“Len, there’s an emergency. I have to leave on a business trip immediately. I won’t be back for three days. You understand, it’s urgent. I won’t even have time to stop by home. I’ll buy everything we need there,” her husband’s voice brought Lena back to reality. She didn’t even have time to argue with him. Igor hung up.
And just three seconds before, Lena was literally basking in her happiness. She was driving back from the family planning center. Her suspicions had been confirmed. She was told that she would finally become a mother and was told to congratulate her husband.
Lena smiled happily again. She decided not to spoil her mood thinking about her husband. Lately, he had been going on business trips often. The company he worked for was expanding. And as their best specialist, he was constantly being sent to different branches.
“So, you’ll find out you’re going to be a father in three days! Serves you right!” Lena laughed slyly and looked in the rearview mirror. The driver trying to overtake her car winked at the charming girl and even blew a kiss.
Yes, it was hard to spoil Lena’s mood today. She was happy. And she had fought for her happiness for a whole seven years. But there was still no child in their family. The woman had almost given up hope. She believed the family couldn’t be complete. A child was the bond between husband and wife, a proof of their love.
Igor seemed to have stopped hoping for an addition too. Once he told Lena that she alone was enough for him. But she often noticed how he looked after young mothers pushing strollers with babies.
“Well, Igor, when it’s needed, you’re never around,” Lena thought angrily, “but it’s your own fault. Always busy with your work. Although, what am I saying? Of course, it’s good that Igor works. Soon there will be more expenses. Okay, I won’t think about it and worry him. I’ll tell him when he gets back,” Lena immediately felt better after making this decision.
She would have time to get tested. Today she was told to do some tests to confirm the health of the future baby.
The next day, she went to a consultation. One of the women waiting noticed:
“Girl, you’re literally glowing! You’re so beautiful! God willing, everything will be fine for you!”
Lena laughed. She was pleased with the compliment, even if it came from a stranger. If only Igor could see her! Surely, he would notice how beautiful and happy she was!
Lena was given a whole pile of vouchers and referrals. She had to see many specialists. But such fuss only pleased the woman. It meant only one thing: the most cherished dream had come true. Now she and Igor would have a baby.
Lena kept smiling. From the outside, she probably looked silly. But she didn’t care. In her mind, she was already buying a crib, choosing a stroller, and planning walks with her son or daughter.
Suddenly, Lena crashed into an obstacle. Someone stood in her way in the center’s corridor. The pile of vouchers and referrals scattered all over the floor.
“How clumsy I am, sorry,” Lena muttered and without looking at the person she bumped into, bent down to pick up her papers. One of them flew far away.
The woman had to crouch and stretch out her hand to get it from under a bench. Suddenly, she froze.
Before her eyes were sneakers she had seen somewhere.
“Exactly!” Lena realized, “those are the same ones my Igor wears. Probably a trendy model!” Lena looked up and suddenly saw Igor in front of her. She was about to exclaim joyfully:
“How did you know?” — but didn’t have time to say it aloud. Because only now she noticed her husband’s companion. A young woman was carefully holding her belly and petulantly saying:
“No, no, darling. I don’t like it here. Let’s choose another clinic. This center is too small. See, people are pushing!” — the pretty lady, supported by Igor’s arm, looked meaningfully at Lena.
“Looks like I bumped into her,” Lena thought somehow. She carefully got up. Her gaze met her husband’s. And Lena saw so much pain and fear in his eyes that she changed her mind about starting a scandal.
Unexpectedly for herself, she muttered:
“Sorry, I’m so clumsy,” and with these words, Lena quickly headed for the exit. She wanted to sink through the ground. Why had she decided to come to this center today? She felt that if she hadn’t come, she might have been happy for a few more days at least.
Her husband’s voice flew after her:
“Len, wait. Where are you going? I’ll explain everything now.”
Lena turned and looked again at her husband and his companion. The beautiful girl wrinkled her nose petulantly. She didn’t understand what was going on. Her face showed she was tired and irritated. And now some other girls were kicking up a fuss!
Lena looked calmly at Igor and continued walking. She would not make a scene. Her husband had to make a choice right now. Of course, he still didn’t know she was expecting a baby.
But it’s ugly to hold onto someone who stopped loving you just because of a baby. Igor should be with her in any situation, not only because she was about to become a mother. Had he really given up? Had he stopped believing they would have a child? This was how Lena explained her husband’s behavior to herself.
He betrayed her. For seven whole years Lena had knocked on doctors’ doors, agreed to exhausting procedures and checkups. But all efforts were futile.
The best specialists in the city shrugged. They didn’t understand the problem. There were no pathologies in Lena or Igor. It was just fate denying them the happiness of parenthood.
So Igor resigned himself to the fact that his wife wouldn’t give him an heir. He chose another way to become a father. He didn’t want to be with her. And Lena had no right to interfere. Everyone is free to do what they think is right.
But such thoughts didn’t comfort the poor woman. Tears ran down her face. She felt pain, hurt, bitterness. But then nausea crept into her throat.
Lena automatically touched her baby who was still somewhere deep inside her being.
“Little one,” she thought tenderly and promised, “I won’t worry. It’s not your fault. Everything will be fine. I won’t harm you.”
She suddenly calmed down and pulled herself together.
“I have to go home and pack. Let him bring his girlfriend and the mother of his child to our home. Although it’s not our home anymore,” Lena thought, opening her car door.
Igor didn’t run after her. He didn’t catch up or stop her. And that meant one thing: his companion was not some random acquaintance, nor the wife of his best friend who asked him to accompany his wife while he was away. This woman was important to her husband. However, she shouldn’t think about it.
Lena drove home without incident. She focused on the road. It was important to be careful and attentive. She couldn’t allow her baby to be harmed. He had to be born on time and healthy.
Lena entered the apartment where she had lived with Igor for seven years. They had recently finished paying off their mortgage. The thought that she should pack her husband’s things and stay here herself didn’t even cross her mind.
She believed that the other woman had beaten her to it. Her neat belly confirmed that Igor had known for months that she was going to be a mother. At least for five months.
He had plenty of time to tell his wife everything. That would have been honest. But he kept living a double life, going to bed with her, making plans for the future, wearing shirts ironed by his wife, and eating meals cooked by her.
And the other woman didn’t deal with everyday problems. She simply enjoyed the time Igor spent with her.
“What does he tell her? How does he explain that he spends the night away? So she knows he’s married. Doesn’t that bother her?” Lena again plunged into thoughts about her husband and his companion.
She was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Igor stood in the doorway. Immediately he asked:
“Len, where are you going? Why are you packing? Let’s talk, I’ll explain everything.”
“There’s nothing to talk about, Igor,” her voice was calm. She had made up her mind and wasn’t going to change it, “I’ll rent an apartment for now. You can stay here. After all, your woman is expecting a child. I think she’ll be comfortable here.”
Igor watched as Lena put on her coat and grabbed her bag. He made one last attempt:
“Don’t go, let’s talk.”
But Lena didn’t even look back. She silently left the apartment where she had once been happy. Igor never found out he was going to be a father.
In the following days, Lena tried to stay calm. And she succeeded. Thoughts of the baby gave her strength. She quickly found an apartment, passed tests that confirmed everything was fine with her and the baby.
Lena filed for divorce. Almost a month later, her mother-in-law called irritably:
“Lena, Igor told me you filed for divorce. He doesn’t know where you are or what’s happening. Maybe you can at least explain to me?”
“I just decided to accept Igor’s choice, Vera Sergeyevna,” Lena answered calmly and hung up.
They met only in the courtroom. The divorce process went quickly. The judge noted that Igor was accompanied by a pregnant woman. Lena was alone.
Igor looked confused. It would have been easier for him if Lena had made a scene, fought for him. But she seemed indifferent.
“She never loved me,” Igor thought, hurt by his wife’s calmness and indifference, and demanded the apartment be transferred to him entirely.
The court took into account that Igor was about to become a father and the future parents had no housing. But giving Igor full ownership was impossible. The apartment belonged equally to both spouses.
However, even the judge was puzzled. Lena said she would sign all the papers. She explained her decision simply:
“I can’t live in that apartment. And I have neither the strength nor the time to negotiate swapping it with Igor. I have other, more important things,” then the woman smiled happily.
The judge noted the plaintiff’s happy appearance and thought:
“Here, everyone probably already has their own life. The plaintiff filed for divorce herself. And she doesn’t seem to mourn her husband. Most likely, she has somewhere to go and, most importantly, someone to go to.”
Thus, the apartment went to Igor. After the process ended, the mother-in-law approached her former daughter-in-law and asked:
“Lena, I don’t understand you. Of course, I’m not thrilled you were my son’s wife. But that Yulia! She’s even worse! Why don’t you fight? At least we know you! But how that girl will behave is still unknown.”
Nikolai Ivanovich, Igor’s father, touched his wife’s sleeve. He considered her comment tactless. Lena looked calmly at them and replied:
“I have nothing to fight for,” Lena headed to the exit. For her, this situation was over. This story should not have a continuation. It was important for her to think about the baby’s health.
And life went on. Lena went to work, attended consultations, and followed all the specialists’ instructions. Her sister Natasha offered her to move in with her. She already knew Lena was expecting and thought it would be easier if someone cared for her.
Lena accepted her offer. But she was already looking for options to get an apartment on mortgage for herself and the baby. Her work management supported her decision.
The boss even promised to keep her job while she was on maternity leave. He didn’t want to lose a promising specialist, and Lena, in his opinion, showed great potential.
Lena shared her plans with her sister:
“Can you imagine? The boss told me I could work remotely. That way I can manage the mortgage. The company vouched for me at the bank. Soon I’ll invite you to my housewarming.”
Natasha was happy for her sister. At first, she feared Lena might fall into depression. But nothing like that happened. Lena lived a full life. She didn’t cry at night or panic thinking about how she’d manage without her husband.
“She was always strong,” Natasha thought about her sister, “probably she really accepted her husband’s choice. And if nothing can be changed, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Three months after the divorce, Lena settled in her apartment. Household chores no longer came so easily. She quickly got tired but tried not to show it.
Natasha regularly visited her sister and once noticed:
“Len, how far along are you? Your belly seems bigger than it should be. And I know what I’m talking about! Are you expecting twins?”
Lena laughed happily:
“Yes. I’ll have Vitya and Vovka. They’ll be football players! You know how they kick?”
“Wow!” Natasha admired, “why didn’t you say anything?”
“What’s there to say? I have double happiness! And you don’t shout about happiness!” Lena said calmly.
“Sis, don’t worry. I’ll help you raise the kids. After all, now I’ll have two nephews.”
“Natashka, I never doubted you.”
“Tell me, Len, do you not miss Igor at all? You never even mention him. Was he really indifferent to you, Len?”
“You know, Natasha, Igor and I waited so long for a child. We went through many examinations. But I believed in success. He didn’t. He gave up, Natasha. And you don’t fight with someone who gave up. He made his choice, and I made mine. What is there to talk or think about?”
Natalya just shook her head. She admired her sister’s courage. She wouldn’t have dared do what she did. And if she found out she was expecting twins, she would have tried to get her husband back.
And Natasha surrounded Lena with double care. She helped with household chores, accompanied her to consultations, and when the time came, took her to the maternity center.
And so, in a small but cozy apartment, two miracles appeared at once. The boys turned out great. Healthy, strong, loud.
The mother-in-law somehow learned about her former daughter-in-law’s condition. She decided to visit and meet the continuers of their lineage. It was a surprise for her that instead of one grandson, she saw two.
Vera Sergeyevna cried with happiness holding the tiny pieces of joy close. They were warm, smelled of milk, and evoked a desire to care.
At that moment, Vera Sergeyevna understood her daughter-in-law. She even said to her:
“Lenochka, I know what you went through to hold these boys in your arms. You deserve happiness. You’re right, my son gave up. He’s too weak. But you are different. You’re strong. You made the right choice.
If you had fought for Igor, you could have lost the boys. Now I can’t even imagine what it would be like if they weren’t in the world. And it’s only my son’s fault. Nikolai and I will help you and the grandchildren. Please allow us to see them.”
“Vera Sergeyevna, I can’t forbid grandparents to see the grandchildren. Of course, come visit.”
Vera Sergeyevna told her son about the two wonderful boys he had become a father to. By that time, he had already split with his Yulia.
He found out that she was expecting a child not from him. Just a cunning girl decided to hide her promiscuous affairs using a trusting man.
When everything was revealed, Igor was outraged. But he could no longer change anything. He remained alone in his apartment, which he won at court. Now nothing reminded him of his past family life.
The news from his mother lifted his spirits. He thought he could get Lena back. After all, it was twice as hard for her now. Where could she go? Of course, she would have to accept his help.
With these thoughts and confidence in success, Igor went to his ex-wife’s door. He rang the bell, covering the peephole with a bouquet. In his opinion, flowers would impress Lena. He would feel in control again.
But Lena did not open the door. She said that Igor had nothing to do with her children. They were only her sons. Igor wasted the entire evening at the closed door in vain. Lena didn’t come out or open it.
That evening, Natasha heard from Lena a phrase that made her understand: her sister would not give up under any circumstances. When asked how things were, she replied:
“Everything is fine! I’m happy!”