— Natasha, daughter, where do you plan to live now? — Angelica Viktorovna, Natasha’s mother-in-law, approached her daughter-in-law. Natasha was still reeling from her husband’s funeral and did not immediately understand the question. She was mechanically packing leftover candies from the memorial into a container.
— Sorry, what?
— Where do you plan to live with the child?
— What about our apartment? — Natasha was struggling to process it. The huge stress — the sudden death of her beloved husband — was affecting her badly.
— Our apartment, — corrected the mother-in-law in an intentionally affectionate tone. — The apartment where you lived belongs to us. You lived there as the wife of my son. But now…
— Wait, Angelica Viktorovna… You want us — me and Andrey — to move out?! — Natasha struggled to find words. She became scared. The young mother had no apartment of her own; among relatives, only the grandmother, her father’s mother. And even she lived in a one-room flat. When Natasha moved out from her to live with her husband, the grandmother sighed with relief. She was very happy to live peacefully in her old age. And now… would Natasha have to ask to come back? And with a child…
A year ago Natasha gave birth to a son. The child was noisy, active… The grandmother did not participate in raising her great-grandson and even refused to babysit, citing illness and age.
— It’s not that I want to, but you probably understand yourself that we can’t afford to maintain two apartments. One must be rented out to at least get some income from the property. There are plenty of apartments, but all empty…
— But we also need somewhere to live — me and my son… — Natasha covered her face with her hands. At that moment, a relative came to offer condolences to the young grieving widow. Seeing this, the mother-in-law immediately hugged Natasha.
— Dear, my girl, would we ever abandon you?! We will live together, take you and Andrey under our wing! — she loudly declared so that the relatives could hear and approvingly nod. What a good woman Angelica Viktorovna was — she wouldn’t abandon her daughter-in-law and grandson!
With such thoughts about their “saintly” mother-in-law, the relatives dispersed after the husband’s memorial.
— Let’s go to our apartment, — commanded Angelica Viktorovna to her husband, Vitaly Borisovich. — Natasha, put the child in the car seat, and hurry up!
Natasha obeyed. She could neither argue with her mother-in-law nor prevent her from entering the apartment.
— You will live with us. But so you don’t feel like a burden, you will give me money from the survivor’s benefit, — the mother-in-law declared.
They arrived home in a daze.
— Here we’ll put our bed, here’s my dressing table.
— And where will Andrey and I live? — Natasha quietly asked, watching how the mother-in-law rummaged through her things and planned the rearrangement of her bedroom.
— In the living room. But if the child disturbs my sleep, you’ll move to the kitchen. Away from the bedroom.
Natasha looked at Angelica Viktorovna in surprise.
— There’s too little space in the kitchen for a crib.
— Then you’ll sleep with your son on the sofa. That’s not my problem. Enough talking. Take your things from the wardrobe and clear the room.
— Anzhel… give the girl a moment to catch her breath, — Vitaly Borisovich interjected.
— And why should she be tired, may I ask?! We organized everything!
Natasha didn’t listen or argue.
— I’ll put Andrey to sleep. He needs a nap.
— So now I won’t be able to watch football? — the father-in-law seemed upset. — Anzhel, maybe they should live in the bedroom like before? And you and I…
— We’re the owners here! And they are guests! Guests must live in the living room! If you want to watch football so badly, move the TV to the bedroom.
— Andrey watches cartoons on it… — Natasha tried to object.
— Let him watch on the phone or tablet. You bought all these gadgets, so use them, — cut off the mother-in-law.
Natasha nodded and left. She was so tired she decided to sleep with her son. And… she slept until morning. Though she got up on autopilot to feed the child, she herself ate nothing.
In the morning, Natasha was awakened by loud stomping.
— Take it away! Yes, all this must be taken back to the place where you brought these things from! — Angelica Viktorovna was giving orders to movers.
— Where do you want to take my favorite chair?! And the mirror? We bought all this… my husband chose it!
— Natasha, dear… don’t you know keeping things bought by the deceased is a bad omen? Besides, we need to furnish the rental apartment. We moved our own furniture here, for ourselves. The other place has empty walls now. A furnished apartment rents for more than an empty one. These things won’t be useful to you, but tenants need them. If you love the mirrors, drawers, and mattresses so much, you can buy them from us… Or rent our furnished apartment.
Natasha was speechless. The mover carrying the mirror was also surprised.
— Excuse me, ma’am… do you have the deed to this apartment? — he doubted.
— The apartment belongs to my mother. She’s incapacitated. By will, the apartment should have passed to my late son. But my son died… I am now the sole heir! — Angelica Viktorovna suddenly burst into tears so much that Natasha had to run to get a sedative.
— Okay, I get it. You have a family tragedy, figure it out yourselves. — The mover took the mirror and waved his hand. Natasha realized that from this day on, she would have to live under her mother-in-law’s rules. A new life was beginning for her.
— What are you wearing?! Are you crazy?! — Natasha didn’t immediately realize Angelica Viktorovna was talking to her. — Trying to seduce my husband?! And it’s only been 9 days since the funeral, and you’re already flirting!
Natasha put the formula on the table and turned, shocked at Angelica Viktorovna.
— I’m talking to you! Don’t you dare dress like that in my house!
— What’s wrong? — Natasha looked down at the home outfit she’d been wearing for half a year.
— Tight tank top, leggings that show everything they shouldn’t! Shame on you!
— What else am I supposed to wear?
— Here. — The mother-in-law threw a baggy shirt, oversized pants, and a robe at Natasha. — And tie your hair back! No need to shake your mane around here! Your hair is everywhere… like a shedding cat.
Natasha swallowed.
— What are you standing there for?! Go change! If I see you like this again, I’ll kick you out in slippers!
Andrey did not recognize his mother in her new look. He started crying.
— Quiet, son… It’s me…
— Calm him down immediately! I have a migraine! — the mother-in-law burst into the room. Her yelling made Andrey cry even more. — No, I’m serious, they should check if this is really our child! Mine was calm and smiling, and this one? Constantly screaming and making faces.
— My child has a face, not a grimace. — Natasha answered quietly.
— Shut up! Acting smart! — Angelica Viktorovna shot out of the room and slammed the door.
The weekends were no better than weekdays. The father-in-law watched football or entertainment shows loudly enough for the neighbors to hear. No wonder Andrey didn’t sleep. And the less the child sleeps, the more he cries.
— Why is nothing cooked? — the mother-in-law asked returning from the hairdresser.
— I didn’t have time, Andrey wouldn’t let me sit… There are sausages, pasta…
— Only street cats eat sausages! There will be no such food in my house! — she dramatically threw the sausage pack in the trash, shocking Natasha. That would have been her only meal of the day.
— In that case, maybe you’ll cook yourself?!
— I will. And I’ll eat myself. You eat this since you’re so slow! — Angelica Viktorovna kicked the trash can toward her daughter-in-law.
Natasha left the kitchen in tears.
She constantly thought about her husband, how recently the house was filled with children’s laughter, comfort, love, and happiness. Now, besides grieving her husband, hatred for her mother-in-law settled in her heart.
Angelica Viktorovna did not love her son. The boy was raised by his grandmother while the mother built her acting career at the local theater. The “star” was married four times but never succeeded. Her main role remained the wicked stepmother in “Snow White.” She became so embedded in that role she seemed to forget life isn’t theater. People aren’t actors; they have hearts, emotions, not scripts and rehearsed roles.
— What? Anzhelka yelled again? — the father-in-law appeared in the room.
Natasha nodded.
— She’s like that. Don’t pay attention.
He stood, looked at Natasha… He showed no interest in Andrey. But Natasha wanted to hide her head in the old robe “gifted” by the mother-in-law.
— If you need anything, don’t hesitate to come. We’ll talk, — he said with a smirk.
— Thank you.
— If you need money, no problem.
— Thank you.
— Vitalik! Let’s have dinner! — came the mother-in-law’s voice from the kitchen. She never called her daughter-in-law to the table.
One day Natasha overheard a conversation:
— I’m fed up! It’s time to evict the daughter-in-law from our house! Little money from her, just losses.
— Where is she supposed to go?!
— I don’t care!
Each day Natasha’s life resembled a nightmare more. Besides the mother-in-law’s nitpicking, the father-in-law’s crude hints increased. He especially became active when his wife left the house. Natasha became uneasy and afraid to stay alone with Vitaly Borisovich. She fled the house with her son on any pretext, mostly staying with a friend. Unable to bear it, she confided everything happening in her life.
— Listen, why do you endure this? Leave them. Better to live with your grandmother in a small apartment than endure humiliation and an old man’s dirty looks.
— I’d like to, but grandmother doesn’t want to take us in.
— How come?
— I visited her recently. She said there’s no room for a crib in her house. She has blood pressure and lots of illnesses. “You’re my granddaughter, wait until I die and then move in,” — Natasha quoted her grandmother.
— Wow… lucky you, friend, with such relatives. — Listen, what’s the story with your husband’s apartment? Who owns it? Have you seen the documents?
— Glanced at them.
— And?
— The owner is the grandmother who raised my husband. She lives 200 km away in the region.
— Have you ever seen her?
— No. She has leg problems and didn’t come to our wedding.
— Does she have a phone?
— My husband apparently spoke to her.
— Who takes care of her if she’s ill?
— Some caregiver, I think…
— You should’ve gone to visit and find out the situation.
— Where would I get her address?
— It’s in your husband’s phone.
Natasha took the advice and, after her mother-in-law and father-in-law left, called the number.
The grandmother didn’t answer right away but had a rather lively voice.
— Yes?
— This is Natasha, your daughter-in-law.
— Hello, Natasha! What’s happened? Usually my grandson calls… but he hasn’t been in touch for over a month! Is he well?! I call my daughter, but she keeps hanging up…
Instead of answering, Natasha burst into tears. She realized the grandmother didn’t know her grandson had died.
— Natasha?! What’s wrong?!
— He died… It’s been forty days.
— My God… How could this happen?! No wonder I’ve been having bad dreams! — the woman nearly fainted from grief.
— I thought you knew…
— No. Damn… A cursed witch! Didn’t even call!
— I didn’t know you weren’t told…
— It’s not about you! I mean Angelica.
— Angelica Viktorovna moved into your apartment. She rents hers out. She’s evicting me and Andrey, — Natasha blurted out.
— With the great-grandson? Oh my… But not surprising. Here, Natasha, write down the address and come.
The next morning Natasha stood at the bus station with a stroller. Andrey was asleep, and she was restless with worry.
The journey took several hours. They found the house without problems.
The husband’s grandmother was ill but fully capable and sane.
— Who takes care of you? — Natasha asked, seeing the woman in a wheelchair.
— A caregiver I pay. Fortunately, I saved up for old age. Otherwise, I’d rot in some institution. I won’t get care from my daughter. She’s selfish. At least my grandson used to call and send money, now nobody needs me.
— I’m very sorry, — Natasha understood the grandmother well. She, too, felt unwanted.
— So what about the apartment?
Natasha told the grandmother everything since the funeral. They cried, remembered the deceased, and were silent…
— Here’s the thing, if you have nowhere to live with the boy, you can stay with me. The house is big, there’s enough room. Are you on maternity leave? Not working?
— On maternity leave.
— Then you’re in no hurry for two years.
— I hope I’m not a burden? My child is noisy.
— Is he noisy? My grandson was…
Natasha and the grandmother got along very well. The woman offered shelter in exchange for help around the house.
— I think you won’t need the caregiver for now. I’ll clean, cook, and take care of you, — Natasha offered. The grandmother agreed.
Angelica Viktorovna didn’t know where her daughter-in-law had gone. She wasn’t interested — until she realized Natasha’s actions were part of a cunning plan.
— The caregiver called me, said your mother refused her services, — Vitaly Borisovich told his wife.
— How did she refuse? She’s immobile!
— That’s what I’m wondering. Could it be Natasha’s doing?!
— Bitch! She wants to grab the apartment and house! — the mother-in-law flared up.
That same day she went to the mother and caused a scandal.
— What’s wrong with you, Angelica? You haven’t shown up in ages, then suddenly appear! Not enough two apartments — now you have your eyes on my house? Well, dear, forget the house. I’ve written it over to my grandson. Now he’s the heir, and you get nothing. By the way, you’ll have to vacate my apartment, too.
— On what grounds?! — Angelica Viktorovna was frightened.
— In my opinion. Legally. You lived for free; now it’s time to know your place.
— You’ve lost your mind! I’ll contest all the real estate deals.
— Try, — the grandmother laughed and slammed the door in her daughter’s face.
Without delay, the grandmother drew up a contract for the daughter-in-law. Natasha gladly signed it. Even without the contract, she was ready to help the grandmother. Now that there was someone she could trust, her soul felt joyful and light.
— I called my daughter and told her to pack. You, if you want, can return to the city. I’ll hire the caregiver back, — the grandmother quietly said.
— Andrey and I are better off here. With you. If, of course, you’re not tired of us…
— Not tired, — the grandmother hugged her daughter-in-law, and Natasha stayed with her.
The city apartment that Angelica and Vitaly had evicted Natasha from was rented out. Natasha and Andrey lived in the grandmother’s house. Gradually, they got used to village life so much that they no longer wanted to return to the city.
As for Natasha’s own grandmother, she remained alone. When she realized she should have maintained relations with her granddaughter, it was too late. The elderly woman became ill and didn’t even reach the phone… And no one was near.
Angelica and Vitaly soon divorced due to the wife’s jealousy. Left without inheritance and husband, Angelica took to drinking, collapsed on stage during a play, and was removed from her role. The woman was left with nothing but didn’t learn any lessons. She blamed everything on her daughter-in-law and her untimely deceased son, who was supposed to support her till old age.
