– Here I am! Now we’ll live together!
– Hello…
– So, why are you just standing there with your mouth agape? Grab the bags, show me where my room is!
The mother-in-law entered Marina and Pavel’s cozy apartment as if it were her own home, leaving two huge bags by the door. She tossed her coat onto Marina’s arms and, without even taking off her boots—still caked with mud—stomped across the light laminate floor toward the kitchen. And from there she shouted:
– So, where are you over there?! Come on, let’s have dinner! Or shall we wait for Pashka? – and she giggled in a rather annoying way.
The workweek had ended; Friday was rolling toward sunset. Today, Marina had been practically flying on wings: she had successfully completed and delivered three important projects. She’d been immediately paid for everything and was given new projects. Moreover, Marina had found yet another client. At that moment, she was bustling in the kitchen, preparing a surprise dinner for her husband. And then—a knock at the door.
– Pashka, is that you? – Marina shouted, wiping her hands on a towel.
– No, it’s not Pashka! – In the doorway stood the joyful mother-in-law. – Now we’ll live together!
Marina glanced at the spreading dirty footprints on the laminate and nearly burst into tears: she was a neat freak, and even a tiny smudge upset her. And here—puddles of mud! Her husband’s voice brought her out of her shock.
– Well, mother, I didn’t expect that from you! – Pashka had just opened the door and seen all the dirt.
– Pasha… It’s just…
– Son! – the mother-in-law stomped back into the corridor from the kitchen in her boots, leaving new muddy footprints behind.
– Mom?! From where?!
– Well, I just arrived at your place. You wouldn’t kick me out, would you? – asked Evdokiya Ivanovna in a tone that implied only one possible answer.
– No, of course not! And I’m thinking: whose bags are these by the door?
The mother-in-law looked at Marina in surprise and clarified in a thin voice:
– Marinchka, why didn’t you bring them in?
– Evdokiya Ivanovna, I… – Marina couldn’t find a single word to respond.
– Mom, I’ll bring everything in now!
Pavel, as light as a feather, picked up the heavy bags and carried them into the living room.
– Evdokiya Ivanovna, please change into slippers; it’ll be more comfortable, – Marina offered her a pair of slippers decorated with small gray faux fur pompoms.
She removed her boots, glanced skeptically at the slippers, and then leisurely walked to the kitchen. While Marina was cleaning up the mess left by the guest, the mother-in-law was already setting the plates and critiquing her daughter-in-law.
– This salad is so dry; you need to add some mayonnaise, – mumbled Evdokiya Ivanovna. – And the fish… It looks undercooked. It should go into the oven for another half hour, and the heat should be cranked up!
– Pasha, please help your mom! – Marina asked her husband.
She was nearly finished cleaning up, now listening to the voices coming from the kitchen. Her husband and the mother-in-law were talking and laughing about something.
– Marishka, are you done? Come on, join us! – called Pashka.
– Yes, I’m coming! Oh… what’s this?! – Marina looked at the dietary salad with olive oil.
Just a few minutes ago it had been dressed with olive oil, and now—generously drenched in mayonnaise.
– But it’s delicious! And the dressing will be so nice and tender later! – the mother-in-law smiled.
Marina silently sat down at the table, and then her nose caught an odd smell.
– I think something’s burning? – the woman couldn’t figure out where the smell was coming from. – Perhaps from the neighbors?
– Oh, no, it’s here with us! – the mother-in-law exclaimed cheerfully. – Alright, dig in!
– Evdokiya Ivanovna! Why did you put the fish back in the oven?!
– Well, it wasn’t browned enough, so I put it in, – the mother-in-law said, throwing her hands up in surprise.
Marina could barely hold back her tears: she and Pavel were careful about their diet, choosing their products meticulously, and they had their own recipes. The very fact that someone was interfering with her cooking process infuriated Marina. And the mother-in-law was already happily chewing on the overcooked, slightly scorched fish while chattering away.
– I sold everything, that’s how it is: the apartment, and even the country house. And why should I be alone all the time? What if something happens to me? I’m not a girl anymore. Besides, I got used to living for others rather than for myself.
– Mom, wait, I don’t understand: what did you sell?
– Oh, Pashka, there’s this situation… I sold my one-room apartment and the country house. Now I’ve come to live with you.
– With us? – Marina nearly choked and looked at her husband questioningly. He just shrugged in response—as if he was hearing this for the first time too!
– Well, yes, and who else would it be? You are my darlings! I miss you so much… And then when the grandchildren come, I’ll be here to look after them, – Evdokiya Ivanovna began listing the benefits of living with the young couple.
– Mom, – finally, Pavel understood what his wife’s indignant look was about. – But we barely have any space. I thought you were just going to stay with us for a week, maybe sleep in the living room. But you can’t stay there forever, can you?
– Of course not! I’ll move into the children’s room; you don’t really need it for now.
– No, we’re renovating that room right now, – Marina tried to object.
– Then – into the study. Something tells me the study is a luxury in your apartment. And then I’ll have a room of my own!
– You can’t move into there; that’s my workspace—my computer, my laptop, – Marina was full of indignation.
– Yes, Marinchka, I’ve long wanted to talk with you about this. Why are you sitting at home all day?
– I’m not sitting at home; I work freelance. That means I complete orders remotely.
– Oh, come on, what work do you do? You just tap your fingers on the keyboard and scurry around with the mouse on the table. What kind of work is that? I talked with a friend; they need an art teacher, and they’re ready to hire you starting next week.
– What?! – that was all Marina could say.
– Oh, alright, don’t thank me. I know how hard it is to find a good position, – Evdokiya Ivanovna cooed flirtatiously.
– Okay, I’m going to bed, – Marina declared firmly.
– Off you go, dear, get some rest. We still need to sort out your paperwork, – Evdokiya Ivanovna waved her hand at her.
The morning began with strange smells coming from the kitchen. Something was sizzling in a pan, and the entire apartment was filled with a light smoke.
– What, young people, are you following the smell? Evdokiya Ivanovna looked fantastic for her 64 years: slim, toned, a regular at the pool, using makeup, and keeping up with the latest trends. She adored unhealthy food: apparently, she had an excellent metabolism. Now she was standing in Marina’s bathrobe, having put on an apron, frying potatoes.
– What kind of oil is this? Where did you get it? – Marina wrinkled her nose.
– It’s not oil, it’s pork fat that I brought with me. In any case, come to the table! Today for breakfast we have fried potatoes with stew meat.
The mother-in-law grabbed a plate and began piling on the potatoes. A thin, viscous stream of fat dripped down the wooden spatula, as she remarked:
– Isn’t this delicious! Now I’ll slice up some pickled cucumbers—finger-licking good!
– Sorry, I don’t eat such heavy food in the mornings, – Marina got up from the table.
– If you don’t want to, then don’t eat, – the mother-in-law shrugged. – In a big family, you can’t just peck at food, or you’ll end up hungry.
For Saturday, Marina and Pavel had planned a trip to the home improvement hypermarket: they were renovating the future children’s room, and now all that was left was to put up wallpaper. The furniture would be bought and assembled closer to the baby’s arrival. Pastel colors with no bias toward either gender—everything soft and beautiful. Marina was extremely responsible about her upcoming role as a mother and wanted to take care of everything even before her baby’s heart started beating.
By the evening, the couple was hanging wallpaper, and then the mother-in-law entered the room.
– Oh, Marina, what dull walls. Boring. Children need something cheerful—pink or blue, with little trains, dolls, cars, or at least some flowers.
– We like these ones more. Besides, they’re ordinary paper wallpaper, quite budget-friendly, – Marina began listing the advantages of the wallpaper.
– Well, then you should have said you didn’t have enough money; I would have added some silk screening! – Evdokiya Ivanovna abruptly interjected. – In any case, let’s buy new ones tomorrow, and these are better taken down before they stick permanently. And now—let’s go have dinner!
Marina decided to remain silent. But when she entered the kitchen, she was completely speechless. She just stood rooted to the spot by the door for a minute. Her stylish kitchen, which had no visual clutter, had turned into some kind of mess.
– What, you like how I’ve livened everything up? – the mother-in-law embraced her daughter-in-law. – You, Marinka, have such poor taste, I’m sorry, but it’s shabby. A bland kitchen—what’s there to enjoy? That’s why you’re always so sour.
– I like my kitchen! – Marina snapped out of her stupor and even stamped her foot. – Where did these frilly curtains come from? And what is that thing on the kettle? And what about these fridge magnets and the stickers on the “apron”?! What is this display of pots and pans? What did you do to my kitchen, and most importantly—when did you manage to do it?!
– I knew you’d like it! – the mother-in-law beamed. – I took all these things from my own apartment. Isn’t it beautiful?
– No, it’s disgusting! And you’ve drenched the entire floor in grease!
– Oh, don’t worry, you’ll wipe it up later, – the mother-in-law waved her hand and continued frying the meat pies.
Marina returned to the children’s room. Pavel had already gathered all the tools, and they nearly collided in the doorway. Her husband immediately noticed that his wife was upset.
– What happened?
– Well, your mother has only been our guest for one day, and she’s already imposing her ways.
– Marina, but she hasn’t done anything wrong.
– That’s what you think? And the fried potatoes, the meat pies, the fridge magnets? She doesn’t even like the wallpaper! It wasn’t even meant for her! – Marina’s anger grew louder.
– Sweetheart, you know: a mother usually only stays for no more than a week, and then she goes back home. Just be patient…
– Pashka… But she sold the apartment! – gasped Marina.
During dinner, Marina decided to have one serious talk with her mother-in-law.
– Evdokiya Ivanovna, are you planning to stay with us for a long time?
– Marinchka, I told you: forever.
– What do you mean?
– I sold my apartment and my country house, so now I’m going to live with you.
– Until you buy a new apartment?
– No, I’m not planning to buy anything. And I don’t have any money. I gave it all to Sergey.
Marina and Pavel exchanged glances. Sergey—Evdokiya Ivanovna’s eldest son. The mother always treated him with special favoritism. For some reason, she believed that Sergey was an unrecognized genius, always thwarted by others. He was a poet, a musician, a taxi driver, and even worked at a boiler station—in short, a future star.
As for Pashka, she considered him a simpleton: just an engineer at a large enterprise. No imagination, no creative streak whatsoever.
– Mom, wait, so you don’t have any money or an apartment now?
– Well, yes. And what, can you only love your mother when she has money? – Evdokiya Ivanovna was hurt.
– No, that’s not it. It’s just that Marina and I don’t have much space. Yes, there are four rooms, but they’re all quite small, and the living room is even a passageway.
– So you’re trying to kick your own mother out?
– Mom, no, of course, live as long as you need. But Marina and I have our own family, our own order, and you’re ignoring that.
– So, is that it? – Evdokiya Ivanovna was hurt: for the first time, her youngest said such hurtful things, as if he were trying to kick her out of his home.
– Mom, let me rent you an apartment, – Pashka offered.
– I have a son! He’s supposed to take care of his elderly mother! I’m not going to live in a rental!
Pashka just sighed: convincing a stubborn mother, a schoolteacher who had raised them with Sergey on her own, was going to be difficult.
A month passed. Marina did her best to come to terms with the fact that her mother-in-law was living with them. But every day the woman came up with a new stunt. With enviable regularity, bright curtains, vivid tablecloths, and various plastic stools appeared in the rooms. Half of the bathroom cabinet was taken over by Evdokiya Ivanovna’s shampoos, gels, and masks, and there was no space left on the dressing table for creams, eyeshadows, lipsticks, and other cosmetics.
– Pasha, dear, let’s do something… I feel like a guest in my own home. Your mother has taken over half the closet; I keep bumping into her things everywhere! – Marina hoped that her husband would take action.
– Marish, what can I do?
– Maybe you can talk to Sergey? After all, your mother gave him all her money!
– I already talked to him. He spent it all.
– Did he buy a bigger apartment?
– If only! He bought new tools, recorded an album. But no one takes his recordings anywhere. They say it’s not his format.
– So does that mean your mother is really going to stay with us forever?
– I’ll figure something out, don’t worry.
That very day, Marina had to start thinking about a solution. Evdokiya Ivanovna decided to redo the bathroom. While Marina was working on an urgent order, the mother-in-law went to the store, removed a beautiful, closed mirrored cabinet, and in its place hung a plastic round mirror with shelves in a poisonous green color. Instead of a semi-transparent curtain matching the tile and furniture, she hung a poisonous green one with bright red flowers.
– Evdokiya Ivanovna, what is this? – Marina was even at a loss for words in surprise.
– We need to get rid of the drabness in this house! More bright accents! – the mother-in-law looked completely happy. – And look at this, what a beautiful plunger—matching the mirror and the curtains.
– And where…
– I threw it out. What’s the point of that drab thing?
For the first time, Marina allowed herself to raise her voice at her mother-in-law.
– Evdokiya Ivanovna! Can’t you see what you’re turning the apartment into?!
– It’s become beautiful, bright; I’ve brought life here! Everything was so drab and monotonous. Boring!
– But the space looked larger visually. You understand, this is my apartment. Pavel and I worked hard to earn it without asking anyone for money. And I believe that in one’s own home, one has the right to decide what color the curtains, furniture, and cabinets should be. Your plastic mirror is such bad taste! And those magnets, little stools, tassels—I hate all of it!
Marina’s voice was on the verge of breaking into a scream. But the mother-in-law remained suspiciously calm and observed her daughter-in-law with a condescending smile.
– So, those same days? – she finally remarked. – Here, have some lemon balm tea.
That was the last straw. A week earlier, the doctor had been trying to calm Marina down, explaining that even completely healthy couples might need a year to become parents. And they, with Pavel, were only at the beginning of that journey. The doctor advised not to get too stressed, saying that eventually everything would work out. But how could one not be stressed?!
– Mom, it seems to me you’re being too harsh with Marina, – Pashka came home and overheard the end of their conversation.
– Me?! I’ve been nothing but patient! Your wife is a freeloader! She’s leeching off us, sitting around playing with her toys and drawing pictures. And you’re slaving away for both of you!
– You’re wrong, Marina works—she’s a designer. It’s just that her workspace is at home.
– Sure, that’s what you call it? All day she’s chatting with some men on the phone—I heard it all. Isn’t she ashamed to use the speakerphone?!
– They’re clients!
– And what do you call that now? – Evdokiya Ivanovna stated calmly.
Marina, who had been listening to the conversation, burst out of the room in tears.
Pavel found his wife sitting in the children’s room. She held a huge plush teddy bear—the anniversary gift from Pavel.
– Pashka, I can’t take it anymore. I’ve always respected your mother. But this month has been hell. The food is disgusting, the apartment is a mess, the floors are filthy, and I feel I look like…
– Don’t continue. I’ll solve this problem tomorrow.
But neither tomorrow nor the day after brought any resolution for Pavel. Evdokiya Ivanovna swore she would no longer take over the household and criticize Marina, and her son believed her.
– Yes, yes, something must be done about that bitch… – Evdokiya Ivanovna stood by the study door, listening carefully to what her daughter-in-law was saying on the phone. – I already offered several solutions, but she rejects them all. Every day, my blood boils, I have no energy left… And what about Pashka? What’s his part in all this? No, he can’t do anything either.
Evdokiya Ivanovna nearly burst into tears. So, it turned out, this is how Marina treats her! And she’s turning her son against his own mother. I need to urgently talk to Pavel. Or better yet—with Sergey. He’s older, more experienced; he’ll put the younger brother in his place. The woman was just about to call her eldest son when the front door suddenly swung open—it was Pavel returning.
– Pasha, – his mother whispered quickly into his ear, – your wife hates me; she dreams of kicking me out into the streets, calls me a bitch. How can you stand that?!
– Did she really say that to you? – Pashka even paled with anger.
– Well… no. I overheard it, – Evdokiya Ivanovna admitted.
– Perhaps you misunderstood? Marina couldn’t have said that.
– How could I have misunderstood? Marina said everything clearly: that we’re not getting along, that she tried suggesting solutions, – the woman burst into tears.
– So you said something to her before that, didn’t you?
Evdokiya Ivanovna raised her tearful eyes to her son. Only now did she realize: Pashka was completely under Marina’s influence. And if she orders him, he’ll kick her out on the street like a stray dog. She doesn’t need Sergey at all—after all, her son had taken her money and no longer even calls. Where will she live in her old age?
– Mom, I’ll handle everything, just calm down.
Pavel went into the study and closed the door. Muffled voices could be heard, but no matter how much Evdokiya Ivanovna strained to listen, she couldn’t make out a word.
– I’ll talk to her myself! – came the daughter-in-law’s voice.
Marina emerged from the room all flushed.
– Evdokiya Ivanovna, let’s be honest. Yes, I don’t like that you live with us, because you stick your nose into everything and impose your ways.
– Marina…
– But Pashka is your son—I love him and am grateful to you for him. We would never let you end up on the street, we would never kick you out.
– And what about what I heard?
– We were discussing a client. A very difficult old lady, she’s changeable every day of the week. We were so tired of redoing the order. I almost decided to refuse it, but the fee was very good. It would cover renting an apartment for half a year.
– For whom?
– For you. Pasha and I found a very good option—a one-room apartment in the neighboring building. You’ll be nearby, and you already know all the neighbors.
Evdokiya Ivanovna wiped her tears again. But this time she cried for joy: both her son and daughter-in-law loved her, and there was no reason to worry about the future.
Literally a month later, Marina and Pavel found out that they were going to become parents. The first people they shared the news with were Evdokiya Ivanovna.
– Marinchka, I’m so happy! – the mother-in-law stroked her daughter-in-law’s hand. – I promise to be the best grandmother in the world!
– You’d better try! Just don’t spoil the baby too much!
– Of course, dear. You’re so smart—I’ll listen to everything you say.
– I hope you’ll give me some parenting advice later?
– If you ask!
The women laughed. Both now fully understood: personal boundaries must not be violated. And to live in harmony, parents and children are best loved from a distance—even if it’s just two buildings away.
