The doorbell rang at exactly half past six on Sunday morning. At first, Svetlana thought it was the fire alarm—the ringing was so sharp and insistent. But no, it was the door.
— Sveta, open up! — came her mother-in-law’s voice through the door. — We’ve got important business!
Svetlana threw on her robe and, yawning, shuffled to the door. In the peephole loomed the familiar figure of Nadezhda Vasilyevna and some unfamiliar man in a suit.
— Nadezhda Vasilyevna, what happened? It’s not even seven yet…
— Svetočka, dear! — her mother-in-law burst into the entryway like a hurricane. — Meet Sergey Mikhailovich, a notary. We’ve decided to draw up a deed of gift for your pharmacy today!
Svetlana blinked, trying to wake up fully.
— For the pharmacy? What deed of gift?
— Why, sweetheart, don’t you remember? Roman and I talked about it yesterday… — Nadezhda beamed. — The pharmacy’s profitable, and what if something happens to you? God forbid, of course! But it’s better to be safe.
Svetlana felt a cold chill crawl down her spine. The pharmacy was her baby, built over six years of painstaking work. First as a pharmacist, then loans, hunting for a space, licenses…
— Roman! — she called. — ROMAN!
Her husband appeared in the hallway in just his underwear, rumpled.
— Mom, why so early?.. Hi, Sergey Mikhailovich…
— Hello, sonny! — the notary extended his hand. — Your mother explained everything correctly. Do you have the documents for the pharmacy?
Svetlana stared at her husband.
— Roman, you knew about this?
— Well… Mom mentioned it yesterday… I thought you agreed…
— AGREED? I agreed to GIVE MY pharmacy TO YOU?
— Svetočka, don’t shout, — Nadezhda drawled in a honeyed tone. — We’re family! And besides, think about it—what does a woman need with a pharmacy? Roman understands these things better; he’s an economist…
— I spent six years building this pharmacy! And AN ECONOMIST HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!
— Business, business… — her mother-in-law waved it off. — What matters is family and love. Let the pharmacy be in little Roman’s name; it’ll be more reassuring.
Sergey Mikhailovich shifted awkwardly from foot to foot.
— Excuse me, but if the owner is against it…
— I’m not just against it, — Svetlana said crisply. — I’m in shock. Roman, explain how you could promise your mother MY pharmacy?
— I didn’t promise… I said I’d talk to you…
— And your mother told me you’d already agreed! — added Nadezhda. — Sveta, don’t be stubborn! A pharmacy isn’t the most important thing in life!
— You’re right, it’s not. Which is why I won’t be transferring it.
— But Roman is your husband! He can be trusted!
— If he can be trusted, then why transfer it?
Nadezhda was thrown for a second, then shifted her tone:
— Well… things happen in life… divorces…
— Aha! — Svetlana clapped her hands. — So you’re already planning our divorce! And you want to insure the pharmacy in advance!
— What are you saying! What divorce! It’s just… just in case…
— In case of what? So that I’m left without a pharmacy after the divorce you’re already planning?
Roman tried to butt in:
— Sveta, don’t wind yourself up… Mom’s just worried…
— She’s worried about the pharmacy! About MY pharmacy!
— Not about the pharmacy, about your future! — Nadezhda protested. — You’re young, beautiful, you’ll get married again…
— Excuse me, — the notary interjected, — but it seems there’s a misunderstanding. If the owner doesn’t consent to the gift—
— The owner does not consent, — Svetlana said firmly. — Sergey Mikhailovich, sorry for the trouble. No one is gifting anything to anyone.
— Svetočka! — cried the mother-in-law. — What’s gotten into you? Have you become completely greedy? You’d wreck a family over a pharmacy!
— You’re the one wrecking the family! You and your son who can’t stand up for his wife!
— Roman, do you hear that? She’s calling you a mama’s boy!
— Mom, maybe we really shouldn’t have… — Roman mumbled.
— Shouldn’t have what? Looked after your future?
— You’re looking after the pharmacy, — Svetlana exploded. — A free pharmacy for your son!
— And what’s wrong with that? I’m his mother!
— And I’m his wife! And the owner! And I have the right to decide what to do with MY property!
— You have nothing! — Nadezhda snapped. — Roman married you, gave you his last name…
— STOP! — Svetlana raised her hand. — Enough! Roman, — she turned to her husband, — either you tell your mother right now that the pharmacy is mine and will remain mine, or pack up and run to Mommy!
— Sveta, why the ultimatum…
— Exactly the ultimatum! I’m tired of being the cash cow in this family!
— What cash cow? — the mother-in-law fumed.
— This kind! First you wanted me to pay for Roman’s continuing-ed courses. Then to buy him a new computer. Then to cover your medications. And now—to gift the pharmacy! What’s next? Buy you a house?
— Well… a little house wouldn’t hurt…
— OUT! — Svetlana shouted. — OUT OF MY HOME!
— This isn’t your home! It’s my son’s home!
— The rent is paid from MY card! Utilities—BY ME! Groceries—I buy THEM! So it’s MY home!
Roman tried to intervene:
— Sveta, don’t yell at Mom…
— I won’t yell if she stops barging into our business!
— He’s my son! I have a right!
— You have the right to visit. By invitation. Not to burst in at dawn with notaries!
Nadezhda grabbed her son by the hand.
— Roman, let’s go! We won’t deal with someone so… greedy!
— Roman, — Svetlana said calmly, — if you walk out with your mother now, don’t bother coming back.
— Sveta…
— Choose. Your wife or your mother.
Roman wavered, glancing from one woman to the other.
— Mom, maybe Sveta’s right… the pharmacy is hers…
— Roman! — Nadezhda gasped. — What are you saying!
— I’m telling the truth. The pharmacy is Sveta’s.
— And it will stay mine, — Svetlana added.
— Roman, I can’t believe this! — his mother sobbed. — I raised you alone! I sacrificed everything! And this… this witch…
— Nadezhda Vasilyevna, — Svetlana said in an icy tone, — you’re crossing boundaries. Apologize at once or leave.
— I won’t apologize! And I won’t leave! I have keys!
— You had keys. — Svetlana held out her hand. — Hand them over.
— I won’t!
— Roman, take your mother’s keys to our apartment.
— Mom, please give them back…
— I won’t! They’re my keys!
— Fine, — said Svetlana. — Tomorrow I’ll change the locks. And I’m warning you—if you burst in again without permission, I’ll call the police.
— You wouldn’t dare!
— I would. It’s called unlawful entry.
Sniffling, Nadezhda put the keys on the hall table.
— Roman, do you see this? She’s humiliating me!
— Mom, it’s your own fault… Why come so early?
— I was taking care of you!
— Taking care of the pharmacy, — Svetlana corrected her. — And now go take care of yourself.
When the door closed, Roman looked at his wife, guilty.
— Sveta, I didn’t think it would turn out like this…
— And how did you think it would turn out? That I’d hand over the pharmacy without a word?
— Well… Mom said there shouldn’t be any secrets between husband and wife…
— There shouldn’t be secrets. But there should be separate property.
— But we’re husband and wife…
— Exactly, which means we should respect each other. Roman, answer honestly—did you want to get my pharmacy?
Roman lowered his eyes.
— Well… it wouldn’t have been bad…
— I see. And I thought you liked your job at the bank.
— I do! But the pharmacy is more profitable…
— And what if I ruin it? What if I can’t handle the management?
— You’re handling it…
— I’m handling it BECAUSE it’s MY business. MY responsibility.
Svetlana sighed.
— Roman, go to your mother’s. Think there about what matters more to you—a ready-made business, or your wife.
— Sveta, don’t kick me out…
— I’m not kicking you out. I’m suggesting you think. And while you think, stay with your mom. She cares so much about you.
That evening Roman called five times. Svetlana didn’t answer.
The next day she changed the locks.
A week later he came with flowers.
— Sveta, I’m sorry… I realize I was wrong…
— Did you realize it yourself, or did your mother explain it?
— Myself! Mom isn’t speaking to me at all…
— Why?
— She says I betrayed her…
— And what did you say?
— That I didn’t betray anyone… I just chose my wife…
Svetlana smiled for the first time in a week.
— And what’s it like—to choose your wife?
— Right, — Roman said honestly. — Peaceful. And you don’t have to gift me the pharmacy. I get it—everyone should have their own.
— Exactly—your own. Not something handed over by your spouse.
— Understood. Sveta, can I come back?
— You can. On one condition—we make all important decisions together. Without your mother.
— Agreed.
And a month later, Nadezhda Vasilyevna asked to borrow money for new furniture. Svetlana gave it—on loan, with a promissory note, with interest.
Because now she knew the difference between family and charity.
And in her family, everyone had to earn what they had.