З життя
Минуле повернуло: кинувши її колись, він через 30 років дізнається про сина
Минуле повернулося: він покинув її через дурість, а через 30 років дізнався — у нього є син
В житті бувають зустрічі, які в одну мить перевертають все догори дриґом. Олег Миколайович, депутат обласної ради і людина з гучним прізвищем, давно звик до розміреного, продуманого життя, розписаного за хвилинами. Але той грудневий день, як виявилося, змінив у його долі більше, ніж усі парламентські рішення за десятиліття.
Скарга, яка надійшла до приймальні, спочатку здалася йому звичайною — жінка поскаржилася, що дорожники зруйнували її доглядну клумбу біля будинку. Помічниця пояснила: «Не проста жінка — їй 50, а виглядає на 35. Власниця мережі салонів краси та косметологічних клінік. Має навіть статус багатодітної матері». І це ім’я — Наталя Петрівна — щось глибоко зачепило в його душі.
— Знаєш, — сказав він помічниці, — колись у мене була дружина з таким самим ім’ям. Красуня, з простої родини. Я любив її, як дурень. Але…
Він замовк. Все сталося тридцять років тому. Олег тоді був ще просто Олежком. Його прізвище із закінченням на «-енко» було гордістю роду, а суворі батьки вимагали від нього нащадка і наречену з «належного кола». Наталя не підходила. Вона була з бідної родини, але божественно гарна і сяяла добротою. Він одружився з нею, наперекір родині. Але через два роки бездітного шлюбу піддався тиску: «Якщо не народжує — кидай». Він не хотів залишити Наталю з нічим, тому купив їй квартиру. Але не в рідному місті, а в іншій області, подалі, щоб родичі не соромилися. Більше він її ніколи не бачив.
Коли службова машина під’їхала до будинку, серце Олега Миколайовича закалатало: біля воріт стояла вона. Все та ж Наталя. Старша, мудріша, витончена, немов дорогий антикварний портрет. Він впізнав її миттєво, але зробив вигляд, ніби не впізнав.
— Зачекайте в машині. Я сам поговорю.
Вона теж одразу його впізнала:
— Олег? А я вже подумала, що не ти. Ну як там твоє кохане прізвище? Чи змінив?
Він опустив очі.
— Так. Тепер «Шевченко». Тоді, у двохтисячних, довелося. Для кар’єри.
— Знову все заради прізвища… Заради роду… Дивно, як ти не змінився.
Розмова тривала за чаєм. Наталя запросила його додому, і Олег Миколайович намагався зрозуміти — чи одна вона, чи вийшла заміж… Раптом задзвонив її телефон. На екрані — «Олежка». Вона відповіла із теплотою:
— Привіт, сину. Усе добре. Так, так, влаштувалися, поки з лікарем по справах ходимо. Цілую, пізніше подзвоню.
Коли вона поклала трубку, Олег сидів блідіший за стіну.
— Він… він рудий… як я колись. Це мій син?
Наталя зітхнула:
— Так. Через місяць після того, як ти пішов, я дізналася, що вагітна. Хотіла позбутися, але лікар у пологовому зупинив. Згодом ми зблизилися, він став моїм чоловіком. Він виростив Олежка, як рідного. Але я сказала йому правду — хто ти. Він знає. Проте за батька вважає іншого. Того, хто був поруч, а не того, хто поїхав.
У Олега Миколайовича покотилися сльози. Вперше за довгі роки він відчув, що все, зроблене колись, повертається. І не завжди це приємно.
— Якщо хочеш спілкуватися — спробуй. Але не чекай подяки. Син — дорослий. Він сам вирішить.
Коли він повернувся до службової машини, помічники не розуміли — що могло статися за десять хвилин біля зруйнованої клумби?
Олег Миколайович сів, витер обличчя і сухо кинув:
— Запишіть: клумбу відновити за тиждень. І нехай усі знають — за все, що ми робимо, приходить розплата. Іноді — через роки…
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