Larisa pondered for a long time what to give her husband for his birthday. Unable to decide, she asked him. And he blurted out:
«A gym membership.»
«But you don’t like sports?» she was surprised.
«I don’t need it! Buy it for yourself. You’ve really let yourself go. It’s embarrassing in front of friends.»
Larisa flared up, her eyes filled with tears, but she remembered how her mother taught her to always obey her husband. If Dima said so, then something must really be wrong with her.
She cleared the dishes, cleaned the kitchen, and went to the bathroom. There was a large mirror, and Larisa began to critically examine her reflection.
«He’s right. I need to lose weight. But only after the holiday. Otherwise, what will I do, stare into the guests’ mouths? I planned to cook so much… the diet will have to wait,» Larisa thought and went to bed.
She wanted attention from her husband, but he muttered something and turned away.
«Tired. Well, okay,» she excused him again.
The next day, coming back from work with a whole bunch of bags, Larisa started to work her magic at the stove.
She was a professional pastry chef and cooked excellently. Her pies and buns were popular with customers. Many came specifically for them and bought in bulk. But Dima, apparently, was used to his wife cooking well and no longer noticed it. He took it for granted. But he really liked to brag about his wife’s skills to friends.
So, on the eve of the holiday, he wrote a whole list of dishes that were supposed to be on the festive table.
Larisa was exhausted, but by the appointed time everything was ready.
Guests began to gather, sat at the table, and looked questioningly at Larisa.
«Where’s Dima?»
«He said he’s coming… his job, what can you do?» she excused the celebrant. And finally, he arrived.
«Got held up at work, couldn’t escape. And I gave Masha a ride from the stop,» he said, letting Maria in front of him. She was a long-time friend of Larisa, and no one was surprised that Maria was also invited to the party.
Masha sat next to Dima, and Larisa had to take a seat at the edge of the table on the most uncomfortable stool.
«You’ll be running around anyway, serving guests,» Dima told his wife. «And anyway, why sit down? You’re on a diet! Serve us some salad. Masha, do you want jellied meat? Or are you watching your figure?»
«I’m perfect, nothing extra,» she laughed.
«Coming right up…» Larisa let her husband’s comment go in one ear and out the other and ran for the appetizer. «Let’s have the plates.»
Guests eagerly tried the jellied meat. It turned out meaty, dense… but Dima liked it more gelatinous.
«Something’s off with your cooking today, wife… forgot how to make jellied meat?»
«Is it bad that the jellied meat has lots of meat?» wondered Gleb, a family friend.
«Of course, it’s bad, I prefer more gelatin.»
«You’re nitpicking, Dim.»
«Ah, well. It’s Larisa’s professional deformation. She’s started cooking at home as if for sale. Look at this egg pie, for example…» Dima took a pie and broke it in half. «See?»
«What?»
«Too much dough.»
Larisa looked at her husband, then glanced at the pie, and she was very hurt. She had tried so hard! Larisa wasn’t to blame that Dima grabbed the one with the least filling. The last one on the tray, which she wanted to eat herself, but lost among the others and accidentally put out on the table.
«I have lots of filling. Larisa, don’t listen to Dima. Everything’s very tasty,» said Ira, Larisa’s sister.
«Yes, yes. Everything’s delicious,» the guests supported.
«Thank you, I tried,» Larisa blushed.
«I also baked last week. Remember, Dim? You came over for tea,» boasted Masha.
«See, those pies were perfect. Homemade,» Dmitry nodded.
Larisa felt uneasy. She hadn’t touched her food all evening. She collected the guests’ dirty plates and went to the kitchen.
In the fridge was a cake made from a new recipe. It turned out lighter than Dima’s favorite cake. Larisa didn’t have enough time, and now she berated herself for deciding to be creative and not making the traditional cake.
She brought the tea and, with a trembling heart, took the tray with dessert. Larisa was afraid her husband would be upset, so she was very nervous and didn’t notice the cat dart under her feet. Larisa stumbled, couldn’t hold the cake, and crashed onto the table. The cake crumbled, and the tea spilled on the brand-new white tablecloth.
Silence reigned at the table, but it was broken by Dmitry.
«How can you be so clumsy?! Can’t even carry a cake, can’t lift your legs!» Dmitry didn’t hold back in front of the guests, he scolded his wife like a schoolgirl in trouble. And Larisa was pale as chalk. She was very upset, ashamed, and in pain. Her toe swelled up, and she nearly cried.
«Need to bring a rag,» Masha realized. «Otherwise everything will be in tea. It’s already dripped on my pants…»
«I’ll help,» offered Ira. Guests began to recover. Someone went for a rag, someone carried away the dishes. And only Dmitry continued to scold.
Larisa couldn’t take it and left for the bathroom, where she let her tears flow. Her foot hurt, but her soul hurt even more.
«Larisa, how are you? Need help?» After a while, she heard Gleb’s voice.
«I’m okay.»
«Guests are leaving… they’re asking for you. Will you come out?»
«Yes… of course,» she tried to stand, but it was very painful. «Ow!»
«What happened?»
«My toe is swollen.»
«I’ll open the door.» Gleb managed to unlock the simple lock and entered the bathroom. «You need to go to the emergency room.»
«Think so?»
«Yes.»
«Who’s going to take me at this hour?»
«We can take a taxi. I’ll help you now…»
They reached the hallway, but all the guests had already left. Only Ira was washing dishes after the party. And Dima, seeing that Larisa was limping, burst out.
«Decided to ruin the holiday for me completely?!»
«She might have a fracture…»
«Sure, stuffed herself with extra kilos on state food, and now her legs can’t hold her…» Dmitry said with venom, looking at Larisa. From his gaze, she felt even worse.
«Alright. Let’s go,» Gleb called a taxi and helped Larisa get in. «Dima, are you coming?»
«What, should I?» he asked. «I think you’ll manage without me.»
Gleb didn’t respond. He and Ira got into the taxi and drove Larisa away.
It turned out not to be so bad. Larisa’s foot was bandaged and she was released. But she didn’t want to return home, so she went to her sister’s.
The next morning, Gleb came to her. He brought flowers and medicine. Larisa was amazed by his care. He had never shown her such attention before.
«Larisa… I’ve wanted to say this for a long time… maybe you and Dima should split up?»
«And where would I go alone? Who needs me at thirty?» she frowned.
«I do. I’ve loved you for a long time, and he’s been messing around with Masha behind your back. Can’t you see?» Gleb confessed.
«You must have misunderstood something…» Larisa was confused. She thanked Gleb for his help and, after saying goodbye to her sister, went home. She decided not to call her husband, somehow thinking she’d use her own key. And she deeply regreted it.
Dmitry wasn’t home, but Masha was sleeping in their bed. Clearly, she hadn’t expected Larisa’s return.
«How could you?!» Larisa whispered, stepping back.
«I thought you were hospitalized…» Masha said, waking up. «Though, even better. Now we don’t have to hide.»
«Exactly. For the better,» said Larisa and without turning back, limped to the elevator. She immediately called Gleb and told him what had happened.
«See, you didn’t believe me.»
«Is your offer still good?»
«It is. I’ll come now,» Gleb said. He kept his promise. First, they moved in together, and after she divorced Dima, he even married Larisa and strictly forbade her to lose weight.
«You’re a beauty! A gorgeous woman… And Dima is a fool for trading such a treasure for Masha… Well, good, more for me.»
Larisa smiled. There were no more reproaches or grievances in her life. Her new husband appreciated Larisa with all her merits, and she reciprocated.
Do you agree that you need to appreciate yourself as you are? Write your opinion on this matter in the comments.
