“I’m moving to the country house for the entire summer. I’ve already packed everything,” Valentina Andreyevna announced cheerfully over the phone. “Clear all the unnecessary things out of the room on the right. I need somewhere bright. And I’ll redo the garden beds my way because you’re letting all that land go to waste.” Alina […]
Продолжение...
Marina opened the door and found Sergey standing on the landing. He was holding a bouquet of chrysanthemums—white, stiff flowers that looked almost artificial. She was not surprised to see him. “Hi, Marina,” he said, offering her the bouquet. “These are for you. You used to love chrysanthemums, remember?” “I loved daisies,” Marina replied without […]
Продолжение...
Petka gripped the steering wheel of the brand-new company-issued Niva and felt almost like a government minister. And why wouldn’t he? Driving Vasily Sergeyevich, the head of the local settlement, was nothing like hauling silage across fields on an old tractor. Everyone in the district administration knew Petka. Officials at the village council shook his […]
Продолжение...
“Nina, dear, you know how fond I am of you,” Valentina Ivanovna said with that special tenderness used by people who already know what the answer will be. “I feel awkward asking, but… Denis has been completely exhausted this August. Perhaps you could stay with your friend for the weekend? He needs some rest. A […]
Продолжение...
“Son, don’t you understand that a clever woman will never tell you directly what she wants? She’ll arrange things so that you come to the conclusion yourself. That’s the difference between a cunning woman and an honest one. An honest woman is naive. A cunning woman survives no matter what happens.” Nina Semyonovna spoke quietly, […]
Продолжение...
“Listen, I need to tell you something,” Andrei said in the same tone people used when mentioning something trivial. It was almost exactly how he had once announced that he had lost his job—calmly, casually, as though he were commenting on the weather. “Dad left everything to you.” Natasha looked up from her magazine. “What […]
Продолжение...