May holidays are a time when the city empties out, and country houses come to life. Marina was packing the last bags of groceries into the trunk while Konstantin fiddled with the navigator.
«Are you sure we haven’t forgotten anything?» he asked for the third time, casting a wary glance at their city apartment.
Marina rolled her eyes.
«Absolutely. I double-checked. The straightener, the chargers, the books – everything’s packed.»
«What about your mom? Who’s going to feed Barsik?»
Marina froze for a second. The topic of her mother-in-law always caused her inner tension. Galina Petrovna was the sweetest person in public, but behind closed doors…
The constant advice on how to cook, clean, even breathe. The thought of Galina taking over their apartment for five days made Marina feel almost physically uncomfortable.
«I wrote her a detailed guide,» she replied curtly. «The food is in the left cupboard, clean the litter box every day, water the flowers strictly on schedule.»
«Maybe you should call her?» Konstantin suggested softly.
«Why? I wrote it all in the message.»
At that moment, an idea flashed through Marina’s mind. That little surveillance camera they bought after a series of thefts in the neighboring houses! It was on the bookshelf, almost hidden among trinkets but with a perfect view of the living room.
«You know what?» Marina suddenly perked up. «I forgot to check if the camera is on. Wait a minute!»
She quickly returned to the apartment, located the little electronic eye, and confirmed that the indicator was green. The app on her phone was working perfectly—clear image, great sound. Marina smiled contentedly. Now she would definitely know what was going on in her absence.
«All good!» she announced happily, returning to the car.
Konstantin didn’t ask any questions about his wife’s sudden burst of enthusiasm. After three years of marriage, he had learned not to delve into some of her quirks.
The next day, Galina Petrovna entered her son’s apartment after they left.
She had her own keys—just in case, as Kostya always said. Though she could tell her daughter-in-law wasn’t thrilled about it.
«Here, kitty, kitty, kitty, Barsik! Grandma’s here!» she called as she took off her shoes in the hallway.
The fluffy black cat lazily emerged from the bedroom, stretching his body. He allowed Galina to pet him graciously and proceeded to the kitchen, unmistakably indicating that he was hungry.
«Hold on, hold on,» Galina murmured, pulling out the food. «Eat, my good boy.»
Looking around, she shook her head disapprovingly. Marina had clearly been in a hurry to leave for the country house—cups were unwashed, cushions were scattered on the couch, and the morning newspaper lay on the floor.
«What kind of housekeeper is she?» Galina muttered, starting to tidy up.
She turned on the radio and began to straighten up, humming along to a popular song from her youth. Half an hour later, the kitchen was sparkling, the cushions fluffed, and the newspaper neatly folded on the coffee table. Galina sat down on the couch, feeling a sense of accomplishment, and took out her phone.
She dialed the number of her long-time friend Nina.
«Hello, Nina? It’s me,» she said, settling more comfortably. «Can you believe I’m at Kostya’s apartment? He and Marina went to the country. They’ve left me in charge—to feed the cat and water the flowers.»
Galina sighed and lowered her voice.
«Can you imagine this trust? More like a forced measure. My daughter-in-law… She left me instructions! As if I don’t know how to care for a cat without a note. By the way, I raised three kids, and now she gives me instructions!»
Who would have thought that at that very moment, Marina, sitting on the veranda of the country house, was eagerly watching her mother-in-law through her smartphone screen? Every word of Galina Petrovna was crystal clear through the speaker.
«Kostya, come here! Hurry up!» she called to her husband, who was chopping firewood for the evening barbecue.
«What’s wrong?» he asked, wiping his hands on his jeans.
«Look what your mom is doing!»
Konstantin stared at the phone screen in confusion. His mother was sitting on their couch, continuing to pour her heart out to her friend.
«You know, Nina, sometimes I feel completely unnecessary in their lives,» Galina was saying, fiddling with the edge of the couch cushion. «Kostya tries, of course, but this Marina… She does everything her own way.»
«And my advice seems to go unheard. Take these curtains, for example! I told her it would be better to put thicker ones in the kitchen to protect the wallpaper from the sun. But no! ‘We want more light, Mom.’ And now look—the wallpaper’s already faded on that side!»
Konstantin switched his confused gaze between the screen and his wife.
«Marina, you installed a hidden camera? And you’re spying on my mom?»
Marina raised an eyebrow, as if surprised by his lack of understanding.
«It’s not spying on your mom; it’s spying on our apartment! For security,» she lowered her voice, imitating her mother-in-law. «And look how well it’s worked out! Now we know what she really thinks of us.»
Meanwhile, on the screen, Galina continued:
«And her cooking style! Oh my God, Nina! I went to dinner at their place last night, and she served some quinoa with avocado. What even is that? Couldn’t she have made a normal borscht for the guests? Kostya grew up on my borscht and cutlets, and now he’s eating this… grass!»
Galina sighed heavily, stood up from the couch, and walked over to the bookshelf. She gently picked up a framed photo of her son.
«Ah, Kostya’s so different since he got married. He used to visit me every Sunday, and now I’m lucky if they come once a month. It’s all about Marina now.»
She abruptly stopped herself and placed the photo back in its place.
«Alright, Nina, I’ve rambled enough. Probably just old age. We were young once, too, and didn’t always like our mothers-in-law. Life’s like that. I’ll call you back later, I’m going to check the kitchen.»
Konstantin turned off the phone screen and looked angrily at his wife.
«Marina, this is too much. You’re invading my mom’s privacy!»
«Me?» Marina felt her cheeks flush with indignation. «And when she invades our privacy, moving things around and criticizing every step I take—that’s okay?»
«But recording someone without their consent…»
«Come on! She’s in our apartment, by the way. And look at what she’s doing!» Marina turned the feed back on.
Now, Galina Petrovna was in the kitchen, opening cupboards. She pulled out a jar, sniffed its contents.
«What’s this spice?» she muttered. «Unclear, and probably expensive. This is where the money goes…»
She continued her kitchen inspection, shaking her head and clicking her tongue. Then she pulled a package out of her bag.
«Here, let them try my cutlets when they get back. Otherwise, Kostya’s going to lose weight eating only grass.»
Marina snorted loudly.
«See? She’s even criticizing our food! And stuffing her cutlets into our fridge!»
Konstantin rubbed his nose.
«Marina, she’s just worried…»
«She thinks I’m a bad wife and housekeeper!» Marina felt a lump form in her throat. «I’ll never be good enough for her precious son.»
Meanwhile, on the screen, Galina moved into the bedroom and began straightening the bed.
«Oh my God, she’s going into our bedroom!» Marina exclaimed.
«She’s just making the bed,» Konstantin said tiredly.
«And now what?!» Marina almost pressed the phone to her face. «She’s opening my closet! Kostya, she’s rummaging through my things!»
Indeed, Galina carefully opened the wardrobe door and ran her hand over the hanging clothes. Then, as if finding what she was looking for, she pulled out a blue dress.
«Here it is, the one,» she whispered, holding the dress to her chest. «I remember how Kostya was so happy when we picked it out for Marina. He said, ‘Mom, this is her color!’ And she’s never worn it…»
Galina carefully hung the dress in a prominent place and closed the wardrobe. She then pulled out her phone and dialed her friend again.
«Nina, I’ve been thinking… Maybe I really expect too much from them? I look at their apartment—it’s clean, cozy. Marina tries. In her own way, not mine, but she tries.»
«And I keep nitpicking… Maybe I should really learn to keep my opinions to myself?»
Konstantin and Marina exchanged glances. Neither of them expected this turn in the conversation.
«You know, Nina, I sometimes wonder—what if my mother-in-law had come into my house like this when Vitia and I first got married? How would I have felt? Probably just as uncomfortable as Marina feels now… Eh, life really goes in circles.»
Marina silently stared at the screen. Her indignation slowly shifted into embarrassment and some unexpected understanding.
«Yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop making cutlets!» Galina suddenly laughed into the phone. «A mother’s heart can’t be fooled. I see Kostik has lost weight. Let him indulge in some normal food now and then.»
Konstantin couldn’t hold back and chuckled softly.
«What’s so funny?» Marina whispered.
«Mom never changes,» he smiled. «She’s sixty-two, and she still thinks of me as a child who needs to be fed.»
On the screen, Galina finished her call, dusted off the coffee table, and sat down on the couch with a book she had brought. Now she looked like just a tired older woman.
«Maybe you should turn it off?» Konstantin quietly suggested. «I’m feeling uncomfortable.»
Marina continued watching the screen, but her expression had changed. There was a thoughtful look in her eyes.
«You know,» she said slowly, «I never thought she… that she also has feelings about all of this. For me, she’s always just… the mother-in-law. Forever dissatisfied, forever criticizing.»
«She’s just missing me,» Konstantin said gently. «And she doesn’t always know how to express her concern.»
Marina turned off the phone and set it aside. The evening at the country house was quiet, with birds singing faintly in the distance. She suddenly felt a strange sense of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off her shoulders.
«Kostya, I’m not any better than her. I set up a camera, I’m spying…»
Konstantin hugged his wife by the shoulders.
«What are we going to do?» he asked.
Marina was silent for a long time, looking at the sunset sky.
«I think we need to talk. All three of us. Honestly talk.»
For the next two days, Marina barely touched the surveillance app.
Something inside her resisted the urge to spy on her mother-in-law again. Every time her hand reached for the phone, the image of Galina Petrovna, gently sorting through the clothes in the closet and speaking with her friend about her worries, flashed before her eyes.
However, on the third day of the May holidays, when Konstantin went to the nearest village for groceries, Marina couldn’t resist any longer. «I’ll just check if everything’s alright with the apartment,» she justified herself as she opened the app.
The living room was empty. Marina switched the camera to cover a wider angle. Sounds came from the kitchen—someone was definitely there. In a moment, Galina Petrovna appeared in the camera’s view, holding a large pot.
«Here you go, Barsik,» she was saying, addressing the cat at her feet. «Let’s give them a real surprise. They’ll come back tired and hungry, and here’s homemade borscht! What do you think, will Marina be happy?»
She was talking to the cat as though it could answer. Barsik, however, only meowed demandingly, asking for a treat.
«No, buddy, you can’t have any,» Galina bent down and scratched the cat behind the ears. «You know, I was talking to Nina this morning. She says I’m too strict with Marina. Maybe I really am. When I was her age, I didn’t know half of what I know now.»
Marina felt awkward, as though she were eavesdropping on something very personal. Essentially, she was. She was about to turn off the app when Galina’s phone rang.
«Yes, Kostya, hello, son!» Galina brightened, and Marina froze.
Konstantin was calling his mother? When did he have time? He had just left for the village thirty minutes ago.
«No, no, everything’s fine, don’t worry,» Galina was saying meanwhile. «Barsik’s fine, he’s eating well. Yes, I’m watering the flowers regularly, just as Marina asked.»
A pause. Galina listened to her son, and her face gradually grew serious.
«Camera? What camera?» she looked around in confusion. «Oh, for security… Where is it? On the bookshelf?»
Marina almost dropped her phone. «He told her! He told her everything!» she thought in panic.
On the screen, Galina slowly turned towards the bookshelf and stared directly into the camera. Her face froze for a second, then contorted with realization.
«So Marina’s been… watching me all this time?» she asked quietly, still staring at the camera.
Kostya was saying something on the other end, but Galina didn’t seem to be listening. She slowly sat down on a chair, not taking her eyes off the camera.
«And she heard everything I said? All my talks with Nina?»
Another pause. Galina suddenly straightened up, her face hardening.
«I see. Thanks for warning me. No, I’m not offended. Yes, of course. Bye, Kostya.»
She hung up and sat motionless for a few seconds, staring into space. Then she slowly got up and walked to the door.
«Well then, Marina Andreyevna,» she spoke directly into the camera, and the direct address made Marina break into a sweat. «I hope you enjoyed watching me. Did you learn anything new?»
Galina looked not so much angry as deeply wounded. She shook her head.
«You know, I can understand a lot of things. But this… this is humiliating.»
Galina turned around, walked resolutely to the entrance, put on her coat, and within a minute, the door slammed behind her. Galina had left.
Marina stared at the empty apartment in shock. Her phone vibrated—a message from Konstantin: «Sorry, I didn’t want to, but Mom asked directly why I was calling to check on the flowers if you left detailed instructions. I had to tell her about the camera.»
«Damn!» Marina cursed, jumping to her feet. She immediately dialed her husband’s number.
«Where are you?» she asked as soon as he picked up.
«I’m in line at the checkout, why?»
«Your mom knows everything. She left the apartment. She looked really upset.»
«Damn!» Konstantin replied, matching her tone. «I knew this was going to happen. I’ll call her now.»
«No, wait. I’ll do it myself.»
Marina, surprising herself with her decision, dialed Galina Petrovna’s number. The dial tone continued, but no one picked up the phone. She tried again – to no avail.
“She’s not answering,” she told Konstantin.
“No surprise there. I told you this was a bad idea.”
“Yes, you did,” Marina quietly agreed. “And you were right.”
By evening, they finally managed to get through to Galina. Actually, she called Konstantin back, assuring him everything was fine, she just needed to “clear her head.” He passed the phone to Marina.
“Galina Petrovna, I…” she began, but her mother-in-law interrupted:
“Everything’s fine, Marichka. I understand. You’re young, you need your space. Sorry if I was being intrusive.”
Her voice sounded quiet and lifeless, and this made Marina feel even worse.
“No, listen, I need to explain…”
“There’s nothing to explain. I understand everything now. I’ll know my place.”
“Galina Petrovna, we’re coming back tomorrow. Can we… talk?”
A long pause.
“Of course,” her mother-in-law finally replied. “Come over, we’ll talk.”
After the call, Marina sat for a long time on the porch, staring into nowhere. She replayed everything she had seen on the camera – how Galina had been cleaning their apartment, cooking, talking to the cat, worrying about a dress… And what did she get in return? Secret surveillance and distrust.
“I was wrong,” she said to Konstantin when he came back. “Completely wrong.”
The next evening, they were back in the city. Galina Petrovna came to see them almost as soon as they unloaded the car. She looked composed, but there was a wariness in her eyes.
“Come in, Mom,” Konstantin hugged her. “We’re so happy to see you.”
“Of course, of course,” she smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
They sat at the kitchen table. An awkward silence fell.
“Galina Petrovna,” Marina finally spoke up. “I owe you an apology. What I did was wrong and inappropriate.”
Her mother-in-law looked at her with a calm gaze.
“What exactly are you apologizing for, Marina? For setting up the camera, or for me finding out about it?”
The question was sharp, but fair.
“For everything,” Marina answered honestly. “For invading your personal space. For not trusting you. For choosing to spy on you instead of having a proper conversation.”
Galina slowly nodded, accepting the apology. But it was clear that the hurt was still fresh.
“You know,” Marina continued, “when I watched those recordings, I saw you for the first time… differently. Not as a mother-in-law, but as a person with your own feelings, worries. I never thought about how it must be for you.”
“And how is it for me?” Galina asked bitterly, with irony.
“Lonely,” Marina answered quietly. “And scared of losing connection with your son. And hurt when your good intentions are met with resistance.”
Galina Petrovna raised her eyebrows – surprise was so clearly visible on her face that Marina almost smiled.
“Yes, exactly,” she spoke slowly, carefully turning her cup of hot tea in her hands. “You know, Marina… When children grow up, when they have their own families, homes, habits – for a mother, it’s as if… a piece of your soul is ripped out. Your whole life revolves around them, you care for them, you breathe them in, and then – poof! – you’re left alone. Suddenly you realize: they need each other, and you… well, you’ve just become unnecessary.”
The last word was almost whispered, the voice trembling. Konstantin immediately reached out and gently placed his warm hand over his mother’s – awkwardly but tenderly.
“Mom, you’ll never be unnecessary.”
“But I often feel exactly like that,” Galina looked at her son with a sad smile. “And it’s not about you, Kostya. It’s just the way life is. You’re young, you have your own life, your habits, your plans. And I… sometimes I don’t know where my place is anymore.”
Marina felt a lump rise in her throat. She had never seen her mother-in-law so vulnerable, so… human.
“Galina Petrovna…” Marina lowered her eyes and whispered softly, “I really didn’t understand before. I was always thinking only about myself, about my feelings. I thought your advice… your remarks were hints that I wasn’t right for you. That for Kostya… I wasn’t the one.”
“Oh, Marichka!” Her mother-in-law flung her hands up, sighing heavily, as though an old grievance had been lifted off her shoulders. “Did you really think that about me? I just wanted to help you, in my old-fashioned way… You know, when I was growing up, we were taught everything: to cook, to clean, to darn socks. For a mother, that was love. But now… now everything’s different, you young ones live differently. Sometimes I just get lost: how am I supposed to act now? Maybe I didn’t keep up with the times, fell behind?”
“The point, perhaps, isn’t about what’s ‘right,’ but what isn’t,” Marina smiled, almost apologetically. “We just see the world differently. When you, for example, move my things in the kitchen or criticize how I make borscht, I feel like you’re saying, ‘You’re not a good housewife.’”
“I never even thought like that!” Galina Petrovna exclaimed, waving her hands. “I actually want to be helpful. But, clearly, I don’t know any other way… I’ve spent my whole life proving my love through action, not words – that’s just the way I’ve always done it…”
A pause followed. Everyone sank into their thoughts. Barsik, sensing the tension, jumped onto Galina’s lap and meowed demandingly. She absentmindedly started stroking the cat, and this simple action seemed to ease the atmosphere a little.
“You know,” Marina suddenly said, “I saw you take out that blue dress from the wardrobe. I heard what you said about it.”
Galina blushed.
“Oh, you saw that… I shouldn’t have been going through your things.”
“No, it’s not that. I never knew that Kostya picked it out with you. He told me he bought it himself.”
Konstantin awkwardly cleared his throat.
“Well, technically, I did buy it myself. It’s just that Mom helped me choose it.”
“And why didn’t you tell me?”
“I don’t know,” Konstantin shrugged. “Maybe I was afraid that if you found out that Mom advised me, you wouldn’t wear it.”
Marina thoughtfully looked at Galina.
“You know, I really thought I probably wouldn’t like something chosen by you. What a silly thought, huh? I never even tried it on.”
“Try it on now,” Galina unexpectedly suggested. “I’d love to see how it looks on you.”
Marina hesitated for a moment but then nodded resolutely.
“Okay, I will.”
She went to the bedroom and returned a few minutes later in the very same blue dress. It perfectly accentuated her figure and really suited her eyes.
“You look beautiful,” Galina sincerely said. There was something new in her gaze – respect and perhaps even admiration.
“Thank you,” Marina smiled shyly. “And thank you for the choice. You were right – this is really my color.”
Something imperceptible had changed between them in that moment. It was as if an invisible wall, built over the years, had finally crumbled.
“Marichka,” Galina cautiously began, “I know I haven’t always been tactful. Sometimes I speak harshly without thinking. But I never wanted to hurt or upset you. You make my son happy, and that’s what matters most.”
“And I was too suspicious,” Marina admitted. “I looked for deception where there was none. And this camera situation… I’m really ashamed.”
“Let’s try starting with a clean slate,” Konstantin suggested, looking at both his mother and his wife. “With new boundaries and mutual respect.”
“I’m in,” Galina nodded. “What about you, Marina?”
“Definitely in,” Marina smiled. She extended her hand across the table. “Peace?”
Galina firmly shook her hand.
“Peace.”
A month passed.
The May holidays were long over, and life had returned to its usual course. But something had changed.
Marina was standing by the stove, stirring a fragrant soup when the doorbell rang.
“Come in!” she called out.
On the doorstep stood Galina Petrovna with a small bundle in her hands.
“Good afternoon, dear. As promised, I brought you the recipe for that charlotte.”
“Hello! Come in, I’m just making lunch.”
Galina entered the kitchen, peered curiously into the pot.
“Mmm, mushroom soup? It smells wonderful.”
“Yes, I decided to try a new recipe,” Marina added some spices. “Would you like to try it? I promise, no quinoa or avocado.”
They both laughed, recalling the overheard conversation.
“Gladly,” Galina nodded. “And not only did I bring you a recipe, but also something else.”
She unwrapped the bundle – inside was an antique brooch with a blue stone.
“It’s from my grandmother. I thought it would be perfect for your blue dress.”
Marina gently took the piece of jewelry in her hands.
“Galina Petrovna, but this is a family heirloom…”
“Exactly. And now you’re part of our family,” Galina simply replied.
Marina felt tears welling up in her eyes.
“Thank you… This gift means so much to me.”
Her mother-in-law shyly waved her hand.
“Alright, let’s not get sentimental. Let me help you with lunch instead. Just don’t think I’m criticizing! Four hands are better than two.”
“Of course,” Marina handed her a wooden spoon. “Please stir the soup while I prepare the salad.”
They worked side by side in cozy silence. No cameras, no surveillance – just mutual respect and understanding, born from painful but necessary experiences.
When Konstantin came home from work, he froze in the doorway of the kitchen, surprised by the idyllic scene.
“Don’t say anything,” Marina warned him, noticing his astonished look. “We get along great.”
“I see,” he smiled. “And I can’t believe it.”
“You don’t have to understand everything, son,” Galina Petrovna winked at him. “We women have our own secrets.”
“How surprising,” Marina thought. “Sometimes it takes doing something completely wrong to eventually come to the right conclusion.” That May story with the camera, starting with distrust and suspicion, unexpectedly opened the door to understanding and acceptance. Who would have thought that this would be how they finally learned to hear each other?
Barsik, as if confirming her thoughts, purred contentedly, lying on the windowsill and watching the three people who had finally become a true family.
