Almost right at the entrance to the restaurant, a quarrel nearly broke out between Alisa and Pavel. She perfectly understood — this conversation had to happen sooner or later. Only she did not expect it to start right now, when they had come to discuss the banquet order.
Pavel stopped the car and looked critically at the building:
“God… You can hardly even call this a restaurant!”
Alisa shrugged:
“I like this place. I used to come here often with my friends. By the way, the owner is wonderful, and the food is excellent.”
He abruptly turned to her:
“Are you serious? Is this a joke? We’re not just coming here for a quick bite! This will be our wedding day!”
“Pasha, first of all, don’t raise your voice at me,” she answered calmly. “Secondly, we simply can’t afford a more expensive place.”
With annoyance, he slammed his palms on the steering wheel:
“And this from the daughter of a man who controls millions!”
Alisa became serious:
“We’ve talked about this many times. It’s easy to live at someone else’s expense, but I don’t want that. Dad gave you a good position, even though you clearly aren’t ready for it. If you want, we can postpone the wedding and wait until we can afford what you want.”
Pavel barely contained his irritation. Sometimes Alisa could be so stubborn she seemed almost foolish.
“Fine,” he exhaled. “Let’s not ruin the evening over a trivial matter. Let’s go.”
Alisa understood he had deliberately changed the subject. She decided not to continue the conflict.
The restaurant really was on the outskirts of town. Once, Alisa and her friends lived nearby and celebrated all important events there. Everything was cozy, bright, homely — and most importantly, inexpensive. The owner always treated them warmly and gave discounts, joking: “For students, like in the good old days.”
Now the interior was more modern, and the place was run by the daughter of the previous owner — a bit plump but just as kind as her mother. Alisa liked her immediately, so the choice of place was obvious.
“Alisa, come on already!” Pavel impatiently urged her.
But the girl suddenly noticed a little girl. She had seen her near the restaurant before — the child had once offered to wash car windows. She was dressed poorly, even too poorly. Now she was sitting by the entrance, thoughtfully watching passersby.
“Wait…” Alisa took a step toward the girl, but changed her mind and quickly went inside.
Pavel sighed. He was used to his fiancée often acting impulsively, doing things without explaining to him. But after the wedding, he would definitely change that. Just not now — too emotional a moment, and her father was a strong character…
He barely entered when Alisa returned. In her hands were a box of pastries, cola, and something else.
She passed by without a word. Pavel shook his head: “I wonder how many more homeless people Alisa will meet before she feeds them all?”
Sighing, he followed her.
“Hi!” Alisa gently addressed the girl. “My name is Alisa, and this is my fiancé Pavel.”
The tired eyes of the child lit up when she saw the food:
“Thank you… I’m Katya.”
She ate a little and carefully wrapped the rest:
“I’ll take it to my dad. He’s sick.”
Alisa was taken aback and handed her several bills:
“Take it. I don’t have any more with me.”
Pavel sighed theatrically again, hoping Alisa would notice. But she ignored him.
Katya politely refused:
“No, I won’t take it. I’m not a beggar, I have a home. But thank you very much for the food.”
She stood up, about to leave, but suddenly came back:
“Alisa, you’re kind… But I wouldn’t marry him. You don’t know him at all.”
Pavel immediately flared up:
“Look at this proud one! Got food and instead of thanks — rudeness. Like a homeless kid who’s been helped and might bite the hand.”
Alisa nudged him with her elbow, but the girl was already leaving.
“Alisa, someday all these poor people you pity will kill you,” he shouted after her.
“And will you cry then?” she smiled.
“No… You’re definitely not yourself.”
That evening Alisa couldn’t fall asleep for a long time. Her thoughts kept returning to Katya’s words. Although she didn’t believe in predictions, the strange warning troubled her. Maybe someone in the girl’s family was a psychic?
Sighing, Alisa sat on the bed and looked at the clock. Pavel should already be going to sleep. Usually, he called, wished her good night, said he was about to rest too.
She quickly got ready:
“No, it’s not for that. Just going for a little drive.”
Quietly slipping out of the house, fifteen minutes later Alisa was already standing by Pavel’s building. His car wasn’t there. The windows were dark. She approached but decisively rejected the idea of going inside — she had keys, but she knew no one was there.
Slowly driving around the city, not really knowing where she was headed, she suddenly noticed a familiar silhouette of Pavel’s car ahead. The car moved slowly, then turned on the blinker and entered the yard.
Alisa parked a little away, got out, and hurried to follow.
Her fiancé was not alone. Next to him — a woman. Bright, striking. They couldn’t get to the entrance — kissing and hugging.
Alisa even pinched herself — was this a dream? After all, the wedding was in two weeks, everything was almost ready!
But the images didn’t disappear. It even seemed they might lie down right on the asphalt…
As soon as Pavel and his companion disappeared into the entrance, Alisa got into the car. Her hands trembled.
“You can’t drive like this,” she thought, though the streets were empty.
She drove around the neighborhood a couple of times and only then returned home. Surprisingly, she fell asleep almost immediately.
In the morning, her father was already bustling in the kitchen. Alisa got up and, hearing his footsteps, immediately came out:
“Daughter, you’re up early today… Went somewhere? Heard you came back late.”
“Not with Pavel. Alone. Dad, I need to talk to you.”
Her father immediately became serious: “I understand. What happened?”
“Well… something.”
Alisa looked around near the restaurant — no one was around. She got out of the car and headed toward the establishment. By the pond on the grass sat Katya, thoughtfully watching the water.
Alisa smiled, went inside the restaurant, and returned a few minutes later with a large bag of food. She approached the girl and silently sat down next to her.
Katya turned: “Are you alone?”
“As you can see. Want something to eat?”
The girl sighed: “Of course I do! I’m at that age… And things at home are really bad right now.”
Alisa began taking food out of the bag. Katya asked: “Will you stay with me?”
Alisa hesitated a little, then shrugged lightly: “Why not? Now I don’t need to lose weight for the wedding.”
“Really?” Katya laughed. “You really shouldn’t lose weight — you’re already like a little glass!”
They ate together, chatting about nothing, until Katya suddenly asked: “Did he leave?”
“You could say that. For me, he’s already gone, but he probably doesn’t know it yet.”
“Alisa, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Do you… really see things or was it a joke?”
Katya laughed again: “Well, yes, I’m a ‘seer’! I saw your fiancé kissing a girl!”
Alisa looked at her in surprise.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Katya continued laughing. “I do hang around the city! And his face is easy to remember — quite noticeable. They came out of a hotel and kept hugging all the time.”
“‘Seer’!” Katya repeated and laughed again.
Alisa felt tears welling up — whether from laughter or from everything she had been through. Together they fell onto the grass and laughed for a long time like two crazy girls.
In the evening, Pavel called: “Alisa, let’s talk! Your dad loaded me with so much work I almost died! Even sent me to another city! Maybe you could talk to him?”
“What’s the matter? Isn’t being chief procurement officer your job?”
“But I’m your fiancé!”
“I don’t recall dad ever creating that position on the farm.”
“Alisa, I don’t like your tone!”
“Listen, Pash, if you don’t like it — just don’t call. You called me, not the other way around.”
After a pause, he asked: “Are you upset?”
“No, on the contrary — very happy.”
“I don’t understand…”
“Okay, don’t. Just know — the wedding is off.”
Pasha started yelling, but Alisa simply hung up. After the third attempt, she added his number to the blacklist.
Half an hour later, someone knocked on the door.
Her father peeked into the room: “Alis, Pasha is here.”
“Tell him I flew to the Moon.”
Her father smiled, and Alisa got up — it was time to clear everything up for good.
Pavel looked dejected: “Alis, you misunderstood! That was my sister! I can introduce you!”
Alisa grimaced: “Pash, I don’t need explanations. But if she really is your sister, you kiss too strangely. So don’t call or come anymore. We’re done. By the way, I’ve already canceled the banquet order.”
She wanted to leave, but Pavel grabbed her hand: “Wait! You can’t just give up like that! We’re not married yet! People are waiting! I owe them! They’ll finish me off!”
Alisa pulled her hand away. Her father quietly but firmly said: “Leave the house. Or I’ll call security.”
The next day Alisa came back to the restaurant, but Katya wasn’t there. She sat in the car for almost an hour hoping, but the girl never appeared.
“I should have gotten the address yesterday,” she thought, scolding herself.
Entering the restaurant, Alisa asked: “Excuse me, is the girl… Katya?”
The owner sighed: “Oh, they have problems. Someone reported to social services that she’s begging. Probably an outsider. They came in the morning. Her father’s health has been bad since last year after a fall from a tower. They gave two days to fix things, or they’ll take Katya away.”
“Do you know who reported it?”
“They say Pavel Zagorodny. The very fiancé with whom you were supposed to have the wedding?”
But Alisa was already running out onto the street.
She had the address, but that wasn’t enough — she would need her father’s help. Usually, she tried to handle everything herself, but this was a special case. Andrei Semyonovich never refused his daughter.
Three months later
“Katya, ready?” Alisa entered the room cheerfully.
Katya tried to look serious but immediately ran to Alisa: “Do you think dad will like it?”
“Of course! And you’re doing great: not biting your nails, sitting properly, eating neatly…”
Katya sighed theatrically: “How hard it is sometimes to be good!”
They both laughed, carefree and sincere as always.
“Let’s go, Katyusha! Dad can’t stand for long.”
“Alis, will dad really be able to walk?”
“Definitely! And he’ll even run. Thanks to Grandpa Andrei!”
Alisa’s father watched the scene and smiled. He saw his daughter in a completely different light — caring, gentle, genuine. Alisa had many talents, but this new one — showing love and compassion — touched him most.
Katya’s father turned out to be a kind, decent man who had just found himself in a difficult life situation. Andrei Semyonovich was sure they would succeed. Alisa had proven it more than once.
He sighed. What a happiness their paths crossed! No matter how much effort, connections, and money it took, he would spare nothing for these people.
And exactly three months after all the changes began, they held a wedding — in that very cozy restaurant where everything started anew for Alisa.
