З життя
Приемная мать и подлинная любовь: незабываемая история
Названная мать и настоящая любовь: история, которая останется в сердце
Алёна приехала в деревню глубокой ночью. Только открыла калитку, как увидела мать, сидящую на крыльце со спицами в руках.
— Алёнушка! — взмахнула руками женщина, с трудом поднимаясь. — Почему не предупредила? Я бы твой любимый суп сварила — грибной!
Алёна пристально взглянула на неё и вдруг выпалила:
— А ты почему молчала?
— О чём? — растерянно переспросила мать, не понимая, к чему клонит дочь.
За день до этого Алёна собиралась в долгожданный отдых с друзьями. Вместе с Димой, её любимым, они уже сложили вещи. Но звонок младшей сестры Тани перечеркнул всё: у матери подозревали тяжёлую болезнь. Алёна, не раздумывая, отменила поездку, купила билеты и улетела домой.
— Мне с тобой поехать? — беспокоился Дима.
— Нет, отдыхай. Просто пиши, если сможешь. И… буду скучать, — тихо ответила она.
Алёна была стойкой, сдержанной. Она уже знала, что такое предательство и несчастливый брак — не понаслышке. Потому и не спешила рассказывать родителям о Диме. Ждала уверенности: это навсегда.
Дорога домой выматывала. Две пересадки, бесконечные ожидания, а главное — тяжёлое предчувствие. За два года Алёна бывала в селе лишь пару раз. Любимая работа увела её далеко от родного дома, и каждое возвращение давалось всё тяжелее.
Мама… Она не была ей родной. Мачеха. Но Алёна и Таня всегда звали её мамой. Потому что она не просто появилась в их жизни — она спасла семью.
Когда-то их родная мать ушла из семьи — измены, гулянки, равнодушие. Отец, пытаясь спасти брак, вернулся с заработков и забрал девочек домой. Один воспитывал, как мог. Но было трудно. Хозяйство, две дочери, школа, быт — всё легло на его плечи.
А потом появилась Галина. Мать троих детей, учительница, попавшая в тяжёлый брак. Однажды её младший сын прибежал к соседям в слезах: “Папа с мамой ругаются”. Отец Алёны вмешался. А через несколько дней Галина переехала к ним.
— А если я женюсь на тёте Гале? — спросил он у дочерей.
Таня сразу закивала: “Здорово!” А Алёна молчала. Не хотела делить отца. Но всё изменилось, когда Алёна сильно простудилась. Галина не отходила от её кровати, ночами сидела рядом, днём поила тёплым чаем с малиной.
— Ты всегда будешь такой? — прошептала тогда Алёна.
— Я, может, и не заменю вам мать… Но никогда не сделаю вам больно, — ответила Галина.
С того утра всё изменилось. Алёна приняла её. Не как мачеху. Как свою маму.
Теперь, спустя годы, она вернулась — с тревогой в груди.
— Почему не сказала, что плохо себя чувствуешь? — сдерживая дрожь в голосе, спросила Алёна, глядя на уставшее лицо женщины.
— Завтра скажут точно… — тихо ответила та. — Но сегодня, Алёнушка, ты дома. Разве это не счастье?
Семья собралась за столом — словно на праздник. Все пытались скрыть волнение. Таня уже закончила университет, работает в сельской школе. Игорь помогает отцу на лесопилке. Саша готовится поступать на юридический. Настя — младшая — мечтает о сцене.
А Галина… Завела коз, учится вязать и шутит, что скоро будет вязать для внуков:
— Я уже три кофточки связала. Ждём-с!
Поздно вечером Алёна осталась с матерью на кухне. Обняла её, провела рукой по морщинистой ладони.
— Всё будет хорошо. Я верю, — сказала она.
— У вас же все работа… Внуков, похоже, не дождусь, — вздохнула Галина.
— А вот и нет, — Алёна достала телефон и показала фото с Димой. — Знакомься. Это Дима.
— Красивый… И заботливый, — пробормотала Галина, читая его сообщение: “Как ты? Может, приехать?”
Алёна улыбнулась. Теперь она точно знала — пора рассказать о нём семье. Он — её судьба.
Утром они поехали в больницу. Результаты не подтвердились. Болезни не было. Мать расплакалась от облегчения, а Алёна крепко прижала её:
— Не зря приехала. Ещё успеем кофточки внукам раздавать!
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