— Oh Lord, empty again!
Olga slammed the refrigerator door shut and sighed heavily. Her husband’s salary had vanished in less than a week. How much longer could they keep saving? Sergey didn’t seem like a spendthrift, they had no big loans, yet money was always tight.
— What’s going on, Ol? — her mother-in-law’s voice made her flinch.
Galina Petrovna had come in again without knocking. She stood in the kitchen doorway holding a bag of pies.
— Just thinking about what to make for dinner, — Olga forced a smile.
— I told you, you have to plan the menu every day! — her mother-in-law decisively entered the kitchen and started putting the pies out. — Sergey’s loved cabbage pies since he was a kid. And you keep experimenting.
Olga rolled her eyes when Galina looked away. Three months after the wedding, and it felt like she’d lived three years with these “helpful advice.”
— Galina Petrovna, I can handle it.
— Of course, of course! — her mother-in-law waved her hands. — I just want to help!
Olga’s phone beeped with a notification about a utility bill payment.
— Oh no! — she blurted. — Another payment went through, but there’s barely any money left.
— Sergey doesn’t earn enough? — Galina narrowed her eyes.
— No, the salary is fine, but…
— Then you spend too much, — Galina cut in. — When I was your age, I counted every penny and raised Sergey alone. And we survived!
Olga gritted her teeth. Arguing was pointless. Every conversation with her mother-in-law was like walking through a minefield.
In the evening, when Sergey came home from work, Olga decided to talk.
— Sergey, we’re out of money again, — she sat down next to him on the sofa. — What’s going on?
— What do you mean? — her husband frowned without taking his eyes off the phone.
— Literally. Good salary, but not enough for food.
— Loans, utilities, gas prices went up, — he grumbled. — Everything is getting more expensive, you see.
— But the neighbors manage somehow. They even go to the sea.
— Their situation is different.
— What kind?
— Ordinary! — Sergey jumped up. — Why are you nagging? I’m tired!
A couple of days later, as Olga was sorting through her husband’s things, she found his wallet. Usually, she didn’t go through his stuff, but something clicked inside her. She opened it — and froze. Between the bills were receipts for money transfers. Large sums. To the name… Galina Petrovna!
— How is this possible?! — Olga flopped onto the bed.
Every month — a third of his salary! No wonder they were always short on money.
On Saturday, Sergey went to his mother’s to “fix a shelf.” Olga didn’t hesitate and followed him. She stopped at the entrance. Why had she come at all? What would she say? “Hi, I decided to spy on you”?
She was about to turn and leave when voices came from the third-floor balcony.
— Mom, maybe we should reduce the amount? Olga notices there’s little money.
— Son, you know my pension! And the medicines? And the repairs?
— I know, but…
— Olga is young, she should work. And you only have one mother!
Olga froze. So that was it! The mother-in-law was simply milking her son, and he was happy to oblige!
She went home with a plan already ready. She would give them both such a surprise that they wouldn’t like it! The truth is better than half-truths.
In the evening, Olga couldn’t hold back and called her friend.
— Hello, Katya? Are you home?
— Yeah, binge-watching a series. What’s up?
— Guess what, my beloved gives a third of his salary to his mother every month!
— No way! — Katya gasped. — How did you find out?
— I found the receipts in his wallet. Then overheard their conversation. Mother-in-law plays on pity, and the fool is glad to try!
— And what will you do?
— I’m organizing a family dinner with a surprise! — Olga chuckled. — Let them sort it out together.
For three days Olga prepared the ground. First, she called her mother-in-law:
— Galina Petrovna, I want to invite you and Sergey to dinner on Saturday. There’s a reason to celebrate.
— What reason? — her mother-in-law became suspicious.
— Surprise! — Olga answered cheerfully. — Come at six.
Then she told her husband about the important family dinner. Sergey was surprised but agreed to come earlier.
On the appointed day, Olga laid out a feast. Salads, roast chicken, even bought a cake — her mother-in-law’s favorite, with meringue. She lit candles.
Sergey arrived first. He saw the table set and whistled:
— Wow! Is it an anniversary? Did I forget?
— No, just wanted to make everyone happy, — Olga smiled sweetly.
— Everyone?
The doorbell interrupted.
— Mom? — Sergey looked at his wife in surprise. — You invited Mom too?
— Of course, Sergey! We’re family!
Galina Petrovna entered carrying a box of chocolates.
— Here, for tea…
— Thank you, come in! — Olga accepted the box. — Sit down, I’ve prepared everything.
A strange atmosphere reigned at the table. The mother-in-law suspiciously inspected the dishes as if looking for a catch. Sergey smiled nervously.
— So, tell us, Ol, what’s the surprise? — Galina couldn’t hold back. — Don’t tell me…
— No, no, I’m not pregnant, — Olga laughed. — Just wanted us all to sit down and talk… about our budget.
Sergey choked on his wine.
— About what?
— About family finances, — Olga cut a piece of chicken. — Galina Petrovna, is your pension enough to live on?
Her mother-in-law blushed:
— Why do you need to know?
— Well, you’re my husband’s mother. It’s important to me that you have enough.
— W-well… not really, — she glanced quickly at her son.
— And you, Sergey, do you help your mother?
Sergey squirmed in his chair:
— Sometimes… a little…
— A little? — Olga smiled. — So twenty thousand rubles every month is “a little”?
Silence fell in the room. Sergey went pale. Galina put down her fork.
— You… were snooping through my things? — her husband hissed.
— I was looking for the charger and found the receipts, — Olga took out the folded papers from her pocket and put them on the table. — And I also accidentally overheard your conversation on the balcony. About how “Olga is young, she should work.”
— Ol, you misunderstood, — the mother-in-law began.
— How am I supposed to understand? We barely make ends meet, and behind my back, you and my husband have these schemes!
Galina nervously crumpled a napkin.
— Olenka, you don’t understand…
— Then explain! — Olga crossed her arms. — I’m listening.
Sergey rubbed his forehead.
— Ol, I wanted to tell you, honestly.
— When? When we finish the last macaroni?
The mother-in-law sighed and straightened her shoulders.
— I have debts, Olga. Big debts. Ever since Sergey’s father left us.
— What debts? It’s been twenty years!
— I had to take out a mortgage on the apartment. Then repairs. Then Sergey’s education…
— And then? — Olga raised an eyebrow.
— Well… a neighbor suggested investing in a business. I put all the money there, and she… ran away.
Sergey covered his face with his hands.
— Mom, you promised not to get into adventures anymore! Those “investments” again?
— I thought it would work this time! — the mother-in-law sobbed. — Vera Mikhailovna had such a plan… to sell cosmetics…
— Network marketing? — Olga gasped. — Seriously?
— I just wanted to help my son! So he wouldn’t have to support me in retirement!
Olga turned to her husband.
— And why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you tell me?
— Mom asked me not to, — Sergey shrugged guiltily. — She was afraid you’d hate her. I thought… well, we’d manage somehow.
— Exactly! — Galina raised her head. — Mother is the most important!
Olga slammed her palm on the table.
— No! The most important thing is honesty! Are we family or what? I’m here wracking my brain over where the money goes, saving on everything, and you…
— Sorry, — Sergey reached out to his wife. — I thought it would be better this way.
— For whom? — Olga pulled away.
They sat in silence. The candles flickered, casting shadows on the walls. The chicken cooled, no one touched the food.
— And how many more debts are there? — Olga finally asked.
Galina lowered her eyes.
— About… one and a half million.
— How much?! — Olga jumped up. — Lord, why me?
— Ol, don’t shout, — Sergey tried to calm her. — Mom just…
— No, Sergey. This is not “just.” This is a disaster! And you hid it from me!
Suddenly, the mother-in-law burst into tears. Loudly, with sobs, like a little girl.
— I didn’t want to! Didn’t want to cause problems! I thought I could manage myself!
Olga flopped back onto her chair and closed her eyes. Thoughts of divorce, running away, anything — just to get away from this madness — spun in her head.
— Okay, — she took a deep breath. — Let’s calm down and discuss everything.
Sergey looked at his wife in surprise.
— You… won’t leave me?
— I’ll think about that later, — Olga said sharply. — First, we deal with the finances.
She took a sheet of paper and a pen.
— So, Galina Petrovna. Tell me everything. From the very beginning. Who do you owe? How much? At what interest?
The mother-in-law blinked confused.
— Are you going to help?
— I’m going to put things in order, — Olga looked at her sternly. — You’re family whether you like it or not. But from today on, no secrets. And no transfers behind my back!
Sergey smiled cautiously.
— Thank you, Ol.
— Don’t thank me yet, — she frowned. — I’ll have a separate talk with you.
The next two hours turned into a financial audit. Olga squeezed all the details out of her mother-in-law: loans from three banks, debts to neighbors, and the ill-fated cosmetics business.
— Here’s what we’ll do, — Olga crossed out the last figure. — Sergey will give you ten thousand a month. No more. The rest goes to paying off the loans.
— But how will I live on ten thousand? — Galina protested.
— On your pension and ten thousand, — Olga corrected her. — Plus, I’ll help you make a proper budget. And no more investments!
The mother-in-law pouted but didn’t argue.
— And also, — Olga continued, — you will teach me how to bake those apple pies Sergey loves so much.
Galina’s face brightened.
— Really? You’re interested?
— Of course. Family recipes are important.
When her mother-in-law left, Olga turned to her husband:
— Now it’s us.
Sergey looked down guiltily.
— Ol, I’m sorry. I really messed up.
— Why didn’t you tell me? We promised to share everything — joy and problems.
— I was afraid you’d be angry. Or worse — leave.
— Well, right now because of your lies, I’m thinking about it!
— Please, give me a chance, — Sergey took her hands. — I’ll fix everything.
Olga was silent, fighting her hurt.
— No more lies, — she finally said. — Starting tomorrow, we make an expense table. Record all expenses. Salary goes into a joint account. And we decide together how much to give your mom.
— Deal.
— And one last thing, — Olga squeezed his hand. — If you hide anything again — I’m leaving. No talks.
Three months passed. Olga sat in the kitchen checking numbers on her laptop when the phone rang.
— Hello?
— Olenka, it’s me, — her mother-in-law’s voice sounded unusually happy. — You won’t believe it! They returned the money!
— What money?
— Vera Mikhailovna! They caught her! The police made her return all the money to the investors!
Olga couldn’t believe her ears.
— How much?
— Almost all! Four hundred thousand! I immediately sent it to the loan!
That evening they celebrated. Sergey brought champagne, and Galina — those very apple pies they now baked together every weekend.
— To financial literacy! — Olga raised her glass.
— And to my smart women, — Sergey smiled.
Galina unexpectedly teared up.
— Thank you, Olenka. If not for you…
— Oh, don’t start, — Olga waved her hand. — Better tell me how your pensioners’ knitting club went.
Six months later, they sat on the balcony drinking tea. Sergey got a promotion, Galina Petrovna’s debts were cut by a third, and Olga found a job as a remote designer.
— You know, — she told her husband, — I really thought about quitting everything and going to my parents.
— And now?
— Now I’m glad I organized that surprise dinner, — Olga smiled. — Sometimes you have to pull all the skeletons out of the closet to start really living.
Sergey hugged his wife.
— You know what Mom said yesterday? That you taught her to live within her means better than any financial advisor.
— Really? — Olga laughed. — I should plan a surprise for her. A nice one.
— Just warn me in advance, — Sergey joked. — I already have a conditioned reflex to your “surprises.”
Olga pressed close to her husband. In her wallet lay a pregnancy test with two lines. But she would tell him about that surprise later. When she figured out how to announce the news. Because now their family had learned the main thing — to talk honestly and openly with each other. Even if the truth is uncomfortable.”**
