— What do you want from me, Mom? — Victoria said tiredly, pressing the phone to her ear. — For me to feel sorry for all of you? I do.
Lyudmila Petrovna was silent for a moment, gathering her thoughts.
— You could help your older sister get through this difficult time, — she finally said firmly. — You earn well, but Sasha doesn’t have enough money.
When they were kids, their mother called Vika “disobedient.” Not affectionately, but reproachfully — because the older sister, Alexandra, was always the pride of the family. Obedient, sensible, proper. Everything as it should be. And the youngest one was always making things up, laughing at the wrong moments, dreaming about frivolous things.
When their father died of a heart attack, the girls were finishing school. Sasha was in the eleventh grade, Vika in the ninth. They didn’t change their plans: the older to university for economics, the younger to art college.
Vika dreamed of design and prepared enthusiastically for admission. She got in and graduated, but didn’t have to work long — she fell in love with Denis and got married.
— That was your stupidest decision, — Lyudmila Petrovna declared then. — You’re always going against common sense. You should have taken Sasha’s example.
— Mom, we love each other!
— Your Denis won’t be a reliable husband. I see that. And you’re not ready for marriage yet.
Meanwhile, Sasha was dating a promising man, Maxim — educated, well-off, with good connections. Mother was thrilled with such a prospective son-in-law. And Denis, with his modest salary and a one-room apartment in an old building, only annoyed her.
The first year of marriage, Vika felt happy. Even pregnancy didn’t dampen her joy. Although when they found out they were expecting twins, Denis was a bit taken aback.
— It’s going to be a bit cramped, — Denis muttered, looking around their only room.
No help was coming. His parents lived far away and had their own problems. Lyudmila Petrovna just shrugged:
— I told you — you should have chosen better! Sasha will live in her own house after the wedding, and Maxim will provide everything the family needs.
She wasn’t about to apologize for such words, turning her son-in-law into a personal enemy.
When Daria and Sofia were born, Lyudmila Petrovna came to see the granddaughters while Denis was away.
— It’s going to be hard for you, — she stated. — Don’t expect any help from your husband. And I have no time — Sasha’s wedding preparations keep me busy.
— I’ll manage, Mom, — Vika lifted her chin.
In reality, she barely held herself up. Denis initially helped somewhat, but soon said he had a lot of work and started only coming home to sleep. He slept in the kitchen — the room with the fussy babies made it impossible to get rest.
He brought money regularly but occasionally grumbled that “they’re squeezing all the juice out of me.” Vika ignored it — there was no time for that.
One day her husband said he was tired and was going to relax at his friends’ country house. For three days. Vika didn’t mind — she wanted a break too, especially from her husband’s perpetually displeased face.
But on a walk, a neighbor let slip:
— Olenka, I thought you left with Denis! I saw him getting into the car with some girl. He was holding her very tenderly… Oh, that wasn’t you?
Vika got angry and called her husband’s friend. In the background, she heard female laughter, clinking glasses, and Denis’s voice.
When her husband returned, a heart-to-heart talk awaited him.
— I’m sick of all this! — he hissed, trying not to wake the kids. — Yes, I have someone else. Sorry, but this is not at all how I imagined family life! I live in a madhouse!
— These are your children… — Vika whispered confusedly.
She expected remorse, tears, promises to change. Instead, she heard:
— That’s no reason to turn my life into hell! You could have waited with the kids, but you made up your own mind!
Only now did Vika realize — he was serious. The children bother him. And so does she, the former beloved.
She wanted to leave immediately, but where to go? She called her mother in the morning after Denis silently left for work.
— If you expect to move in with me, don’t even think about it, — Lyudmila Petrovna said calmly. — I got married on my own, and I’ll sort it out on my own. I can’t live with two screaming children. I need peace.
— Mom…
— However, — her mother interrupted, — we have a room in the communal apartment. It was left by a cousin. No one’s lived there for a long time, but you can stay temporarily if you really decide to…
Vika waited another week — maybe her husband would change his mind? But Denis only frowned and stopped talking to her at all.
Her friend Anya helped clean the room, put up wallpaper, found a bed and a table. That’s how the new life began.
She didn’t file for child support — Denis promised to help voluntarily. He kept his word for six months, then disappeared. They said he moved to another city.
Vika didn’t expect help from her family. Lyudmila Petrovna called rarely, briefly asked about the granddaughters, then immediately began talking about Sasha’s “achievements.” Sometimes she transferred small sums “for the girls’ porridge.”
Anya supported her in everything. She convinced Vika to send resumes to companies looking for remote designers. When the miracle happened and Vika got a job, Anya brought her a computer.
— That’s unnecessary, — Vika protested.
— Nonsense! You need it for work, and I’ll watch movies on TV, — her friend cut her off.
How they managed until the kids started kindergarten, Vika later couldn’t remember. She worked with a flexible schedule, trying to gain experience. She was glad there were no problems with the room — her mother didn’t mention needing it back. And the neighbors were good.
Lyudmila Petrovna occasionally dropped by. She patronizingly interacted with the granddaughters and inevitably recalled Sasha.
— Maxim bought Sasha another car, — she sighed worriedly. — I told him: why? The old one’s not even a year old yet. And he said: “I can’t let my wife drive anything.”
Or:
— Your girls look a bit pale. Not feeding them well? They need more fruit. Sasha takes her son to the sea so he gets vitamins and a tan.
Or:
— Sofia doesn’t speak clearly… Sasha immediately went to a speech therapist. Expensive, but there’s progress! And they also put her in tennis — very good for development.
At this, Vika couldn’t hold back:
— You know what, Mom! I’m happy for Sasha that she’s doing well, but don’t criticize my children! My sister’s husband is rich, she doesn’t work, spends money left and right. And I’m doing my best, and we’re fine! Stop lecturing me on how to live!
— Well, you know! — her mother was stunned. — I suppose I’ll go. Don’t expect any thanks from you. If it weren’t for me, you’d be homeless!
Proudly raising her head, Lyudmila Petrovna left. Vika burst into tears, but only briefly — children shouldn’t see a weak mother.
For the next three years, her mother neither visited nor called. Vika, who worked hard, was already earning decent money and had saved for a down payment on a mortgage. They moved into their own two-room apartment.
They celebrated this only with Anya and her husband, who helped Vika get a job at a large company. By the girls’ twelfth birthday, the mortgage was paid off, and the family traveled abroad on vacation.
Lyudmila Petrovna started answering calls and even came over a couple of times. However, Vika didn’t hear any praise. Instead, her mother talked sparsely about Sasha’s “successes.”
The reason became clear later:
— Sasha divorced Maxim, — her mother announced in a tragic tone during a phone call.
— Sorry to hear that, — Vika replied indifferently.
— He turned out to be a scoundrel! He left his wife and son almost destitute! He bought them a two-room apartment and left one car. Nothing more! A prenuptial agreement, you see! I didn’t even know she signed anything!
And child support — only three times the minimum subsistence level! How can they live on that?!
— Sasha can get a job, — Vika said calmly. — What’s the problem?
— Who will hire an economist with no experience?! And the son needs attention. Such stress for the child — father lives with another woman! School, clubs, extracurriculars — someone has to take him everywhere. When to work?
— What do you want from me, Mom? — Vika sighed. — For me to feel sorry for everyone? I do.
— You could help your sister, — her mother insisted. — You earn well, and she doesn’t have enough money. Maybe Maxim will come to his senses and they’ll reconcile…
— No way, — Vika said evenly. — That’s all, Mom, I have to feed the girls dinner. Bye.
She hung up, trying not to remember how she and her daughters had survived after the divorce without family support. That’s in the past. And Sasha will manage without her. She’s not in such a desperate situation anyway, and the mother won’t leave her. But they’ll manage without Vika — that’s for sure.