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“Mom, Marko is already three years old. He knows he has a Grandma Halyna. But you’ve never even heard his voice.”
Halyna Stepanivna stood frozen in the hallway, her son’s jacket in hand. Andriy had come for the first time in years. No warning, no wife, just himself and a small box of pastries she used to love.
“And what are you trying to say with that?” she asked, though she knew exactly what he meant.
“I want you to come to see us. On Saturday. Katya knows I’m inviting you.”
“And she’s okay with it?”
Andriy looked at his mother intently.
“She said you’re my mom. And that Marko has a right to know his grandma.”
Halyna Stepanivna lowered her eyes. For six years she’d managed to find dozens of reasons not to call her son. And now, he was standing in front of her offering something she had almost given up hoping for.
“I’ll think about it, Andriy.”
“Okay, Mom. Just don’t take another six years to decide.”
* * *
There was a time when Halyna Stepanivna couldn’t have imagined she’d one day live alone in a two-room apartment, shopping with a list and putting off buying a new coat for another season.
Her entire adult life had been comfortable.
Her husband, Petro Mykhailovych, ran a small but profitable business selling building materials. He started out with a little warehouse, gradually grew the business, worked hard. Eventually, the family bought a spacious house, a car, and could afford vacations abroad.
Halyna worked too—she managed a department at a large trading company. The pay was good, but the main family expenses were always covered by her husband.
She was used to nice things. She bought expensive dishes, enjoyed having guests over, carefully selected her outfits. Among friends, she valued people who had achieved something and held a certain status.
Her son Andriy grew up in that environment. His parents paid for his education, helped him buy his first car. His mother hoped he’d build a successful career, marry a girl from a good family, and live nearby.
But Andriy had his own ideas about the future.
When he first brought Kateryna to meet them, Halyna actually liked her at first. She was polite and smiling, without any pretentiousness. She worked as a kindergarten teacher, loved to read, and could hold a conversation.
But during dinner, his mother started asking about her family.
It turned out Kateryna grew up in a small village. Her father repaired farm equipment, her mother worked as a shop assistant. They lived simply, had a small house and a kitchen garden.
Halyna Stepanivna’s attitude noticeably changed.
“Will your parents help you with housing?” she asked when Kateryna mentioned that she and Andriy were planning to get married.
“We’ll rent a place for now,” she replied. “We both work, we’ll see how things go.”
“I see,” the future mother-in-law drawled.
She didn’t say anything else at the table. But when Andriy walked Kateryna home, his mother waited for him in the kitchen.
“Son, are you sure about your choice?”
“Mom, we’ve been together a year and a half. Of course I’m sure.”
«She’s a nice girl, I’m not arguing with that. But you two come from totally different backgrounds. You’re used to one way of life, and she’s used to another.»
«So what?»
«So, everything will end up on your shoulders. Her parents probably won’t be able to help you in any way.»
«I’m not planning to marry her parents, mom. And I’m not asking for help from anyone.»
Galina was hurt by her son’s sharp tone. Andriy felt hurt that his mother was judging Kateryna based on her family’s finances.
That evening, they had their first serious argument.
But the worst was yet to come.
* * *
With two months left until the wedding, Andriy asked his parents to invite Kateryna’s mom and dad over. He wanted the families to finally get to know each other.
Petro Mykhailovych was supportive of the idea. His wife, however, kept finding reasons to postpone the meeting.
She’d always have something to do, was expecting guests, or said they’d see everyone at the wedding anyway.
Eventually Andriy asked her directly:
«Mom, are you embarrassed to invite Katya’s parents to our home?»
«Don’t be silly. I just don’t see why we need to rush.»
«Because soon we’ll all be family.»
«You don’t need to explain this to me. I’ve lived long enough to understand a few things.»
Andriy didn’t say anything then. Later, he heard from Kateryna that his mother had told her during a phone call to really consider if she was prepared to live with a man who was used to a very different standard of living.
Kateryna didn’t want to repeat that conversation for a long time. Andriy noticed she became quieter, so he started asking questions.
The next day, he went to see his mother.
«Why did you say those things to Katya?»
«I wanted her to have a realistic view of life.»
«Mom, she never asked you for anything.»
«Not yet. But keep in mind: we are not going to support your family.»
Andriy stood up from the table.
«I didn’t come here for money. I wanted to ask you to treat the woman I want to spend my life with with respect.»
«And I want you not to make a mistake.»
«You haven’t even tried to get to know her.»
That was the end of the conversation.
The wedding went ahead without the groom’s mother. Petro Mykhailovych came, congratulated the couple, and hugged his son. He later brought his wife photos from the celebration, but she didn’t even want to look at them.
At first, Andriy still called. He’d wish his mother happy holidays, sometimes visited his father. But every attempt to talk to Halyna ended in remarks about Kateryna.
In time, her son stopped insisting.
He and his father kept in touch. Petro Mykhailovych visited the young couple a few times, helped them with repairs, and when Marko was born, he took a photo of his grandson to his wife.
«He’s a handsome boy,» Galina remarked as she looked at the picture.
«Then call Andriy. At least congratulate him.»
«He knows my number.»
Her husband just shook his head.
«Halyna, you’re both stubborn. But time doesn’t stop.»
She put the photo away in the dresser drawer.
Over the following months, she never picked up the phone to call.
* * *
A year ago, Petro Mykhailovych passed away.
After that, Halyna Stepanivna’s life changed a lot.
Her husband’s business no longer brought the same income without him. Later, she stepped away from it completely. The big house she once loved turned out to be far too expensive to maintain.
She sold it and bought a modest new apartment closer to the city center.
At first, she was even happy. Less cleaning, lower expenses, and everything she needed was close by. But gradually, she started noticing things she hadn’t paid attention to before.
For example, her phone now almost never rang.
Back in the old house, guests would gather every weekend. The women would chat about shopping and travels, the men about work and cars. Halyna used to feel that she had many close friends.
Now, most of those acquaintances only sent her brief holiday greetings.
One evening, she was going through the items she had brought from her old home. She found photos from Andriy’s childhood: there he was as a first-grader with a huge bouquet, smiling next to his new bike in another, and in the next picture, already in his graduation suit standing with his parents.
At the very bottom of the box was a photo of little Mark.
Halyna stared at it for a long time.
The boy looked so much like Andriy at that age. The same dark eyes, curly hair, and that smile with a little dimple on his cheek.
Suddenly, she wondered if her grandson liked fairy tales, if he was already going to kindergarten, what kind of toys he asked his parents for.
And she realized she knew almost nothing about him.
She had Andriy’s number saved in her phone. More than once, she’d opened his number, but never found the courage to hit call.
What could she possibly say after all these years?
How could she explain why she hadn’t come to the wedding, didn’t congratulate her daughter-in-law on the baby’s birth, or ever asked if the young couple needed help?
And most importantly—how could she admit that all those years, she simply couldn’t bring herself to give in?
And then, Andriy came to see her himself.
On an ordinary Thursday, after work.
He noticed how her life had changed. He asked about her apartment, helped fix the kitchen cabinet door that had been crooked for ages. Before leaving, he invited her to visit them for the weekend.
He didn’t reproach her. Didn’t bring up the past.
And that made Halyna feel even more awkward.
* * *
On Saturday morning, Halyna Stepanivna woke up earlier than usual.
The day before, she had bought a small building set for her grandson, a box of chocolates, and some towels for Kateryna. Then she spent a long time wondering if those were appropriate gifts.
At ten o’clock, Andriy called.
“Mom, are you ready? I can pick you up.”
“No need, son. I’ll get there myself. You already sent me the address.”
“Then we’ll be waiting.”
Their house stood on a quiet street on the edge of town.
It used to belong to Kateryna’s grandmother. At first, the couple rented an apartment, but eventually moved here. Andriy had replaced some windows himself, made the kitchen furniture, and renovated the bathroom. Kateryna took care of the yard, planting flowers near the porch.
The house wasn’t big or expensive. But it looked neat and cozy.
By the gate was a children’s tricycle. Little T-shirts were drying on a clothesline. Autumn chrysanthemums bloomed under the window.
Halyna Stepanivna stopped at the gate and straightened her coat collar.
She hadn’t even had time to press the doorbell when the door opened.
Kateryna stepped out onto the porch.
“Good afternoon, Halyna Stepanivna. Come in, we’ve been waiting for you.”
The mother-in-law smiled awkwardly.
Hello, Katya. I brought something for you…
Thank you. Come on in, Andriy will be out in a moment.
Kateryna took the package and helped hang up the coat. She spoke calmly and politely, but Halyna felt there was still a certain distance between them.
It couldn’t have been any other way.
The kitchen was filled with the smell of homemade pastries. Plates, cups, and a big bowl of apples stood on the table.
We baked a pie, Kateryna said. Andriy told me you like apple pie.
I do, the mother-in-law answered quietly. Very much.
At that moment, a little boy burst out of the room with a wooden train in his hands.
Mom, where’s my blue car?
Look near the sofa, Marko. And come say hello, we have a visitor.
The boy turned his head towards Halyna.
She looked at him and couldn’t take her eyes off. In the photo, he was just a baby. And now, standing in front of her, was a three-year-old boy in a striped sweater, with a very serious expression on his face.
This is Grandma Halya, Kateryna explained. Dad’s mom.
Marko came a little closer.
Are you staying with us for a long time?
Just visiting for now, Halyna replied, kneeling down to be at his level.
Why didn’t you come before?
The woman was taken aback.
Kateryna froze for a moment too, but didn’t say anything.
Halyna looked at her little grandson.
You know, Marko, I kept waiting and waiting. I should have come earlier.
Then come again, the boy said simply. I have lots of cars. I’ll show you.
He took her by the hand and pulled her towards the room.
Halyna followed him, forgetting even to take off her shoes.
* * *
Lunch passed more peacefully than she expected.
Andriy talked about his work. He worked at a small workshop making furniture. Sometimes he took orders home—drew up plans, checked measurements, and occasionally went to help with installations.
Kateryna worked at a nearby kindergarten. Marko also went to kindergarten, though he preferred the days when he could stay home with Dad.
How do you manage everything? Halyna asked.
It depends, the daughter-in-law laughed. Sometimes the dishes stay until evening. And sometimes, Marko decides to help clean and we have to redo everything.
I put all my cars away by myself this morning! the boy announced.
That’s true, Andriy confirmed. Though ten minutes later, they were all scattered again.
Everyone laughed.
Halyna too.
And suddenly she realized how long it had been since she’d sat at a table where people just talked. Not about business, or someone else’s achievements, or shopping. Just about the ordinary day, the kids’ antics, home routines.
After lunch, Andriy took Marko outside. He promised to show him how to fix the wheel on his toy cart.
The women stayed in the kitchen.
Kateryna started clearing the dishes.
Let me help you, the mother-in-law offered.
No need, you’re our guest.
Katya, at least let me dry the plates.
The daughter-in-law handed her a towel.
For a few minutes they worked in silence. Then Halyna put down a plate and said quietly:
Katya, I want to ask your forgiveness.
Kateryna turned to face her.
For what exactly, Halyna Stepanivna?
The question caught her off guard. The mother-in-law was used to general words, after which you could quickly change the subject.
But this time, she knew that wouldn’t work.
— For the way I treated you. For those conversations before the wedding. For not wanting to meet your parents. I thought my son should marry a girl from a wealthy family. And I didn’t even try to hide it.
Kateryna slowly folded the towel and placed it at the edge of the table.
— I was really worried back then. Not so much for myself, but for Andriy. He loved you both. And I didn’t want you to stop speaking to each other because of me.
— It wasn’t because of you, Katya. That was my choice. I thought I knew better how he should live.
Halyna paused for a moment.
— You know, when Petro and I lived in our big house, I thought things would always be that way. That the most important things were having money, nice things, connections. And now I live alone in an apartment and often don’t even know who to call in the evenings.
Kateryna listened in silence.
— But I don’t want you to think I came here just because my life changed, — her mother-in-law continued. — I should have done this a long time ago. Back when Andriy asked me to accept you. You never did anything wrong to me.
— Do you know what hurt the most? — Kateryna asked. — You didn’t know me at all. We only met a few times, and still, you decided what kind of person I was. And the same about my parents.
Halyna nodded.
— I know. And now I’m truly ashamed in front of you.
— My parents worked all their lives, — her daughter-in-law said quietly. — We never had expensive furniture or big savings. But they helped us every way they could. Mom would come to take care of Marko when he was little. Dad and Andriy spent nearly the entire summer repairing this house. They never left us alone with our troubles.
— I understand that now.
— I don’t want to keep bringing up the past, — Kateryna replied. — I just need some time.
— Of course, dear. I don’t expect you to forget everything in one day.
For the first time that day, Kateryna gave her a real smile.
— Then let’s finish our tea. Andriy will be back soon and ask where all the cake disappeared to.
Halyna laughed.
And for the first time in many years, she didn’t feel the need to prove or justify anything.
* * *
Later in the evening, Marko brought his grandmother a picture book.
— Read to me about the bear.
— Do you like stories about the bear?
— Yes. But Dad reads too quickly. I want to hear it slowly.
Halyna sat down on the couch. The boy settled next to her, opened the book, and pointed to the right page.
She began reading, but he kept interrupting with questions. Why didn’t the bear take an umbrella? Why is the bird sitting on a tree? Can we draw a bear just like that?
Halyna patiently answered each and every question.
Andriy peeked into the room and paused for several seconds in the doorway.
His mother was sitting on the couch, hugging his son. Nearby was the construction set Marko had received as a gift. Marko was excitedly explaining something while his grandmother listened attentively.
He had wished for years to see them together like this.
And at the same time, he never knew if it would actually happen.
When it was time to get ready to go home, Halyna spent a long time looking for her gloves, even though she knew exactly where she had put them.
She just didn’t want to leave.
Andriy noticed this.
— Mom, next time you can stay the night if you want. We have a spare room.
— I don’t want to be a burden.
«You’re my mom. How could you ever be a burden?»
She looked at her son.
«Andriy, have you held a grudge against me all these years?»
He didn’t pretend nothing had happened.
«I did, Mom. Especially after Marko was born. I wanted to call you, to bring him to see you. But I kept remembering how you treated Katya, and I wasn’t sure if it was worth having the same conversation all over again.»
«Forgive me, my son.»
«I’m glad you came today.»
He hugged his mother.
She leaned into his shoulder and closed her eyes for a moment.
Marko ran into the hallway.
«Grandma, will you come again?»
«If Mom and Dad say it’s okay, I’ll definitely visit again.»
«Will you read me a book next time?»
«Of course, sweetheart. And not just one, I’ll read you many.»
Kateryna came out of the kitchen holding a small container.
«Here, take some pie home. Andriy said you hardly bake now.»
«Thank you, Katya.»
«And come over next Saturday if you have time. We’re usually at home.»
Halyna hesitated for a moment.
«Can I bake something and bring it? Andriy used to love my cottage cheese pancakes.»
«I still do,» her son smiled.
«It’s settled, then,» Kateryna said.
* * *
That evening, Halyna Stepanivna returned to her apartment.
She set the container with pie on the kitchen table, took off her coat, changed her shoes. It was already getting dark outside. The rooms were quiet, just like every night.
But tonight, that silence felt completely different.
She took from the dresser a photo of little Marko that her husband had once brought home. She placed it on the shelf beside the pictures of Andriy.
Then she picked up her phone.
In the past, she waited for someone else to call first. She thought that was how it should be—elders should be respected and remembered without reminders.
This time, she dialed her son’s number herself.
«Mom, are you home already?» Andriy asked immediately.
«Yes, son. I got back safely. I just wanted to say thank you for today.»
«Oh come on, Mom. You should visit more often.»
«Andriy, is Katya there with you?»
«Yes, I’ll call her.»
A few seconds later, her daughter-in-law’s voice came through the phone.
«I’m listening, Halyna Stepanivna.»
«Katya, I wanted to ask—does Marko like cottage cheese pancakes with raisins or without?»
Kateryna laughed.
«With raisins. But he always picks them out first and then eats them separately.»
«Well, what do you know—Andriy used to do the exact same thing as a boy!»
They chatted a little more, talking about Marko, about the weather, and what they might cook for next Saturday.
After the call, Halyna opened the kitchen cabinet and took out her recipe notebook.
She used to carefully write how much of each ingredient was needed for a festive table of ten or twelve. Now she was searching for a recipe for cottage cheese pancakes for one small boy—the boy she held by the hand for the very first time today.
She thought about all the simple family evenings she’d missed in the last six years.
That evening, she spent a long time flipping through her notebook. At last she found the right page, slipped a bookmark in, and left it out on the kitchen table.
Next Saturday, she had somewhere to go.
