Marina stood by the window of her country house, watching the morning sun gild the apple trees in the garden. Six months ago, she could never have imagined waking up to birdsong instead of the city’s noise. The divorce had been difficult, but it brought unexpected freedom. After selling the apartment and dividing the property, she bought this small house in the suburbs and switched to remote work.
Her twenty-year-old daughter Alina initially disapproved of her mother’s decision.
“Mom, what, are you becoming a hermit?” her daughter protested. “Live normally, in the city, meet men…”
But Marina felt calmer here than ever before. Working as a programmer allowed her to work from anywhere in the world, and the country house had become her refuge. She planted a vegetable garden, grew flowers, and set up a summer kitchen. For the first time in many years, life belonged only to her.
The phone ringing broke the morning silence.
“Marinka!” came a familiar voice. “It’s Sveta! Your cousin, remember?”
Of course, she remembered. Svetlana was three years younger but always knew how to be the center of attention. After school, they barely communicated, only meeting occasionally at family gatherings.
“Hi, Sveta. How are you?”
“Well, Alinka told me you bought a country house! Good for you, you did the right thing. I’m so happy for you! Can I come visit? I really want to see your little nest.”
Marina tensed slightly. She wasn’t ready for guests, and her relationship with Sveta had always been somewhat strained. But it felt awkward to refuse a relative.
“Of course, come over. Just let me know ahead of time; I’ll meet you.”
A week later, Svetlana appeared at the door with an unfamiliar man. She looked as always—brightly made-up, in a fashionable dress and high heels, completely inappropriate for the country house.
“Marin, this is Igor, my new boyfriend,” she introduced her companion. “He drove me here.”
Igor was pleasant but quiet. Svetlana was delighted with the house.
“How beautiful it is here!” she exclaimed, moving from room to room. “And what a well-kept garden! And the summer kitchen! Marin, you really live like in a fairy tale!”
Marina served the guests tea with homemade pie. Svetlana chattered nonstop about her work in a beauty salon, new acquaintances, and plans for the future.
“By the way,” she suddenly said, “my birthday is coming up. Thirty-eight. I want to celebrate it somehow special. Marin, how about we have it at your country house? It’s so beautiful here, in nature! I’ll invite a couple of girlfriends, you bring your acquaintances… It’ll be fun!”
Marina felt uneasy. She wasn’t used to noisy parties, and the country house was her place of solitude, not entertainment.
“Sveta, I don’t know… Everything here is modest, and I’m not used to hosting many guests…”
“Oh, come on!” Svetlana waved her hands. “Nothing fancy needed! Just a gathering, sitting outside. Please, Marin! I really want to celebrate my birthday here, in such beauty!”
Marina hesitated but felt it was awkward to refuse. After all, Svetlana was her only sister, albeit a cousin.
“All right,” she agreed. “But not too many people, and everything should be decent.”
“Of course, of course!” Svetlana cheered. “Thank you, dear! I’m so happy!”
They arranged for the party two weeks later on Saturday. Svetlana left in high spirits, leaving Marina somewhat puzzled. Something about her sister’s behavior made her uneasy, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
The following days Marina spent preparing. She bought new garden furniture, tidied the house and yard. Svetlana called twice, clarifying details but evasively answered questions about the number of guests.
“Oh, just a few of us,” she said. “Five or six people, no more.”
On Saturday morning Marina finished the last preparations. She made salads, roasted meat, bought a cake. By noon, everything was ready, and she anxiously awaited the guests.
Svetlana was the first to arrive—but not alone, but with a whole company. Seven people got out of the car: the birthday girl herself, Igor, two of her friends with their husbands, and another man.
“Marin, hi!” Svetlana shouted cheerfully. “Here we are! Meet Tanya and Oleg, Lyuda and Vitya, and Seryozha. My closest friends!”
Marina awkwardly greeted the guests. There were more than she expected, but that was not all. Half an hour later another car arrived with four more people.
“And these are my colleagues!” Svetlana announced. “They also wanted to congratulate me in such a beautiful setting!”
Marina felt growing anxiety. There were eleven guests total, all settled on the veranda and in the garden, talking and laughing loudly.
“Sveta,” she said quietly to her sister, “you said five or six people…”
“Oh, right!” Svetlana laughed. “You know how it is—one invited another, then another… But it’s not a problem, is it? Your country house is so big!”
Marina remained silent, but inside she felt tight. She quickly calculated if the food would be enough and realized it probably wouldn’t.
“Please, have a seat,” she said, trying to keep hospitality. “I’ll serve everything now.”
But then a new surprise awaited her. When she began bringing out the dishes, one of the guests asked:
“Where’s the cake? And the champagne? It’s a birthday after all!”
Marina froze. She had bought one cake meant for a small group and hadn’t bought any alcohol at all, as she barely drank herself.
“I… I didn’t know there would be so many of you,” she said flustered. “There is cake, but it’s small, and alcohol…”
“Marin,” Svetlana said loudly, and the conversation stopped. “This is your country house, so you should treat us!”
Silence fell over the table. Marina felt her face flush. She realized she had fallen into a trap. Svetlana had planned from the start to throw a party at her expense, without warning about the real number of guests.
“I understand,” Marina said slowly, “but I cooked for a small company. Maybe some of you could go to the store?”
“Why?” one of Svetlana’s friends protested. “The hostess should have everything! We’re guests, after all!”
“Exactly!” her husband agreed. “What’s the point of being guests if you have to buy everything yourself?”
Marina felt the situation spiraling out of control. The guests clearly expected her to provide everything, although no one even thought to bring the birthday girl flowers.
“All right,” she said, pulling out her phone. “I’ll try to order something for delivery.”
She found the number of a nearby restaurant and started ordering extra dishes and drinks. The bill was substantial, but there was no turning back.
While she was on the phone, the gate opened. Marina looked up and saw her daughter Alina.
“Hi, Mom!” the girl called. “Aunt Sveta called, invited me to the birthday. Thought I’d surprise you!”
Marina was glad to see her daughter but felt even more awkward. Now Alina would see the whole circus.
“Mom, what’s going on?” the girl asked, coming closer. “Why are you ordering food? Didn’t the guests bring anything?”
“Alin, not now,” Marina said quietly, covering the phone.
But her daughter already understood everything. She glanced at the table where the guests sat, her face darkening.
“Aunt Sveta,” she addressed the birthday girl loudly, “it’s your birthday, right?”
“Yes, dear,” Svetlana smiled. “Thanks for coming to congratulate me!”
“And where’s your treat?” Alina asked. “Where’s the cake you brought? Where are the drinks?”
Svetlana was at a loss.
“Alin, dear, we’re guests…”
“Guests?” the girl repeated. “You came to celebrate your birthday as guests at my mom’s place and expect her to feed you? Seriously?”
The guests went silent. Marina felt her daughter defending her, which was both comforting and embarrassing.
“Alin, don’t,” she asked.
“No, Mom, I have to!” the girl protested. “Aunt Sveta, you’re an adult. If you want to celebrate your birthday, you should take care of the food yourself. Using my mom as a free restaurant isn’t right!”
“But she agreed herself…” Svetlana started.
“She agreed to provide the place for the party, not to feed your whole company!” Alina interrupted. “Mom, cancel the order. Let Aunt Sveta order and pay for everything needed for her birthday herself.”
“Alin, what are you saying?” Svetlana protested. “We’re family!”
“That’s exactly why you should be ashamed to treat my mom like this!” the girl cut her off. “Mom, don’t pay for this!”
Marina looked at her daughter, then at her sister, then at the silent guests. Alina was right. She canceled the order and put away the phone.
“Sveta,” she said firmly, “if you want to celebrate your birthday, then take care of the food yourself. I’ll provide the place and dishes, but I won’t feed the whole company.”
“How can you!” Svetlana protested. “We agreed!”
“We agreed on a small group,” Marina replied calmly. “But you brought eleven people. And no one even brought flowers.”
An awkward silence settled. The guests exchanged glances, unsure how to react. Finally, Igor stood and said:
“Sveta, the girls are right. I’ll go to the store and buy what’s needed.”
“I’m coming with you,” said one of the men. “It’s awkward otherwise.”
Svetlana sat red with anger and embarrassment. She clearly didn’t expect this turn of events.
“All right,” she said through gritted teeth. “But I won’t forget this.”
“And don’t forget,” Alina said calmly. “Remember for the future: if you want to celebrate your birthday, prepare for it yourself, not at others’ expense.”
Some guests went to the store, the rest stayed and tried to ease the mood. The party went on, but it was clear Svetlana was upset. She stopped chattering, answered monosyllabically, and clearly wanted to leave as soon as possible.
When the guests finally left, Marina and Alina stayed to clear the dishes.
“Thank you,” Marina said to her daughter. “If it weren’t for you, I would have spent a fortune on someone else’s birthday.”
“Mom, you’re too kind,” Alina shook her head. “Aunt Sveta takes advantage of that. She’s always been like that, I remember since childhood.”
“Yes, you’re probably right. I just didn’t want to ruin family relations.”
“Mom, relatives who use your kindness aren’t needed. True close people would never put you in an awkward position.”
Marina hugged her daughter. She was grateful Alina stood up for her and showed character. Apparently, she had raised her right.
“You know,” she said, “I think Sveta won’t be asking to visit anymore.”
“That’s good!” Alina laughed. “But now you know how to deal with such people.”
They finished cleaning as the sun was setting. Marina brewed tea, and they sat on the veranda, enjoying the silence and peace.
“Mom,” Alina suddenly said, “can I come visit you on weekends sometimes? It’s so beautiful and calm here.”
“Of course, dear. You’re always a welcome guest.”
“Unlike some relatives,” the girl smiled.
Marina laughed. Yes, the lesson was learned. Now she knew kindness must have limits, and hospitality shouldn’t turn into self-sacrifice.
Svetlana indeed never called again. Apparently, she understood that her plan to use her sister as a free restaurant had failed. Marina didn’t mind. She realized that real close people don’t take advantage of your kindness but appreciate it.
And the country house became her quiet refuge once again, where she could enjoy peace and invite only those truly dear to her.