– “Sergey, please pop into the store on your way. I forgot to buy bread. We don’t eat it ourselves, but we probably need some for the guests.”
– “Alright,” her husband replied cheerfully, and Asya smiled.
– “Yes, and also get some milk. In case someone needs it for tea. No, better get some cream, I suppose. Your mother loves her tea and coffee with cream.”
– “I’ll take everything, don’t worry,” said Sergey. “I’ll have time to help you, and you should take care of yourself for a while—otherwise, I know you’ll fuss until the very end and forget to fix your hair.”
– “Everything’s already ready,” Asya laughed, “and you wouldn’t believe it—even my hair is done!”
– “Well, that’s wonderful! And I believe you! I’ve always believed in you, otherwise I wouldn’t have married you, right?”
Asya dismissed the call and resumed walking around the house, checking if there was any dust, whether the chicken had marinated well enough, and if the herring under the fur coat (that layered salad) had absorbed its flavors sufficiently. Satisfied that everything was in order, she changed into a festive dress and began awaiting the guests. Soon the house filled with voices. The guests congratulated the young married couple on their new home and wished they wouldn’t delay having children so that the sound of little feet might soon be heard. Sergey looked at his wife with love, delighted, thinking how lucky he was with her. Asya was not only beautiful but also genuinely bright. She managed to do so many things not because it was necessary, but simply because she enjoyed taking care of her husband, keeping the house cozy, and looking attractive. Sergey could only dream of a better wife. Needless to say, all his friends envied him, and those who hadn’t yet found their significant other even asked if Asya had a friend like her.
Gradually, the guests began to disperse. Some continued drinking in the garden, chatting about everything under the sun, while others drove home. The couple looked tired, but it was a pleasant kind of tiredness. How wonderful it was to host guests in your own home!
– “You bought a spacious house, well done. There’s enough room for everyone,” said his mother as she surveyed the large living room. “You did it right by ensuring there are two exits. I like that. Well, as long as you’re settling in, Anutka and I will move in with you in a week. You need time to live as a couple and enjoy married life.”
Asya dropped the towel from her hands. She was looking at Olga Borisovna, but the woman’s words echoed in her mind like the melody of a worn-out record.
– “With us?” Asya asked in astonishment, glancing at her husband, who appeared just as shocked.
– “With you. The location here is good. For now, you two don’t need such a mansion. After all, there aren’t any children yet, and when they do come, extra help won’t be a bad thing. We’ll take the right half—there’s more sun there, and I love growing flowers. But if you really insist on living in that half, so be it; we’ll stay in the left.”
Asya swallowed a thick lump that rose in her throat and slowly sat down on a chair. Her heart pounded loudly, sending blood rushing through her veins. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead. It had been a long time since the heat had overwhelmed her without any illness.
– “Mom, why did you even decide to move in with us? You have your own apartment,” Sergey interrupted the silence.
– “So what if I do? It isn’t going anywhere, but an apartment isn’t a home. You didn’t exactly buy an apartment yourselves. Besides, it will be much more convenient for your sister to get to the university from here—it’s not far at all.”
Olga Borisovna sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose, as if gathering her thoughts.
– “I didn’t want to tell you so you wouldn’t get upset, but Anka lost her budget spot. All because of that guy who chased her around the house, running circles. He drove her crazy with his sweet talk, and once he got what he wanted—he dumped her. Your sister suffered, so she couldn’t focus on her studies. That’s why she lost the chance to study for free. It’s hard for me to pay for her university fees. My salary isn’t that high, and she never managed to save enough in her life. So I thought this would be better for all of us. Am I not right? I’ll rent out the apartment to help pay for your sister’s studies, and we’ll live together. It would be too much for Asya to take care of the house alone; Anutka and I will help. We’ll be nearby, so you won’t feel lonely.”
Asya looked at her husband again. She didn’t want to quarrel with her mother-in-law and spoil their relationship, because everything had seemed fine at first… yet she couldn’t simply remain silent, pretending everything was alright. Though Asya was skilled at navigating delicate situations, she was always a straightforward person.
– “Do you mind if I leave you two alone? I’ll go ask if our guests need anything else.”
Asya left without waiting for an answer. She stepped out onto the porch and lingered by the railing, overwhelmed by Olga Borisovna’s words. Had Sergey not told her how they bought this house? Her mother-in-law had already begun planning… and how would she react next? Olga Borisovna was Sergey’s mother—a very close person to him—so Asya didn’t want to upset her, yet she also couldn’t just give in. Even if the house entirely belonged to them, Asya didn’t want to live with her mother-in-law, understanding that living together would bring serious discord. It’s easier to be apart. Can there really be two mistresses in the kitchen? And Olga Borisovna would hardly want to live completely separately. No… Asya certainly didn’t need that kind of “happiness.”
The evening air was filled with the scent of roses blooming in the garden. For a moment, Asya closed her eyes, relaxing and savoring the wonderful fragrance. How delightful it was! So fresh. She had always dreamed of living in a private house, stepping out into the yard in the evenings with a cup of tea and an interesting book, and simply relaxing. And now that dream had come true. Sergey would surely handle his mother, and Asya was too exhausted from the preparations for the celebration to further strain her nerves. She went, as planned, to her friends sitting nearby to ask if they fancied another snack.
– “Why are you sitting there like you’ve been plunged into water? Aren’t you happy? I immediately told Tanya, your aunt, that the two entrances in the house aren’t there by accident—you thought of your mother so she wouldn’t have to live far from her son all alone. And what? Your sister will be married off soon, and I can’t be the only one feeling lonely? I’ve devoted my entire life to you. Since your father passed away, I haven’t even looked at any other man.”
– “Mom, you’ve got it all wrong…”
– “How could I misunderstand? Ah! You’re tired, is that why you’re sitting with your head down? Well, don’t worry! You’ll rest. Soon the guests will leave, you’ll go to sleep, and the morning will bring wisdom. I need to go too. In the morning, I’ll start packing and put up an ad for renting out.”
– “Don’t rush with that ad… You understand…”
It was hard for Sergey to speak. His mother always saw him as a man destined for great achievements. She placed high hopes on him—even though such expectations were a heavy burden. He had to live up to them, and sometimes that cost him some of life’s joys. Of course, Sergey never tried to lie or present himself as better than he truly was. In his time, he had even given up his share in the apartment when it was time to divide the inheritance. Olga Borisovna always said that a man should achieve everything on his own, and Sergey believed it. Now his mother had drawn her own, incorrect conclusions, imagining all sorts of things, and it was hard to shatter her hopes.
– “Why the rush? You want to live alone a bit longer? Well… I can understand. It’s a young thing. So, tell me, how much time do you need?”
– “Mom, you and your sister can’t move in here because this isn’t our house. I mean, not entirely ours.”
Olga Borisovna gasped, clutching her head with her hands.
– “Did you really deceive us and rent it? You said you had earned enough, and that Asya had some savings too.”
– “Earned enough, indeed… but only for half the house.”
– “What do you mean, ‘only half’? Who owns the other half? Don’t tell me they’re going to sell it too. You showed us everything.”
Sergey got up, walked over to the table, and grabbed a glass of water, downing it in one gulp.
– “I won’t say that, of course. The other half of the house belongs to Asya’s parents. They’ll be moving out in a month.”
Olga Borisovna instantly paled. The castles in the air she had built in her mind crumbled immediately. The woman already pictured how she would live in this house, which flowerbeds she would rearrange to her liking. Since she was the mother of the homeowner, Asya was supposed to adapt to her wishes! And now, what was happening? There was nothing she could do. Of course, she was partly to blame. Sergey hadn’t said he bought the entire house, only that he and Asya had acquired their own little nest, which they would arrange for themselves.
– “But what were you thinking? Do you even realize what it’s like to live with your wife’s parents? They’ll pin you down! They won’t give you a peaceful life! You’ll be running errands, obeying all their orders.”
– “And did you plan to treat Asya that way? If you and your sister moved in here?”
Sergey looked at his mother sternly. Pale as a sheet, she silently chewed her lips, as if trying to find the right words.
– “I would have the right to, because I am the homeowner’s mother. A daughter-in-law should always please her mother-in-law and do everything to make her happy. Then there would be peace in your house. But that’s one thing… it’s another when you’re not allowed to be the master of your own home. And her parents certainly won’t let you off the hook. They’ll cling to you and drive you crazy—remember my words!”
Sergey shook his head. If they had bought the house for themselves and his mother moved in, she would undoubtedly have ruined his relationship with his wife. Even now, she wasn’t shy about admitting that. Unlike Asya’s parents, who never intended to interfere in the young couple’s life—they had always dreamed of traveling, and now such an opportunity had arisen. That was exactly why they decided to buy one house for both, so that their half would always be under watch, since they would be infrequent guests in their own home. However, Sergey did not want to talk about it.
– “In short, your move is off. You don’t need to worry about what kind of husband I’ll be, Mom. I’ll manage somehow, and as for your sister—stop fussing over her. If Anka lost her spot through her own folly, she can get a part-time job to pay for her studies. Or she can leave without a completed higher education. As far as I remember, she didn’t really want to study anyway, but you forced her.”
Olga Borisovna declared that her son had no right to dictate how she should behave with her beloved daughter, nor to decide for Anka. She was deeply hurt because all her hopes had been shattered, so she said goodbye to her son and went home.
The guests dispersed, leaving the young couple alone in their new, cozy nest. Gently rocking his wife on the garden swing, Sergey smiled as he gazed at the star-studded sky. The unpleasant feelings had completely vanished. At first, he felt guilty, but soon he realized he hadn’t deceived anyone—his mother’s conclusions were her own. Moreover, the situation allowed him to understand what he must protect his wife from.
– “Whatever happens, you must not remain silent. Agreed?”
– “Remain silent? About what?” Asya looked at her husband in surprise.
– “Don’t let anyone control you or dictate what is right—neither me nor my mother… no one. Agreed?”
Sergey explained to his wife that he didn’t want her trying to look good in his mother’s eyes, even if she disagreed with her opinions. He condemned his mother’s behavior and her desire to force her daughter-in-law to become her submissive slave. They were equals, and he wanted his beloved to be respected, not molded to someone else’s liking.
– “I promise that won’t happen. Everything has its limits. And if I don’t like something, I’ll speak up directly instead of staying silent. You know me!”
And so they agreed. Olga Borisovna remained angry at her son for a while, but since he was still her son, she didn’t cease communicating with him. Her attempts to push her daughter-in-law under her heel ultimately failed because Asya fulfilled her promise to her husband perfectly, and Sergey protected her like the rarest treasure in the world.
