— Dear guests, I have a special gift for my husband’s birthday, — Svetlana pulled a small box out of her bag, and her mother-in-law’s face turned green with anger.
— Shame! Aren’t you ashamed, you promiscuous woman?! — Galina Arkadyevna burst out. The guests fell silent. A hush fell over the table… Svetlana’s husband blushed, and the veins on his temples bulged with anger…
Sveta sat in the clinic corridor, holding her older sister’s hand and trying to find words to comfort and encourage her. But what can you say in such a situation?
Tears streamed down Masha’s face — the doctor had just said she had serious reproductive system problems. The chances of getting pregnant were minimal. Treatment was necessary. And the treatment would take a lot of time and money. But the worst part — no guarantees.
— What do we do now, Sveta? — Masha looked at her sister.
— Don’t lose heart. Everything will definitely be okay, the main thing is to believe, — Sveta said, squeezing her sister’s hand. And although outwardly she was brave, inside a strange anxiety grew. Not only for Masha, but also… for her own future.
Sveta herself had been married for two years. At first, she and Egor lived “for themselves”: they went on a trip, saw cities of a big beautiful country. Then Sveta focused on her career — she was promoted and got a raise. Egor did not lag behind. He worked hard, not staying home.
And then one fine day, when the couple passed by a children’s store, Sveta asked:
— Darling, maybe it’s time?
— Well… if you’re ready.
— I think it’s hard to ever be 100% ready. But if we keep postponing, something will always seem more important: renovations, a new car, a vacation. I’m afraid to miss that exact time. Like Masha… they’ve been married 10 years and still no kids.
— Oh, she just got a bad doctor, — Egor waved his hand.
— She saw many doctors. What if we have problems too?
— Come on. We’re both healthy.
— Then let’s not postpone.
— As you wish, — Egor replied indifferently.
Months passed, but Sveta didn’t get pregnant.
— Listen, it’s normal. Half the married staff at my work complain it didn’t happen right away, — Egor waved it off.
— Maybe we need treatment?
— It’s just the environment. Everything has its time.
— Still. We need to get tested.
— Sure. But without fanaticism: we’re not in a hurry, — her husband answered.
Months went by. Sveta supported Masha and secretly thought maybe the problem was hereditary. She took several tests; doctors found nothing unusual. Sveta didn’t panic, browsed forums, and realized it was normal. Not everyone conceives immediately. Egor was calm too, didn’t make a fuss. But Galina Arkadyevna, the mother-in-law, just smirked:
— There were never problems like this in our family. My Egor is as healthy as an ox. It’s you girls who are all upside down.
Now, sitting in the corridor beside Masha after yet another failed IVF, Sveta was truly scared for the first time. If her sister’s story was like that — maybe it was hereditary on the female side? Maybe she herself wasn’t healthy…
A chill ran down her spine.
— Svetochka, dear, you should go too, — Masha suddenly said, wiping tears and looking seriously at her sister. — For yourself. Get checked. Just to know.
Sveta didn’t answer, just nodded. She didn’t admit that she had already started tests and that for several months she too hadn’t managed to get pregnant.
That same evening there was a serious conversation. Galina Arkadyevna was visiting. She heard the daughter-in-law’s words and inserted her weighty opinion.
— If you want to be treated, you need to go to Valentina Vasilyevna, — said the mother-in-law.
— I’m not sick. I don’t need treatment, — Sveta replied dryly. — Don’t count me as incomplete before my time.
— Oh, come on, — waved off Galina Arkadyevna. — Obviously, you have problems on the female side of your family.
— Galina Arkadyevna! What are you saying?!
— Mom, really… — Egor stood up to defend his wife.
— I just want healthy grandchildren, — said the mother-in-law. — So you’ll go to a trusted doctor. Period.
Sveta didn’t argue. A few days later, she was sitting in the office of Valentina Vasilyevna — the so-called “best gynecologist” her mother-in-law had sent her to. She said the doctor was no less than a scientific authority. Also an old friend, so she wouldn’t advise badly.
Valentina Vasilyevna was attentive, serious. She frowned immediately after reviewing Sveta’s tests.
— Are you sure you’ve never had chronic illnesses? — she squinted. — Something here worries me. You need a more thorough diagnosis. See, there’s a hormonal imbalance showing. Have you taken any pills?
— No.
— When was your last visit to an endocrinologist?
— I took tests. Everything was normal.
— Oh, it may have been normal then. But now — no guarantee.
Valentina Vasilyevna spoke a lot, shared cases from her practice and… scared Sveta greatly. She walked home on shaky legs.
Sveta didn’t tell her husband everything, but Galina Arkadyevna, of course, extracted the “medical secret” from her friend and came to visit her son with a mournful face.
— See, I told you there are problems in your family!
— Galina Arkadyevna… Please don’t…
— No, my son must know he married a defective one.
Sveta couldn’t stand such words. She jumped up from the table and ran to the bedroom.
— Mom… — Egor quietly said and went to calm his wife.
From that evening, Sveta’s life changed.
Endless tests began, repeat appointments, treatment plans, vitamins, injections. Egor looked on detachedly:
— Well, get treated, of course. I’m not rushing. There’s time. And if it doesn’t work out, then so be it.
— What do you mean “so be it”? Darling, maybe… maybe you should get checked too? Just to be sure? Because my tests don’t show a clear picture. It seems normal, but Valentina Vasilyevna keeps finding little things…
— What about me? I’m fine. I’m the tested one! — Egor replied.
— Still.
— Do we have money to burn?! You already spent our whole vacation budget on your tests and vitamins! — her husband couldn’t help himself.
— Sorry. I promise I’ll fix whatever needs fixing, — Sveta quieted.
Egor nodded. The next day he put some papers in front of his wife.
— Here, so you won’t bother me anymore, — he said. Sveta saw they were test results. She didn’t look closely but concluded her husband’s health was perfect. So it was her.
Her mother-in-law poured oil on the fire. At Sveta’s birthday, she stood to make a toast and literally humiliated her in front of the relatives:
— I wish our Sveta a speedy recovery and to give me grandchildren soon. I wouldn’t want to resort to artificial methods, like some do, — she paused and nodded toward Masha. — Your sister has problems. How many times has she done IVF? And all in vain. We don’t need damaged ones. Everyone in our family is healthy! So let’s drink to health.
Sveta blushed and was silent. She was unpleasantly surprised by such a “congratulation” and offended by her mother-in-law. Masha even got up from the table and left the celebration, citing urgent matters.
— What about me? I just said what many think, — Galina quietly justified herself to her son after her “speech.”
Sveta grew more irritated. Inside grew rejection and doubt.
Especially after the next visit to the doctor.
That day when she again came to see Valentina Vasilyevna. The nurse, who was giving Sveta special IVs, suddenly whispered:
— I see no progress… You’ve been coming here a long time…
— Yes. Sometimes I feel like I come in healthy and leave each time with new problems, — Sveta smiled sadly. — Though Valentina Vasilyevna is a very sensitive doctor. And you… you’re wonderful. I’ll miss you if you leave.
— Yes, I’m really quitting, — the nurse replied. Then she whispered: — And my advice: go to another clinic. Independent. Without mother-in-law and husband. Just for yourself. And don’t say you’ve already been tested.
Sveta froze. At first, she wanted to object, but then realized that in fact, she hadn’t seen other doctors. Her local therapist and clinic doctor — doesn’t count. That was long ago and rushed, not like a full examination when it concerns an important matter.
— But I feel like they’ve examined me inside and out already, — Sveta whispered.
— Here? Yes. But I strongly advise you to go where another doctor works. I’ve seen many women in my time. And I think you’re healthy.
The nurse’s words were sobering, unexpected, and invigorating like a cold shower. Svetlana didn’t hesitate and did as she said.
The outsider doctor’s words were strikingly simple: Sveta was healthy. No inflammation. No hormonal imbalance.
— And if pregnancy doesn’t happen after two years?
— Then you need to examine the partner. Because you’re fine, — the doctor answered calmly. Then Sveta showed him her tests from Valentina Vasilyevna’s clinic. — Woman, what do you want from me? — the doctor was not as sensitive as the mother-in-law’s friend. His tone was rather blunt and straightforward. But the words were what Sveta was waiting for. — I told you clearly: you’re healthy. Go, have children. Only your husband should have been sent to the doctor. He apparently isn’t ready to be a father.
Sveta didn’t go home. She went to her sister. They talked for a long time, thought, and decided what to do.
A week later she told Egor she was going to “get some treatment.”
— You know, I realized I spent too much health on “getting better,” — she said.
— You think a trip to the Caucasus will heal you? — Egor squinted.
— Yes. I’m sure I can get pregnant. Just need a change of environment.
— Well, go, — the husband shrugged. — Just be back by my birthday. I want everyone gathered.
Three weeks later.
— Dear guests, I have a special gift for my husband, — Sveta arrived just in time for the celebration. Her face was radiant, she had gained a bit of weight.
Sveta stood and continued:
— Egor, Galina Arkadyevna, what you have waited for so long has happened. I’m pregnant. — Sveta deliberately poured wine into Egor’s glass. — I can’t drink now.
— What did you say? — gasped her mother-in-law. — Don’t joke about such things.
— I said I’m expecting a child. You will be a grandmother.
— It can’t be! — muttered Galina Arkadyevna.
Silence fell at the table. Sveta’s mother looked at her mother-in-law in confusion.
— Why can’t it be? Sveta was treated by your friend for a long time, Galya.
— Sveta the barren! She couldn’t get pregnant! — Galina screamed, looking angrily at the two lines on the test that Svetlana shoved under her nose.
— What have you done, you witch?! — Egor jumped up. — This pregnancy is a lie! You didn’t go to a sanatorium, you’ve been sleeping around! Aren’t you ashamed?
— Explain what’s going on! — her father-in-law slammed his fist on the table.
— Sveta had a child by cheating around, that’s clear! It’s obvious the pregnancy can’t be from Egorushka! — Galina Arkadyevna spat, looking at her daughter-in-law with hatred.
— Oh? Maybe you’ll tell the family why? Maybe because your son is sick? That he’s the barren one, not me? — Svetlana hissed. — Don’t be silent, I know everything. The clinic told me your friend was leading me on.
— Who said that?! — Galina no longer hid it. — I’ll find her and sue!
— You should be sued, mother-in-law! She scared my girl! — Svetlana’s mother got up and went to the mother-in-law, clenching her fists.
— Get out, you disgrace! Out of my son’s house! — the two almost fought. Fortunately, the father-in-law broke them up. However, Svetlana no longer planned to stay in that house. She didn’t unpack her suitcase. She put the rest of her things in it and headed for the door.
— So you’re leaving? — her husband called after her.
— You knew. You knew all along! You and your mother — you mocked me.
— I hoped you’d give up and stop planning children! We can live without them, but no! You’re stubborn! Took this step! Found a man! Foolish of you. You’ll live in poverty! With a bastard!
— Don’t worry, I won’t disappear, — she replied. — Mom, let’s go. Let them lie to each other. We’re done with this show.
Sveta and her mother left. And guests began leaving Egor’s birthday. Almost all relatives sided with Sveta. That evening the family realized what kind of person Galina Arkadyevna was and what rotten people that family was.
Of course, Sveta had faked the pregnancy. She wanted to expose her husband and mother-in-law, even if it meant lying.
The couple divorced. Nothing bound them anymore. Egor stayed with his diagnosis and mother, and Sveta soon remarried. She met a businessman who immediately said he wanted a big family, three children.
— I want children too. Let’s not delay, — Sveta said. That first wedding night everything worked out. Surprising? Hardly. Both spouses were healthy and honest with each other.
And when Sveta finally learned she was expecting, she cried. But not out of fear, out of happiness. By the way, Masha also gave birth. Twins. It worked out, thanks to the doctors.
And Egor… Learning that Sveta remarried, he started spreading rumors among acquaintances that his ex-wife was still “barren,” that she was just fooling some naive man.
— You’re the babbler. She’s the smart one, — said someone from mutual friends in response to the gossip.
Egor didn’t expect that friends and family would side with Svetlana and grew even angrier. But she didn’t care. She was happy and quickly forgot about Egor. And he and his mother long poisoned their lives with hatred of their ex-wife.
