya was begging Denis for forgiveness and a fresh start. …But glue a broken teacup, and no one really wants to drink from it…
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