З життя
Резкий тормоз: серьезный взгляд на жизнь
Автомобиль резко взвизгнул тормозами и замер на месте. Дмитрий, обычно рассудительный мужчина, сам удивился внезапному порыву подобрать незнакомку, махавшую рукой у лесной обочины.
Их семейная дача в коттеджном поселке под Звенигородом, где Дмитрий с матерью проводили каждое лето, находилась в двадцати минутах езды от города. Ранние выезды в шесть утра стали ритуалом — пустынные дороги, сосновый воздух и тишина навевали странное умиротворение.
Девушка постучала в стекло, и её смеющиеся глаза встретились с его взглядом:
— Добрый день! — звонко пропела она. — До вокзала не довезёте?
— А вам не страшно с незнакомцем в глухом лесу связываться? — невольно усмехнулся он.
— Да вы ж в костюме дорогом, да лицо у вас честное! — рассмеялась она. — Разбойники так не выглядят!
Дмитрий расхохотался. Такая наивная непосредственность казалась ему пережитком прошлого века — в эпоху цинизма встретить подобное было чудом.
Наталья, выросшая в рязанской деревне, сохранила детскую доверчивость. Когда через месяц знакомства Дмитрий сделал предложение, она согласилась без колебаний. «Точно как бабушка Варя предсказывала!» — думала она, сжимая его ладонь и робко поглядывая на свекровь, чьё лицо напоминало застывшую маску.
После свадьбы пара перебралась в московскую квартиру Дмитрия. Дача осталась для выходных — отношения с Валентиной Сергеевной пока не сулили тепла.
— Неужели во всём твоём окружении не нашлось девушки образованнее деревенской простушки? — вздыхала мать во время редких визитов сына, поправляя жемчужное колье.
Дмитрий молчал. Ему нравилось это тихое счастье — Наталья заменяла ему одновременно мать, жену и тёплую печку в доме.
Через три года у них родилась дочь Дашенька. Даже Валентина Сергеевна постепенно смягчилась, наблюдая, как невестка души не чает в внучке и терпеливо ухаживает за её сыном. Железная леди, привыкшая к безупречному контролю, неожиданно признала: ошиблась в оценке Натальи.
Потому Дмитрий не удивился, когда мать пригласила их пожить на даче недельку.
— Валя, я её боюсь! — хныкала Наталья, упаковывая чемодан. — Вдруг опять про моё «курятниковое происхождение» заведёт?
— Не съест, — смеялся муж, целуя её в макушку. — Дашу-то обожает.
Валентина Сергеевна встретила гостей чаем с медовым пряником. По тому, как она обняла Дашеньку, Наталья поняла: перемирие заключено. С тех пор их странная дружба лишь крепла — свекровь учила внучку французскому и игре на рояле, а невестка, выйдя на работу в поликлинику, с удивлением обнаружила, что бывшая «соперница» стала лучшей советчицей.
Спустя пять лет Наталья ворвалась на дачу бледная, с потухшим взглядом. Даша молча жала к груди потрёпанного мишку.
— Валентина Сергеевна… Он нас бросил, — выдохнула женщина, срываясь на рыдания. — Полгода как с какой-то… в шубе соболиной. Говорит, квартиру продаёт — мол, уезжаем в Швейцарию…
— Неправда! — внезапно встряла Даша, вытирая кулачком слёзы. — Папа обещал свозить меня в «Океанариум»!
Валентина Сергеевна, не дрогнув, взяла внучку на колени:
— Мы с тобой, солнышко, построим свой океанариум. Прямо здесь.
Когда Дмитрий явился требовать переоформления дачи, мать встретила его ледяным спокойствием. Завещание, подписанное месяц назад, уже передавало владение Наталье и Даше. Об этом Валентина Сергеевна «забыла» упомянуть, наблюдая, как внучка заплетает её седые волосы в смешные косички — куда важнее бумажек оказались эти тёплые пальчики, доверчиво прижимающиеся к её плечу.
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