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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Step, I don\u2019t understand what you want,\u00bb Katya said.<\/p>\n
\u00abNothing special,\u00bb Stepan replied. \u00abI just want to be alone, take a break. Go to the country house, relax, lose a couple of kilos. You\u2019re getting too soft.\u00bb<\/p>\n
He cast a disdainful glance at his wife\u2019s figure. Katya knew she had gained weight due to her treatment, but she chose not to argue.<\/p>\n
\u00abWhere is this country house?\u00bb she asked.<\/p>\n
\u00abIn a very picturesque place,\u00bb Stepan said with a smile. \u00abYou\u2019ll like it.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Katya decided not to argue. She, too, needed a break. \u2018Maybe we\u2019re just tired of each other,\u2019 she thought. \u2018Let him miss me. And I won\u2019t come back until he asks for me.\u2019<\/p>\n
She began packing her things.<\/p>\n
\u00abAre you not upset?\u00bb Stepan clarified. \u00abIt\u2019s only for a little while, just to relax.\u00bb\u00abNo, it\u2019s fine,\u00bb Katya forced a smile.<\/p>\n
\u00abThen I\u2019m off,\u00bb Stepan said, kissing her on the cheek as he left.<\/p>\n
Katya sighed deeply. Their kisses had long lost their former warmth.<\/p>\n
The journey took much longer than expected. Katya lost her way twice\u2014the navigator glitched, and there was no mobile reception. Finally, a sign with the village name appeared. The place turned out to be remote, with wooden houses that were neat, adorned with carved window frames.<\/p>\n
\u00abThere are clearly no modern conveniences here,\u00bb Katya thought.<\/p>\n
She wasn\u2019t mistaken. The house was a half-collapsed hut. Without a car or a phone, she would feel like she had stepped back into the last century. Katya took out her mobile phone. \u00abI\u2019ll call him now,\u00bb she decided, but there was still no signal.<\/p>\n
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Katya grew tired. If she didn\u2019t go inside the house, she\u2019d have to sleep in the car.<\/p>\n
She wasn\u2019t eager to return to the city, nor did she want to give Stepan a reason to say she couldn\u2019t handle things.<\/p>\n
Katya got out of the car. Her bright red jacket looked out of place amid the rural landscape. She smiled to herself.<\/p>\n
\u00abWell, Katya, we won\u2019t be forgotten,\u00bb she said aloud.<\/p>\n
In the morning, the piercing crow of a rooster by the car window woke her\u2014the very car in which she had fallen asleep.<\/p>\n
\u00abWhat\u2019s all that noise?\u00bb Katya grumbled as she lowered the window.<\/p>\n
The rooster stared at her with one eye and crowed again.<\/p>\n
\u00abWhy are you shouting so loudly?\u00bb Katya complained, but then she saw a broom fly past the window, and the rooster fell silent.<\/p>\n
An elderly man appeared on the doorstep.\u00abGood morning!\u00bb he greeted her.<\/p>\n
Katya looked at him in surprise. Characters like him seemed to have vanished\u2014like someone straight out of a picture.<\/p>\n
\u00abDon\u2019t be mad at our rooster,\u00bb the old man said. \u00abHe\u2019s a good one, just crows like he\u2019s being cut.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Katya burst out laughing, and her sleep immediately faded. The old man smiled too.<\/p>\n
\u00abAre you here for a long stay or just visiting?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abOn vacation, for as long as my patience holds,\u00bb Katya replied.<\/p>\n
\u00abCome in, dear. Join us for breakfast. You\u2019ll get to meet the old lady. She bakes pies\u2026 but there\u2019s no one to eat them. The grandchildren come once a year, and the children as well\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
Katya didn\u2019t refuse. It was time to meet the neighbors.<\/p>\n
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\nThe wife of Pyotr Ilyich turned out to be a real fairy-tale grandmother\u2014in an apron, with a headscarf, a toothless smile, and kind wrinkles. The house exuded cleanliness and coziness.<\/p>\n
\u00abYour place is wonderful!\u00bb Katya exclaimed. \u00abWhy do the children visit so rarely?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Anna Matveyevna waved her hand dismissively.<\/p>\n
\u00abWe ask them not to come. The roads are terrible. After the rain, you can\u2019t leave for a week. There used to be a bridge, though it was old. But about five years ago it collapsed. We live like hermits. Every week, Stepanovich goes to the store. The boat just can\u2019t hold up. Stepanovich is sturdy, but he\u2019s getting on in years\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abDivine little pies!\u00bb Katya praised. \u00abDoesn\u2019t anyone care about the people here? Someone should do something.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abWho do we matter to? Just fifty people. There used to be a thousand here. And now, everyone has scattered.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Katya pondered.<\/p>\n
\u00abStrange. And where is the administration?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abOn the other side of the bridge. And if you take the detour, it\u2019s 60 kilometers. Do you think we haven\u2019t walked that far? The answer is simple: there\u2019s no money.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Katya realized she had found her purpose for this vacation.<\/p>\n
\u00abTell me, where can I find the administration? Or will you come with me? The forecast doesn\u2019t show any rain.\u00bb<\/p>\n
The old-timers exchanged glances.<\/p>\n
\u00abAre you serious? You came here to relax.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abAbsolutely serious. Vacationing can be different. What if I come back and it rains? I have to do something for myself too.\u00bb<\/p>\n
The old-timers smiled warmly.<\/p>\n
At the city administration, she was told:<\/p>\n
\u00abHow long will you pester us! You make us out to be villains. Look at the city roads! Who, in your opinion, would give money for a bridge in a village with only about fifty residents? Look for a sponsor. For instance, Sokolovsky. Have you heard of him?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Katya nodded. Of course she had\u2014this Sokolovsky was the owner of the company where her husband worked. He was originally from here; his parents had moved to the city when he was about ten years old.<\/p>\n
After pondering all night, Katya made up her mind. She knew Sokolovsky\u2019s number\u2014her husband had called him several times from her phone. She decided not to mention that Stepan was her husband, and she called as a stranger.<\/p>\n
The first time she couldn\u2019t reach him, the second time Sokolovsky listened to her, paused, then laughed.<\/p>\n
\u00abYou know, I had almost forgotten I was born there. How is it now?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Katya was delighted.<\/p>\n
\u00abVery beautiful, peaceful, with wonderful people. I\u2019ll send photos and videos. Igor Borisovich, I\u2019ve gone through all the channels\u2014no one wants to help the elderly. Only you remain.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abI\u2019ll think about it. Send the photos; I want to remember how it used to be.\u00bb<\/p>\n
For two days, Katya diligently took videos and photographs for Sokolovsky. Her messages were read, but no response came. She had already decided that it was all in vain when Igor Borisovich called her himself: \u00abEkaterina Vasilievna, could you come to the Lenin office around three tomorrow? And please prepare a preliminary work plan.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abOf course, thank you, Igor Borisovich!\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abYou know, it\u2019s like a plunge into childhood. Life is such a race\u2014there\u2019s no time to stop and dream.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abI understand. But you should come in person. I\u2019ll definitely be there tomorrow.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Only after she had hung up did Katya realize: this was the very same office where her husband worked. She smiled; it would be a funny surprise.<\/p>\n
She arrived early; there was still an hour before the meeting. After parking her car, she headed to her husband\u2019s office. The secretary was nowhere to be found. She entered and heard voices from the break room, so she went there. There, she found Stepan and his secretary.<\/p>\n
Seeing Katya, they clearly became flustered. She froze in the doorway, and Stepan jumped up, trying to pull on his trousers.<\/p>\n
\u00abKatya, what are you doing here?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Katya ran out of the office; in the corridor she bumped into Igor Borisovich, handed him some papers, and, unable to hold back her tears, ran out. She barely remembered how she reached the village. Collapsing onto a bed, she broke down in tears.<\/p>\n
In the morning, a knock on the door woke her. On the doorstep stood Igor Borisovich with a group of people.<\/p>\n
\u00abGood morning, Ekaterina Vasilievna. I see you weren\u2019t ready to talk yesterday, so I came myself. Would you like some tea?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abOf course, come in.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Igor said nothing about the previous day. Over tea, almost all the villagers gathered at the house. Igor peered out of the window.<\/p>\n
\u00abOh, a delegation! Ekaterina Vasilievna, isn\u2019t that Ded Ilyich?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Katya smiled: \u00abYes, it is.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abThirty years ago he was already a grandfather, and his landlady used to feed us pies.\u00bb<\/p>\n
The man looked at Katya with concern, and she quickly replied, \u00abAnna Matveyevna is alive and well and still bakes her famous pies.\u00bb<\/p>\n
The day flew by in busy activity. Igor\u2019s people measured, recorded, and counted.<\/p>\n
\u00abEkaterina Vasilievna, may I ask a question?\u00bb Igor began. \u00abAbout your husband\u2026 Will you forgive him?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Katya thought for a moment, then smiled: \u00abNo. You know, I\u2019m even grateful to him for how things turned out\u2026 So what?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Igor fell silent. Katya stood up, looked around the house: \u00abIf a bridge appears, we could make this place amazing! Repair the houses, create cozy rest areas. The nature here is untouched, genuine. But there\u2019s no one to take care of it. And what if you never want to return to the city\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
Igor admired her. She was a special, determined, intelligent woman. He hadn\u2019t noticed her before, but now he saw her in all her glory.<\/p>\n
\u00abKatya, may I come again?\u00bb<\/p>\n
She looked at him intently: \u00abYes, come, I\u2019d be glad.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Construction of the bridge progressed rapidly. The villagers thanked Katya, and young people began returning. Igor became a frequent guest.<\/p>\n
Her husband called several times, but Katya ignored his calls, then blacklisted his number.<\/p>\n
Early one morning there was a knock. A sleepy Katya opened the door, expecting trouble, but there stood Stepan.<\/p>\n
\u00abHi, Katya. I\u2019m here for you. Stop sulking. Sorry,\u00bb he said.<\/p>\n
Katya laughed. \u00ab\u2018Sorry\u2019? That\u2019s it?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abWell, fine then\u2026 Pack up, let\u2019s go home. You won\u2019t kick me out, will you? And don\u2019t forget\u2014the house isn\u2019t yours, remember?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abI\u2019ll kick you out right now!\u00bb Katya exclaimed.<\/p>\n
The door creaked as Igor emerged from a room in his home clothes: \u00abThis house was bought with funds from my company. Or do you, Stepan Alexandrovich, think I\u2019m a fool? There\u2019s an audit in the office now, and you\u2019ll have to answer many questions. And I asked you to keep Kateryna calm\u2014it\u2019s harmful for her condition\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
Stepan\u2019s eyes widened. Igor embraced Katya: \u00abShe is my fianc\u00e9e. Please leave the house. The divorce papers have already been filed\u2014expect a notification.\u00bb<\/p>\n
A wedding was held in the village. Igor confessed that he had fallen in love with this place all over again. They built the bridge, repaired the road, and opened a store. People began buying houses for vacation homes. Katya and Igor also decided to renovate their house\u2014so there would be somewhere to go when the children arrived.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Step, I don\u2019t understand what you want,\u00bb Katya said. \u00abNothing special,\u00bb Stepan replied. \u00abI just want to be alone, take a break. Go to the country house,… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23710,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n