— Did you come by for lunch? — Masha looked at her husband, who had come home quite early.
— For both lunch and dinner. I’m not going back to work anymore.
— What do you mean, you’re not going?! — she raised her eyebrows.
— What else am I supposed to do there?
— Work, Lyonya. Earn money!
— I’m already working! The only one in our family, if you forgot… — Lyonya frowned.
— How could I forget that when you remind me every single day! And if you don’t remind me, your mother surely will! — Masha flared up. She was tired of listening to reproaches from those close to her. Even her own mother didn’t respect Masha’s work — she thought freelancing was an excuse for loafers.
However, after the baby was born, they eased off Masha a bit, because she couldn’t work a full day at a “normal” job anyway. Still, Masha managed to take orders and complete them: she retouched photos, made short videos, and managed social media for private clients. The work was not difficult but responsible, and she got paid for it. Masha had money for personal expenses so she wouldn’t depend on her husband. But Lyonya didn’t count her orders as work and constantly emphasized that she sat with the baby and wasted most of her time.
— Okay, let’s not argue. I just wanted to surprise you.
— Oh yeah? What kind of surprise?
— I got another side job. Now I have three jobs. Which means? — He made a meaningful pause. — That’s right, now I’ll earn even more!
Lyonya expected a joyful reaction or at least some gratitude from his wife… But Masha reacted differently: she silently went to the bedroom and started throwing her husband’s things out of the wardrobe.
— What are you doing?! — He followed her and began picking up shirts and socks from the floor.
— Packing your things.
— Where? I wasn’t going anywhere…
— I don’t know, Lyonya, where you’ll go. But you don’t live here anymore either. I’ve had enough! I’m not made of iron! I need to rest sometimes too! — Masha shoved his things into a bag hurriedly. — Leave. I hope your three jobs bring you triple the money for child support for our son.
Lyonya paced back and forth, looked at his wife. He didn’t feel guilty and even thought she was out of her mind if she could afford to refuse such a wonderful dream man! So he just took the bag and left. And since he had nowhere else to go, he went to his mother.
Isabella Demidovna was surprised to see her son at the apartment door.
— What’s that bag you have?
— My things. Mashka kicked me out of the house.
— What a wife… can’t even kick her husband out properly! At least pack the things neatly. Put shirts and pants in a suitcase… Well, what did I expect from Masha? She’s been clumsy all her life.
— Do you have any food? — her son interrupted.
— What? Masha didn’t even feed you?! Kicked you out hungry?
— Yep.
— Outrageous… She’s completely lost control! Well then, go buy yourself some dumplings. I won’t cook. You forgot that while your father’s on a business trip, I’m resting?
— Didn’t forget, — Lyonya sighed. He hoped his mother would feed him something tasty, but Isabella Demidovna was in no hurry to spoil her son.
— I’m sure you’ll move back soon. Masha can’t last a day without you, — said Isabella Demidovna, handing her son the apartment keys. — Don’t forget to give them back later.
She quickly put on her jacket and left for her errands, leaving her son to think about what to have for dinner. Eventually, laziness won — Lyonya ordered pizza, several cans of “refreshments,” and lay down in front of the TV.
— Hey! What’s this mess?! — Isabella Demidovna caught her son sleeping amid empty cans and pizza leftovers. — Clean it up right now.
— Mom…
— What mom?! Don’t make a mess at home, there are no maids here.
Lyonya reluctantly got up and trudged to the kitchen to throw out the trash.
— No, son. Take this to the dumpster. While you’re at it, throw out what I’ve accumulated over the past few days.
Lyonya had to take a walk to the trash bins. How he hated this chore! Usually, Masha handled the trash and all the household duties. But with his mother, that didn’t work. Isabella Demidovna wasn’t as soft-hearted as Lyonya’s wife. That’s what he thought about on his way back.
“I married Masha for a reason. I wanted to move out from my parents as soon as possible…” he thought. “Well, now I’m a grown man. Mother will have to respect me.”
But his thoughts didn’t come true.
— Tomorrow, get up at six a.m. Go for a run, then walk the dog, take a shower, quick breakfast, and at 7:30 go to work with me, — his mother peeked into Lyonya’s room.
— But I’m used to coming at 9:30…
— Who cares? That was before, with Masha. With me, it’s a different schedule. No little kids here, you can sleep at night. No leniency.
Lyonya remembered how he talked to management to allow him to start work at 9:30 as a young father. He complained about terrible sleep deprivation, and the director agreed. Maybe because the director was a friend of his mother. And Isabella Demidovna was the deputy.
Lyonya didn’t argue with his mother, deciding he could manage. But the alarm didn’t go off. So to wake her son, Isabella Demidovna poured a glass of cold water on him.
— Good morning! Let’s start hardening up! — the mother commanded, forcing Lyonya to jump out of bed. At home, his wife usually woke him up with the smell of coffee and fresh baking, but here… an ice-cold shower!
— What’s for breakfast? — Lyonya asked.
— Whatever you make. Get up. You still have a run… — the mother barked.
Arguing was pointless, so Lyonya obeyed.
He walked around the house, took the dog for exactly three minutes, then washed up and drank tea. By then, Isabella Demidovna was already dressed, made up, lively, and fresh.
— Let’s go. We have a lot to do.
Lyonya yawned all morning. He was even more sleep-deprived than at home with the little son. No matter how hard he tried to fight sleep, closer to noon he nodded off and decided to lie down on the office couch. But no way!
— Leonid Sergeyevich, Isabella Demidovna is calling you, — the secretary appeared, waking Lyonya.
— Why?
— Don’t know. But she said it’s urgent.
— Okay. I’m coming.
Lyonya reluctantly stretched, drank coffee, checked his social media feed, and after about thirty minutes went to his mother.
— What have you been doing, lazybones?! I sent for you almost an hour ago! — Isabella Demidovna shouted.
— I… was working…
— Sitting on your butt?! Wearing out your pants?
— Mom…
— Isabella Demidovna, not mom!
— Sorry, Isabella Demidovna, — Lyonya felt stupid. — What did you want?
— To bring me the reports! Why do I give you assignments? Why do I pay bonuses?!
— The reports aren’t ready yet… — Lyonya remembered he forgot to get the flash drive from home. And in general, with this “move” to his mother’s place, he hadn’t checked with Masha if she did what he asked.
— Not ready? Fine, then I give you one hour to prepare everything, — Isabella Demidovna said through clenched teeth. — And don’t forget that yesterday Valery Nikolaevich sent several more assignments by email that need to be submitted today. Or did you think the second and third salary would be paid just for looking pretty?!
— But mom… I won’t make it.
— Isabella Demidovna! Forget the word mom! We’re not in kindergarten, we’re at work! If the reports and documents aren’t on my desk by four o’clock, I will personally fire you from all your three jobs for cause!
Lyonya looked at his mother. It was obvious Isabella Demidovna was serious. Maybe another time she would go easier on him, but right now the company had a lot to do, and Lyonya wasn’t in a hurry. He was used to Masha saving him by helping with reports. But admitting that to his mother was shameful.
So he started calling Masha after the “scolding session.”
Masha didn’t answer, she hung up.
Then Lyonya decided to text her.
“Masha, send me the reports urgently. Mom’s angry, demanding… and everything’s still at home.”
“What’s still at home?! A bunch of tasks you dumped on me?”
“Well… you promised to help me with work…”
“I never promised you anything, Lyonya. You’re the only hardworking one in our family. And I’m a slacker. So deal with your problems yourself.”
Masha turned off the phone, and Lyonya realized he wouldn’t get help from his wife.
— Lucky me… wife and mother! Two snakes…
Lyonya put his hands on his head. He didn’t know where to start. Moreover, he had no idea how to properly prepare a report. The side jobs they gave him were usually done by Masha. Once, feeling sorry for her tired husband who came home exhausted, she did some extra work for him. Since then, all side jobs fell on Masha.
Masha somehow managed everything and never bragged. She tried to be someone Lyonya could rely on — if help was needed, she was there. She worked at night, woke early. If she didn’t understand something — she looked it up online and found answers. Lyonya got so lazy he didn’t even open the assignments sent to him, giving them right to his wife. He only did routine work that didn’t require much thought or time, but he never refused extra chances to earn more.
So when he got another offer for extra earnings, he happily accepted without consulting Masha. Besides, he persuaded the director to give him a shortened schedule and to be able to take overtime work home, remotely. Although Isabella Demidovna was against it, she didn’t make the decision. But now, when Lyonya failed, she planned to punish him publicly, even though he was her son.
In the evening, as Lyonya only began to understand what was required, Isabella Demidovna held a meeting and publicly announced that her son, due to family circumstances, was not coping with his duties. The vote decided to suspend Leonid from his position and withhold his bonus. Lyonya had to admit the reports were done by his wife, which further damaged his reputation.
Until the end, Lyonya didn’t believe his mother capable of such cruelty. His pride and ego were trampled, and Isabella Demidovna changed her opinion about the daughter-in-law and wanted Lyonya to return to the family. After work, she even offered to drive her son home.
— No, thanks. I’ll get there myself, — he grumbled and went home… to his wife.
Masha opened the door and looked at her husband. She didn’t think he would come back so soon.
— Sorry. I didn’t appreciate what I had.
— Free labor?
— No. A loving and caring wife, — Lyonya looked at Masha pityingly and tried to hug her, but she was too angry.
— Go to your mother and let her pity you.
— I quit. Now I have no job, no mother…
— No wife, no son. You have to earn all that happiness, — Masha continued and then closed the door. She firmly decided to forgive her husband only when he proved he could succeed on his own. Without help from wife or mother.
And Lyonya understood. He stopped feeling sorry for himself, pulled himself together, and gradually learned to work. He got a job in another company, without support from relatives. There he had no own office or high salary, but he gained experience and a desire to prove he was worth something.
Lyonya lived in a rented apartment, shared a room with a friend.
Twice a week, he visited his son to see him and help Masha. Several months passed.
— Hi… — Lyonya came again to see his son.
— Hi. — Masha was dressed up as if going on a date. That stung Lyonya, and he got jealous. Knowing his wife stayed home with the child and didn’t go anywhere was better than letting her roam free. Since the separation, they had no obligations toward each other — only child support from Lyonya.
Masha kept freelancing. Orders became stable, and she could fully support herself. But she accepted help from her husband.
— Are you going somewhere? — Lyonya asked, looking at Masha’s new dress.
— Yes. Why?
— Nothing… — He pretended not to care, but jealousy gripped his heart.
— Then I’m off. Will you manage the child alone?
— Yes.
Masha went for a short walk with a friend and came back home. She found Lyonya dozing in a chair with their son in his arms. She took the child and laid him in the crib but didn’t wake her husband. Masha wanted to leave quietly, but Lyonya was already awake — he caught her hand and pulled her close.
— Let go! — she whispered indignantly.
— No.
— You’ll wake the son… And besides…
— Masha, give me a chance. I want to be with you. I missed you so much!
She didn’t answer. She was scared but knew she dressed up for him and wanted to make Lyonya jealous.
Their family could have reunited, but it would take effort from both. For now, there was only desire. And Masha let her husband stay. The next morning, she saw a huge bouquet lying on the bed and a box with a ring.
— I want you to be my wife again. I’ve learned my lesson. I will cherish and love you, — he said, looking at his wife pleadingly. His eyes didn’t lie. He was ready to prove it.