— Mommy, are we going to live here now? — Lisa’s small voice trembled like an autumn leaf in the wind.
Svetlana hugged her daughter by the shoulders and looked at the little house. It was crooked, old, with peeling window frames, resembling a tired person whose eyes had long stopped marveling at the world.
— Yes, dear. When we clean up and hang the curtains, it will be cozy and beautiful, — she said, trying to make her voice sound confident, though her heart was tight with anxiety.
— Do you really believe it will be beautiful? — the girl looked at the house skeptically, where the paint had peeled off as if it were skin after a burn.
— Of course! I’ll help you. We’ll manage together!
Svetlana laughed, but the laughter was bitter—sharp and fragile like broken glass. She was exhausted. Sitting down on the sagging porch step, the woman sighed. Yes, the house wasn’t much, but it was better than living with strangers. For three whole months they had been cramped with one friend then another until Svetlana realized she needed to start a new life on her own.
Counting their last money, she understood — it wouldn’t be enough for anything better. Her ex-husband had left her a sum like alms, as if she were a beggar. But it didn’t matter. The main thing was to start. After all, she was only thirty-five, not seventy! They had just enough for this little house — the cheapest one they could find.
The owner of the house — an elderly woman with kind but tired eyes — asked:
— Will you be living here just the two of you?
— Yes.
— And your husband? Sorry, but it’s very hard without a man in a house like this.
Svetlana wanted to avoid the answer, but Lisa blurted out:
— He kicked us out. We’re not needed anymore.
Sveta shushed her daughter, but the woman only sighed:
— Oh, how much trouble these men have caused… Well, I’ll lower the price for you. I left my husband once too — with empty hands. I think you’ll save a bit on repairs.
Sveta barely held back tears of gratitude. How wonderful it was that kind people still existed in this world!
The next day, she and Lisa bought cheap but cute floral curtains, a polka-dot tablecloth, and began turning the space into a home. By evening, tired but happy, they stood in the middle of the room admiring the results. The curtains brightened the windows, and the tablecloth on the old table looked like the first snow — white, clean, full of hope.
— Mom, we’re just magicians! — Lisa exclaimed.
— I think so too! — Svetlana laughed. — And I think we deserve not only rest but a delicious dinner.
A couple of weeks later, the house was transformed beyond recognition. But Svetlana quickly realized it was nearly impossible to find a kindergarten for Lisa. There was just over a year until school, and she urgently needed a job. She had to somehow balance everything.
She explained to her daughter that she had to find work, that they needed money to live on. Lisa nodded, understanding, but saw her off with tears that burned Svetlana’s heart like boiling water.
She didn’t want to work in her profession—not because she no longer loved it, but because she couldn’t now. She couldn’t explain, couldn’t talk, couldn’t feel guilty. Anywhere, as long as she had time for her child.
Chance offered a place. While running errands around town, Svetlana noticed a sign: «Waitresses Wanted» — and went into the café.
— We’ve already closed the vacancy, — said a young man with sympathy in his eyes.
Svetlana nodded and headed for the exit.
— Wait! — he called almost at the door. On his shirt was a badge: «Administrator Dmitry.» — If you really need work… We urgently need a dishwasher now. We hadn’t planned for it, but you could try — at least temporarily. The salary is not bad at all, and tips are shared evenly among everyone.
Svetlana never thought she’d be washing dishes. Dmitry offered to let her see everything first and then decide.
The kitchen was modern: comfortable sinks, protective gear, neatness, and order.
— We arranged everything so that employees would be comfortable. Of course, it’s up to you whether to agree…
— What about the schedule? I have a child; I need to find someone to watch her in the evenings.
— Think about it. I might know a woman. Here’s her number, — he handed her a note. — Tell her Dmitry sent you.
Svetlana thanked him but decided she probably wouldn’t call that number. Dishwasher was not her option. Although, come to think of it, how many janitors around here have higher education? And the salary was even a bit higher than her previous job.
After trying other places, she returned home empty-handed. Lisa sat on the couch wrapped in a blanket, all in tears.
— Mommy, I was so scared!
— Why? You’re alone, there’s no one else.
— Exactly! Something creaked here, then the kitchen window slammed shut by itself… I don’t want to be alone anymore!
Svetlana hugged her daughter tightly and reached for the phone. She would definitely arrange with that woman. Even if it meant washing dishes or anything else — as long as she could be near the child.
— Come visit me for tea, let’s get to know each other! — came a friendly voice through the receiver.
— But we don’t know you at all…
— Then we will! Don’t worry, Dmitry wouldn’t give your number to a stranger.
Valentina Pavlovna turned out to be not only pleasant but a kindred spirit. She lived nearby and, hearing Lisa would soon start school, immediately brightened up:
— I worked as a teacher all my life. I loved children like my own. I had none of my own, but others were enough. Now I’m alone, completely alone, and I’d be glad if Lisa became like a granddaughter to me. And don’t worry about payment — I’ll take only enough to buy something tasty if we ever go for a walk.
Svetlana tried to help Valentina Pavlovna around the house — she was elderly and often forgot to eat. And when Lisa was with her, she even began to live by a schedule.
Svetlana worked as a dishwasher for two months. And to her surprise, the job wasn’t so bad. No need to get up early, cooks often gave leftovers, and tips were shared fairly. The waitresses often said: “If the dishes don’t shine, we definitely wouldn’t get a bonus!”
But the main thing was the team. Everyone was kind and supportive. And the most important person in the team was undoubtedly Dmitry.
During all that time, Svetlana never saw the restaurant owner. They said the place was inherited, and he almost never showed up — only occasionally to collect money.
One evening after her shift, Dmitry gathered everyone in the hall:
— Girls, guys, tomorrow is an important day. We have an anniversary of an influential person at our restaurant. And among the guests will be our regular client — Grigory Olegovich. I ask you to make everything perfect so we can continue working calmly and without problems.
Svetlana was glad — such big events always meant good tips. Not from random clients, but from a whole company sitting at one table.
She started getting ready earlier when suddenly the phone rang — as if waiting for her to stand up.
— Sveta, this is Valentina Pavlovna. You have no idea how bad I feel!
— Do you need help?
— No-no, dear. Dmitry already brought everything from the pharmacy; the medicine is nearby. You better not come — you might get infected or Lisa might catch it. I’ll call in a couple of days.
Svetlana put down the phone. Now what? If she didn’t go to work, she’d let the whole team down. If she went — no one to look after Lisa. But… she could take the girl with her.
She looked at her daughter: calmly drawing. Why not? Just seat her in a corner, give everything needed for drawing, and ask not to disturb.
Dmitry knew but said nothing. He only addressed Lisa:
— Bunny, remember the rule? If you leave the table and someone sees you, Mom will be upset.
Lisa nodded importantly:
— I’m not little at all!
Dmitry barely held back a smile and left.
But trouble came unexpectedly. Who would have thought the owner would suddenly remember he owned the place and decide to check the back rooms? Svetlana was carrying a stack of dishes to the dryer when a man burst into the room. There was a collision — with a crash the dishes fell to the floor like crystal tears.
For a second, there was silence. Then the man exploded:
— Who allowed you to bring a child here?! Do you even understand what you’re doing?!
And then Lisa appeared from around the corner.
— What’s this kid doing here?! — he shouted.
— Dmitry… — Svetlana tried to explain that Dmitry had nothing to do with it but didn’t get the chance.
A scream came from the hall, then a crash. The owner apparently rushed there. Svetlana ran after him.
In the middle of the hall lay the celebrant, lifeless. People froze, unsure what to do. His wife screamed hysterically:
— Ambulance! Quickly call an ambulance!
Someone whispered:
— Too late… Can’t be saved…
Like back then… When a man collapsed on the street, and her husband forcibly made her get into the car, forbidding help. And later, when the cameras showed the doctor leaving, Igor accused her of shaming the city. After that, she was asked to leave the job. And when she didn’t understand why, she was struck…
Svetlana pushed Grigory Olegovich and others aside and leaned over the man:
— Open the windows! Everyone step back!
Someone repeated:
— Too late…
But Svetlana felt: not all was lost yet. She spoke to him like she once did to patients:
— Come on, dear, breathe…
The man took a raspy breath, opened his eyes.
— Don’t move! Heart attack. Help is on the way.
The medical team was indeed rushing. Svetlana stood up and wearily headed back to the kitchen. There she found frightened Lisa:
— Mommy, are you okay?
— Everything’s fine, bunny. I’ll catch my breath now, and then we’ll keep working.
— No need, — said a voice of a clearly authoritative doctor. — You’re being sent home. The car is waiting. The girls can handle it. Besides, the celebration is over.
Svetlana smiled sadly:
— Yes… That no longer matters.
She was given a few days off and even a bonus. Dmitry personally drove her home.
— Sveta, why didn’t you say you needed help? The porch has a hole, the fence is crooked…
— There was no one to help. I’ll wait until Lisa goes to school, then I’ll take care of everything.
— No one? What about me? What about us? We’re together! That’s not right, not right!
The next day Dmitry arrived at the house with tools, the janitor, several waitresses — the repairs began. Work heated up. Svetlana felt awkward but also warm from such care.
That evening, Grigory Olegovich came.
— Sveta, may I talk?
— Come in.
At the table, he said:
— You saved a man who is very important to many. He wants to help you. We investigated, learned everything about you. And understood that the story with your husband is no accident. He just wanted to get rid of you so he wouldn’t have to share the property. Simple and cynical.
Svetlana looked at him, her eyes full of tears.
— You’ve been fully reinstated. You can work anywhere. — He put an envelope in front of her. — It’s from the man whose life you saved. He said: “My new life has started. Let hers start too.” Don’t refuse, he’ll be upset. And he mustn’t worry. Sorry for being informal, but you’re amazing!
Svetlana quit the restaurant and got a job at a private clinic. She was welcomed with open arms — there they valued professionalism, not gossip, after testing.
Thanks to Dmitry, the house was repaired and now looked picture-perfect. Dmitry picked up Lisa from school — Svetlana’s schedule was tight. And, of course, now they lived together, because they got married.
