— Anton, maybe we shouldn’t go? — Elena looked at her husband anxiously. — Your mother has guests today, and that means…
— Lena, stop it, — Anton adjusted his shirt collar. — We were invited — we have to go. And anyway, maybe everything will be fine.
Elena just sighed. In three years of marriage, any celebration at Margarita Pavlovna’s turned into a real ordeal.
Guests were already gathered at Margarita Pavlovna’s apartment — neighbors, friends, distant relatives. The clinking of glasses, loud conversations, laughter.
— Here come the young ones! — Margarita Pavlovna greeted them in the hallway. Her cheeks were already flushed — a sure sign the party was in full swing.
— Mom, happy birthday! — Anton handed her a bouquet and a box of chocolates.
— Oh, son, why did you spend so much? — Margarita Pavlovna hugged the gifts to her chest. — And what about your bride? She didn’t even buy a card?
— Mom, this is a joint gift.
— Of course, a joint gift, — the mother-in-law snorted. — Come in, the guests are waiting.
At the table, Elena tried to keep a low profile. But nothing could escape Margarita Pavlovna’s sharp gaze.
— Lena, why aren’t you eating? — the mother-in-law raised her glass. — Maybe you’re on a diet? Although why would you? You don’t have children anyway.
An awkward silence fell over the table.
— Margarita, what are you saying? — tried to reason Margarita’s friend, Valentina Sergeevna.
— What? I’m telling the truth! — Margarita Pavlovna downed her glass. — Three years married and no results. At their age, I was already babysitting Antoshka.
— Mom, not now, — Anton put his hand on his wife’s shoulder.
— When then? — the mother-in-law raised her voice. — When should I expect grandchildren? In my old age? Or not at all?
Elena felt her face flush. Three years of fruitless attempts, doctor visits, endless tests and procedures. And the mother-in-law turned their pain into a reason to mock.
— You know what… — Elena started to stand, but Anton held her back.
— We’re staying till the end, — he whispered. — You know it’ll only get worse.
Indeed — as soon as Elena moved, Margarita Pavlovna jumped up:
— Aha! Running away? Does the truth sting? Maybe you just don’t want children? You bewitched my Antoshka, and now you’re tormenting him!
— Margarita Pavlovna, you’ve had too much, — intervened the neighbor, Nina Fedorovna.
— I haven’t had too much! — the mother-in-law grabbed a decanter. — I’ll drink some more and tell you everything I think! And I think this… this… worthless woman has trapped my son!
Elena clenched her fists under the table. All the humiliations over the years flooded her mind. How before the wedding the mother-in-law said Elena was “not worthy” of her son. How she made scandals at every celebration. How she called in the middle of the night drunk, demanding to “return her son.”
— Antoshka, we were looking for another bride for you, — Margarita Pavlovna continued waving her hands. — Remember Svetochka? Now there was a girl! Good parents, and a beauty herself. And this one…
— Excuse me, may I say something? — suddenly spoke up the previously silent Valentina Sergeevna. — Margarita, you know I love you like a sister. But now you’re wrong.
— Valya, you too? — the mother-in-law pouted offended.
— But think about how the girl feels. She’s been enduring your reproaches for three years. Don’t you think it hurts her?
— I don’t care…
— You should! — Valentina Sergeevna stood up. — I couldn’t get pregnant for ten years too. And do you know what helped? Not doctors or medicine. But that my mother-in-law supported me, felt sorry for me. And what are you doing?
Margarita Pavlovna hesitated for a second, then with renewed force:
— Don’t compare! You tried, but this one…
— Mom! — Anton slammed his fist on the table. — Enough! You have no idea what we’re going through. Lena goes to doctors every month. We have all the certificates and tests. But it never occurred to you to ask! You only want to torment us!
— Tosha, don’t you dare…
— No, you don’t dare! — Anton jumped up. — We’re leaving. And until you apologize to Lena, forget about us.
— Son, wait! — Margarita Pavlovna ran to the door but stumbled on the threshold.
In the hallway, as Elena put on her coat, she heard the mother-in-law break into sobs:
— She took my son away! Witch! Bewitched him!
— Let’s go, — Anton took his wife’s hand. — Don’t listen.
Outside, a light rain was falling. Elena and Anton walked silently to the bus stop. Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded behind them.
— Wait! — Valentina Sergeevna caught up. — Elena, take this.
The woman handed over a business card:
— These are my doctor’s contacts. A wonderful specialist. And also…
Elena didn’t hear the rest. The phone started ringing nonstop — Margarita Pavlovna was calling without pause.
— Turn it off, — Anton advised. — Let her calm down.
They got home late. Elena immediately went to the shower — she wanted to wash off the heavy evening. Anton brewed tea and turned on the TV, trying to distract himself.
A week later, everything was almost forgotten. Margarita Pavlovna stopped calling, and life returned to its usual course. Elena even made an appointment with a new doctor.
That evening she stayed late at work. Coming home, she heard loud shouting in the entrance. Margarita Pavlovna was pacing by their apartment door.
— Come out! I know you’re home! — the mother-in-law was banging her fist on the door.
The neighbor from the first floor, Zinaida Petrovna, looked out:
— It’s started again… — the elderly woman shook her head.
— How long can you torment my son?! — Margarita Pavlovna leaned against the wall. She smelled of alcohol. — Normal women have children, and what about you? You only take money from the family!
Elena froze between floors. She didn’t want to go down — the mother-in-law was unpredictable in this state. Going up meant provoking another scandal.
— Anton! — Margarita Pavlovna screamed. — Son, I’m trying for you! She bewitched you, I’m telling the truth!
Doors of neighboring apartments began to open. Curious faces peeked out.
— What a circus… — someone whispered.
— Same thing every month, — replied another voice.
Suddenly the door flew open. Anton stood pale with rage on the threshold.
— Mom, enough! — his voice was tense.
— Ah, there you are! — Margarita Pavlovna staggered. — I thought maybe you were late at work? Son, we need to talk!
— There’s nothing to talk about, — Anton crossed his arms. — Go away.
— What do you mean nothing?! — the mother-in-law tried to get into the apartment, but her son blocked the way. — Let me in! I’m your mother!
— That’s exactly why I’ve tolerated this so far. But now — enough.
— What does enough mean?! — Margarita Pavlovna waved her hand, almost falling. — I came to save you from this… this…
— Mom, — Anton sighed. — Do you know what the doctors said? We’re having a baby. Elena is pregnant.
Margarita Pavlovna froze with her mouth open:
— Lies! It can’t be! She…
— It can. And you know what? We didn’t want to tell anyone yet. But you forced us.
— Prove it! — the mother-in-law swayed. — Let her show a certificate!
— She’s not going to show anything. Especially to you.
At that moment Elena began climbing the stairs. Margarita Pavlovna sharply turned toward the sound of footsteps…
— Here she is! — the mother-in-law staggered. — Come here, tell everyone how you bewitched my son!
Elena silently passed by, but Margarita Pavlovna grabbed the sleeve of her coat:
— Wait! I’m talking to you!
— Mom, let her go, — Anton stepped forward.
— I won’t! Let everyone know the truth! — the mother-in-law raised her voice. — You think she’s really pregnant? Lies! She’s just afraid you’ll come to your senses and leave her!
Elena sharply freed her hand:
— Let go. You’re drunk.
— But you’re sober! And sober all three years! And what good did it do? — Margarita Pavlovna laughed bitterly. — Antoshka, son, open your eyes at last!
— That’s enough, — Anton took his mother by the elbow. — Let’s go inside.
In the hallway, Margarita Pavlovna immediately stumbled upon a suitcase. Next to it was a box with her belongings left at her son’s.
— What’s this? — the mother-in-law blinked confused.
— Your things, — Anton spoke calmly but firmly. — Take them and leave. We won’t tolerate this anymore.
— What things? — Margarita Pavlovna backed away. — Are you kicking out your own mother?
— I’m not kicking anyone out. I’m just putting an end to this. Enough of you coming here drunk. Enough insulting my wife. Enough scandals.
— It’s all her fault! — the mother-in-law pointed at Elena. — She turned you against your mother!
— No, mom. You destroyed everything yourself. With your own hands.
Margarita Pavlovna grabbed her chest:
— Son, you can’t be serious? I’m your mother! I gave you life!
— And for that, I will always be grateful. But now I have my own family. And I won’t let you destroy it.
— Your own family? — the mother-in-law hysterically laughed. — With this… this… She can’t even give birth!
— She can, — Elena quietly said. — I’m three weeks pregnant.
— Lies! — Margarita Pavlovna lunged at her daughter-in-law. — Show the certificate! Immediately!
— Mom, stop, — Anton held his mother back. — No one will show anything. Especially in this state.
— You choose her? Instead of your mother?
— I choose a normal life. Without scandals and tantrums.
Margarita Pavlovna sank to the floor:
— You’re throwing out… your own mother on the street…
— I’ll call a taxi, — Anton took out his phone. — They’ll take you home.
— No taxi! — the mother-in-law jumped up. — I’ll go myself! All by myself! But don’t come back! Don’t ask for forgiveness!
— We won’t, — Anton replied calmly.
Margarita Pavlovna, staggering, left the building. Swearing and threats could be heard behind the door for a long time. Finally, everything quieted down.
— Sorry, — Anton hugged his wife. — I should have done this sooner.
The next morning, the husband called a locksmith and changed the locks. He blocked his mother’s number — she had started calling and texting that very night.
Elena stood by the window watching the falling snow. For the first time in three years, the apartment was truly quiet. No one would call at night demanding to be let in. No one would make a scandal at the doorstep. No one would accuse her of witchcraft and infertility.
— What are you thinking about? — Anton hugged his wife from behind.
— About what we’ll name the baby.
— Already decided?
— No. But I know for sure — not after grandma.
Anton laughed:
— That’s clear. You know, I remembered how mom reacted to my girlfriends in my youth. She’d always find something to complain about: this one’s too thin, that one’s too fat, this one’s not the right height…
— And me?
— You’re perfect. And I really regret not protecting you sooner.
The doorbell rang. Neighbor Zinaida Petrovna stood on the doorstep:
— I heard what happened yesterday. Hang in there, guys. You did the right thing putting an end to it.
A month later, Margarita Pavlovna stopped sending angry messages from other numbers. Two months later, she stopped lurking near the entrance. And when little Sofia was born, the mother-in-law sent a card: “Congratulations. Let’s talk.”
But Elena and Anton decided some stories are better left unfinished. Sometimes silence is the best solution.