I already had keys made for your apartment, so don’t worry,” Svetlana heard her mother-in-law’s voice from the kitchen, and the cup slipped from her hands.
She walked into the living room. Her mother-in-law, Valentina Nikolayevna, was sitting regally in an armchair, and her husband Andrey sat opposite her.
“Oh, Svetochka, sweetheart, we were just talking about you!” her mother-in-law chirped. “I’m all alone in my little two-room place. Four stops—it’s practically next door! And I thought: why should we live separately? A family should be together!”
Svetlana looked at her husband. He was carefully avoiding her eyes.
“Valentina Nikolayevna,” Svetlana began, “what do you mean, ‘had keys made’?”
“Well, made keys for what? For the apartment, of course! Yours, I mean. Andryusha brought me an impression last week. I’ve already started packing. In a week or two I’m moving in with you for good!”
Svetlana felt something inside her snap. That apartment was hers—she’d saved for it for ten years and bought it before she’d even met Andrey.
“Andrey,” Svetlana’s voice trembled. “You let your mom make keys to my apartment?”
He finally raised his head.
“Svet, why are you reacting like this? She’s my mom. She’s alone, it’s hard for her. We have to take care of her.”
“And what’s there to ask?” Valentina Nikolayevna cut in. “I’m not a stranger! I’m your husband’s mother!”
“No,” Svetlana said firmly. “Valentina Nikolayevna, you are not moving in with us. This is my apartment, and I did not give my consent.”
Her mother-in-law’s face changed instantly.
“Oh, is that so?” she raised her voice. “Andryusha, do you hear what your little wifey is saying? She won’t let me in, imagine that! Into the apartment where my son lives!”
“Mom, calm down,” Andrey stood up, freezing between them. “Svet, let’s talk. Mom’s right… and besides, even if the apartment is in your name, we’re family. Everything is shared.”
“Shared? Seriously?” Svetlana looked at him so sharply that he faltered. “Remind me, Andrey—how much did you put into buying this apartment? Or into the renovation?”
He flushed.
“Oh, there you go again—yours, yours!” Valentina Nikolayevna flared up. “You’re a miser, Svetka! That’s what you are!”
“Andrey,” Svetlana said to her husband, “I’m giving you and your mother exactly twenty-four hours to return all my keys. Every single copy. If that doesn’t happen, tomorrow I’m changing the locks.”
“Svet, have you lost your mind?” Andrey snapped out of his stupor. “That’s my mom!”
“And this is my apartment.”
That evening Andrey came into the bedroom. His mother had left, but she hadn’t returned the keys.
“Andrey, I’m changing the locks tomorrow. And I have a question for you: will you give your mother a copy of the new keys?”
He hesitated, shifting from foot to foot.
“Svet… that’s cruel. I… I don’t know. Maybe. If she asks.”
Svetlana nodded.
“Then I have news for you, Andrey. If you give her the keys, the next thing I change after the locks will be my marital status.”
The next few days passed in tense silence. Svetlana kept her word—a locksmith came and replaced the lock. But on the fourth day she got home earlier than usual and heard voices.
Three huge boxes stood in the entryway. From the kitchen came the clink of dishes and her mother-in-law’s voice:
“Andryushenka, just look at the mess she’s made here! The pots aren’t even scrubbed… Don’t worry, I’ll put things in order!”
Svetlana slipped quietly into the kitchen. Valentina Nikolayevna was bossing around at the stove, and Andrey sat at the table with a guilty expression.
“Mom, maybe you shouldn’t… Svet will be home soon…” he murmured.
“So what if she is? Let her come! She’ll see how real housewives cook!”
Svetlana stepped into the kitchen. The decision was made.
“Oh, the daughter-in-law is here! Just in time for dinner!”
“Andrey,” Svetlana asked, “did you give her the keys?”
He didn’t answer, staring into his plate.
“And what’s the big deal?” Valentina Nikolayevna jumped in. “A son gave his mother the keys to the home where he lives.”
Svetlana took out her phone and dialed a number.
“Hello, Marina? Hi, it’s Sveta. Remember you said you and your husband have a spare room? Is it still free? Great. Can I move in tomorrow morning?”
She ended the call and looked at the frozen Andrey and his mother.
“W-what are you doing?” Andrey forced out.
“Moving out. Tomorrow morning.”
“B-but… it’s your apartment!”
“It was mine. Now, apparently, it’s yours and your mom’s. Live here together, since you’re such a close family. But the apartment is still registered in my name. And I’ll be the one paying for it. So formally, you’ll be living here with my permission. Which I can revoke at any time.”
Andrey rushed after her into the bedroom.
“Svet, wait! Let’s talk! Mom will leave, I promise!”
“Too late, Andrey. You made your choice when you gave her the keys. When you couldn’t protect our family from her interference. I’m tired.”
“But I love you!”
“If you loved me, you wouldn’t have let your mother treat me this way. You chose her, not me.”
From the kitchen came Valentina Nikolayevna’s voice:
“Andryusha! Come here! Let her go if she wants! You’ll find yourself a better wife!”
In the morning Svetlana went to her friend’s—and the first thing she did was call a lawyer.
A week later Andrey called her. His voice sounded exhausted.
“Svet… Mom moved in for good. She brought all her things. Rearranged all the furniture. Threw out your flowers… I don’t know what to do.”
“That’s not my problem anymore, Andrey.”
“But it’s your apartment! You can’t live at your friend’s forever!”
“I won’t. As soon as I finalize the divorce and sort out the apartment, I’ll come back. But you won’t be there anymore. My lawyer is already preparing the paperwork. You and your mom have two months.”
“Svet, please! I’ll kick her out, I swear!”
“Andrey, you still don’t understand. It’s not about your mom. It’s about you. About the fact that you couldn’t—or didn’t want to—protect our family. You picked a side. And it wasn’t mine.”
She ended the call.
Two months later Svetlana returned to her apartment. Andrey and Valentina Nikolayevna had moved out.
A year passed. Svetlana got her divorce, renovated the place, and earned a promotion. Life got back on track. Rumors reached her that Andrey was renting an apartment with his mother and was deeply unhappy.
Svetlana heard it without any gloating. Everyone makes their choice.
She chose herself.