The closer the wedding day came, the gloomier Illya became. Mila couldn’t understand what had happened to him. Maybe he had changed his mind, and like her, began to feel guilty toward his friend? He was tender with her, caring for Vanechka, and everything seemed fine on the surface. But Mila felt that something was eating him from the inside.
— Illya, — she couldn’t take it anymore. — What’s bothering you? Has something happened?
Mila’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
— Could it be some news about Vanya?
Illya lowered his gaze and spoke in a muffled voice.
— I thought I would keep this secret forever, but I realize now that I can’t do this to you. After what you’re about to hear, you won’t want to be my wife. But I will still say it. Vanya is alive. He’s living in his hometown.
— What are you saying? — Tears rolled down Mila’s cheeks. — When did you find out about this? Why didn’t you tell me? Is he hurt? — Mila suddenly became frightened and seemed to understand everything. — He became disabled, didn’t he? He doesn’t want to be a burden to me? I’ll go to him right now!
She rushed to the wardrobe and started pulling out drawers, searching for something, as though she were actually about to pack a suitcase and leave.
Illya grabbed her hand.
— Wait, Mila. Everything’s fine with Vanya. He came back with me. He asked me to say that he was missing. You see, he wanted to leave the door open to return to you.
Mila listened to Illya, not understanding what he was saying.
— Vanya met someone else. His first love. She’s ten years older than him and always rejected him, but the last time he visited his parents, everything finally clicked, and… He decided to try with her, and if it doesn’t work, he’ll return to you.
— You’re lying! — Mila screamed. — You’re all lying! Why are you saying these cruel things?
— Mila, forgive me, — he exhaled. — I love you, and I can’t keep lying anymore, even knowing the truth will hurt you this much.
Mila wiped her tears and said:
— Leave. I don’t want to see you. Never, do you hear?
— I knew this would happen, — he nodded. — You’re right — I deserve this. I shouldn’t have gone along with him, I should have told you the truth right away. Honestly, I hoped he’d realize that no one is better than you and would come back to you and Vanya. That’s why I stayed silent. Then I fell in love with you, and I didn’t want to hurt you. Forgive me again.
He reached out to hug her but stopped himself, dropped his hands, stood there, defeated and miserable, then left.
Mila didn’t want to cry anymore. There was an icy lump in her chest that wouldn’t let the tears out. Deep down, she already knew that everything Illya said was true. But she wanted to see for herself. Mila gathered Vanya, bought a plane ticket. She had the address — on that very envelope that contained a letter from Ivan’s mother. Mila didn’t know what she would say, but she decided that the most important thing was to get there, and she would figure it out from there.
An elderly woman in a flowery dress and a long fur vest opened the door. She looked at Mila, then at her son, and grumbled:
— He’s a spitting image of Vanya as a child. He said you’re lying. Come in.
Mila entered the room and sat down. Vanya became shy and clung to his mother.
— So, why did you come? — asked Ivan’s mother. — You need his address, right?
Mila nodded.
— I’ll call him now, — she said. — His wife is very jealous.
— Wife? — Mila repeated.
When she saw Ivan, her first instinct was to throw herself into his arms. But she was met with his cold gaze, which briefly flicked over their son, and she froze.
Ivan’s mother took her grandson’s hand and led him to the kitchen. Mila and Ivan were left alone.
— Do you even realize what I’ve been through? — Mila quietly asked.
— So in the end, everything worked out? I heard you’re getting married, right? — There was an unfamiliar aggression in Ivan’s voice, one that Mila had never heard before. It was as if she, Mila, was the one who had deceived him.
— I’m not getting married anymore, — she replied bitterly.
— Well, that’s your business, — he shrugged. — Say what you need to say quickly. Alla can call any minute.
Mila suddenly realized that the Ivan she knew and loved was no longer there. He loved another woman, was probably happy with her, tolerated her jealousy, and even now, when he first saw his son, the only thing on his mind was that his wife might call.
Mila stood up and said:
— Nothing. Although… I only have one question: weren’t you at all interested in seeing your son?
— Illya sent me pictures, — he answered. — He told me how things were. I offered him money so he could help you, but he refused. So, it’s not my fault.
He stood for a little while longer and asked:
— Well, should I go?
Mila nodded. What more was there to say?
She was about to leave immediately, but Ivan’s mother stopped her.
— Let me feed you at least. And the child needs to sleep, do you even follow his schedule?
— I do, — Mila replied defiantly.
— Well, then, eat and put him to bed.
Mila didn’t know how it all turned out this way, but while Vanechka slept, she told this woman everything. How happy she had been with her son, how they had saved up for a house and a wedding, how she had waited for him and couldn’t believe that Vanya was missing.
— What a rascal, — Ivan’s mother reluctantly scolded her son.
Before Mila left, she said:
— Alla is a stubborn girl, you better not come here. I’ll try to come to you, though, after all, you’re my own blood. Don’t hold it against me, how was I supposed to know this was Vanya’s son? And about Illya… He’s a good guy, you don’t throw away guys like that. Well, he made a mistake, he wanted to help his friend. You forgive him, he just wanted to do what was best.
Mila waved her hand vaguely.
She forgave Illya, but not immediately. It was Vanechka who helped her, crying and whining, missing Illya, who had long been like a father to him.
— Mama, where is Uncle Illya? — he asked. — Does he not love us anymore?
And then Mila gave in. After all, everyone can be forgiven. Especially when you love them.
