Vadim is lying to us,» Mom said as she placed the grocery bag on the chair. «I saw Katya with the children. It’s good that we live in the same district, otherwise I wouldn’t have known anything.» «Are the boys healthy?» Dad asked. «What did she say?»
«They’re all right, but as for our boy, I don’t know. He hasn’t even called them in six months.» «How so? I don’t understand.»
«Just like that! He lies to us as if Katya is offended and doesn’t allow him to see the children, and doesn’t let them visit us, but in reality, he just disappeared from her life and doesn’t care about his sons at all. So, Dad, call him out, let’s find out what’s going on. And Lera, please prepare the beds—Katya promised to bring the grandkids over on Friday.» Lera silently finished her tea, got up from the table, and went to her room. Her thoughts, of course, were revolving around her brother’s behavior. Ever since he remarried, he seemed like a different person.
He met his first wife, Katya, in college. They got married in their third year. Right after the wedding, Vadim moved out of his parents’ house into his wife’s apartment. They had two sons, three years apart.
As often happens, the daughter-in-law didn’t particularly try to connect with her in-laws. And they didn’t insist. Why impose? The main thing was that the young couple was getting along. The son would visit sometimes, call—that was good enough.
When the first grandson was born, Katya initially turned to her own mother for help. Fortunately, she was more available and enjoyed spending time with the baby. The mother-in-law did visit, of course, but infrequently. She had an unstable work schedule and a school-aged daughter.
Later, when the second child was born and Katya needed help, Vadim began bringing the older child to his parents more often. And as they grew, he brought both.
Lera loved her nephews. She adored buying them toys, taking them to cartoons, and to the zoo. She really liked that the brothers, despite their age difference, hardly ever argued and were inseparable.
The news of the divorce came unexpectedly. The older son had just turned ten. After his birthday, Vadim arrived at his parents’ house with his belongings. What happened between them, no one really understood.
At that time, Lera was finishing university, and soon guessed the reason for the divorce: her brother had another woman, and Katya wouldn’t turn a blind eye to it.
For some time, Vadim, as was customary, continued bringing his sons to their grandparents. Katya didn’t object during the divorce process and right after.
But everything ended as soon as Vadim brought a new girlfriend home. First, no one liked her. Secondly, the brother hoped to live with her in his parents’ home. To which his mother said a firm «no.»
Vadim had to move to a rental place. His communication with the family significantly decreased, if not disappeared entirely. The family, frankly, hoped the new girl wouldn’t last long, but six months later they learned that the brother was getting married again.
He came to invite his parents to a dinner celebrating the marriage registration and announced that he would soon become a father for the third time.
Mother just shook her head:
«A third child? Aren’t you rushing things? Can you afford it, Vadim? Renting an apartment, alimony…»
«Well, what can I do, Mom, it’s already happened.»
«And why haven’t you brought the grandchildren to us for so long? We miss them.»
«Oh, either one is sick, or the other, or Katya’s not in the mood. She’s mad at me, and she doesn’t want me to see the children at all.»
«That’s strange, it used to be fine before.»
«I don’t know, maybe she hoped I’d come back, kneeling. Let’s drop this topic at least until the wedding.»
Soon after the registry, Vadim’s mother met the former daughter-in-law with the grandchildren.
Katya greeted her warmly, the boys literally clung to their grandmother. She bought them ice cream, and quietly asked the daughter-in-law—why she didn’t want to let the grandchildren visit them.
«I’m not against it at all,» Katya was surprised. «If you still want to see them.»
«Of course! It’s just Vadim said you forbid it… we didn’t want to interfere. It was awkward. We hoped you’d sort it out between yourselves.»
«Vadim hasn’t been here for several months. He didn’t even call. But if you want to see the grandchildren—I’m all for it, they often remember you and Lera.»
«Oh, maybe this weekend then?»
«Why not? Let’s call on Thursday.»
… That same evening, Vadim came home—his father called him for an urgent talk. When he realized what it was about, he again tried to blame everything on his ex-wife. Saying, she’s always dissatisfied, and now she doesn’t let him see the children.
His mother immediately exposed his lie:
«Why are you lying? I saw Katya, she’s ready to communicate with us.»
Then the father stepped in:
«Maybe you can explain to us how it happened that you don’t show your face to your own children?»
«Lena doesn’t want me to see the ex. She’s afraid that through the children, Katya will manipulate me and get back into the family. Didn’t want to upset her, didn’t want to argue, she’s expecting a child.»
«So, for Lena, who’s been with you just a short while, you decided to forget about your own children? They are not needed by her, right? She forbade you to see them? And are you paying alimony?»
«I don’t have anything! We ourselves don’t have enough!»
Father slammed his fist on the table:
«Enough! Who are you listening to? Are you living off a draft? These are your children, you’re responsible for them!»
«Katya kicked me out of the house herself, let her cope now…»
It all ended with the father kicking Vadim out with the words: «I’ll raise my grandchildren myself! Don’t let your feet touch here again.» Mother cried, tried to smooth things over… Lera sided with her father.
In the end, Vadim’s parents went to the former daughter-in-law, agreed that they would take the grandchildren for visits and help financially. And she shouldn’t hesitate to ask for help if the children need anything.
… The third grandchild was born six months ago. He hasn’t met his grandparents yet.
