Guests are over, but the table looks like it’s set for beggars. Is that normal for you?»
«Normal is when you come to visit to chat, not to eat at someone else’s expense,» Olga snapped back, clearing away an empty plate. «And this isn’t alms, it’s dinner.»
Galina Sergeyevna frowned, squinting her eyes. Behind her back, Ilya tried to appear focused on his phone, but the corners of his mouth twitched from tension.
«Son, are you listening?» Galina Sergeyevna turned to him. «Your wife is such a rude woman. That’s not how you talk to your elders.»
«Mom, don’t start,» Ilya muttered, without lifting his head.
«What do you mean, don’t start?» Galina Sergeyevna’s voice picked up pace. «How much have I endured? Her house is a mess, she can’t cook borscht, and she has zero respect for guests. We need to re-educate your little wife.»
Olga stopped in the middle of the room, still holding a plate. Her face turned pale, but her voice remained firm.
«Galina Sergeyevna, if you’re unsatisfied, you can leave right now. Nobody’s holding you.»
Galina Sergeyevna sighed loudly, theatrically folding her arms across her chest.
«Did you hear that, Ilya? That’s your wife talking to me! Are you going to stay silent?»
Ilya stood up, placing his phone on the table. His gaze darted between his mother and his wife.
«Mom, you asked to come stay for a few days. We welcomed you as best we could. Maybe it’s enough with the nitpicking of Olga?»
«Enough?» Galina raised her eyebrows, her face expressing extreme surprise. «So, you’re on her side?»
«Not on a side, I just ask that you don’t create a circus,» Ilya replied tiredly.
Olga turned away to hide a smile. Galina abruptly pushed her chair back and stood up.
«I’m everything to you, Ilyusha. I’ve spent my whole life so that you would be a decent person. And now…» she paused, looking at her son accusingly. «Well, we’ll see how you manage without me.»
She headed to the living room, straightening her back dramatically. Olga put the plate in the sink and turned to Ilya.
«Do you even realize she won’t stop?» she whispered.
Ilya sighed and looked away.
«We’ll handle it. She’ll leave in a couple of days, please just bear with it.»
«Bear with it?» Olga asked but fell silent, noticing how her husband frowned.
From behind the wall, the sounds of the TV could be heard. Galina had settled on the sofa, but her words, thrown into the void, still reached the kitchen:
«We need to re-educate the little wife.»
A deathly silence settled in the kitchen.
I always knew my son deserved better. How much effort, nerves, sleepless nights I spent to raise him into a decent person. And now… now he listens to her—this girl who can’t even keep the house in order. Well, nothing, I still have the strength to set things right.
I remember when he first brought her home. I realized right then that she wasn’t the one. Nervous, full of banal phrases: «Hello,» «Nice to meet you,» «Thank you for inviting me.» Plain, grey, without a spark. And most importantly—from a family that can give him nothing. Her parents are workers, the apartment is old, the setting is shabby.
Ilya, of course, said he loved her. But did he really understand what love is? Youth, hot blood, that’s all. But I immediately felt: if they get married, trouble will fall on my head.
I was sitting in the kitchen then, watching her pretend to be interested in our family stories. All she did was nod. Ilya, of course, was beaming. «Look, mom, how smart and attentive she is.» Smart? Sure. I know these types: always with their opinions, just give them a chance to argue and show off their intelligence.
«Olechka,» I said then, trying to be polite, «do you like to cook?»
She hesitated for a second.
«Well, sometimes. But I prefer something simple.»
Simple. You see? As if to say, «Expect from me pasta and instant soup.» I immediately looked at Ilya, but he, of course, just smiled like a fool. Love, you see. And I’ve always told him: the main thing in a wife is care about the home and husband. Not all this.
When they got married, I still tried to restrain myself. Didn’t want him to think I was against it. And, honestly, I hoped she would learn in the process. Become like me: house-proud, practical. But no such luck! Just a month later, Ilya complained to me:
«Mom, Olya says we have too many of your ‘advisories’ at home.»
Advisories? It’s not advisories, it’s a guide to proper living! Their shelves were a mess. Cups on the table—no coasters, window unwashed. I just wanted to help. Is there something wrong with that?
Then I visited them. Brought some food: pies, cutlets, compote. I thought, let her learn what a real table looks like. We sat down for dinner, I said:
«Here, kids, eat up. By the way, Olya, it’s simple: I made the dough myself, fried the meat, didn’t get lazy. I can teach you.»
She looked at me like I was a fool. Said nothing, just pushed her plate away.
«Thank you, Galina Sergeyevna, but I’ve already eaten today,» she replied quietly.
And what’s that attitude? Even Ilya hesitated. And me? I sat down and ate. Can’t just throw it away. And you know, the pies were to die for! And she didn’t even take a piece.
Since then, her little digs started. One day she’d move things back to where she, you see, finds it convenient, then, imagine, she says that I’m too involved in their life. And I just wanted to help! What kind of gratitude is that? And my Ilya—defends her.
«Mom, leave us alone,» he said once. «We have our own family, our own rules.»
Rules? They have rules? They have neither order nor discipline. I’m tired of watching him put up with all this. Decided that if I don’t take it upon myself to re-educate her, she’ll completely ruin my son.
Now I’m with them. I know Olga is waiting for when I leave, but no. Until I achieve my goal, no one can kick me out.
The morning started just as I expected: with offended silence. Olya was demonstratively having breakfast in the kitchen alone, not even bothering to call me. I came out of the bedroom and immediately went to the kitchen.
«Olga, why didn’t you call me to the table?» I asked, standing in the doorway.
«Galina Sergeyevna, I didn’t know you were awake,» she replied, not lifting her head from her cup of coffee.
«And you only made coffee for yourself. As usual, you didn’t think about others,» I noted, sitting down. «Though, that’s not surprising.»
She clenched her teeth but remained silent. That’s how you deal with her: show who’s the elder here. However, I already saw that her patience was running out.
During the day, I decided to tidy up. Everything was, as always, out of place. Books lay in the hallway, dust on the shelves, the refrigerator crammed with all sorts of jars and boxes. I got to work. While Olya went for a walk with Liza, I rearranged the dishes, removed the ridiculous napkins from the table, and organized everything as it should be. But I didn’t get to enjoy the result before Olga returned.
«Galina Sergeyevna, did you move things again?» her voice sounded sharp.
«Move things?» I raised my eyebrows in surprise. «I didn’t move things, I just sorted out your mess. I wanted to help.»
«We don’t need help,» she threw her bag on the sofa (a bag! On the sofa, understand!). «Can’t you realize this is our home, and everything is arranged to suit us?»
«Suitable?» I asked with a smirk. «Is it suitable when something falls out of the closet because everything’s crammed in any old way? Or when a child takes out expired food from the fridge? If I hadn’t come, you would continue to live in your swamp.»
She blushed. At that moment, Ilya appeared in the hallway.
«Mom, what’s going on again?» he asked, clearly irritated.
«Your wife can’t accept help,» I replied, looking at him reproachfully. «In my time, we respected elders, not snapped at them.»
Olya flared up:
«What do you know about our times? You just constantly interfere, move our things, and don’t even ask if we need it.»
«Mom, stop!» Ilya said sharply, looking at me. «You’re crossing the line. We’re grateful for everything you’re trying to do, but now it’s too much.»
«Too much?» I felt blood rush to my cheeks. «So, you’re taking her side? After all the years I raised you, this is how you thank me?»
«Mom, you never see where the line is,» his voice became firmer. «We appreciate your desire to help, but we can’t live if you constantly interfere. You don’t give us the right to our mistakes, to our happiness.»
«Mistakes?» I bitterly smiled. «You call this happiness? Living with a woman who pulls you down?»
«Enough!» he stood up, slamming his palm on the table. «You no longer have the right to talk about my wife like that.»
At that moment, Olya appeared in the doorway. She stood quietly, hugging herself, but her eyes expressed determination.
«Galina Sergeyevna,» her voice was calm but firm. «You love us, I know. But your love suffocates. We can’t live like this anymore.»
«I suffocate?» I looked at her, then at my son. «So you want me to leave?»
Ilya nodded. In his gaze, there was regret, but also determination.
«Yes, mom. It’s the only way for us to preserve our relationship.»
I packed my things slowly, unhurriedly. Every time I folded another sweater, I thought: «They’ll regret this.» There was no doubt in my mind that they had made a mistake.
At the threshold, I paused, looking at them. Liza stood next to her mother, holding her hand, while Ilya was slightly behind. It seemed they had already formed their family, where there was no longer a place for me.
«Well,» I said, straightening my back. «We’ll see how you manage without me.»
I left the apartment, trying not to look back. The sound of the elevator echoed in my head. I was sure I had done the right thing. They would soon realize how much they needed my support.
Long in the silence of the stairwell, I repeated to myself: «I’m right. I’ve always been right.