Tatiana watched with sadness as the funeral home workers tidied up the grave—she had just said goodbye to the only person close to her. Tanya understood that her grandmother had struggled with her illnesses and advanced age, yet the tears continued to flow incessantly. Grandma had always hoped that Tanya would sort out her personal life and find stability. But Tanya always rushed home after work so as not to leave her grandmother alone.
Tanya had now turned 30, and she increasingly doubted that she could ever form a relationship with a man. She was used to interacting with elderly women—at the pharmacy, at interviews—but things just didn’t work out with men.
After returning home from the cemetery, Tanya sat at a table in an empty room and, unable to hold back, burst into tears.
That evening, a neighbor stopped by.
«How are you, Tanya? Let’s remember grandma,» she suggested as she sat down in the kitchen. «Stop crying; she’s already been freed from her suffering. Do you think it was easy for her? She couldn’t even die just to avoid leaving you alone. And now she’s worrying that she didn’t manage to get you married off.»
«I’m not a child,» Tanya sighed, once again remembering her grandmother.
«And did you make a will?» the neighbor inquired, sighing. «Oh, you should have had that house transferred to you by Markovna while she was still alive. As soon as the inheritance is touched, all sorts of people will come, and you’ll end up without a roof over your head.»
«Who are these ‘all sorts of people’? We never had anyone,» Tanya retorted. «The house was built by grandfather with our joint money, and when he left for another, he left it to grandma. Everything was fair.»
«Well, yes, your grandfather was a good man, though a real bastard at times,» the neighbor smirked. «He said he would leave the house, yet he didn’t leave any documents. And who knows, maybe he has five children in his new family, and now they’ll all come after the inheritance?»
Tanya involuntarily smiled.
«Oh, come on, grandfather died long ago. Grandma forgave him and even went to his funeral. But after that, she didn’t say much. I was only 13 then, and I wasn’t really interested.»
«Well, God willing, everything will be fine,» the neighbor sighed. «Maybe there was a child in the place where grandfather went, but he has no claim to the house.»
The neighbor’s words weighed on Tanya so much that at night she dreamt of people trying to kick her out of the house. She woke several times in a cold sweat, only to fall back asleep, tormented by her thoughts.
A month later, Tanya finally decided on something she had long been contemplating. She counted all the money she and her grandmother had, put it into a small purse, and headed to the hospital.
«I don’t understand you,» said the doctor. «You’re still young; you can conceive naturally.»
Tanya blushed, and the doctor, after coughing, added, «Of course, I have no right to dissuade you, but if your life doesn’t change in six months or a year, come back and we’ll discuss your case.»
Tanya nodded in relief. She longed for a child. However, she had never imagined that she could meet a man with whom she’d want to build a life—a man good enough for her to trust him. It seemed impossible, like a fairy tale.
About a week before the inheritance would be finalized, Tanya received a phone call.
«Yes, I’m listening?» she answered.
On the other end of the line, there was static, a scraping sound, and a squeak.
«Is this Zinaida Markovna?» she heard indistinct words.
Tanya could barely make out that her interlocutor expected to hear grandma’s voice, but she was no longer there—grandma had passed away.
Tanya hung up the phone, feeling a slight confusion. It was strange—after all, everyone who knew her grandmother was aware that she was gone. Shrugging, she forgot about the call and soon found herself at the doors of a notary office.
She stood outside for a long time, lost in thought, until the cold wind compelled her to enter.
As soon as she grasped the doorknob, a voice called out:
«Wait a minute, you’re Tatiana, right?»
Tanya turned, and her eyes fell on a man dressed in clothes clearly too large for him, holding the hand of a boy about four years old.
«Excuse me, but who are you?» she asked.
«I am your grandfather’s grandson,» the man replied.
The secretary standing nearby looked at Tanya in surprise.
«You said there were no other heirs,» he remarked.
Tanya blushed and shrugged.
«This is the first time I’m seeing this person.»
The secretary nodded and gestured for them to come inside.
The man wanted to say something more, but then simply nodded and followed Tanya. The notary listened carefully to the secretary’s explanation and then addressed the man:
«Do you have any documents?»
«Unfortunately, no,» the man shook his head. «They were stolen on the train. I will, of course, get them restored, but for now, I have nothing in hand. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not claiming any inheritance, since Tanya’s grandfather was not a blood relative to me. I only came to pay my respects to Zinaida Markovna, who treated me well. The journey was long and exhausting, so I slept soundly on the train. When I woke up, I had neither belongings nor money. The conductor gave me some clothes and a little money for a ticket…»
Tanya looked at him in astonishment. Noticing her gaze, the man smiled:
«Sorry, I didn’t mean to be a burden, but I have no other choice. I beg you to take me in until my father sends the money. I could have spent the night at the station, but Vasya…»
Tanya finally snapped out of her confusion.
«Of course, come in. And is this your son?»
«Yes,» the man replied, «his name is Vasya. His mother passed away, and we try not to be apart for too long.»
«Well then,» sighed the notary, «I’m glad everything is being sorted out so simply; I was already imagining your case dragging on. So often, those who show up for the reading of a will are the ones who want a slice of the inheritance, even though they had shown no interest when the deceased was alive.»
Half an hour later, they left the office. Tanya was somewhat dazed, not entirely understanding what was happening.
«Dad, I’m hungry,» came the voice of the little boy. Vasya looked at her with clear blue eyes.
Tanya wasn’t obliged to feed the boy, but she felt sorry for him. He was unfortunate with his father.
«Let’s go, it’s not far—about ten minutes from here,» she invited.
On the way, Tanya kept stealing glances at the boy. He was blond with barely noticeable freckles on his nose.
When they entered the house, the man—named Maxim—looked around:
«You know, I’ve never been here before, but grandfather used to talk so vividly about this house that I feel like I’ve been here many times.»
«I barely remember him,» Tanya confessed. «Grandma always got angry whenever his name was mentioned. It was impossible to learn anything about him.»
Tanya set them at the table and began to serve them, noticing with surprise that she was glad to have guests. At that moment, there was a knock at the door.
«Oh, of course, it’s the ever-present neighbor,» Tanya sighed. «Who else could it be.»
«Tanya, I came to see how everything went… Oh, you have guests!» the neighbor remarked, casting a glance at Maxim and Vasya, then staring at Tanya. «It seems everything turned out just as I thought.»
«Everything’s fine, don’t worry,» Tanya smiled.
She managed to send the neighbor away after ten minutes. Maxim, watching this with a smile, noted:
«Looks like you’re always under someone’s watchful eye.»
That evening, he called his father to explain the situation. His father promised to send money, but when he asked how Maxim planned to buy tickets without a passport, Maxim was taken aback.
«Oh, I hadn’t even thought of that,» Maxim replied, calming slightly. «But perhaps I can get the documents restored here; the main thing is that my father sends the necessary papers.»
«Yes, but that might take a long time,» Tanya said, a bit embarrassed. «I’m sorry I didn’t consider that immediately. You do have work, don’t you?»
«Don’t worry, I’m on vacation, so it’s not a problem here. And if you’re worried I’ll inconvenience you, I give you my word—I’ll be as quiet as a whisper, and so will Vasya,» he replied with a smile.
A week passed, and Tanya could no longer imagine life without Maxim and Vasya when they left. Vasya increasingly clung to her, and she spent hours with him, teaching him letters and buying him children’s books. Maxim, too, kept himself busy—the house was tidied up, and everything that had required years of repair was finally fixed.
One day, Maxim asked her:
«Tanya, excuse me if this question is inappropriate, but don’t you want children of your own, or is there another reason…?»
«It just didn’t work out… First studies, then work, and then grandma got sick,» Tanya replied with a light sigh.
«Were you ever married?» he asked cautiously.
Tanya shook her head.
«You know, it might sound strange, but I never even had a serious relationship.»
They never returned to this subject, yet from that moment Tanya felt a tense stirring between them. Thoughts that Maxim would soon get a passport and that he and Vasya would leave troubled her.
The neighbor kept whispering to her:
«Tanya, look at the way he looks at you! Can’t you see? The little boy is drawn to you, and what, you don’t want to try family life?»
Tanya merely brushed it off:
«No, come on—Maxim looks at me as if I were just an ordinary person, and Vasya—he’s just a child.»
Tanya felt embarrassed to think that Maxim might like her as a woman rather than just needing a place to stay.
When it came time for them to leave, Tanya set the table, Vasya ate, and quickly fell asleep. Maxim and Tanya were left alone. Maxim poured some wine and, raising his glass, looked at her sadly.
«Tanya, you know what I want more than anything?» he asked, gazing into her eyes.
«What is it?» she whispered.
«To hold you close and never let you go,» he said.
Tanya looked at him in alarm.
«But… why? How is that possible? We can’t be together…»
And then she began to cry. Maxim approached her, embraced her, and whispered, «Everything will be alright, I promise.»
«Come in, Tatiana, have a seat. Have you decided after all?» the doctor smiled as he started writing something while saying, «I’ll give you a referral for tests, and then we’ll schedule the next steps.»
«No, doctor, I’m here about something else,» Tanya replied, slightly embarrassed.
The doctor lifted his glasses and looked at her in surprise:
«And about what?»
«I think I might be pregnant. My husband doesn’t know yet, and I would like… if that’s the case, for you to help me.»
The doctor removed his glasses and smiled:
«So, it seems that changes have finally happened in your life?»
Tanya nodded, a bit shyly.
«That’s wonderful! I’ll give you the tests, you take them, and then come straight back to me.»
A few days later, Tanya was once again sitting in the doctor’s office, watching as his eyebrows slowly rose.
«Is something wrong?» she asked, concerned.
«On the contrary, everything is wonderful. Your tests are excellent, and it appears you’ll be a mother not once, but twice.»
«Twins?» Tanya gasped. «Are you serious?»
The doctor laughed, «If you could see your face right now!»
Tanya, Maxim, and Vasya stood by her grandmother’s grave.
«Here you go, grandma, just as you wanted. I’m married now, and soon we’ll have children. It’s a pity you won’t be here to see it,» Tanya said, looking at the grave.
Maxim gently put his arm around her shoulders and added, «Yes, Zinaida Karpovna made sure things turned out as she dreamed. I came here almost homeless, not knowing you, and you took us in.»
Tanya turned to him and asked, «Do you think she knew?»
«I don’t know for sure,» Maxim replied, «but I’m sure that if it weren’t for Zinaida Karpovna, I wouldn’t be the happiest man on earth today.»
