«Yulya, there will be twelve people here on Saturday. I’ve put the grocery list on the fridge so we don’t forget anything.»
Yulia, already buttoned up and ready to leave for work, walked back into the kitchen to look at the list once more.
Milk, cheese, vegetables, meat, greens, fruit, juice, mineral water. Below were ingredients for salads, appetizers, and the main course. At the very bottom, Vadim had written in big letters: ‘FOR SATURDAY — 12 PEOPLE.’
«Twelve people? Who are these twelve people?»
Her husband stood by the coffee machine, clearly not finding any of this strange.
«My family’s coming over.»
«Which part of your family, exactly?»
«Mom and Dad, Sergey and Olya, Larisa, Natasha… Aunt Galina and Uncle Kolya are supposed to come too. So altogether, twelve counting us.»
Yulia slowly took off her gloves.
«And when exactly were you planning to tell me that we’re hosting a family lunch on Saturday?»
«I just told you now.»
«On a Monday morning, by way of a list on the refrigerator?»
Vadim smiled like he thought that would settle things.
«It’s not like it’s a wedding. We just haven’t all gotten together in a long time.»
Their house was actually perfect for hosting big gatherings.
They bought it two years ago after they got tired of apartment life in the city. The spacious kitchen opened into the living room, the dining area had a big table, and there was a covered terrace in the yard. In summer, relatives dropped by for barbecues and everything worked seamlessly: the men grilled the meat, the women brought salads, and everyone contributed something.
But now it was October. It was damp and chilly outside, so lunch had to be indoors—plus, the list on the fridge made it feel like Yulia was being asked to run a small restaurant for a day.
«Let me make this clear,» she said. «I am not planning to start cooking for twelve people at eight in the morning on Saturday, serving everyone all day, and then scrubbing the kitchen at night.»
«Who says you have to do everything?»
«So far, you’ve written the list, but somehow I’m the one expected to do the cooking.»
«I’ll do the shopping. I’ll clean up. I’ll bring in chairs from the garage. I’ll greet everyone. I’ll take care of the cleanup after. You’d only have to make a few dishes.»
Yulia looked over the checklist.
«A ‘few’ dishes? That’s meat, two appetizers, two salads, and the main course?»
«Yeah, that’s right.»
«Vadim, that’s not just a few.»
«I’ll help.»
She looked him in the eye.
After four years together, Yulia knew very well what «I’ll help» looked like.
Sometimes it meant actual help.
But sometimes it meant Vadim would take out the trash while she finished cooking, then come back to ask where to put the bowl, where the napkins were, how to wipe the table, which knife to use, and why the house didn’t have a second cutting board.
He wasn’t a lazy guy. He worked a lot, handled the yard, could fix the pipes, manage any gadget, or spend half a day tinkering in the garage. But when it came to big family feasts, Vadim would immediately assume that inviting guests was the main part—and everything else at the table would just magically appear.
«Let’s order half the food,» Yulia suggested. «Either the main course or the appetizers.»
«For twelve people? Do you realize how much that would cost?»
«I do. That’s why I’m suggesting we don’t make ten different dishes.»
«My family’s used to a proper homemade spread.»
«Alright, then you’ll be organizing a proper family meal with me.»
«I told you—I’ll handle everything else.»
Yulia slipped her gloves back on.
«Fine. But you’re buying the groceries. You’re cleaning the house. You get the extra chairs, too. And not at one in the afternoon on Saturday, but ahead of time.»
«Deal.»
«Remember that word.»
«Yul, why are you starting this now?»
«I’m not. I’m just heading to work.»
She grabbed the list from the fridge, set it next to her husband’s keys, and left.
Until Thursday, the subject of guests barely came up.
Vadim mentioned a couple of times that his dad promised to bring homemade pickles, Sergey wanted to bring something for the table, and his mom hoped to make a salad.
Yulia had no issue with the gathering itself.
Only one thing bothered her: her husband had invited everyone first—and only then started figuring out how to organize everything.
On Thursday night, she opened the fridge and realized that Vadim seemed to be relying purely on wishful thinking for the groceries to appear.
All that was on the shelves were a pack of eggs, some cheese, half a stick of butter, a few vegetables, and a container of yesterday’s buckwheat.
«Are you going to the store today?» Yulia asked.
Vadim was sitting in the living room with his laptop.
«I’ll finish up here and then go.»
«The store closes at eleven.»
«I’ll make it in time.»
An hour later, Yulia went for a shower.
When she came out, her husband was already walking around the bedroom in his lounge pants.
«What about the store?»
«I’ll go tomorrow morning.»
«You said you’d go today.»
«I’m exhausted. What difference does it make if I buy everything tomorrow?»
Yulia checked the time.
She didn’t feel like arguing over a single night.
«Fine. Just make sure you actually get everything tomorrow.»
«I will.»
On Friday morning, Vadim left before Yulia.
Before leaving, Yulia noticed the shopping list was still in the same spot as before.
She snapped a photo of the list and sent it to her husband.
«Don’t forget.»
A few minutes later, she received a thumbs up.
Yulia’s workday dragged on.
By the end of the week, there were documents piling up, one contractor sent revisions later than promised, and at 5:30 her boss asked her to urgently check calculations before sending them to the client.
Yulia didn’t head home until after seven.
In the car, she remembered the guests coming tomorrow and messaged him:
“Send me photos of what you bought. I’ll check and see if we need anything else.”
The message was left unread.
Half an hour later, she messaged again:
«Are you at the store?»
No reply.
Yulia figured Vadim was behind the wheel.
When she turned onto her street, she saw her husband’s car parked outside.
That must mean the groceries were already home.
Yulia parked, grabbed her work bag, and went inside.
The first thing she saw in the hallway was a huge camping backpack.
Nearby was a fishing gear case.
On the table, there was a thermos and a headlamp.
Vadim came out of the room in an old hoodie and thick pants.
«Oh, you’re back already.»
Yulia looked at the backpack.
«Where are you headed?»
«The guys invited me fishing.»
«Right now?»
«We’re leaving in half an hour. Can you believe it, Andrey’s friend got us into this private lake we’ve wanted to go to for two years.»
Yulia walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge.
It was just as empty as the day before.
She closed the door.
«Where are the groceries?»
Vadim glanced away for a second.
«I didn’t make it.»
«I can see that.»
«We’ll buy it tomorrow morning.»
«We?»
«You’ll stop by. I’ll send you the money.»
Yulia slowly turned to face him.
«Are you leaving for an overnight fishing trip right now?»
«Yeah. We’ll finish up by five or six in the morning, grab something to eat, then head back. I’ll definitely be home by lunch.»
«Guests are coming at two.»
«Exactly. No problem.»
«What exactly is no problem?»
«You’ve got the whole morning. The store opens early.»
He wasn’t being sarcastic.
Maybe that’s why Yulia just stared at him for a few seconds.
Vadim genuinely thought his plan made sense.
«You promised on Monday you’d buy the groceries yourself.»
«It’s not like I skipped it on purpose.»
«Did you clean up the house?»
«Well…»
Yulia walked into the living room.
On the coffee table were chargers, documents, and a box from some kind of tool. In the corner sat a basket of clean laundry Vadim meant to deal with yesterday. A sports bag lay on the staircase.
There were eight chairs in the dining room.
«Where are the extra chairs?»
«I didn’t have time to get them.»
«Is the house clean?»
He could already see where this conversation was headed.
«Yul, I’ll take care of everything when I get back tomorrow.»
«After lunch?»
«I said I’ll be here by lunch.»
«And if you’re running late?»
«We won’t be late.»
Yulia walked back to the hallway.
Vadim was adjusting his backpack strap.
«Mom already told everyone you’re preparing a huge spread. They’re all excited.»
Yulia froze.
«What did she say?»
«That you’re organizing everything. Salads, meat…»
«Why would she think that?»
«I told her you’d cook.»
«You told the relatives I’d make a huge dinner?»
«Don’t nitpick. I just meant there will be dinner.»
«And where is this dinner supposed to come from?»
Vadim walked over and attempted to put his arm around her.
Yulia stepped away.
«Please don’t.»
«I’ll come back and handle everything.»
She glanced at the fishing rods, backpack, and thermos.
«No.»
«No what?»
«Your plans changed. So mine will too.»
Vadim smirked.
«You’re mad right now.»
«Not anymore.»
«Yul, I’ve seriously wanted to go for a long time.»
«Go ahead.»
«Great, then.»
He figured the argument was over.
He put on his jacket, checked his phone, and grabbed his backpack.
«I’ll transfer money for the groceries in the morning.»
«No need.»
«What do you mean?»
«No need to send it.»
«Alright, we’ll figure it out later.»
He kissed her on the cheek and left.
A minute later, headlights lit up outside the window.
Yulia stood in the kitchen watching her husband’s car pull out of the driveway.
Then she opened the fridge.
Closed it again.
Grabbed her phone.
She ordered shrimp noodles, a salad, and dessert from her favorite restaurant, the one Vadim was always saying they’d go to «someday.»
While waiting for delivery, she took a shower, changed clothes, and put on a movie.
No giant bowls of salad.
No baking trays.
No last-minute trips to the hypermarket.
At 9:30 her food arrived.
Yulia ate dinner in the living room, threw away the containers, and went to bed earlier than usual.
She woke up around eight on Saturday.
Her phone was on the nightstand.
Vadim had sent one message during the night—a photo of dark water, with the caption:
«Beautiful.»
Yulia didn’t reply.
She had breakfast, tied her hair up, put on jeans and a sweater.
She had a long to-do list she’d been putting off until the weekend: pick up her order at the pickup point, stop by the garden store, buy new storage containers, and take her boots to the repair shop.
She left at half past nine.
Around eleven, her phone started vibrating.
Vadim:
«Fishing is amazing. Looks like we’ll be here for another three hours. The fish are biting!»
Yulia read the message while standing at the checkout.
She replied:
«Okay.»
She put her phone back in her pocket.
The cashier packed up her purchases.
«Would you like the receipt?»
«No, thank you.»
After the garden store, Yulia stopped for coffee and then picked up her shoes from the repair shop.
She got home around one o’clock.
The courtyard was quiet.
She brought in her purchases, changed into comfy pants and a soft sweater, and unpacked the bags.
At 1:45, her father-in-law’s car pulled into the courtyard.
Yulia saw it through the window.
A minute later, the doorbell rang.
Vadim’s parents were standing at the door.
Tamara Viktorovna was holding a container, and her father-in-law had a bag.
«Are we the first ones here?» her mother-in-law asked.
«Looks like it.»
She walked into the house and immediately looked around.
The table was empty.
No tablecloth, no dishes, no plates.
«Where is Vadim?»
«He’s out fishing.»
Tamara Viktorovna thought she must have misheard.
«Fishing?»
«The usual kind.»
Her father-in-law checked the time.
«But he invited us for two o’clock.»
«Yes.»
A few minutes later, Sergey and his wife arrived, followed by two cousins.
Soon, more relatives showed up.
People walked in, took off their jackets, and quickly noticed that there was no festive meal prepared.
Yulia didn’t hide, pretend to be sick, or kick anyone out.
When almost everyone was gathered, she said:
«Just so there’s no confusion: Vadim planned this get-together. He promised to buy the groceries, get the house ready, and organize everything. Last night, he decided to go fishing. He never bought the groceries. That’s why there’s no set table today.»
The room grew quiet.
Sergey was the first to pull out his phone.
«Where is he, anyway?»
«Somewhere at the lake.»
«Unbelievable.»
Tamara Viktorovna frowned.
«Yulia, didn’t he leave you any money at least?»
«Money wouldn’t have changed anything.»
«I’m just asking.»
«He suggested I go to the store this morning and cook everything before you got here.»
Her father-in-law slowly turned to look at his wife.
«So he invited everyone and then left?»
Yulia nodded.
«Exactly.»
Sergey was already trying to call his brother.
Vadim didn’t pick up.
He tried again.
No luck.
«Maybe he doesn’t have service.»
«There’s service out there,» said his father. «He sent me a photo this morning.»
Tamara Viktorovna pulled out her phone.
When she called, her son answered almost immediately.
«Hi Mom! Did you all arrive already?»
Her mother-in-law put him on speakerphone.
«We’re here.»
«Great. I’ll be heading out soon.»
«Vadim, do we have anything to eat?»
A pause.
«What do you mean?»
Father-in-law took the phone from his wife.
«I mean exactly that. You invited twelve people. Where’s the food?»
«Didn’t Yulia…»
«No,» his father interrupted. «Not ‘didn’t Yulia.’ You invited everyone, right?»
«I did.»
«And you promised to buy the groceries?»
«Well, yes.»
«So where are the groceries?»
There was nothing left to say.
«Dad, I’m coming home now.»
«You’d better.»
Her father-in-law hung up.
Sergey chuckled quietly.
«Nice setup he’s got here.»
His wife Olga nudged him with her elbow.
«Don’t start.»
«Why not? I could’ve invited everyone today too—and then gone off to the sauna myself.»
Tamara Viktorovna glanced over at Yulia.
«You really didn’t cook anything at all?»
«Really.»
There was no challenge in her voice.
It was just a simple fact.
One of the cousins, Natasha, took off her jacket and draped it over the back of a chair.
«And that’s the right thing to do.»
Tamara Viktorovna turned to her.
«Natash…»
«What? Vadik’s not a kid. If he invites twelve people, he can at least buy some meat.»
Father-in-law was already on his phone.
«Alright. Does anyone know where we can order some decent food around here?»
«There’s a cafe in the neighboring village,» Olga said. «We ordered from there last month.»
Ten minutes later, everyone was discussing the menu.
Someone suggested ordering some hot dishes.
Someone else added salads to the list.
Sergey said he’d go pick it up himself if delivery took too long.
Yulia gave them the cafe’s address and phone number.
She could have started directing people, looking for plates, grabbing everything needed, and rallying everyone together at that moment.
But she didn’t.
People came to see Vadim, so Vadim would be the host.
Until he returned, the relatives settled into the living room.
Tamara Viktorovna brought out cheese and homemade preserves. Olga contributed fruit. Someone found some cookies.
At half-past two, a car quickly pulled into the yard.
Vadim walked into the house wearing a fishing jacket.
One look at his face showed his mood had been ruined long before he got there—probably right after the phone call.
«Hey, everyone.»
His father was sitting in an armchair.
«Hey there, host.»
Vadim took off his jacket.
«Did you order the food?»
«We did.»
«Great.»
«Not great.»
Vadim didn’t reply.
Sergey handed him the phone.
«You’ll pick it up. It’ll be ready in twenty minutes.»
«Alright.»
«And grab some drinks. You’ve only got mineral water here.»
Vadim silently picked up the keys.
«I’m on it.»
Yulia was sitting by the window talking with Natasha.
Her husband glanced at her but didn’t come over.
Forty minutes later, he returned with boxes of food and a few bags.
Then, exactly what Vadim had promised to do back on Monday happened.
Only now, without Yulia.
He brought extra chairs in from the garage.
He extended the table.
He brought out plates.
He found silverware.
He set out napkins.
He put out the drinks.
He transferred the food from the takeout boxes onto serving plates.
Three times he asked where this or that was, but Yulia always answered calmly:
«Check the cupboard.»
And nothing more.
His mother tried to help her son once or twice, but the father-in-law stopped her.
«Let him handle it.»
«But the guests are waiting.»
«We were waiting for him.»
Vadim heard but stayed silent.
Finally, everyone got settled.
There was plenty of food after all.
After a while, the awkwardness disappeared, and the conversations turned casual.
They discussed Sergey’s home renovation, Natasha’s husband’s new job, and plans for the November holidays.
Vadim gradually relaxed as well.
But every few minutes, he got up.
To grab a knife.
To fetch more water.
To bring another plate.
To check on the hot food that had been ordered.
For the first time in ages, Yulia was actually sitting at the family table together with everyone else.
She wasn’t running back and forth between the kitchen and the table.
She wasn’t checking the oven.
She wasn’t slicing up another round of something.
She wasn’t collecting dirty dishes while everyone else was still chatting.
About an hour in, Tamara Viktorovna noticed this.
She looked at her daughter-in-law, then at her son, who was once again carrying an empty plate to the kitchen.
But she didn’t say anything.
The guests started to leave around seven.
Vadim’s father was the last to shake his hand.
«Next time, make sure to prepare first before inviting people over.»
«Got it.»
«I hope so.»
Tamara Viktorovna turned to Yulia by the door.
«Thank you for at least hosting everyone.»
«Of course.»
Yulia wasn’t expecting any other words of gratitude.
Once the gates closed behind the last car, the house grew quiet.
Empty dishes, glasses, and packaging remained on the table.
Vadim returned from the hallway and looked at it all.
«I’ll clean up now.»
«Alright.»
Yulia grabbed her phone and headed upstairs.
«Wait.»
She stopped on the stairs.
Vadim was standing by the table.
«You could have helped me out just this once.»
Yulia turned around.
«Help you with what exactly?»
«Well, with the cooking. So my family wouldn’t show up to an empty table.»
«Vadim, if you had been in a car accident this morning, gotten sick, or gotten stuck somewhere on the way, I would have stepped in.»
He frowned.
«Do you really have to exaggerate like that?»
«That’s what an unforeseen situation means. But you just took your fishing rods, packed your backpack, and left.»
«I expected to be back earlier.»
«At eleven, you texted me that you’d be three hours late.»
Vadim ran his hand through his hair.
«Fine, I messed up.»
«That’s all there is to it.»
«But you could have smoothed things over.»
«Why should I?»
He didn’t have an answer right away.
«Well, at least for my parents.»
«Your parents came here because you invited them. And they saw how you organized things.»
«Now my father will remind me about this for a month.»
«Possibly.»
«You think this is funny?»
«No.»
Yulia stepped down two stairs.
«I didn’t want to punish you. I just didn’t do what you left unfinished.»
Vadim looked at the table.
Then at the bags by the kitchen.
«Alright.»
Yulia nodded.
And went upstairs.
There were no more conversations that evening.
Vadim really did clean up everything himself.
He loaded the dishwasher.
Then did a second load.
He wiped the table.
Took out the trash bags.
Returned the chairs to the garage.
Yulia could hear him moving around downstairs, but she didn’t intervene.
The next day, her husband woke up later than she did.
He came down to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and stared inside quietly for a while.
Inside were leftovers from the food they had ordered.
«Want some breakfast?» Yulia asked.
«Yes, I do.»
She set a plate in front of him.
Vadim sat down.
«By the way, yesterday my dad called me an idiot.»
«A very concise summary of the situation.»
He looked at her and suddenly burst out laughing.
«You’re really not going to feel sorry for me at all?»
«Nope.»
«I see.»
But there was no longer any resentment in his voice.
For the next few weeks, there were no big family gatherings planned.
Vadim visited his parents a few times, Sergey dropped by them briefly, but the topic of that Saturday gradually faded away.
Until December.
One evening, Vadim was sitting on the couch with his phone.
«Mom’s asking if we should all get together here before New Year’s.»
Yulia looked up from her laptop.
«Go ahead, invite them.»
Her husband waited.
«Is that it?»
«What else?»
«Aren’t you going to ask how many people?»
«I don’t see the point yet.»
Vadim smirked.
«Ten.»
«Alright.»
He put down his phone.
«I’ll order hot food tomorrow.»
Yulia stayed silent.
«Then I’ll stop by for groceries. Mom and Olga will bring salads. I’ll make some appetizers.»
«That’s a good plan.»
«And I’ll get the chairs out ahead of time.»
«Even better.»
«Can you only cook your signature meat dish?»
Yulia looked at him.
«Will the ingredients for it already be at home?»
«Yes, they will.»
«Will the kitchen be free?»
«Yes.»
«Is everything else taken care of?»
«Yes.»
«Then I’ll make it.»
Two days later, grocery bags appeared on the kitchen table.
A day after that, Vadim confirmed the order from the café.
On Friday evening, he brought in extra chairs from the garage and arranged them right away.
Yulia walked by and glanced at the prepared table.
«What are you doing?»
«I’m making sure I’m not imagining things.»
«Very funny.»
On Saturday morning, Vadim was the first to enter the kitchen.
Yulia came down later.
The meat was already in the fridge, a labeled pack of spices sat nearby, and on the table was a short list of what her husband still needed to do.
He saw her and raised his hands.
«Everything else is almost done.»
Yulia opened the fridge, took out the meat, and only then turned on the oven.
