Anna stood on the veranda of her new house, watching the sun slowly sink behind the lake. A confident woman of about forty, she was used to achieving everything on her own. Her stable business allowed her to turn dreams into reality. And this house was her personal victory.
Ten years of marriage to Alexey had taught Anna patience. Her husband was kind but soft, especially when it came to his younger sister, Liza. Anna had never had a close relationship with Liza: she lived off others, constantly complained about life, and believed relatives “owed” her.
Anna had long dreamed of a summer house outside the city. Spacious, with a veranda and a garden. Definitely with a summer kitchen and a lake view.
The phone rang at the worst possible moment. Anna glanced at the screen — her mother-in-law.
“Annechka, I heard you bought a house?” Maria Petrovna’s voice sounded businesslike. “I don’t understand why you needed to spend so much?”
Anna slowly sank into a wicker chair. Here it begins.
“Maria Petrovna, I’ve dreamed about this for a long time,” Anna replied, trying to stay calm. “The house is beautiful, with a lake view.”
“Oh yes, yes,” the mother-in-law snorted. “Everything with you, Annechka, is always too serious. Lizocha called yesterday, very upset. She says she didn’t even know about the purchase.”
Anna gripped the receiver tighter. Her mother-in-law always excused Liza and condescendingly teased Anna, saying, “everything with you, Annechka, is too serious.” These jabs and constant comparisons had built up over the years, but Anna preferred to keep her dignity.
“Maria Petrovna, this is my personal purchase,” Anna stood and began pacing the veranda. “Liza has nothing to do with it.”
“How does she not?” the mother-in-law’s voice sharpened. “Family should know everything. Lizocha is so upset she wasn’t included in the plans.”
“Upset?” Anna stopped by the railing. “About what exactly?”
“Well, naturally, she wants to see the house, spend weekends there. The children need fresh air.”
Anna closed her eyes. Here we go.
“Maria Petrovna, the house was just bought. It still needs repairs and furnishing…”
“Oh, Annechka, you’re making everything complicated again,” the mother-in-law sighed theatrically. “Lizocha is family, not a stranger. Family is family.”
An hour later Alexey called.
“Anya, Mom said you’re against Liza coming to the house?” her husband’s voice sounded confused.
“Alyosha, I’m not against it,” Anna sat down on the veranda steps. “It’s just that the house isn’t ready for guests yet.”
“But she’s my sister,” Alexey spoke softer than usual. “Mom’s right, we should have discussed the purchase with the family.”
“Should we?” Anna stood abruptly. “That’s my money, Alexey. My business, my savings.”
“Well yes, but we’re spouses…”
“Spouses who never discuss Liza’s spending on another fifty-thousand-ruble handbag? And you’re the one giving her that money!”
Alexey fell silent. Anna heard him sigh on the other end of the line.
“Liza just wants to relax with the kids,” her husband finally said. “What’s wrong with that?”
“Wrong?” Anna sank back onto the steps. “Don’t you care about my opinion at all?”
The next day the phone rang again. Liza.
“Anya, hi!” her sister-in-law’s voice sounded overly cheerful. “I already know about the house. You’re amazing!”
Anna waited warily for more.
“How many acres is it?” Liza continued enthusiastically. “And how many rooms? Where will the kids sleep?”
“Liza, the house isn’t ready for guests yet,” Anna tried to speak gently.
“Oh, come on!” Liza laughed. “We’re not picky. We’ll come soon with some barbecue, right?”
Anna slowly sank into the chair.
“Liza, I think we should wait,” Anna said cautiously. “Maybe until the end of summer…”
“Until the end of summer?” Liza’s voice grew colder. “Anya, we’re family. Or do you think we’re not worthy of your palace?”
Anna clenched the receiver tightly. Here it goes.
“Palace?” Anna sharply put the cup on the table. “Liza, this is my house. I bought it with my own money.”
“So what?” her sister-in-law’s voice grew prickly. “Family should share everything! Or do you think we’re not worthy?”
Anna went out onto the veranda. The air suddenly felt heavy and stuffy. Her hands trembled with tension.
“Family doesn’t mean shared property,” Anna said quietly.
“Oh, come on!” Liza laughed unpleasantly. “Don’t be so selfish, Annechka.”
Anna hung up. The lake’s silence now seemed deceptive. Something hot and unpleasant was burning in her chest.
On a Saturday morning, Anna heard an engine at the gate. Looking out the window, she saw a familiar blue car. Liza and Maria Petrovna were getting out.
“Annechka!” the mother-in-law shouted, waving her hand. “Open up quickly! We were just nearby by chance!”
Anna slowly went down to the gate. Nearby? A hundred kilometers from the city? Her heart pounded with indignation.
“Liza, Maria Petrovna,” Anna tried to speak evenly, “I wasn’t expecting guests today.”
“Oh, come on!” Liza was already pushing past her hostess. “Will you finally show us the house? We really wanted to see it!”
Anna led the uninvited guests inside. Liza immediately began photographing everything — the living room, kitchen, bedrooms. Maria Petrovna walked through the rooms like an appraiser.
“Everything here is perfect for family rest!” Liza exclaimed, filming the terrace. “The kids will have room to run and swim!”
“What a level!” the mother-in-law nodded with a hint. “Thank God, at least someone in the family is doing well.”
Anna stood in the doorway, watching this invasion of her world. Liza was already planning where to put the kids’ beds.
“Liza,” Anna began cautiously, “the house is for my rest. I didn’t plan on hosting…”
“Don’t be stingy!” Liza interrupted. “There’s plenty of room for everyone! We won’t be a bother.”
The following days turned into a trial. Liza called every evening. Complained about the stuffiness in her city apartment. Liza increasingly reminded how hard it was for her to rent a stuffy one-room without a balcony.
“Alyosha,” Anna said to her husband at dinner, “I don’t want this place to become a thoroughfare.”
Alexey nodded uncertainly. He looked away. Anna held herself back but was boiling inside. Alexey didn’t argue, but didn’t say “no” to Liza either.
“I understand you,” her husband said quietly. “But she’s my sister…”
“Your sister is used to taking without giving anything back,” Anna replied sharply.
A week later Liza came again. This time with a beach bag, towels, and food containers. The mother-in-law waddled along beside her. Anna realized her sister-in-law saw the house as a “cottage for everyone.”
“How nice that we have such a place now!” Liza said, spreading a blanket on the grass.
Anna froze in the doorway. Our place? When did the house become “ours”?
“We’ll spend holidays at your house!” Liza tossed out casually, pulling out sunscreen.
Anna froze. No one asked her. She gave no consent. Alexey looked away. Liza was already discussing where to put the inflatable pool and if there would be space for a grill. At that moment Anna decided: enough.
Blood rushed to her face. Her hands clenched into fists. Years of restraint and patience spilled out.
“Liza,” Anna called firmly. “We need to talk.”
Liza lifted her head from the sunscreen. A shadow of irritation flickered on her face.
“About what?” her sister-in-law asked carelessly. “Everything’s clear. The house is beautiful, there’s room for everyone. Having parties here will be great!”
Anna gathered everyone on the veranda — Liza, mother-in-law, and Alexey. Her husband looked tired and confused. Maria Petrovna settled into a chair with the air of a judge.
“Listen to me carefully,” Anna began calmly but firmly. “This is my house. And you will only be here by my invitation. You will have your holidays at your own place.”
The air on the veranda thickened. Liza slowly got up from her seat.
“Are you joking?” the sister-in-law asked with a disbelieving smile. “We’re family!”
“That doesn’t give you the right to control someone else’s property,” Anna replied evenly.
Liza laughed sharply and unpleasantly. The laughter stopped as suddenly.
“Greedy!” the sister-in-law shouted. “Arrogant selfish woman! Shame on you!”
Anna stood motionless. Years of accumulated anger rose from deep inside. But her voice remained calm.
“You’re supposed to be one of us!” the mother-in-law indignantly echoed. “And you behave like a stranger!”
Maria Petrovna shook her head with theatrical disappointment. Alexey opened his mouth to say something.
“Maybe…” her husband began uncertainly.
“No,” Anna interrupted sharply. “Maybe it’s time to talk about respect for my property and personal space.”
Alexey closed his mouth. Lowered his eyes. This moment was a turning point for Anna. No more illusions — if she didn’t protect herself, no one would do it for her.
“Gather your things,” Anna said clearly. “I didn’t invite you — and there will be no guests here today.”
Liza first laughed. Thought it was a joke. But the determination in Anna’s eyes made her believe the seriousness of what was happening.
“Who needs your house!” Liza threw, grabbing her beach bag. “We’ll manage without your hospitality!”
The sister-in-law angrily threw things into the bag. A towel fell to the ground. Liza picked it up with a sharp motion.
“I was never appreciated here,” grumbled the mother-in-law, rising from the chair. “I always knew you were the odd one out in our family.”
Maria Petrovna slowly headed to the car. Her whole demeanor expressed offended dignity. Anna silently saw them off to the gate.
“Alyosha,” she addressed her husband when the car disappeared around the corner. “No more sudden visits without agreement.”
Alexey nodded reluctantly. He understood — losing his wife was worse than offending his sister and mother.
“You’re right,” the husband admitted quietly. “They went too far.”
The next day Anna changed the gate codes. She entered the new numbers with special satisfaction. Now only she controlled access to her house.
“Remember well,” Anna said to Alexey at dinner. “This house is my refuge. Only those I want to see come here.”
Her husband nodded silently. Didn’t argue.
Anna spent the summer as she dreamed — in the mornings she went out to the veranda with coffee, read, tended the garden, and, most importantly, no longer lived in fear that someone would invade her space again.
The morning sun illuminated the lake. The silence was absolute. Anna sat in the wicker chair with a book. For the first time in many years, she was truly free. Free from others’ expectations and demands. The house belonged only to her.