З життя
Запізніле повідомлення про загибель сина: рідкісні новини, які він надсилав батькам.
Повідомлення про загибель сина надійшло з запізненням. Втім, як і всі ті рідкісні новини, які він іноді надсилав батькам. На момент приїзду Федора Васильовича і Клавдії Наумівни, чоловік вже був похований поруч зі своєю дружиною Оксаною, разом з якою вони загинули в автокатастрофі.
– Дівчинку-то заберете? – величезних розмірів тітка Оксани, яка й повідомила скорботну новину, звідкілясь з-за спини витягла маленьку біляву дівчинку.
– Мені вона без потреби. У мене самої дітей повно. Була б ще по крові наша, а то… Не зрозумій чия! Оксанка десь її нагуляла. Вірмен точно не одружився б з нею, а ваш ось потрапив у таку халепу! Тітка очікувально вдивлялася на подружжя. Клавдія стояла, стиснувши губи. Дівчинка дійсно вирізнялася серед них. Білосніжне волосся вплетене в тоненьку косичку, білі брови та вії, прозора бліда шкіра і несподівано яскраві блакитні очі.
“Альбіноска! – подумала Клавдія з неприязню. – І чим думав мій синочок, коли вірменську дівчину з цим недоречним бажанням заміж брав?” Вона вже мала намір сказати товстій вірменці, що їм дівчинка теж не потрібна, як Федір, досі мовчазний, вимовив непохитним тоном:
– Звісно, заберемо! Навіщо дитині по дитячих будинках тинятися? Не бідні – вирощуємо не гірше за інших! – і, кинувши на Клавдію суворий погляд, взяв дівчинку за руку і повів до машини.
Жінка, швидко попрощавшись, пішла за чоловіком.
– Як тебе звати, сніжинка? – лагідно звернувся Федір до дівчинки.
– Катруся, – голос дитини був як дзвіночок.
– А мене Федір Васильович, але можеш звати мене просто дід. А це Клавдія Наумівна, моя дружина, – Федір запитально подивився на дружину, але та лише стиснула губи.
З часом Клавдія змирилася з присутністю в домі нового члена родини, але полюбити дівчинку так і не змогла. Відчуваючи її неприязнь, Катруся теж не прагнула до жінки, хоч і безумовно виконувала все, що та їй веліла робити по господарству. Сам же Федір, навпаки, полюбив дівчинку і кожну вільну хвилинку намагався проводити з нею. Влітку водив у ліс і на риболовлю, взимку вони разом будували гірки і чистили сніг у дворі. Не було жодного дня, щоб Федір не приніс своїй сніжинці гостинець. Дівчинка відповідала йому взаємністю: зустрічала з роботи, допомагала знімати важкі чоботи, розминала втомлені плечі після важкого трудового дня і завжди була готова на все заради улюбленого дідуся.
Біда прийшла, як завжди, несподівано. Недбалої фіскальною при розвантаженні впустив на Федора дерево. Ніколи не хворівший жодною застудою чоловік опинився на лікарняній койці. Клавдія з Катериною не відходили від його ліжка. Несподіване горе зблизило їх. Через кілька днів Федора не стало. Клавдія ходила немов тінь, не помічаючи нічого і нікого навколо. Присутність Катрусі знову почала її дратувати. Дівчинка це відчувала і намагалася не показуватися Клавдії на очі. Спочатку жінка хотіла віддати дівчинку в інтернат, але вчасно зрозуміла, що одна в пустому домі зійде з розуму й передумала. Хоч якась жива, нехай і небажана, душа буде поруч.
Так минуло два місяці. Настала зима. Пролетіли новорічні свята, які Клавдія немов не помітила. Вона не стала ставити ялинку і купувати подарунки Катерині. Не напекла пирогів, як зазвичай робила при Федорі. Навіть телевізор мовчав у новорічну ніч. Клавдія думала, що дівчинка щось попросить, але та мовчки лягла спати.
На Водохреща жінка вирішила сходити до церкви, принести свяченої води. На вулиці був такий мороз, що навіть у валянках мерзли ноги.
“І чого я полізла в такий холод? – корила себе Клавдія. – Відправила б Катю! Вона молодша!”
Замислившись, жінка не помітила крижану смужку на стежці і, послизнувшись, з усієї сили гепнулась в замет. Приземлення було м’яким, але холодним. Свята вода з вибитої з рук бутлі вся до краплі пролилася на Клавдію.
– Та що ж це за кара така? – в розпачі вигукнула жінка.
Зла і мокра вона прийшла додому. Насваривши Катерину, пішла до себе в кімнату переодягатись. Вночі у Клавдії піднялася температура, а до ранку відкрився такий кашель, що можна було задихнутися. Обкутана в ковдри і задихаючись від кашлю, Клавдія спробувала покликати Катерину. Але не тут-то було. Горло видавало лише хрипкі, нерозбірливі звуки. Засмучена, Клавдія відкинулася на подушки. Дівчинка не допоможе їй, пам’ятаючи про її неприязнь. Клавдія чула, як Катерина ходила по будинку. Ось грюкнули вхідні двері і все затихло.
“Гуляти втекла! – вирішила жінка. – Їй нема жодного діла до мене. Як і мені до неї весь цей час не було!”
Вхідні двері знову грюкнули. Невдовзі жінка почула, як загуділа плита і засвистів чайник. Двері в її кімнату відчинилася і увійшла Катерина з чашкою в руках.
– Клавдія Наумівна, я тут чай вам зробила, з травами, попийте. А я поки за фельдшером збігаю! – вона поставила на тумбочку димлячу чашку і, поправивши подушки, вийшла.
Клавдія зробила великий ковток. По тілу розлилося тепло. Невдовзі двері в кімнату знову відчинилася і в супроводі Катерини увійшла сільська фельдшерка.
– Що ж ти так необачно-то, Наумівна? – похитала фельдшерка головою. – Я тобі ліки ось виписую. Катерина, сходи до аптеки. Гроші-то є?
Клавдія кивнула, вказуючи рукою на тумбочку. Наступні дні Клавдія пам’ятала з труднощами. Час від часу перед нею виникало обличчя Катерини, яка напувала її чимось гірким, клала на лоба мокрий рушник, змінювала білизну. Час від часу їй чулися сторонні голоси і холод металу на грудях.
Клавдія прокинулася від яскравого сонця. У тілі була така легкість, що хотілося підскочити і скакати як у дитинстві. У домі панувала тиша, лише з печі доносився тріск дров. Поруч, на тумбочці, стояла чашка з охололим чаєм і ванночка з рушником. Відчувши важкість на ногах, Клавдія перевела погляд. Біля ліжка сиділа Катерина, поклавши голову на її ноги і, мабуть, спала. Обережно, щоб не потурбувати дівчинку, Клавдія встала і пішла на кухню. Там вона швидко замісила тісто і почала смажити млинці.
– Клавдія Наумівна! Ну навіщо ви встали? – на кухні стояла схвильована Катерина.
– Тому що я цілком одужала і хочу подякувати тобі за турботу!
– Але…
– Ніяких але! Давай сідай! Будемо пити чай! – весело перебила Клавдія, ставлячи на стіл тарілку з гіркою рум’яних млинців.
Катерина слухняно сіла. – Ти вибач мене, Катюшо! За все вибач! Дурна я стара! Таке скарб біля себе не розгледіла!
– Ну що ви, Клавдія Наумівна, – посміхнулася дівчинка.
– Якщо я ще достойна, можеш звати мене бабусею, – Клавдія поклала свою руку на руку дівчинки, – ну, а якщо ні, то я не ображусь..
– Ну що ви! Бабусю! – не стримуючи сліз, дівчинка та жінка обійнялися.
– Бабусю! А давай посадимо ще баклажани! Я жодного разу їх не їла! – Катерина вказала на пакетик з фіолетовими плодами.
– Звичайно, моя господинько! – усміхнулася Клавдія, обіймаючи дівчинку і звертаючись до продавчині. – Нам ще пакетик ось цих насінин!
– Яка у вас внучка господарська! – заусміхалася продавчиня. – Ось бабусі радість!
– І радість, і щастя! – відповіла Клавдія, забираючи покупку. – Ходімо, Катюшо! Нам ще обновки до весни купити…
Are You Out of Your Mind? That’s Our Son, Not a Stranger! How Can You Throw Him Out of His Own Home?! – Shouted Mother-in-Law Mrs. Johnson, Clenching Her Fists in Fury…
Have you lost your marbles? Thats our own son, not some stranger off the street! How can you kick him...
Unexpected Guests in Our Home: Returning from Holiday to Find Strangers, Family Drama, and Our Cat Missing
Emma is the first to unlock the door, and she freezes in the entrance. The sound of the television drifts...
Get Out of My Flat! — Mum Said Calmly “Out,” her mother said with perfect calm. Arina smirked and leaned back in her chair — certain her mum was talking to her friend. “Out of my flat!” Natasha turned to her daughter. “Len, did you see the post?” her friend Lena burst into the kitchen, still in her coat. “Arisha’s had a baby! Seven pounds, twenty and a half inches.” Spitting image of his dad, that same button nose. I’ve already run round all the shops buying baby clothes. Why so glum? “Congratulations, Nat. I’m happy for you,” Lena stood to pour her friend some tea. “Sit down, at least take your coat off.” “Oh, I can’t stay long,” Natasha perched on the edge of the chair. “So much to do, just so much. Arinka’s a marvel, does everything herself, works her fingers to the bone.” Her husband is a real gem, they’ve even managed to get a mortgage on a flat and are finishing the renovations. So proud of my girl! I must have brought her up right! Lena silently put a cup in front of her friend. Right… If only Natasha knew… *** Exactly two years ago, Natasha’s daughter Arina had turned up at Lena’s door without calling—face puffy from crying and hands shaking. “Auntie Len, please, don’t tell my mum. I’m begging you! If she finds out, it’ll break her heart,” Arina sobbed, twisting a damp tissue in her hands. “Arina, calm down. Tell me properly—what’s happened?” Lena was seriously frightened. “I… at work…” Arina hiccupped. “A colleague’s money disappeared from her bag. Fifty thousand.” And CCTV caught me going in when no one else was there. I didn’t take it, Aunt Len! I swear! But they said: either I give them fifty grand by tomorrow lunchtime, or they go to the police. One of them claims they saw me hiding a wallet. It’s a set-up, Aunt Len! But who’ll believe me? “Fifty thousand?” Lena frowned. “Why didn’t you go to your dad?” “I did!” Arina dissolved into fresh sobs. “He said it’s my own fault, that he wouldn’t give me a penny since I’m so hopeless. He said: ‘Go to the police, let them teach you a lesson.’ He wouldn’t even let me in, just shouted at me through the door. I’ve got no one else, Aunt Len. I’ve saved up twenty thousand but I’m thirty short.” “And Natasha? Why not tell your mum? She is your mum.” “No! Mum would eat me alive. She always says I embarrass her — and now, this, a theft… She works at a school, everyone knows her. Please, lend me the thirty thousand, yeah? I swear, I’ll pay you back two or three grand a week. I’ve already found a new job! Please, Aunt Len!” Lena’s heart ached for the poor girl. Just twenty, whole life ahead, and already a stain like this. Her father had refused to help, her mother would—and truly could—bite her head off… “Who doesn’t make mistakes in life?” Lena thought. Arina kept weeping. “Alright,” she said. “I have the money. I was saving it for my teeth, but my teeth can wait.” Just promise this is the last time. And I won’t tell your mum if you’re that scared. “Thank you! Thank you, Aunt Len! You saved my life!” Arina threw her arms round Lena’s neck. That first week, Arina really did bring her two thousand. Bubbly, she said it was all sorted, the police wouldn’t be involved, her new job was going well. But then… she just stopped replying to messages. A month, two, three. Lena would see her at Natasha’s parties, but Arina acted like they barely knew each other — a cold “hello” and that was it. Lena didn’t push it. She thought: “Youth, she must be embarrassed, that’s why she’s avoiding me.” She decided thirty thousand wasn’t worth wrecking years of friendship with Natasha. She wrote off the debt and forgot it. *** “Are you even listening to me?” Natasha waved her hand in front of Lena’s face. “What are you thinking about?” “Oh, just… my own stuff,” Lena shook her head clear. “Listen,” Natasha lowered her voice. “I ran into Ksenia—you remember, our old neighbour? She came up to me at the shop yesterday. Seemed odd. Started asking about Arisha, how she’s doing, if she’s paid any debts off. Didn’t quite understand what she meant. I told her my Arinka is independent, earns her own way. Ksenia just smirked and left. You don’t know, did Arisha maybe ever borrow something from her?” Lena felt herself tense inside. “No idea, Nat. Maybe just small change.” “Well, I best be off. Need to stop by the chemist,” Natasha stood, kissed Lena on the cheek, and fluttered away. That evening, Lena couldn’t take it any longer. She found Ksenia’s number and called. “Ksyusha, hi. It’s Lena. Did you see Natasha today? What debts were you talking about?” A heavy sigh. “Oh, Lenka… I thought you’d know. You and Natasha—so close. Two years ago Arinka came running to me. In tears, red-eyed. Said she was accused of stealing at work. Either she paid thirty grand or it was off to jail. Begged me not to tell her mum, sobbed the whole time. Silly me, I gave her the money. She promised to pay me back in a month. Then disappeared… Lena clutched her phone. “Thirty thousand?” she repeated. “Exactly thirty?” “Yeah. She said that’s exactly what she needed. In the end, she paid back five hundred after six months and vanished. Then Vera from the next block told me Arina came to her with the same story. Vera gave her forty thousand. And Galina Petrovna, their old teacher, she also ‘rescued’ Arisha from prison. She gave her fifty. “Hold on…” Lena sat heavily on her sofa. “So she asked all of you for the same sum? Same story?” “Looks like it,” Ksenia’s voice was cold now. “She just squeezed ‘protection money’ from all of Natasha’s friends. Thirty, forty grand out of each. Story all made up, tugged on our heartstrings. We all love Natasha—so we kept our mouths shut, didn’t want to upset her. Meanwhile, Arinka must have splurged it. A month after all this, there she was on Instagram — holidaying in Turkey. “I gave her thirty, too,” Lena said quietly. “There it is,” sighed Ksenia. “That makes five or six of us. That’s not a ‘youthful mistake,’ Lena. That’s proper fraud. And Natasha’s none the wiser, so proud of her daughter. And her daughter’s a thief!” Lena put the phone down. Her ears rang. She wasn’t upset about the money — she’d already let it go. She was sickened by how cold and calculated the twenty-year-old had been, manipulating grown women’s trust so casually. *** Next day Lena went to Natasha’s. She wasn’t planning to cause a scene. She just wanted to look Arina in the eyes. Arina had just come back from the hospital, and was staying with her mum while her mortgage flat was being renovated. “Oh, Auntie Lena!” Arina’s smile was tight as she greeted her mum’s friend at the door. “Come on in. Tea?” Natasha fussed at the stove. “Hey, Lenny, grab a seat. Why didn’t you phone?” Lena sat down directly across from Arina. “Arina,” she began calmly. “I met Ksenia. And Vera. And Miss Petrova. Last night we had a long chat. We’ve formed, shall we say, a ‘victims’ club’.” Arina stilled, went pale, and darted a glance at her mum’s back. “What are you on about, Len?” Natasha turned. “Oh, Arina knows,” Lena kept her eyes on the young woman. “Remember that nasty little story two years ago? When you borrowed thirty from me? Thirty from Ksenia. Forty from Vera. Fifty from Miss Petrova. We all ‘rescued’ you from jail. Each of us thinking we were the only ones who knew your big secret.” Natasha’s hand quivered, spilling boiling water across the hob. “What fifty thousand?” Natasha slowly set down the kettle. “Arina? What’s she talking about? Did you borrow money from my friends? Even from Miss Petrova?!” “Mum… it’s not what you think…” Arina stammered. “I… I paid most of it back…” “You paid back nothing,” Lena said flatly. “You dropped off two grand for show, then disappeared. You conned over two hundred grand out of us using a made-up story. We all stayed quiet out of pity for your mum. Last night I realised, we should have pitied ourselves. “Arina, look at me right now. You scammed money from my friends?! You lied about a theft to rob people who visit this house?” “Mum, I needed the money for a deposit!” Arina shouted. “You never gave me a thing! Dad wouldn’t give me a penny. I had to start my life somehow! So what? It’s not like it was their last bit of money, I didn’t rob them blind!” Lena felt revolted. So that was it… “That’s enough. Natasha, I’m sorry to dump all this on you now, but I can’t keep your daughter’s secret anymore. I don’t want to encourage her behaviour. She’s been treating us all like idiots!” Natasha leaned on the table, her shoulders shaking. “Out,” she said, with perfect calm. Arina smirked and leaned back — certain her mum meant Lena. “Out of my flat!” Natasha turned to her daughter. “Pack up your things and go to your husband. I don’t want to see you here again!” Arina went white: “Mum, I’ve got a baby! I can’t take stress!” “Mother? You haven’t got one anymore. Mother belonged to the girl I thought was honest. But you? You’re a thief. Miss Petrova… She rings me every day, asking how things are, never said a word… How am I supposed to face her now? How?!” Arina grabbed her bag, threw a towel on the floor. “Choke on your bloody money!” she yelled. “You old witches! Go to hell, both of you!” She rushed to the next room, snatched up her baby’s basket, and stormed out. Natasha slumped in a chair and buried her face in her hands. Lena felt ashamed. “Sorry, Nat…” “No, Lenka… You don’t need to be sorry. I’m sorry I raised such a… thief. I honestly believed she’d made it on her own — and all this time… What a disgrace…” Lena squeezed her friend’s shoulder as Natasha broke down into sobs. *** Within a week, Arina’s husband — pale and drawn — visited all the “lenders”, apologised without meeting their eyes, and promised to repay everyone. And he did start making repayments — fifty thousand for Miss Petrova, paid by Natasha herself. Lena doesn’t blame herself for how it all turned out. Surely a trickster deserves to be found out — right?
Out of my flat! Mum said. Out, Mum said with absolute calm. Clara smirked and leaned back on her chair...
Just a Childhood Friend: A Slice of Cheesecake, Board Games, and the Tangled Drama of Growing Up
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No Magic Here New Year’s Eve was approaching at breakneck speed, like an unstoppable train. The rush of it all left Helen breathless. She stood on the metaphorical platform, realizing she had no ticket, nothing was going to work out, happiness was out of reach, and she’d never find that holiday spirit. Why had she even invited guests? Who would want to ring in the New Year with a failure? *** On December 31st, disaster struck first thing: after a decade of loyal service, the washing machine decided to retire in dramatic style, flooding the bathroom. Finding a plumber on New Year’s Eve was a quest and a half! After spending hours and fraying her nerves, Helen finally managed it and breathed a sigh of relief, hoping the worst was over. But… At midday, her ginger tabby Basil, self-proclaimed gourmand, devoured all the sausage meant for the Russian salad, leaving her with little more than sad garden peas and pickles. As if that wasn’t enough, Basil decided to go hunting for a blue tit that had paused on the open window ledge. The giant ficus crashed from the windowsill, dragged the Christmas tree down with it, and extinguished for good the old fairy lights Helen loved so much. https://clck.ru/3R634b Pot shards and the broken baubles she’d kept since childhood mixed in with the scattered dirt. Helen nearly cried as she cleaned up the chaos. Then came a smashed decanter, burnt chicken, and the final straw: just as guests were due to arrive, Helen realised in horror she’d forgotten to buy a cake. Panicked, she phoned her sister. — Kate, disaster! I’ve got no cake! — Relax! — came her sister’s cheerful reply. — I’m just pulling up. Come downstairs, we’ll sort it out. — Where are you? — Told you: I’m outside your building. Helen went downstairs to find a scene worthy of an oil painting: Kate’s car parked outside, her best friend Maisie clutching a massive bag, and Auntie Gail standing proud with a giant bowl of aspic. — Why aspic? And a whole basin? — Helen gasped. — For emergencies! — Auntie Gail answered solemnly, forever doling out advice no one asked for. — I know what your cooking’s like! Besides, we have the whole night ahead! Got any Russian salad? Helen shrugged uncertainly. While the girls dashed out for cake, Maisie was stringing up streamers—which Basil promptly got tangled up in, transforming into an alien creature. Kate’s husband, Ian, fresh from work and arriving at just the right moment, undertook the rescue. Basil didn’t resist until he spotted Helen—and then launched himself so joyously at her that he left Ian with a bloody scratch. First aid administered, Ian gallantly volunteered to help in the kitchen—though his efforts mostly consisted of philosophical musings like, “A salad is a state of mind, not just ingredients,” which was about what Helen and Kate had come to expect. — What’s this box, Helen? — Maisie called from the lounge. — “Happy New Year” written on it. Oh, there’s a note. “Open at midnight. From Gran Val.” Helen ran to see. — Oh! I completely forgot! Kate, this was from Gran—she said to open it on New Year’s, around two in the morning. Promised it’d be a surprise. https://clck.ru/3R62hu — Wonder what’s inside? — Kate eyed the box curiously. — Let’s open it now! Helen shook her head urgently. — You can’t! She’ll ask. You’ll see. What if there’s some sort of secret lock? We’d ruin the surprise. Let’s do just what Gran said—wait. Now everyone was intrigued—even Auntie Gail settled closer, eyeing the box with interest. *** They listened to the Prime Minister’s speech, clinked glasses of prosecco, ate “cat salad”, laughed and argued, then finally— — Is it two yet? — Helen checked. — Well, it’s time! — She ceremoniously raised the box. — Gran Val’s surprise! The only man present was entrusted with opening it. Ian fiddled with the lid and lifted it. Inside, cushioned with cotton wool, were no banknotes or old photos, but dozens of tiny, colourfully tied scrolls, each with a name tag attached. — What’s all this? — Ian asked, bewildered. Helen picked up the first scroll labelled “Helen” and read aloud: — “My darling granddaughter Helen. Did things go wrong again today? Broken washing machine? Cat ate the salad? Don’t worry! Any problem is just a reason to order pizza and binge-watch your favourite show. Buy the cake in the morning. What matters is you’re surrounded by people who’ll help you eat that pizza. Love you to the moon and back. Gran Val.” The living room fell silent—then erupted in laughter. Helen laughed so hard tears streamed from her eyes. — How… How did she know?! — That’s magic, — Auntie Gail murmured. — Mine! Give me mine! — Kate asked, hand outstretched. She unrolled her scroll. — “Katie, love. Stop quarrelling with Ian over silly things. Give him a hug instead. He’s a good one—even if he does ramble on. If he starts again, just kiss him. It’s the surest way to win any argument. Love to you both.” Ian blushed to his roots and immediately kissed Kate as everyone cheered. Maisie giggled and unrolled hers: — “Maisie, my lovely. Stop looking for love in bars and try the library, or even the corner shop. Normal boys are there too—just not in those strange skinny jeans. Oh, and please, ditch the purple hair dye; your natural colour suits you!” — How did she know about the hair?! — Maisie wailed. — I only changed it two days ago! At last, it was Auntie Gail’s turn. She opened her note as if it were a State Secret. — “Dear Gail. I know you’re the wisest in the family, always in the loop. But here’s one secret for you: kindness and wise words are wonderful, but sometimes it’s best to just stay quiet and enjoy a slice of cake. Love you lots.” Auntie Gail reddened, mumbled something, took a piece of cake and fell silent—for the first New Year in living memory, she didn’t give a single slice of advice. https://clck.ru/3R636x The laughter and conversation lasted till morning. The girls video-called Gran Val, who smiled from her armchair in another city and said, “Darlings! I’m so glad my surprise worked! No magic—just a Gran who knows and loves you all!” Next morning, as Helen tidied up, she gathered the scrolls into a pretty jar and set it in pride of place. They weren’t just wishes—they were her gran’s recipe for happiness: Don’t fear chaos, laugh at your misfortunes, cherish those nearby, eat what makes you happy (but don’t overdo it), and always remember—the greatest gift is knowing someone out there loves and understands you, always.
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You’re Just Jealous – Mum, are you serious right now? The Savoy? That’s at least a hundred quid a head! Igor tossed his keys onto the shelf so hard they rattled off the wall. Olga glanced away from her sauce on the stove and immediately noticed her husband’s white-knuckled grip on his phone. He listened to his mother for several more minutes, then muttered a curse and hung up abruptly. – What happened? Instead of answering, Igor slumped down at the kitchen table and glared at his plateful of potatoes. Olga switched off the hob, dried her hands on a tea towel, and sat across from him. – Igor… – Mum’s lost the plot. Completely gone round the bend at her age. – He looked up, and Olga saw so much anger and helplessness in his eyes that it made her heart ache. – Remember I told you about… this Val? From the dance class? Olga nodded. Her mother-in-law had mentioned the new acquaintance about a month ago – flustered, fiddling with the edge of the tablecloth. Back then, it had seemed sweet: a fifty-eight-year-old widow, alone for five years, and now – a dance club at the community centre, a gallant gentleman who knew his way around a waltz. – Anyway. – Igor pushed his plate aside. – She took him to the Savoy. Three times in two weeks! Bought him a suit for eight hundred quid. Last weekend, they went to Bath – guess who paid for the hotel and tours? – Nina. – Bingo. – He buried his face in his hands. – She scrimped and saved for years. For home renovations, the rainy day fund. And now she’s blowing it all on a bloke she’s known six weeks. It’s mental… Olga hesitated, searching for the right words. She knew her mother-in-law well – romantic, open-hearted, naive in her trust. The kind of woman who believes in true love, even after fifty years. – Igor, listen… – She reached across the table for his hand. – Nina’s an adult. It’s her money, her choices. Don’t interfere, she won’t hear you right now anyway. – Ol, she’s just making mistake after mistake! – Yes, and that’s her right. Besides, I think you’re winding yourself up. Igor jerked his shoulder but didn’t pull away. – I just can’t watch her… – I know, love. But you can’t live her life for her. – Olga stroked his wrist. – She has to be responsible for herself, even if we don’t like it. She’s more than capable. Igor grunted his agreement. …Two months passed swiftly. Conversation about Val dried up – his mother called less, her tone more evasive, as if hiding something. Olga assumed the romance had fizzled and stopped worrying. That’s why, when there was a knock on the door one Sunday night and Nina appeared on their doorstep, Olga didn’t immediately piece it together. – Darlings! My dears! – Nina burst into their flat trailed by a cloud of sweet perfume. – He proposed! Look! Just look! A ring glimmered on her finger. Cheap, but Nina gazed at it as if it were the Koh-i-Noor. – We’re getting married! Next month! He’s so, so… – She cupped her cheeks and laughed, girlishly. – I never thought, at my age… I’d ever feel this way again… Igor hugged his mum and Olga saw his shoulders finally relax. Maybe things weren’t so bad. Maybe this Val really did love his mother-in-law and they’d all been overreacting. – Congratulations, Mum. – Igor stepped back, smiling. – You deserve happiness. – And I’ve already put the flat in his name! Now we’re a real family! – Nina declared, and time seemed to stand still. Olga stopped breathing. Igor flinched, as if he’d walked into a glass wall. – What… what did you say? – The flat. – Nina waved it off, oblivious to their faces. – So he knows I trust him. It’s love, that’s what love is! Love means trust. The silence was thick enough to hear the living room clock ticking. – Nina… – Olga spoke first, very slowly. – You signed your flat over to a man you’ve known for three months? Before the wedding? – So what? – Nina drew herself up. – I trust him, he’s decent. You’ve all got the wrong idea about him. – We’re not thinking anything. – Olga took a step forward. – Still, you could have waited until after you’d registered… Why hurry? – You lot don’t understand. This… It’s proof of my love. – Nina folded her arms. – What do you know about real feelings? About trust? Igor finally unclenched his jaw: – Mum… – No! – She stamped her foot and Olga suddenly saw not a mature woman but a stubborn teenage girl. – I don’t want to hear it! You’re just jealous of my happiness! You want to ruin everything! She stormed out, bumping the doorframe with her shoulder, and the front door slammed, rattling the glasses in the display cabinet. …The wedding was a small affair – registry office, a second-hand dress, a bouquet of three roses. But Nina shone as if she were marrying in Westminster Abbey. Val – a hefty man with a receding hairline and a greasy smile – behaved faultlessly. He kissed the bride’s hand, pulled out her chair, poured champagne. The perfect groom. Olga watched him over her glass, uneasy. Something was off. The eyes. When Val looked at Nina, his pupils stayed cold and calculating. Professional tenderness. Practised care. She held her tongue. What was the point, when no one would listen? …For the first few months, Nina called every week, breathless, reeling off restaurants and theatres her wonderful husband treated her to. – He’s so attentive! Yesterday, he brought me roses – just like that, for no reason! Igor listened, nodded, then hung up and sat in silence, staring into the void. Olga said nothing, just waited. The year slipped past. Then – a knock at the door… Olga opened it to find a woman she barely recognised. Her mother-in-law had aged a decade overnight: deeper wrinkles, sunken eyes, hunched shoulders. In her hand – a battered suitcase, the same one she’d once taken to Bath. – He threw me out. – Nina sobbed. – Filed for divorce and chucked me out. The flat… it’s his now. All legal. Olga stood aside for her to come in. The kettle boiled quickly. Nina sat clutching her mug, crying – quietly, hopelessly. – I loved him so much. I did everything for him. And he… he just… Olga didn’t interrupt. She just gently rubbed her back and waited for the tears to dry. Igor came home an hour later. He stopped at the door, saw his mother – and his face hardened. – Son. – Nina stood, reached for him. – Son, I’ve nowhere to live… You can’t leave your mother, please. I’ll just need a room. Children should look after their parents, it’s only… – Stop. – Igor raised his hand. – Stop, Mum. – I have no money left. Spent everything on him, every penny. My state pension’s tiny, you know that… – I warned you. – What? – I warned you. – Igor sat on the sofa heavily, as if a sack of bricks had been dumped on his shoulders. – I said: slow down. I said: get to know him. I said: don’t sign over the flat. Do you remember what you told me? Nina hung her head. – That we didn’t understand real love. That we were just jealous of your happiness. I remember perfectly, Mum! – Igor… – Olga tried to intervene, but her husband shook his head. – No. Let her hear it. – He turned to his mother. – You’re a grown woman. You made your choices. You ignored everyone who tried to stop you. And now you want us to clean up your mess? – But I’m your mum! – That’s exactly why I’m angry! – Igor leapt up, his voice breaking. – I’m tired, Mum. Tired of watching you throw your life away, then running to me for help! Nina crumpled in on herself, small and defeated. – He tricked me, son. I truly loved him, I believed… – Believed. – Igor raked a hand through his hair. – Believed so much you signed the flat to a stranger. Genius, Mum. Pure genius. Remember Dad bought that flat! – I’m sorry. – The tears flowed again. – I was blind, I know. But please… give me another chance. I’ll never… – Adults need to own their mistakes. – Igor spoke quietly, exhausted. – You wanted independence? You’ve got it. Find yourself somewhere to stay. Get a job. Sort it out yourself. Nina left weeping, echoing up the stairwell. Olga spent the night beside her husband, silent, just holding his hand. Igor didn’t cry. He lay staring at the ceiling, sighing now and then. – Did I do the right thing? – he asked at dawn. – Yes. – Olga stroked his cheek. – It was hard. Painful. But you were right. In the morning, Igor called his mum and rented her a room in a house-share on the far side of town. Paid for six months in advance. That was the last help he agreed to give. – From here, you’re on your own, Mum. On your own. If you take it to court, we’ll help, pay what’s needed. But you’re not living with us… Olga listened and thought about justice. Sometimes, the harshest lesson is the only one that works. Her mother-in-law got exactly what her blindness deserved. And though it left her feeling bitter and at peace all at once, she suspected this wasn’t the end, and somehow, things would work out. She just didn’t know how yet, but they would…
Youre not serious, Mum, are you? The Savoy Grill? Thats at least two hundred pounds a head for dinnerminimum! James...