Aleksey, my husband, and his mother have settled in very well. Until recently, they almost wiped their feet on me, calling me a ‘worthless flower’, but as soon as they learned about my inheritance, they suddenly showed increased interest. But again, not in me, but in the prospects that this inheritance gives. I regretted a hundred times that I married Lesha, and now just the right moment has come to set all the points over I.
— Lesha, do you remember Rita Yablochkova, she was in your class? — Violetta Mikhailovna stuffed a good piece of blueberry pie into her mouth. — I met her at the store this morning. She recently gave birth to twins, she boasted to me. Such a good girl, true, she got a bit plump, but it suits her.
— I remember that swot, — Aleksey replied. — She was such a nerd, wrote one test in five minutes, then started on the second variant. In the end, they gave her two A’s, we even nicknamed her ‘Rita — double’. Only she was already full in school, where else to gain weight?
— Well, you know, let me tell you, my dear, — Violetta began in a lecturer’s tone. — Back in the last century, there was an artist — Boris Kustodiev. He painted buxom beauties all the time, there was even a concept — ‘Kustodiev’s forms’.
— Nowadays, it’s called ‘body positivity’, — grumbled the husband. — No, mom, this is not my ideal of beauty, it’s very much an acquired taste.
I sat there, not believing my ears. Do they really not notice that they are not alone in the kitchen? I am also present, and it is quite unpleasant for me when my husband discusses the charms of other women.
— If you brought up this artist, I must note that his wife was quite slender, unlike his models, — I put in my two cents. — If you, Violetta Mikhailovna, are hinting that I have a slim figure and you would like to see a more well-fed daughter-in-law, just say so. No need for such allegories.
— And you, being so smart, should have learned to bake pies! — Violetta flared up. — I can’t understand what’s in front of me — a pie or some unimaginable mass.
— Nevertheless, thanks to your light touch, exactly half of this unimaginable mass is already gone, — I smirked. — Goes down well with tea, doesn’t it?
My mother-in-law blushed, choked, and pushed her plate away:
— Thank you, I’m full! If they reproach me with a piece of bread, then I have no appetite. And you, Maria, instead of sharpening your wit again, should think about what’s wrong with you. I want a grandson or granddaughter! So many years with Lesha — all in vain.
Violetta knows where to press. True enough. I’ve been married to Aleksey for a whole 7 years, and we haven’t been able to have a child. Interestingly, all the specialists unanimously say that everything is fine with us, they see nothing on their part.
— But if you don’t see, whom should I turn to? — I wonder. — You are the only instance.
The answer surprised me:
— Why don’t you go to the church? Sometimes there are such unexplained things that it makes sense to ask for help from higher powers.
That sounded not quite professional, I smiled:
— Following your logic, narrow, specially trained specialists can’t help me, but celestial forces will help right away?
Anyway, people in white coats shrugged, I didn’t expect help from them. Mom picked up this thought:
— We have a neighbor on the third floor, Larisa Fedorovna. Her daughter Vika was also in a similar situation as you. I don’t know where she got the address, but there is a healer in our city, Madame Angela. She helps even by photograph.
— Interesting — interesting, — I smiled. — This is some kind of ‘Battle of the Psychics’. And what about this Vika? Could she have a child?
— You know, yes, — mom answered. — But there’s one nuance, she changed her beau. — Interesting affairs! — I laughed. — Are you suggesting I leave Aleksey? Then there’s no need to go to Madame Angela.
— I see how they gnaw at you with the matchmaker, — mom sighed. — Good thing we haven’t been in touch with that person since your wedding. Unpleasant woman in every respect.
True enough. A scandal occurred at our wedding, directly caused by the mother-in-law. My parents paid for the wedding in full, Violetta kept complaining that they had no extra money. At the wedding itself, she criticized everything from the music to the menu. But after the event was over, Violetta began collecting leftovers from the table, carefully packing them in containers.
— Violetta Mikhailovna, there’s no need for that, — my mom gently remarked. My father tried not to get involved in these women’s matters, standing aside.
— If you’re so rich, then don’t take anything! — declared Violetta Mikhailovna, continuing to collect leftovers. — I want to invite friends tomorrow evening who didn’t come to the wedding. They want some too, by the way.
— What do your, pardon, friends have to do with the wedding? — mom asked a reasonable question. — However, you don’t need to answer that. — What concerns me is what people who work in this restaurant will think of us.
— I don’t care about other people’s opinion! — grumbled Violetta. — And I won’t let the food go to waste. There are still salads left, enough for New Year.
Mom later confessed to me that she felt very ashamed that day, and to prevent this feeling from arising again, she does not want to have anything to do with the matchmaker. Honestly, I would also see my toxic mother-in-law less often, who only tries to hurt me deeply.
— Aleksey, why doesn’t your mom like me? — I often asked my husband the same question. — I think I don’t give any reason for that.
— She doesn’t love anyone, — scowled husband. — Since my father left us, mom’s character has deteriorated sharply. Now she’s set against the whole world, nothing personal. Masha.
— Well, that’s something, — I was surprised. — Your mom hates the whole world, and I suffer in the end. Don’t be offended, but let her visit us less often, okay? Or visit her yourself.
After these words, Aleksey was offended, even began to speak in his mother’s words, claiming that I am to blame for us not having children, and for his mom not having grandchildren.
— How so? — I was amazed. — All that maternal hypnosis didn’t go in vain for you. — Maybe you could use your mental potential for other things? For example, think about how we can acquire our own housing. I’m tired of renting an apartment for 7 years.
— I don’t know about you, but everything suits me, — Aleksey argued. — The apartment is excellent, we rented it for a long time, what else can one dream about?
I began to suspect that you can’t cook porridge with such a spouse. He is like a stone lying in water, unwilling to flow. I don’t know how long this timelessness would have continued if it weren’t for one sad story.
The fact is that I have an older brother Ivan, who lived in a large country house, two-story. At 40, Ivan had not started a family or children, he worked in the North, and was rarely at home. I was always the favorite of my brother, he literally blew the dust off me. One day, mom called and informed me that Ivan was no more.
— Masha, when I was looking for his documents, I found a deed in your name, — mom sighed. — Your father and I think that’s very fair. At least fix your housing issue.
It was very sad to solve my problems in this way. But it was very unwise to refuse the inheritance. I figured out all the nuances after I had honorably escorted my brother on his last journey. Honestly, I had no special thoughts about what to do with this huge house. It was located far from my work and from Aleksey’s work as well.
My grief, and husband with mother-in-law somehow even perked up. Lesha became more tender, attentive, even started giving flowers, the first time in about five years.
— Tired from work? — my husband met me in the corridor. — Rest, I’ve started cooking dinner, can you smell the roasted meat?
I was amazed at such a metamorphosis. Violetta also became almost silky:
— Masha, I know how you love plum jam, here, I brought some, it’s oh so good with tea. And this is lecho, these are stuffed peppers, I froze them myself. Eat, gain form in the right places, so to speak.
I would believe that they all understood, realized, drew conclusions, but no. That didn’t happen. My husband and his mother had, it turned out, a cunning plan, good that I learned about it in time.
One day I returned from work, my husband did not come out to meet me, but he was at home, it could be understood from the loud phone conversation.
— This house will fetch a round sum, mom! We will all be in chocolate, don’t even doubt it. I’ve calculated everything, come visit, we’ll discuss everything in detail!
— Oh, what do I hear, — I smiled. — So that’s why you and Violetta Mikhailovna became so kind. Already carving up my inheritance? Well done, nothing to say.
Aleksey struck a theatrical pose and declared…
— At the family council, mom and I decided that you need to sell your apartment — said husband
— Strange affairs, — my eyebrows rose in astonishment. — And I’m not included in your council? Was I married off without me? And what did you decide there?
— When the time comes, you sell this house, all the money received you give to my mom. She knows exactly how to manage it.
— How come? — it was frankly funny to listen to all this.
Aleksey went to the kitchen. Drank some water, then pulled out a list:
— So, let’s start. My mom really wants to buy a car and it’s fair.
— What’s fair about that? — I didn’t understand. — If she wants, no problem, let her buy, what do I have to do with it?
— Don’t interrupt! All questions later! — Aleksey declared loudly, like a lecturer. — Moving on. Mom dreams of visiting Turkey, you know, she just adores Turkish series. So, we need to respect her. Next, there hasn’t been a renovation in mom’s apartment for 10 years. It would be fair if we do the renovation for her. And so, small things, shoes, clothes, groceries…
— It’s all quite nice, — I smirked sarcastically. — Where am I in your Napoleonic plan? You’ve completely forgotten about me, and I’m the heiress.
— No, of course, we haven’t forgotten about you, — the husband hurriedly replied and immediately corrected himself. — About us. Mom decided to give us money for the down payment, imagine?
— Thank you very much, kind people, — I laughed in my husband’s face. — What would I do without you? I can just see myself walking around the world with an outstretched hand. But everything will be different.
— How so ‘different’? — the husband didn’t understand. — We and mom have already decided…
— I commend you for your independence, but you forgot that the house belongs to me? — I felt uncomfortable from such actions of relatives. — You have no relation to it at all, yet you so eagerly divide it as if it’s yours. Honestly, it’s even disgusting to listen to you.
— So what are we going to do with the house? — the husband asked hesitantly. — Mom is waiting for an answer…
— Since she’s waiting, call her, — I smiled sweetly. — You can’t let such a respected person as Violetta Mikhailovna wait.
Lesha immediately called his mother-in-law, at my request put the phone on speaker. I cleared my throat:
— Good evening, Violetta Mikhailovna. I accidentally became a witness to your division of my house. Well. impressive, I want to praise you for creativity, resourcefulness. But this will not happen.
— How can it not be? — Violetta flared up immediately. — Don’t forget, you live in a family.
— Yeah, — I agreed. — All true. But there’s one amendment. I see a family, not seeing a family. Do you understand what I mean? I have always been a persona non grata for you, and here you suddenly showered me with courtesies. Well, of course, this can be understood, so much is at stake…Car, Turkey, renovation…Just lovely.
— Your proposals? — Violetta asked me curtly. By her voice, it was clear that she did not expect anything good from me and was not mistaken.
— Now your smart son will pack up and come to you, — I said in an angelic voice. — I don’t need passengers like you for free. Decided to warm your hands on me? No, it won’t work, my dears.
Husband and mother-in-law burst at the same time, she screamed from the phone, Aleksey — at me. I heard again how unreliable I am. Can’t have a child and so on. But I was no longer interested, I had already made a decision, right at the beginning of the conversation.
About two years have passed, I’m doing well, I parted with Aleksey, found a worthy man. And the main news is that I’m expecting a child, imagine? I understood everything. Fate didn’t see me with Lesha, that’s why she didn’t gift us children. Our marriage just wasn’t part of her global plans. Now everything is in order — next to me is a worthy man, who is currently doing renovations in our huge house. Soon our family nest will be simply wonderful and very cozy.»
