The phone rang at ten in the evening when Masha had already dozed off over her book. Pavel was tinkering with yet another washing machine in the kitchen—he often took work home to earn extra money. «Pash, it’s your phone,» Masha reached for the smartphone lying on the nightstand. «Mom is calling.»
Pavel came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands with a towel. Tall, broad-shouldered, in a work shirt with a service center logo, he always reminded Masha of a kind bear. Especially when he frowned, like now: «At this time? Strange.»
«Mom? What happened?» Masha saw her husband’s face change as he listened. She grew worried—they weren’t expecting a call from his mother so late. Galina Petrovna was an organized person, used to calling at the same time, on weekends, around noon.—»What do you mean they’re turning off the heating? In the middle of winter?» Pavel raised his voice. «What kind of repair? Wait, Mom, I’ll put you on speaker.»
From the speaker came the familiar voice of Galina Petrovna, slightly distorted by the connection:
«They posted the notice today. Major renovation of the entire building, starting next week. I thought they would do it in spring, but they decided to do it now. They say the pipes are really bad, can’t wait.»
«But how can they do this?» Masha moved closer to the phone. «It’s minus thirty outside!»
«That’s what I’m saying,» sighed Galina Petrovna. «Half of the residents are already relocating to relatives. They’ll turn off the elevator, the hot water too. They will be changing pipes, wiring… They said about a month.»
«A month without heating?» Pavel shook his head. «Have they lost their minds? Mom, you can’t stay there.»
«I can’t,» agreed Galina Petrovna. «It’s already been smelling like paint here for two days, making my head spin. And when the work starts…»
Masha exchanged glances with her husband. Their one-bedroom apartment in a residential area was small—thirty-four square meters. But they couldn’t leave his mother in uninhabitable conditions, could they?
«Galina Petrovna,» Masha started, but Pavel interrupted:
«Mom, pack your things. I’ll come for you tomorrow.»
«Son, how can I…» Galina Petrovna’s voice cracked with tears. «You’re already cramped as it is…»
«It’s okay, we’ll manage,» Pavel said firmly. «I’ll buy a folding bed on the way. It’s not even up for discussion.»
When the call ended, Masha hugged her husband:
«You made the right decision. We’ll manage somehow.»
Pavel absently nodded, looking out the window at the falling snow:
«And it’s frustrating—our building is still solid. Just never properly repaired since the sixties. Now look…»
Masha understood his feelings. His childhood was spent in that five-story building, where his mother still lived. How many times they had gone there for the weekends, sat in the cozy kitchen, drinking tea with raspberry jam Galina Petrovna made every summer. The building was old but solid, with thick walls and wide windowsills always adorned with flowers.
«Alright,» Pavel snapped out of it. «I’ll finish this machine, need to deliver it first thing tomorrow. And then for Mom.»
Masha looked at the clock—it was almost eleven. Her husband often worked late on another broken machine. As a senior technician at the service center, he made a decent living, but still took extra orders. They were saving for a new apartment, although so far they had managed to save very little.
Masha worked at the district library. She loved her job—for the quiet of the halls, the opportunity to help people find the necessary books, for interesting encounters with readers. The pay was small, of course, but the schedule was convenient and the team was good.
Settling into bed, she began to think about how to accommodate another person in the apartment. They could move the wardrobe a bit, free up a corner for the folding bed. Hang additional hooks for towels in the bathroom. The kitchen was trickier, it was very small, only six square meters. But Galina Petrovna was an unassuming woman, they would manage.
Falling asleep, Masha thought about how life unfolds in remarkable ways. When she met Pavel three years ago, she immediately knew—he was the one. He entered the library just before closing, covered in snow, asking for a book on repairing old TVs. They struck up a conversation… And six months later, they got married, quickly and without fuss, registered their marriage, and had a small celebration for their closest friends.
Galina Petrovna immediately accepted her new daughter-in-law. Maybe because she knew—Masha had lost her mother early? Or maybe their characters just matched: both calm, sensible, without unnecessary demands on life. Whatever the case, in these three years, they had never had a serious argument.
Three weeks passed. A new order slowly established itself in the small apartment. Galina Petrovna got up before everyone else, quietly folded up the bed, prepared breakfast. Masha left for the library by nine, Pavel a bit later—for his service center. And his mother busied herself around the house, trying to take up as little space as possible in the cramped flat.
That day, Masha returned from work early—her colleague fell ill, and they had to close the reading room an hour earlier than usual. Unlocking the door with her key, she heard muffled sobs from the kitchen.
Galina Petrovna sat by the window, pressing a handkerchief to her eyes. On the table in front of her lay a mobile phone.
«What happened?» Masha asked, sitting next to her.
Her mother-in-law flinched, tried to discreetly wipe her eyes: «Masha, you’re back already? I’m just…» she waved her hand. «Ninochka called, my neighbor.»
«And what did she say?»
«The repairs are dragging on,» Galina Petrovna pulled out the handkerchief again. «She says when they opened up the floors, they found that all the pipes need to be replaced. And the wiring too. Now the deadlines are unknown, and the amount has increased…» she sobbed. «And I’m here with you…»
«So what?» Masha asked gently. «Stay as long as you need.»
«How does it look from the outside?» Galina Petrovna spoke bitterly. «I’ve moved in with you and say, ‘It’s a bit cramped, but I’m here for six months’…»
«Stop it,» Masha hugged her mother-in-law’s shoulders. «What difference does it make how it looks? The main thing is that you’re not alone.»
«I see how cramped you are,» Galina Petrovna dabbed her eyes. «A queue for the bathroom in the mornings, can’t turn around in the kitchen…»
«But you cook wonderfully,» Masha smiled. «I even brag about your pies at work.»
Her mother-in-law smiled weakly in return: «Thank you, dear. And to Pasha… You’ll forgive an old woman.»
«Stop calling yourself an old woman,» Masha said sternly. «Better tell me what else Nina said about the repairs?»
They sat in the kitchen until the evening. Galina Petrovna talked about the neighbors, about how they were dismantling the old building, how they were moving furniture. Gradually, her voice grew stronger, and her eyes dried.
The next morning, Masha woke up to an unusual smell. In the kitchen, Galina Petrovna, in an apron, was rolling out dough.
«I decided to make dumplings,» she explained. «I always get up early, might as well make it useful.»
«At seven in the morning?» Masha was surprised.
«Why not?» Galina Petrovna expertly pinched another dumpling. «While you’re asleep, I do my thing. Yesterday, your neighbor, Anna Sergeyevna, asked if I could make her some homemade dumplings. Her grandkids are coming for the weekend. So I thought I’d make some for you too.»
Masha watched how quickly and confidently her mother-in-law’s hands moved, how evenly the dumplings lay on the cutting board. A thought flashed through her mind:
«Do you want to cook to order? Many in our building buy ready-made food, not everyone has the time to fuss…»
Galina Petrovna pondered: «Do you think they’ll order?»
«I’m sure!» Masha nodded. «Especially if they find out how good your dumplings are. You could also make pierogies, and cutlets…»
From that day, a new tradition appeared in their lives. In the mornings, Galina Petrovna cooked—dumplings, pierogies, pies. Initially, only the closest neighbors ordered. Then word spread through the building, and people from other floors started to approach. The money was small, but the mother-in-law neatly folded it into a separate envelope:
«For a rainy day. You never know…»
By the beginning of April, the apartment on the fifth floor had turned into a real mini-bakery. Neighbors already knew—if the aroma of fresh baking wafted from under the door in the morning, it meant Galina Petrovna was taking orders.
That day, she had a whole queue gathered. On the kitchen table, containers with dumplings lay in neat stacks, and on the windowsill, pies with rice and onions cooled.
«Galina Petrovna, can I have a double portion next time?» a full, rosy woman from the third floor, scrutinizing her order, asked. «My son is coming back from the army.»
«Of course, Tamara Ivanovna,» nodded Galina Petrovna, making a note in her notebook. «Next week?»
«Yes, on Tuesday. And you know, maybe some more pies…»
The doorbell rang again. A tall woman with a neat haircut stood on the threshold: «Hello, I’m from apartment forty-two. I heard you make dumplings…»
Masha watched this bustle from the room, where she was trying to sort out a bookshelf. In the last month, her mother-in-law seemed to have rejuvenated—her eyes sparkled, her movements became faster, even her posture changed. Of course, cooking from early morning was not easy, but Galina Petrovna seemed to only be happy with the busyness.
Suddenly, Masha’s vision darkened, the room spun. She managed to grab a shelf, slowly sinking onto a chair. It was the third time in a week this strange weakness, dizziness…
«Mashenka!» Galina Petrovna, having said goodbye to another customer, peeked into the room. «Why are you so pale?»
«No, it’s okay,» Masha tried to smile. «Just a bit stuffy.»
Her mother-in-law looked at her daughter-in-law intently:
«Maybe you should see a doctor? You’ve been off lately…»
She was interrupted by the doorbell. Anna Sergeyevna from upstairs stood on the threshold:
«Galina Petrovna, did you hear? Something happened to Vera from the fifth floor, they called an ambulance.»
«Which Vera?» the mother-in-law was alarmed.
«Yes, from fifty-eight, the one who lives alone. The mailman got worried—she hasn’t picked up her newspapers for three days. They called the emergency services, broke down the door, waiting for doctors…»
Galina Petrovna hurriedly took off her apron:
«Mashenka, sorry, I have to go…»
«Of course, go,» nodded Masha. «Maybe they’ll need help.»
When the door closed behind her mother-in-law, Masha felt a slight dizziness again. A conversation with a friend who recently became a mother surfaced in her memory. «You know, I didn’t understand at first—thought I was just tired. But then such weakness hit me…»
Masha froze. She pulled out her phone, opened the calendar. Looked at the dates. Then again. No, it can’t be… Or can it?
The doorbell made her jump. Another neighbor for dumplings? But on the threshold stood an agitated Anna Sergeyevna:
«Masha, do you have any Valocordin? The concierge got nervous, asking for it…»
«I’ll check now,» Masha headed to the bathroom, where the home medicine cabinet was stored. While searching for the pills, one thought spun in her head: «Need to go to the pharmacy. Right now…»
Masha ran to the pharmacy as if it were a fire. Her heart pounded somewhere in her throat, and snippets of thoughts whirled in her head. She bought two tests just in case—one might be wrong.
In the cafe restroom—she couldn’t wait to get home—her hands shook so much that she nearly dropped the test. The five minutes of waiting seemed like eternity. And then…
Two lines. On both tests.
Masha sat for a long time on a bench in the park near the cafe. April wind fluttered the budding branches above, somewhere up high crows conversed, passersby hurried on their errands. And she tried to grasp—the new life was growing inside her now.
The phone in her pocket vibrated. A message from Pavel: «Where are you? Called home, no one answers.»
Only now Masha noticed that it was almost six in the evening. She quickly typed a response: «Will be home soon. Going to the store.»
How to tell? When to tell? And most importantly—what will they do? In their tiny apartment, where it had become crowded with three of them, soon there would be another person…
At home, she was greeted by an unusual silence. Usually, at this time, Galina Petrovna was already preparing dinner, clattering dishes in the kitchen. But today, only a note on the table: «I’m at the hospital with Vera. I’ll call later.»
Pavel returned an hour later:
«Imagine, took three more orders!» he kissed his wife on the cheek, headed to the kitchen. «And where’s Mom?»
«In the hospital,» Masha mechanically took out groceries from the bag. «The upstairs neighbor had a stroke, she went to visit.»
«Ah, heard already. They talked about it at work—there was a commotion, they broke down the door…» Pavel opened the fridge. «Will you have dinner?»
«Pash,» Masha froze with a packet of pasta in her hands. «We need to talk.»
«Something happened?» he turned around, alarmed by her tone.
«No. That is, yes. That is…» she took a deep breath. «Remember we talked about children?»
Pavel slowly closed the fridge:
«You’re trying to say…»
«I was at the clinic today. Two tests…»
She didn’t finish—her husband scooped her into a hug, twirled her around the cramped kitchen:
«God, really? Masha, it’s…» he paused, stepped back. «Wait. But how…»
«Exactly,» Masha sat on a stool. «How will we manage? It’s barely enough for three of us here.»
Pavel sat down next to her: «Then we’ll figure something out. Maybe we can rent a bigger apartment…»
«With what money?» Masha shook her head. «You know how much rent costs now.»
«I’ll change jobs. Or find a second one…»
«And when will you sleep? You already work all day.»
They sat in the kitchen for a long time, weighing options. They could sell the car… But then Pavel would lose half his orders. Take out a loan for a new apartment? But the payments would be unaffordable…
The doorbell made them both start. On the threshold stood Galina Petrovna—haggard, tired:
«Barely made it home, buses are less frequent now…»
«How is she… Vera?» asked Pavel.
«It’s tough,» the mother-in-law sank onto a chair. «Right side is completely paralyzed, she can’t speak yet. But the doctors say—there’s a chance of recovery, if proper care is arranged.»
She paused, then added:
«You know, I talked to the nurses there. Said they’ll let me in every day, not just during visiting hours.»
«Mama,» Pavel began, but his mother interrupted:
«I won’t be long…»
She continued talking about injections, massages, special exercises. And Masha looked at her husband, thinking—how to tell? When to tell? Because now his mother had a purpose, something she could help with…
The phone interrupted her thoughts. Galina Petrovna pulled out her mobile:
«Yes, Svetochka… Yes, I was with her… Condition is stable, but severe…»
Her face showed—it was someone from Vera Nikolayevna’s family calling.
«Of course, I’ll keep an eye out, don’t worry… Yes, I’ll stop by every day… No-no, what are you, no money! I just want to help out of human decency…»
The next week turned into an endless loop for Masha. Mornings—at work, where she had to hide from the smell of coffee, which now made her sick. Evenings—at home, where Galina Petrovna, returning from Vera Nikolayevna’s, shared the news:
«Today she moved her fingers on her right hand! The doctor says it’s a good sign…»
«Her daughter called, from Murmansk. She’s worried she can’t come—her job is very responsible…»
«And you know, she tried to say something today! Can’t yet, but her eyes are so meaningful…»
Masha listened, nodded, but all the time thought—how to tell? When? Pavel also struggled—she saw how he opened his mouth, about to start a conversation, but each time he stopped.
One morning, as Masha was getting ready for work, a crash came from the kitchen. She rushed there and saw Galina Petrovna, looking bewildered at the flour scattered on the floor:
«Oh, Masha, sorry! Something made my head spin, dropped the bag…»
«Let me help,» Masha reached for a broom, but suddenly straightened up and rushed out of the kitchen.
When she returned from the bathroom, pale and trembling, her mother-in-law looked at her with completely different eyes:
«Dear,» she said softly. «Is there something you want to tell me?»
Masha sat down on the stool: «I was about to… Pavel and I wanted to…»
«For how long?»
«Found out two weeks ago.»
Galina Petrovna sat down next to her:
«Why didn’t you say anything?»
«What do you say here?» burst out of Masha. «You just befriended Vera Nikolayevna, you’re helping her…»
«So?»
«So!» Masha burst into tears. «There’s already no space here, and now a child too…»
«Lord,» Galina Petrovna hugged her daughter-in-law. «You silly girl. Is that really a problem?»
«Isn’t it?» Masha looked up with tearful eyes. «Where to put another crib? Where to store a stroller?»
«We’ll figure it out,» her mother-in-law said firmly. «That’s not where happiness lies.»
In the evening, when Pavel returned, Galina Petrovna called a family council:
«So, I won’t congratulate you yet—I see you’re both nervous. Let’s think about what to do.»
«Mama, maybe I really should find a second job…» Pavel started.
«Wait. I found out something,» Galina Petrovna pulled a folded piece of paper from her apron pocket. «Remember, I told you I met Svetlana, Vera Nikolayevna’s daughter?»
She unfolded the paper—it turned out to be a printout of an apartment for sale ad:
«Svetlana lives in Murmansk, works at a large company. They’re offering her a promotion, a very serious one. But for that, she needs to be there all the time. And here, her mom is sick…»
«So?» Pavel looked puzzled at the ad.
«So, she decided to take Vera Nikolayevna to her. Once she recovers a bit. And she’s selling the apartment.»
«A three-room apartment,» Pavel whistled, peering at the text. «Well, yes, a good apartment.»
«Very good,» nodded Galina Petrovna. «I visit there every day. And Svetlana is ready to lower the price—in gratitude for me sitting with her mom.»
She paused, then added:
«And I thought… Maybe I should sell my own apartment? Anyway, there’s construction there now, can’t live there. And the price difference will be small.»
«What do you mean?» Pavel frowned.
«Literally. I’ll sell my two-room, buy this three-room, I have some savings. I’ll give you the bigger apartment, and I’ll move into your one-room. I’ll be nearby, able to help with the grandchild…»
«Mama,» Pavel shook his head. «You’re crazy? What one-room? Will there be enough space for you?»
«I don’t need much,» she shrugged her shoulders. «But you can make a nursery, and there will still be a guest room…»
«No,» Pavel stood up resolutely. «Don’t even think about it. We’ll come up with something.»
Galina Petrovna looked at her son calmly:
«What’s there to think about? I’m not moving to another city.»
«Mama, but it’s not right! You’ve lived your whole life in that apartment…»
«In that apartment,» Galina Petrovna sighed, «there’s a mess now. They’re changing pipes, breaking walls. When the construction will end—unknown. And here…» she gestured around the kitchen. «I’ve already settled in. And the neighbors are good, and the area is familiar.»
«Still!» Pavel paced the kitchen. «You can’t because of us…»
«Not because of you, but for you,» interrupted Galina Petrovna. «There’s a difference.»
Masha, who had been silent all this time, quietly asked:
«Do you really want this?»
Her mother-in-law smiled:
«Oh, dear… When I first came here, I thought—how can I live in such a tight space? But now I understand—it’s not about the square meters. I’m at home here. And I feel at peace.»
The next day, Svetlana—a tall woman in her mid-forties with a tired but determined face—arrived. Galina Petrovna introduced her to Masha and Pavel.
«Here,» Svetlana took out a folder with documents, «I figured… If we handle it without realtors, we’ll save quite a bit.»
They sat in the kitchen for a long time, discussing the details. Svetlana explained that in Murmansk, she was offered the position of deputy director of production:
«It’s a challenging, responsible job. But it’s a chance that comes once in a lifetime. And my mom…» she paused. «Mom won’t be alone there. I have a large, bright apartment. And there’s a good hospital nearby.»
«And Vera Nikolayevna?» asked Masha. «Does she agree to move?»
«She can’t speak yet,» Svetlana squeezed her fingers. «But I see how she lights up when I come. And she’s scared to let go… You know,» she turned to Galina Petrovna, «if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have dared. But now I see—mom is improving. We’ll manage.»
By the end of the week, all the documents were ready. Galina Petrovna went to her town, arranged a power of attorney for the sale of the apartment. Svetlana found buyers—a young family who were satisfied with the apartment even in its current state.
«The main thing,» she explained to Pavel, «is that the building is solid. And they’ll do the renovation themselves, however they want.»
Vera Nikolayevna was recovering slowly but surely. She could already sit in bed, tried to move her right hand. And one day, when Galina Petrovna came to visit her, she suddenly said clearly:
«Tha-nk you.»
That evening, the mother-in-law returned home with shining eyes:
«She spoke! Although a bit awkwardly, she’s speaking! Can you imagine? And the doctors said—it could take months!»
Masha watched as Galina Petrovna bustled around the kitchen, sharing the latest news, and thought—what a blessing it is to have such a person nearby. Wise, calm, able to accept life as it is.
And a month later, they all stood together in the empty three-room apartment. Svetlana and her mother had already left for Murmansk—fortunately, Vera Nikolayevna had recovered enough to move.
«Well,» Galina Petrovna opened a window in the large room, letting in the spring breeze, «shall we settle in?»
Pavel hugged his mother:
«Mama, maybe still…»
«Don’t start,» she patted his hand. «Look, Masha will soon need to go to the clinic, and there’s so much to buy…»
By mid-summer, everything finally settled down. In the three-room apartment, the renovation was in full swing—Pavel insisted on finishing it before the baby was born. He painted the walls, hung wallpaper, only calling professionals for the stretch ceilings.
Masha, despite her «interesting condition,» as Galina Petrovna put it, continued to work at the library. Her belly was still barely noticeable, but her colleagues were already preparing for her maternity leave:
«Masha, just don’t worry,» her manager reassured her. «We’ll find a replacement, but we’ll keep your place for you.»
And in the evenings, they gathered in Galina Petrovna’s one-room apartment—spacious and bright after the renovation. The mother-in-law couldn’t get enough:
«Can you believe it, girls from the first floor are asking—can they sign up for your dumplings? They say, neighbors from other floors won’t stop talking about them.»
Her culinary business was slowly expanding. Now she not only made dumplings but also took other orders—whether baking a wedding cake or preparing treats for an anniversary.
One such evening, Svetlana called from Murmansk:
«Galina Petrovna! Mom went to the store by herself today! With a cane, of course, but on her own!»
Everyone was happy for Vera Nikolayevna’s progress. She had almost fully regained her speech, started walking, and her right hand was gradually becoming more mobile.
«You know,» Galina Petrovna said one day, «if it weren’t for her illness, we wouldn’t have met. And none of this would have happened…»
She gestured around her cozy one-room apartment, where new photos were now hanging—here was Masha with her rounded belly, here was Pavel fixing a shelf in the nursery, here they all were at the housewarming…
Recently, Galina Petrovna called another family council:
«I’ve been thinking… Maybe I should open cooking courses? So many people want to learn how to make dumplings, bake pies… Why not? We could rent a small space, I have the equipment…»
Masha and Pavel exchanged glances—they were used to all her ideas turning out to be successful.
«Great idea,» Masha smiled, rocking the sleeping Anechka. «But on one condition—we’ll be your first students.»
In the evening, putting her daughter to bed, she thought—how strangely life is arranged. Sometimes troubles, which seem insurmountable, turn out to be the happiest changes. The main thing is to accept them with an open heart and not be afraid to trust close people.
And in the cozy one-room apartment, Galina Petrovna was arranging new baking molds on the shelves, thinking that she had finally found her place—where she was truly needed. Next to her son, daughter-in-law, and little granddaughter, who might also learn to make the world’s tastiest dumplings one day. And isn’t that happiness?
