“What did you just say?” Tatiana couldn’t believe her mother-in-law would even think of something like that.
“What you heard! I don’t understand—what kind of reaction is this? I’m his mother, and Anton can sometimes fulfill my wishes too, not just yours. Isn’t that right? Or are you against it?”
“I don’t even want to discuss this nonsense! What a ridiculous idea!” Tanya looked bewildered but knew exactly how to answer her mother-in-law.
Tatiana was feeling both scared and joyful at the same time. An amazing, never-before-experienced feeling! Very soon she would become a mother.
The long-awaited pregnancy was nearing its end, and though it hadn’t been easy—she’d had to be hospitalized a few times to preserve it—still, she was happy now. She felt a lightness and a kind of magic within her, making everything else seem like trivial nonsense. She could endure anything, as long as her baby was born healthy.
Their little boy, who still didn’t have a name, had been very restless in the last days. It seemed he was eager to leave his confinement. When they found out it was going to be a boy, she and her husband were overjoyed—they had dreamed of this since their wedding day.
Her mother-in-law, Klara Karlovna, once told Tanya:
“Tatiana, you must understand that pregnancy is not a disease, so I won’t be making any allowances for you. Don’t even think of pretending you’re sick. We all went through this, we all gave birth, and we didn’t see anything extraordinary about it.”
And indeed, throughout those months, her mother-in-law treated her the same as before, without the slightest indulgence.
Tatiana only smiled in response. She was so happy that she didn’t want to quarrel with anyone. As for her mother-in-law, she considered her a bit unhinged anyway.
Closer to her due date, Tatiana called her mother-in-law and asked her to help choose a name for the baby. She did this solely at her husband’s request. In truth, the matter of the name was still open, and ultimately she herself would decide. But she didn’t want to upset Anton in such a joyful time.
“Well, what names have you and Antosha thought about?” her mother-in-law asked.
“We were thinking maybe Dima or Denis,” Tanya shared.
“What kind of name is Denis? Sounds unserious. Better Valery. Or Vitaly. Or maybe Leonid. I knew a Leonid in my youth—oh, what a striking man he was!” Klara said dreamily.
Tatiana only smiled to herself, listening. Her mother-in-law loved to recall stories of her youth, where she always shone and drove everyone around mad with admiration. After listening to yet another such tale, Tanya asked her to take care of Anton while she was in the maternity hospital.
“He’s so helpless. Or maybe I spoiled him too much. He can’t even fry himself an egg—always depends on me,” Tanya confided.
“My dear, don’t forget that Anton is my son. And believe me, I’ll take care of him, no worse than you. I know what he likes and how to please him. Do you think without your reminder I would let my son go hungry or neglected? Foolish thought!” her mother-in-law retorted.
Tanya thought she sounded displeased but didn’t dwell on it. Why ruin her mood before such a wonderful event?
But just before leaving for the hospital, something strange happened that finally convinced Tanya her mother-in-law wasn’t quite right in the head.
Klara showed up at their home herself. From the doorway, she was overly polite and even syrupy—very unlike her usual self. Tanya was surprised; Klara had never shown her affection.
**“Well, Tanechka, are you ready for the most important event of your life? Oh, I remember myself at that time! Impossible to forget! You know, I was defending my dissertation then, and Ilya, your husband’s father, helped me. Antoshka was already eager to come out, but I had a defense scheduled. I was nervous, of course. Anyone would be. When I was about to rush to the hospital, but the committee hadn’t finished questioning me yet, my Ilya stood up and said firmly: ‘If you don’t let this woman go right now, the soon-to-be Candidate of Sciences will give birth right here in front of the committee.’
Oh, what a scene that was! Everyone gasped and rushed to help. They called an ambulance, and I was taken to the maternity ward where Anton was born,”** Klara recalled fondly.
“An interesting story,” smiled Tatiana, who had heard it at least five times already. “Though your son didn’t inherit your love for science.”
“Yes, you’re right. But that’s not so bad. My son has other talents. For example, he knows how to earn money. And that’s more important these days! By the way, when do you go to the hospital?”
“Next week, if everything goes well. On the tenth.”
“Good. I think everything will go just as you plan. You’re young, healthy—you’ll give birth to my grandson without a problem.”
After a pause, as if gathering courage, Klara dropped a phrase that nearly made Tatiana faint.
“So, while you’re in the hospital, Anton and I will fly to the seaside.”
“What?! Did I hear that right? Where are you going with my husband?” Tatiana was shocked.
“Why react like that? You won’t be home for several days anyway—you’ll be in the hospital. And I haven’t been to the seaside in ten years! Ten! Why not take the chance? Why should you care where we’ll be during that time?”
“No, I do care when it concerns MY husband. Why would he be doing that instead of being with me at such an important family moment?”
“I told you—what difference does it make what he does while you’re in the hospital?”
“What do you mean, what difference?! Are you out of your mind?”
“Don’t shout. Think about it. You won’t be up to your husband these days. Childbirth is serious. Why cling to Anton like this? Let him go with me to the seaside. I already talked to him—he doesn’t mind. He’d be glad to take his beloved mommy to the coast. Only for a week. We’ll be back for your discharge.”
“Listen, I’m against it, and it’s wrong. Completely wrong! You yourself just told me Anton’s father stood by you during your delivery—supported you, gave you strength with his presence. He loved both you and his unborn son, so he stayed. That’s how it should be. What you’re suggesting is nonsense! I’ll be struggling through childbirth, and my husband will be vacationing at the seaside?”
“Oh, look at this selfish woman! You won’t care at that moment—you’ll be in labor, in pain, recovering. What difference does it make?”
“No! I’m having a scheduled C-section. Within hours, I’ll see my husband and he’ll meet his son. This is a private clinic—visits are allowed almost immediately. I need his support. What you’re proposing is pure selfishness!”
“Well, well, listen to you! So, you won’t let him go? Thought it through? Especially since it’s a surgery—you’ll be recovering anyway, and Anton will return by then. And I’d have to go alone, dragging heavy suitcases, dealing with strangers… That’s what you want for me?”
“Exactly. You’ll go alone.”
Klara left empty-handed. But she didn’t give up. When Tanya was taken for her C-section, she called Anton.
“Why did you listen to your wife instead of me? Don’t you love me? I asked you for one thing in my life, and you refused the woman who gave you life!”
“Mom, Tanya didn’t let me. What, should I argue with her now, before childbirth? That’s not right.”
“I thought about it. She’s selfish, only cares about herself!”
“Mom, Tanya’s right. For you it’s just another whim, a trip to the sea. For her, it’s the most important moment of her life. You know how long we struggled to have a baby. And now you want me at the seaside while she gives birth?”
“I know, I know… Nothing in your life is normal. Found yourself an irreplaceable one,” she grumbled.
“Mom, come on. I gave you money—go. You’re not helpless. You’re still young, strong, beautiful.”
“Oh, really? At fifty? Young?” she smiled.
“Yes, young. So go—with Aunt Lida, if you like. I’ll stay here and wait for our little Denis.”
“So you’ve decided to call my grandson Denis? What about Leonid? Just listen—Leonid! Leo, Lyonya!”
“Mom, stop. It’s our son, we’ll decide. Go pack. You don’t have much time.”
And so she went—with her friend Lidia. They spent a wonderful week by the warm September sea.
When she returned, she rushed to her son’s home to see her grandson. Tanya and baby Denis had already been home for several days.
“Oh, what a cutie! Looks like his grandpa Ilya. Right, Anton?”
“I don’t know. Looks like himself,” Anton smiled warmly.
“Nonsense. You were like me from day one. Strong-willed, like me. Congratulations, Tatiana, for giving us such a strong boy.”
“Thank you,” Tanya replied coldly—the hurt was still there.
But Klara quickly moved on:
“By the way, Antosha, could you take me this weekend to visit Varvara? Fifty kilometers away. She invited me. I can’t go on a bus!”
“Klara Karlovna, not again! My husband is staying with me and our newborn. Go wherever you want—even to Africa! But one more request like this, and you won’t be welcome here again!” Tanya said firmly, looking her straight in the eye.
Anton only smiled apologetically at his mother, his eyes saying: “She’s my wife, I listen to her.”
“Fine, I’ll go myself. Soon your wife will forbid me from seeing my grandson too,” Klara muttered.
“Exactly. Leave our family alone. We have enough on our plate without your whims!” Tanya replied boldly.
At last, Klara realized her son’s household wasn’t run by him. His once-meek wife had revealed her true strength. And Klara had no choice but to accept it.
Better a fragile peace than endless quarrels and resentment.