Mom, can Anechka stay with you for a week? Tanya and I need to go to her city to sort out some paperwork. Maybe we’ll put the apartment up for sale at the same time.” Nadezhda Ivanovna tore herself away from her mug of tea and looked sternly at her son. “Why aren’t you taking … Read more
A day blazing like the sun at its zenith had dawned for Mitrofan Petrovich—a day of his triumph, the day when he, powerful, rich, a man of status and influence, was becoming a husband once again. But not just a husband—he was becoming the master of the fate of a young, fragile, yet stunningly beautiful … Read more
Nadezhda, dear, I asked you not to touch those documents!” my mother-in-law’s voice sounded unexpectedly sharp when I picked up the folder from the table. Svetlana Ivanovna was standing in the doorway of the study, and her usually friendly face twisted in an irritated grimace. She quickly walked over and literally snatched the folder out … Read more
What is this supposed to be?” Alla froze at the gate, unable to believe her eyes. Right in front of her, where just a week ago there had been a smooth lawn, now neat rows of little green sprouts were lined up. Her mother-in-law, Yevgeniya Mikhaylovna, stood in the middle of this garden glory, proudly … Read more
“Damn it, I told you in advance!” Tonya was throwing summer dresses into the suitcase as if she were taking revenge on them for everything in the world. “I told you we had to book in advance! And you: ‘We’ll make it, Tonka, don’t stress!’” Semyon was silently smoking on the balcony, staring out at … Read more
Asya left the office at half past six, as usual. Working as a logistics specialist in a distribution company required constant attention—suppliers, clients, warehouses, documents. Seventy-two thousand a month didn’t come easily, but Asya was used to the responsibility. Four years ago it was exactly this salary that allowed her to buy a one-room apartment … Read more
Dasha stayed late at work. Her legs were buzzing with fatigue, her bag was stuffed with folders of reports, and she had only one thought in her head: get home, kick off her shoes and finally drink some tea in silence. She unlocked the door, and the first thing she saw were someone else’s shoes. … Read more
“Lilya, you don’t do anything anyway, you’re always at home with the baby,” her mother-in-law, Anna Leonidovna, kept repeating. “Is it really so hard for you, young and energetic as you are, to do the things I ask? I’m not asking too much of you. We’re one family now, and you, forgive me, behave like … Read more
Tatiana heard the doorbell while she was busy with the cake. Alexey was helping her in the kitchen—clumsily working with the cream and trying to pipe little roses along the sides. “Will you get that?” Tanya asked, nodding toward the hallway. “Of course,” Alexey wiped his hands and kissed her on the cheek. Tatiana smiled. … Read more
Some ‘homemaker’ you are,” the mother-in-law sighed loudly. “When Dima was sick, everything in my house sparkled. Have you even picked up a rag in your life?” “Now is not the time to clean, the child has a fever of almost forty,” Veronica replied. “A fever is not the end of the world,” Antonina Andreyevna … Read more