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Тень предательства: Путь к свободе героини

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Тень измены: Дорога к свободе Анастасии

Анастасия, измождённая после тяжёлого дня, втащила в свою московскую квартиру объёмистые сумки с продуктами. Швырнув их на кухонный стол, она переоделась в домашнее и поняла — мужа нет.
“Странно, — пробормотала она, хмуря брови. — Где он задержался в такой поздний час? Опять на работе засиделся?”
Их сын Никита гостил у бабушки в Подмосковье. Анастасия сварила борщ, поужинала одна и, устроившись на диване, открыла социальные сети. В ленте мелькнул профиль незнакомки — молодой, яркой, с ослепительной улыбкой. Поддавшись любопытству, Анастасия зашла на её страницу, открыла фотографии и застыла, словно получила удар в живот.

“Наконец-то приехали!” — Анастасия выбралась из такси, чувствуя, как подкатывает тошнота после долгой дороги. Она сделала глоток тёплой воды из бутылки.
Путешествия давались ей тяжело, а местный водитель, похоже, и вовсе не слышал о существовании педали тормоза.
“Мама, ты в порядке?” — Никита, обожавший машины так же, как и его отец, с тревогой смотрел на неё.
“Всё хорошо, Никитушка, просто укачало. Сейчас отдышусь, и пойдём заселяться в гостиницу!”

Этот отпуск не был запланирован. Анастасия вдруг осознала, что больше не может находиться под одной крышей с мужем. Она брала дополнительные смены, часами гуляла с сыном в парке — лишь бы не видеть его. Каждый взгляд на окна их квартиры, где находился Игорь, вызывал у неё тошноту.

“Мама, смотри, там качели! Можно я пойду?” — Никита потянул её за руку.
“Конечно, солнышко, иди. Я пока вещи разложу.”

К Анастасии подбежала полненькая девушка с радостной улыбкой:
“Ой, новенькие! Какой у вас славный мальчик! Давайте я за ним присмотрю, а вы потом мне поможете! У нас тут все друг другу помогают! Каждый вечер концерты устраиваем! Вы чем увлекаетесь? Песни, танцы? Я, например, частушки пою! Вам записаться? Меня, кстати, Наташа зовут!” — затараторила она.

Анастасия, которую всё ещё мутило, мечтала лишь об одном — растянуться под кондиционером и забыться. Выступления её не прельщали.
“Спасибо, но я не участвую. Сын гуляет сам, присматривать за чужими детьми не собираюсь. Извините, мне нужно идти,” — отрезала она.

Наташа надула губы, но отошла. Анастасия, еле передвигая ноги, добралась до номера. Кондиционер на минимум, шторы закрыты, кровать… Наконец-то одна. Она закрыла глаза, и воспоминания хлынули потоком. Когда её Игорь, самый близкий человек, стал вызывать лишь раздражение?

Может, всё началось, когда вместо помощи с ремонтом кухни он ушёл к другу?
“Настенька, у Вити в гараже полный хаос, надо было помочь, а потом он нас пивом да шашлыком угостил!” — радостно рассказывал он, пока Анастасия отмывала трёхлетнего Никиту от побелки, которой тот измазался, пока она красила стены.

Или тот случай, когда Никите было пять? Он сильно ушиб колено на детской площадке. Анастасия, в панике, не знала, что делать. Позвонила Игорю, а он бросил:
“Вызови скорую, чего ревёшь? Сама довези, не маленькая!”
Она довезла, держала сына, пока врачи обрабатывали рану, шептала ему ласковые слова, чтобы не плакал. А вечером Игорь пришёл, взглянул на Никиту и фыркнул:
“Ну, видишь, ничего страшного, до свадьбы заживёт.”

Анастасия начала погружаться в дремоту, тяжёлые мысли отступали. Но вдруг в дверь постучали.
“Кого ещё чёрт принёс?” — проворчала она, поднимаясь.

За дверью стояла Наташа.
“Ой, забыла сказать! Мы тут все друг другу помогаем. Если продукты нужны, мы с мужем поедем, скажи, и тебе привезём!”

“Уже на ‘ты’?” — устало подумала Анастасия. Но Наташа выглядела искренней, и ей стало неловко.
“Спасибо, Наташа, но я очень устала. Хочу отдохнуть.”
“Конечно, отдыхай!” — Наташа широко улыбнулась и убежала.

Анастасия легла, но не успела закрыть глаза, как дверь распахнулась, и в номер вбежал Никита с заплаканной девочкой лет семи.
“Мама, помоги! У Даши косичка расплелась, а мама сказала не возвращаться растрёпой! Она плачет!”
“Ладно, иди сюда, девочка,” — вздохнула Анастасия.

Она кое-как заплела девочке косу, вытерла ей слёзы.
“Всё, умывайся и беги!”
“Мама, ты самая лучшая! Мы пойдём играть!” — Никита с Дашей умчались.

Спать не получалось. Анастасия ворочалась, но сон не шёл. Обычно на отдыхе она сразу раскладывала вещи, создавала уют. Игорь же мчался на пляж или в бар, и когда они с сыном его находили, он уже был в центре компании, с пивом и байками.
“У тебя муж — душа компании!” — завидовали подруги.
А Анастасия мечтала, чтобы он хоть раз стал душой их семьи.

Она вышла на балкон. Море искрилось под солнцем, как обещали в турагентстве. Вдруг она почувствовала запах дыма. Оглянувшись, заметила дымок с соседнего балкона и закашлялась.
“Ой, прости, мешаю?” — из-за стены выглянула женщина лет тридцати.
“Да нет, просто ветер,” — отмахнулась Анастасия.
“Я привыкла, что соседний номер пустует, вот и курю. Я Света,” — улыбнулась она.
“Анастасия. Мы с сыном здесь.”
“А я с дочкой, Дашей!”
“Это не ты её за косичку ругала?” — усмехнулась Анастасия.
“Уже весь санаторий знает?” — рассмеялась Света. “Слушай, чего мы через стену разговариваем? Спускайся вниз, у меня есть вино. За знакомство?”
“Пойдём!” — настроОни спустились вниз, к морю, где уже собирались другие отдыхающие, и Анастасия вдруг почувствовала, что впервые за долгое время её сердце стало хоть немного легче.

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