«It’s not bad here,» Lyudmila Viktorovna stood in the middle of the living room, awkwardly clutching the handle of a well-worn suitcase. «Spacious.»
Katya exchanged glances with her husband. Something was off. The mother-in-law, always ready to criticize every little thing in their house, suddenly says «not bad»? The same woman who complained about their «tasteless» wallpaper and «ridiculous» layout every visit?
«Mom, can you explain what’s going on?» Andrey sat on the armrest of the sofa. «You call at seven in the morning, saying—’come meet me’…»
«What’s there to explain?» the mother-in-law tried to smile, but it turned out somewhat crooked. «I decided… decided to sell the apartment. Tired of being alone. And the area there… it’s not peaceful.»
«The area?» Andrey raised his eyebrows. «You always said there was no better place than your home. That all the neighbors are like family…»
«You know what I used to say,» Lyudmila Viktorovna waved it off, suddenly speaking quickly as if afraid she’d change her mind: «Anyway, I thought… maybe I’ll stay with you for a little while? A week or two. Until I find something suitable.»
Katya felt a knot in her stomach. «A week or two» in mother-in-law speak usually meant «forever.»
«And the money from the sale?» Andrey asked cautiously.
Lyudmila Viktorovna suddenly aged a decade:
«There was money… I invested in something reliable. I’ll tell you later.»
«What kind of investment?» the son persisted.
«I said—later!» the mother-in-law’s voice took on a hysterical note. «You think there isn’t enough space here! Three rooms are empty…»
«They’re not empty,» Katya said quietly. «We have an office and…»
«An office!» the mother-in-law scoffed, and in that scoff, there was a hint of desperation. «Big deal, how important…»
At that moment, Lyudmila Viktorovna’s phone beeped in her pocket. She flinched and quickly dismissed the call.
«Who was that?» Andrey inquired.
«Nobody. Just spam, it’s annoying—God,» she turned towards the window, but Katya noticed her hands trembling.
«We need to unpack your things,» Lyudmila Viktorovna fussed, still avoiding her son’s gaze. «Where should I go?»
«To the living room,» Katya gestured towards the former office. «Only there…»
«Perfect!» the mother-in-law grabbed her suitcase and almost ran out of the room.
«This is all so strange,» Andrey murmured as the door closed behind his mother.
«Strange?» Katya pursed her lips. «That’s an understatement. Your mother, who treasured her apartment like a sacred object, suddenly sells it? Without warning? And shows up here with just one suitcase?»
«And where are the rest of her things?» Andrey suddenly realized. «The furniture? The china that came from grandma?»
From the room came a muffled sound of something falling and a stifled exclamation.
«Mom, are you okay?» Andrey moved towards the door.
«Yes, yes, all good!» the mother-in-law’s voice sounded suspiciously cheerful. «Just tripped.»
Her phone rang again. This time Lyudmila Viktorovna didn’t manage to dismiss it—the melody echoed throughout the house.
«Mom, pick up the phone,» Andrey urged. «It might be something important.»
«I told you—it’s spam!» the woman brushed it off again.
«Since when does spam call from a saved number?» Katya, who had entered the room a minute before, noticed the name «Lena» on the phone screen.
«You’re very observant,» Lyudmila Viktorovna gritted her teeth.
«Lena?» Andrey frowned. «That’s…»
«Your sister is probably worried,» Katya interjected. «Did you tell her you’re moving?»
The mother-in-law froze mid-motion. Her face turned gray.
«Of course, I told her,» she started unzipping her suitcase with exaggerated attention. «She knows everything.»
«Then why…»
«Enough with the interrogation!» Lyudmila Viktorovna suddenly turned around, something like anger—or fear—flashing in her eyes. «I don’t ask why you don’t have proper curtains! Or why you haven’t replaced those dreary wallpapers!»
«Here we go,» Katya muttered.
«What do you mean ‘here we go’?» the mother-in-law squared up. «Do you think I don’t see how you scowl? How you exchange glances? Maybe you don’t want me here either? Maybe…»
She cut herself off. Something desperate flickered in her eyes, prompting Katya to involuntarily step forward:
«Lyudmila Viktorovna, what really happened?»
«Nothing!» the mother-in-law grabbed her bag. «I’ll go to the store. Your fridge is probably empty. Always just yogurts…»
She nearly ran out of the apartment. The front door slammed so hard that the chandelier rattled.
«I think we need to call Lenka,» Andrey said thoughtfully.
Lena didn’t answer. Not on the first call, not on the second, not on the tenth.
«Strange,» Andrey frowned, staring at the phone screen. «She usually picks up after the first ring…»
«Maybe she’s busy?» Katya shrugged.
Lyudmila Viktorovna returned with five bags of groceries, as if preparing for a siege. After unloading everything in the kitchen, she stepped out onto the balcony—supposedly to get some air. But the phone in her hand revealed the true reason.
«Galya, how can I tell them?» the mother-in-law’s voice barely trembled. «No, I can’t… Yes, it’s already done, no turning back now…»
Katya froze at the balcony door. Andrey, following her, also stopped.
«Money?» Lyudmila Viktorovna continued. «What money now… The main thing is that they don’t find out… Especially Andrey. He would never forgive me…»
She sobbed:
«No, Galya, I can’t tell them the truth… It’s just… No, I won’t go to your place. You have enough of your own problems… I’ll figure something out… I’ll live with them for now, maybe somehow… Okay, I’ll call later.»
The phone clicked off. Lyudmila Viktorovna noisily blew her nose.
Andrey decisively swung open the balcony door:
«Mom.»
Lyudmila Viktorovna jerked her whole body:
«Ah! You scared me… I was just… breathing some air…»
«What’s going on?» he looked closely at his mother. «What have you gotten yourself into?»
«I haven’t gotten into anything!» she tried to feign outrage, but her voice betrayed a tremble. «I just decided to sell the apartment…»
«And where’s the money?» Andrey pressed on.
«I told you—I invested it…»
«In what, Mom? What exactly did you invest in?»
Lyudmila Viktorovna turned to the window: «Not now, son. I’ll tell you everything later. Definitely later. Just not now…»
In the following days, Lyudmila Viktorovna acted oddly. She would frantically clean the kitchen or sit for hours staring at one spot. She now turned off her phone, and when Andrey asked about his sister, she changed the subject.
«Something’s not right here,» Andrey said to his wife in the evening. «Maybe we should call Lenka?»
«I tried,» Katya shook her head. «She doesn’t pick up.»
«And Vitalik?»
«He’s also silent.»
On the fourth day, the mother-in-law talked about renovating.
«We should change the wallpaper here,» she waved her hand along the wall. «And there. And in general…»
«Lyudmila Viktorovna,» Katya felt irritation rising within her, «we agreed…»
«Agreed on what?» the mother-in-law snapped. «That I don’t have the right to speak? That I should sit quietly like a mouse?»
«No, about that… Why should I live in my own home by your rules?» Katya asked the mother-in-law and then paused, realizing she had said too much.
Lyudmila Viktorovna froze. Something akin to pain flickered in her eyes:
«In my own home? Yes, of course… This is your home. And I… I’ll go for a walk.»
«Where? At night?»
«So what?» she tried to smile. «Maybe I’ll find myself a corner. Where I won’t bother anyone… Just going to wash up in the bathroom,» she suddenly said and quickly left the room.
As soon as the lock clicked, the doorbell rang. An elderly woman with a worried face stood at the doorstep.
«Is Luda here?» she asked, catching her breath.
It was her friend Galina, with whom she had been friends for over forty years…
«Come in,» Katya stepped aside. «She’s in the bathroom.»
«Good,» Galina lowered her voice. «Then I made it in time. Andrey, I have to tell you something. Quickly, before she comes out.»
«About what?» he frowned.
«About what your sister has done,» Galina sat on the edge of a chair. «Lena and her husband bought a new apartment, a big one. They convinced your mother to sell hers—’you’ll live with us, why do you need it alone…’ She sold it. Gave all the money to them, they got into a mortgage…»
«And then?» Andrey leaned forward.
«And then, as soon as they got the apartment, Vitalik changed his tune, threw a fit. He said—either me or her. And Lena…» Galina shook her head. «Lena said nothing. Didn’t even stand up for her. Now your mother is without an apartment, without money…»
«That can’t be,» Andrey went pale. «Lena couldn’t have done that.»
«She could,» Galina bitterly smiled. «You know how much I tried to persuade her to tell the truth to her mother? But she always said ‘later, later’… And then it was too late—the documents were signed, the money transferred.»
«The bastards,» Andrey gritted his teeth.
«Quiet,» Galina anxiously glanced toward the bathroom door. «She didn’t want you to know. She says—she’s ashamed. Can you believe it? They cheated her, and she’s ashamed!»
«And what does she have with her?» Katya suddenly asked. «Clothes, furniture?»
«They’re in my garage,» Galina sighed. «Brought them there two days ago. She says she’ll sell them off quietly…»
«Oh, God,» Katya pressed her hand to her mouth. «And she keeps quiet…»
«What is there to say?» Galina stood up. «That her own daughter put her out on the street like a homeless person? That her son-in-law…»
The sound of running water in the bathroom stopped.
«I need to run,» Galina hurried. «Don’t tell her I came. She’ll kill me. But I couldn’t… I couldn’t keep silent.»
When Lyudmila Viktorovna came out of the bathroom, the hallway was empty. Only Katya stood by the window, wiping her eyes.
«What’s wrong?» the mother-in-law worried.
«Just…,» Katya sniffled. «Chopping onions…»
«What onions?» Lyudmila Viktorovna was surprised. «You’re standing by the window…»
«You know what,» Katya suddenly said decisively, «let’s go get your things tomorrow.»
«What things?» the mother-in-law tensed up.
«The ones that are in Galina’s garage.»
Lyudmila Viktorovna turned pale:
«How did you…»
«Galina came?» Lyudmila Viktorovna slumped into a chair. «What a traitor…»
«Not a traitor, a real friend,» Andrey entered the room. «Unlike some.»
«Son…»
«Why didn’t you tell us?» he sat next to his mother. «Why didn’t you say anything right away?»
«What was I supposed to say?» she nervously fidgeted with the edge of her sweater. «That my own daughter disowned me? That I’m now a beggar…»
«Mom, stop!» Andrey slammed his fist on the table. «What beggar? These are your children! You’ve spent your whole life…»
«Exactly—my whole life,» she bitterly smiled. «And now what? Now I’m a burden. Lena’s husband matters more to her, you…» she paused.
«What about me?» he leaned toward his mother.
«Don’t you see?» she nodded towards Katya. «Your wife is already tired of me. Says—I have my rules…»
«Lyudmila Viktorovna,» Katya sat down next to her, «that’s not what I meant. Just…»
«I know everything,» the mother-in-law waved her hand dismissively. «I command, I criticize, I meddle… You think I don’t understand? I do. But where do I go now?»
«Nowhere,» Andrey said firmly. «You’ll live here.»
«But…»
«No ‘buts’,» he looked at his wife. «Right, Kat?»
Katya was silent for a few seconds. Then quietly said:
«Right. But let’s agree…»
«On what?» Lyudmila Viktorovna asked somewhat resignedly. «That I won’t interfere? Won’t give advice? Will sit quietly like a mouse?»
«No,» Katya shook her head. «Let’s agree to be honest. What do you feel right now?»
«What do you think?» the mother-in-law grimly smiled. «Shame. Hurt. Fear…»
«Fear?» Andrey asked.
«Do you think it’s easy to start over at sixty?» she ran her hand over her face. «You know what’s the scariest? Not that Lena did this. Not that there’s no money. But that I…,» she paused, «that I’m no longer needed. Like old furniture that’s taken to the dump…»
«Stop!» Katya suddenly slammed her hand on the table. «Stop these lamentations! You are not furniture. You are a mother. Grandmother to our future children…»
«What children?» Lyudmila Viktorovna looked up.
Katya froze. Andrey choked:
«You mean to say…»
«Well…,» Katya blushed. «I planned to tell you later. Once everything settled down…»
«My God,» the mother-in-law whispered. «So you… And I’ve been here with my problems…»
«Exactly,» Katya moved closer. «We’re going to have a baby. And he’ll need a grandmother. A real one, strict, who knows how to scold and to comfort. Who will teach him to cook, to draw, to make Easter cakes…»
«Wait,» Lyudmila Viktorovna interrupted. «What about your rules? Your regimen? You yourself said…»
«To hell with rules. We’ll live like a normal family—argue, reconcile, adjust to each other. I’ll roll my eyes at your remarks, you’ll grumble about my yogurt in the mornings… But we’ll be together. Because it can’t be any other way.»
Lyudmila Viktorovna looked at her daughter-in-law as if seeing her for the first time: «And you… you really don’t mind?»
«I don’t,» Katya placed her hand on her stomach. «You know, I’m scared too. First child, everything’s new, unknown… And here you are—experienced, wise…»
«Call that wise,» the mother-in-law sniffled. «Made such a mess with the apartment…»
«It’s not your mess,» Andrey said sternly. «It’s Lena and her husband’s. And listen…»
«No!» the mother grabbed his hand. «Don’t do anything. Don’t call anyone, don’t argue… Let them live as they want. Just about the money…»
«Forget the money, Mom, do you think they’ll give it back after all this? Let’s start a new chapter!»
For the first time in days, Lyudmila Viktorovna straightened her shoulders.
«The main thing is I have you. And…,» she timidly glanced at Katya’s stomach, «a future grandson.»
«Or granddaughter,» Katya smiled.
«Or granddaughter,» the mother-in-law agreed. «You know, I had a knitted blanket somewhere…»
«Just don’t tell me it’s in Galina’s garage!» Katya laughed.
«Exactly there!» Lyudmila Viktorovna also laughed. For the first time in days, her laughter was genuine.
EPILOGUE
Half a year later, Lena and Vitalik started having problems. First with money—the mortgage turned out to be unaffordable. Then with each other—too much left unsaid, too much guilt.
Lena tried several times to call her mother. Katya answered:
«Sorry, Mom’s busy. She’s got a lot on her plate—granddaughter will be born soon.»
When little Mashenka was born, Lena came to the maternity hospital. She stood in the hallway, watching her mother hold the newborn granddaughter, cooing over her, beaming with happiness…
Lyudmila Viktorovna noticed her. But did not call out. Just stepped into the hallway and said:
«You know, daughter, betrayal is easy. But earning forgiveness—that’s hard.»
And she left, leaving Lena alone with her guilt, her mistakes, and her remorse.
At home, Katya, Andrey, and little Masha waited for her. A real family. Because a real family is not those who live by the rules. But those who stay together no matter what.
