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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Irina had just put her daughter, Alice, to bed a few minutes ago. She was about to lie down herself to enjoy the quiet of her cozy apartment. The soft light of the table lamp created a warm atmosphere in the living room, where the walls were adorned with landscape paintings and photographs of happy moments.<\/p>\n
But at that moment, the doorbell rang. The melodic ring announced that someone had come to visit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, that didn\u2019t work out,\u201d said the girl with irony in her voice as she went to open the door.<\/p>\n
A short girl with short blonde hair and big brown eyes stood on the threshold. She looked attentively at the hostess, clearly deep in thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat can I do for you?\u201d Irina asked, frowning slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, sorry,\u201d the girl snapped out of her thoughts. \u201cMy name is Yana.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNice to meet you,\u201d replied the hostess, crossing her arms across her chest. \u201cAre you here for a reason?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, yes,\u201d the girl repeated several times. \u201cMy name is Yana.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI gathered that,\u201d Irina replied with a note of irritation in her voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you are Irina?\u201d the guest asked uncertainly.<\/p>\n
\u201cCorrect. So, what did you want?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, you see,\u201d the girl began cheerfully, \u201cI am Viktor\u2019s fianc\u00e9e!\u201d<\/p>\n
Irina raised her eyebrows in surprise, her eyes widening at the unexpected news.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy playboy has a new woman,\u201d Irina thought, assessing Yana. \u201cBut what do I care who she is?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou see, I wanted to talk to you about my husband\u2026 oh, my fianc\u00e9,\u201d Yana continued, nervously smiling.<\/p>\n
\u201cI doubt I can help you with anything; we\u2019ve separated,\u201d Irina responded dryly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I know. Viktor told me about it. Well, I didn\u2019t come to argue!\u201d<\/p>\n
Irina chuckled to herself: \u201cWhat\u2019s there to argue about? I\u2019m not his wife, and who you are, I really don\u2019t care.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would like to hear from you what he is like, my Viktor,\u201d Yana said breathlessly.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy Viktor?\u201d This thought flashed through Irina\u2019s mind. \u201cHe used to be mine, too\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright, come in,\u201d Irina sighed.<\/p>\n
She let the uninvited guest into the wide corridor. Irina herself was curious about how Viktor was doing. He hadn\u2019t called her lately, only sending child support, and that was all.<\/p>\n
Irina heated the kettle, brewed rose petals in a transparent teapot, placed two cups on a tray with some cookies, and carried everything into the living room.<\/p>\n
Yana walked attentively along the walls, examining the paintings, bookshelves, and touching them. She was curious about everything.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s beautiful here! Such a big room, high ceilings\u2026 And such huge windows, and a park! I\u2019ve dreamed of such a house,\u201d Yana exclaimed admiringly.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, what did you want to hear from me?\u201d Irina inquired, placing the tray on the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, pretty much everything,\u201d Yana replied and approached the door. \u201cWhat\u2019s in there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t open it!\u201d Irina declared sharply. \u201cMy daughter is sleeping there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh yes, Viktor told me he has a daughter. What\u2019s her name?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlice,\u201d came the short reply.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight, Alice!\u201d Yana turned and approached another door. Without asking Irina\u2019s permission, she opened it and entered.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, where are you going?!\u201d Irina exclaimed, annoyed, and ran after Yana.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to see every room,\u201d Yana replied carelessly.<\/p>\n
\u201cListen, please close it and leave!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d Yana protested. \u201cAfter all, this is my house!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?!\u201d Irina couldn\u2019t believe what she\u2019d heard.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, this is my house. I\u2019m marrying Viktor, and he\u2019s giving me this house. So, honey, you need to clear out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you out of your mind?\u201d Irina asked, barely holding herself back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care what you think of me right now! I came to look at what my fianc\u00e9 is giving me. I don\u2019t want to end up in a shabby hut later. But here, it\u2019s nothing\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, that\u2019s it! End your circus, please, leave the house!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you can\u2019t tell me what to do!\u201d Yana declared and opened the next room.<\/p>\n
Irina rushed up and sharply pulled the woman by the sleeve. Yana barely kept her balance, staggering aside. The hostess carefully closed the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet out!\u201d Irina hissed, feeling anger rising within her.<\/p>\n
\u201cOoh, how mighty we are! Well, then, honey: I\u2019m giving you exactly two weeks, after which I\u2019m moving in here. Do you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n
From such rudeness, Irina was at a loss. She had not encountered such people in her life for a long time.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet out,\u201d she said quietly but firmly, clenching her fists.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I\u2019m leaving already. I should have taken a couple more pictures, but never mind. I have the address. Bye-bye!\u201d<\/p>\n
Yana rushed to her shoes, quickly put them on, and, without waiting to be kicked out, darted onto the landing.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo weeks!\u201d she yelled again and quickly ran down the steps.<\/p>\n
Irina closed the door behind her and leaned back against it, feeling her knees tremble.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was that?\u201d she asked herself. \u201cViktor couldn\u2019t do this to me, he promised\u2026 Or maybe it was just a stupid prank by one of his flings?\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked at the clock. It was already late, but Irina knew she couldn\u2019t sleep now. She needed to call Viktor and find out what was going on. But first, she checked on Alice\u2019s room to make sure the noise hadn\u2019t woken the girl. The little one was peacefully sleeping, hugging her favorite teddy bear, and Irina, looking at her daughter, felt a lump rise in her throat. She wouldn\u2019t let anyone disrupt their peaceful life, especially some upstart who thought she owned their home.<\/p>\n
The windows of the high-rises gradually lit up with a yellowish light, and the street lamps came on, casting whimsical shadows.<\/p>\n
Irina paced the room, her elegant hands nervously adjusting strands that had escaped from her hairstyle. Thoughts jumbled in her head, and her heart beat like crazy. She couldn\u2019t get rid of the words Yana, her ex-husband\u2019s new passion, had said.<\/p>\n
The apartment where Irina lived with her daughter Alice was filled with coziness and warmth. A soft sofa with multicolored cushions, bookshelves filled with favorite volumes, and photographs of happy moments on the walls \u2014 all created the atmosphere of a real home. But now this idyll seemed fragile and unreliable to Irina.<\/p>\n
She remembered her agreement with Viktor: they would live here until Alice finished school. But the statement of his so-called fianc\u00e9e was a terrible blow.<\/p>\n
Unable to bear it any longer, Irina grabbed the phone, her fingers trembling as she dialed her ex-husband\u2019s number, pressing the handset to her ear. After several rings, a familiar male voice answered:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d he replied without a greeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s this supposed to mean?\u201d Irina blurted out, also without a preamble, trying to speak quietly not to wake up Alice sleeping in the next room. \u201cSome woman just came by claiming to be your latest fling and told me to leave this apartment. Or is this your stupid prank?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright, I got it,\u201d Viktor said. \u201cJust don\u2019t boil over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Irina walked into the kitchen. The small room, crammed with old but well-kept furniture, always seemed to her the coziest place in the apartment. Now, however, it seemed to be pressing on her.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t boil over?\u201d she repeated, trying to contain the emotions bursting out.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew very well that this apartment isn\u2019t yours,\u201d Viktor continued. \u201cMy mother gave it to me before our wedding so that we could live in it. You remember that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRemember it well,\u201d Irina snapped. \u201cIndeed, your mother gave this apartment as a wedding gift for us to live in. But you ran away, leaving me with a daughter. And unless I\u2019m mistaken, you promised not to disturb me until Alice finishes school.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, let\u2019s not talk about promises, times are different,\u201d Viktor tried to evade.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t dodge the question. You promised,\u201d Irina insisted.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, there was such a thing. But now I need this apartment,\u201d her ex-husband coldly replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou scoundrel!\u201d Irina couldn\u2019t hold back, but she immediately took herself in hand, realizing that this was no solution. \u201cYou\u2019re vile.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre we going to argue now, or are we going to resolve something?\u201d Viktor asked calmly.<\/p>\n
\u201cTell your Yana not to come again\u2026\u201d Irina began, but Viktor interrupted her.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cI need this apartment, so it\u2019s unfortunate that she spoke to you first, not me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, you chickened out and sent your witch to me?\u201d Irina remarked sarcastically.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s not insult each other. I\u2019m just asking you to leave this apartment within two weeks,\u201d Viktor said evenly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd go where?\u201d Irina asked indignantly. \u201cYou know very well I don\u2019t have another apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll rent one. I send you child support, and it\u2019s not small. You can live well on it; it\u2019ll cover a whole apartment,\u201d Viktor confidently stated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not how it\u2019s done, Viktor. You promised,\u201d Irina\u2019s voice carried a plea.<\/p>\n
\u201cStop it. I don\u2019t have another apartment, at least not like this one. So two weeks is enough time for you to find a home and move out. Do you understand?\u201d Viktor\u2019s voice had a steely note.<\/p>\n
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\n\u201cNo, you don\u2019t understand. This is where your daughter lives. I repeat \u2014 your daughter, whom you don\u2019t visit, whom you didn\u2019t congratulate on her birthday. Have you completely forgotten about her?\u201d<\/p>\n
Heavy sighs came through the receiver. Viktor was silent for a few seconds, then coldly said:<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo weeks,\u201d and hung up.<\/p>\n
Irina collapsed into a chair, powerless. Outside, the twilight deepened, and in her soul, the darkness of uncertainty and fear of the future thickened.<\/p>\n
The night was one of the worst. Irina practically didn\u2019t sleep; she kept thinking about what to do next. Yes, the apartment wasn\u2019t hers, yes, Viktor had the right to evict her, yes, he paid child support. But if she now rented an apartment, there would hardly be any money left. Irina didn\u2019t know what to do.<\/p>\n
The dim light of early morning filtered through the curtains, coloring the room in shades of gray. Irina mechanically moved around the kitchen, preparing breakfast for her daughter. Her pale face and the dark circles under her eyes betrayed a sleepless night.<\/p>\n
After feeding her daughter and getting ready to go out with her, Irina heard the doorbell ring. On the doorstep stood Margarita Vladimirovna, Viktor\u2019s mother. Although they were divorced, the mother-in-law almost came to visit every day. She enjoyed playing with her granddaughter\u2014she had walked with her when she was small, bathed her, taught her to walk, and now she began teaching her to draw and read.<\/p>\n
Margarita Vladimirovna looked sharply at her daughter-in-law.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with you?\u201d noticing the dark circles under Irina\u2019s eyes, the mother-in-law asked.<\/p>\n
The girl sighed heavily, gathered courage, and quietly said:<\/p>\n
\u201cViktor is evicting me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, well, let\u2019s hear more about this,\u201d Margarita Vladimirovna picked up her granddaughter, kissed her on the cheek, and, entering the living room, sat down in a chair. \u201cSo, what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
Irina told everything: how Yana had come, how she claimed the apartment was now hers, how she had called her ex-husband, and how he confirmed his fianc\u00e9e\u2019s words.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo weeks, just two weeks! But where will I go?\u201d Irina spread her hands, looking at the furniture around her. \u201cWhat am I supposed to do with this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Margarita Vladimirovna bowed her head. For some time, she was silent, then she stood up, approached the window, looked at the children running in the park. Coming back, she said in a soft voice:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s my son\u2019s right. It\u2019s his apartment, and he decides what to do with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about Alice?\u201d Irina reminded her mother-in-law.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d the woman sighed heavily. \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d she repeated, and, approaching her granddaughter, stroked her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe promised,\u201d Irina reminded her of her husband\u2019s given word.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are no promises that can\u2019t be broken,\u201d she sat down next to Alice, watched her draw, took a pencil, and corrected something in the drawing.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s do this, and you calm down for now. What Viktor has decided, I don\u2019t know. He doesn\u2019t inform me of what\u2019s going on in his business or his life. But you know what,\u201d the woman again stroked her granddaughter\u2019s head, \u201cI\u2019ll talk to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d Irina replied with hope in her voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll talk,\u201d responded Margarita Vladimirovna and went to the exit.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you leaving?\u201d the girl was disappointed and went to see her off.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I need to prepare for the conversation,\u201d she replied and put on her shoes. Opening the door, she repeated: \u201cI need to prepare.\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman stepped onto the landing, leaving Irina with mixed feelings of hope and anxiety. The heavy door closed, and Irina was left alone in the apartment, which might soon no longer be her home.<\/p>\n
Margarita Vladimirovna stepped outside. The cold autumn wind immediately ruffled her hair, making her shiver. She paused for a moment, looking at the fallen leaves swirling in the air. This reminded her of the day her husband, Andrey, died.<\/p>\n
It had been so long ago that she could hardly remember what he looked like. Their son Viktor had just turned two at that time. Margarita again felt the sense of disorientation and helplessness that had overwhelmed her at that moment. She didn\u2019t know what to do then, just as her daughter-in-law didn\u2019t know what to do now.<\/p>\n
The woman slowly approached her car, opened the door, and sat behind the wheel. The car\u2019s interior retained the scent of lavender \u2014 Margarita\u2019s favorite perfume.<\/p>\n
Looking at the road ahead, she remembered how unexpectedly her own mother turned away from her in a difficult moment. The only person who offered a helping hand was Elena Olegovna, her mother-in-law. She allowed the young widow with a child to live in her spacious apartment. And when the elderly woman died, the property passed into Margarita\u2019s ownership.<\/p>\n
The woman fastened her seat belt, took out the keys, and, inserting them into the ignition, turned them. The engine quietly purred.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not doing the right thing,\u201d she said, addressing an invisible interlocutor. Her voice carried notes of reproach and disappointment. \u201cYou\u2019re not doing the right thing by not talking to Irina yourself but sending your witch instead. That\u2019s not right.\u201d<\/p>\n
She gently pressed the gas pedal, and the car smoothly started moving. The city streets were almost empty, only occasionally did passers-by hurry along their way. Margarita Vladimirovna drove slowly, lost in her thoughts and memories.<\/p>\n
A couple of days passed. Margarita Vladimirovna decided to visit her granddaughter Alice. She rang the doorbell, and it immediately opened. On the threshold stood Irina, her daughter-in-law, with a bewildered look in her brown eyes, framed by long lashes.<\/p>\n
\u201cNice to see you,\u201d the hostess replied, trying to hide the excitement in her voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello,\u201d Margarita Vladimirovna responded reservedly. She gently kissed her daughter-in-law on the cheek and asked, \u201cAnd where\u2019s our little girl?\u201d referring to her granddaughter.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere, in the room, putting things away,\u201d Irina replied quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cScattered again?\u201d Margarita Vladimirovna asked and, removing her shoes, entered the living room.<\/p>\n
She was surprised to see a dozen boxes, half of which were already filled with belongings. The room, usually cozy and bright, now looked like a battlefield strewn with scattered toys and clothes.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo weeks,\u201d Irina said resignedly, approaching a bookshelf and picking up a book.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know what,\u201d her mother-in-law approached, took the book from her hands, and put it back in its place, \u201chang in there for a couple of days, okay? Put the boxes aside. I haven\u2019t talked to my son yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMmmm,\u201d Irina hummed, not knowing exactly what to respond.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, where\u2019s my little girl? Alice!\u201d the grandmother called her granddaughter, and immediately her voice was answered by a little miracle running out of the bedroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrandma!\u201d the girl shouted and jumped into the woman\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, my beauty! Oh, my darling!\u201d Margarita Vladimirovna exclaimed, tightly hugging her granddaughter.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrandma, grandma, grandma!\u201d was all the little girl could say, pressing against her grandmother.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, shall we go for a walk?\u201d the mother-in-law suggested to her daughter-in-law, carefully holding Alice in her arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh\u2026 aaa\u2026\u201d Irina looked at the boxes, not knowing what to answer. Her gaze darted between the belongings and her mother-in-law.<\/p>\n
\u201cHang in there until the end of the week,\u201d Margarita Vladimirovna said softly but firmly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright,\u201d Irina replied with relief and began to get dressed. Her movements reflected some indecision, but at the same time, hope appeared.<\/p>\n
A few more days passed. Golden rays of autumn sunlight softly illuminated the hall of a luxurious restaurant when Margarita Vladimirovna entered. An elegant woman with a flawless hairstyle and an expensive suit, she immediately noticed her son Viktor at a table by the window. A young girl sat next to him.<\/p>\n
Margarita Vladimirovna approached the table, giving her son\u2019s companion a cold look, and sat down, addressing Viktor:<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what is she doing here?\u201d she asked, turning her head towards the girl.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, this is my fianc\u00e9e,\u201d her son replied, frowning slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked you to come for a conversation, not to meet her,\u201d his mother said displeased.<\/p>\n
Yana immediately felt unwelcome. She nervously fiddled with a napkin, not knowing where to look.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe I should go then?\u201d she suggested in a quiet voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Viktor said firmly, and turning to his mother, he added, \u201cI have no secrets from Yana.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that\u2019s how it is. Well, you\u2019ll get rid of her sooner,\u201d Margarita Vladimirovna remarked coldly.<\/p>\n
Yana\u2019s eyes blinked as if sand had gotten into them. She felt the color drain from her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, son, I asked you to come here to talk about the apartment,\u201d Margarita Vladimirovna began, adjusting the pearl necklace around her neck.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, that issue is already resolved,\u201d Viktor immediately guessed that his mother would stand up for his ex-wife\u2019s interests.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, it\u2019s not resolved,\u201d she replied calmly, leaning back in her chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need this apartment. I\u2019m marrying Yana, and we will live there,\u201d the man insisted.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, you won\u2019t. And here\u2019s why,\u201d Margarita Vladimirovna turned her head towards Yana. \u201cYou\u2019d better plug your ears or go powder your nose, honey.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStay,\u201d Viktor said harshly, placing his hand on Yana\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just suggested,\u201d his mother replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cIrina will move out,\u201d Viktor stated confidently.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, young man, I want to remind you: the apartment where I live is mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, but that\u2019s just on paper!\u201d her son immediately objected. \u201cI registered it in your name because\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you\u2019re dodging taxes. There\u2019s the root of your problems,\u201d his mother interrupted. \u201cAnd the apartment where Irina lives was also bought by you. You transferred it to me, then asked to transfer it back, which I did. But you didn\u2019t pay the taxes for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, don\u2019t meddle in my finances,\u201d Viktor requested, his voice tense.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to remind you, my dear son, that I\u2019m the founder of two of your companies,\u201d his mother said calmly.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, what are you doing?\u201d Viktor\u2019s eyes fluttered like old windshield wipers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve checked your documentation, matched your income and expenses. I don\u2019t know what\u2019s surprising, but the declaration of your income somehow doesn\u2019t match your expenses. At least by a factor of 20.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you calculate that?\u201d Viktor asked incredulously.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m the founder. I have full access to your accounting. I know where you spend money, but what surprises me is that you forge my signatures.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, that I\u2019m the founder is just fi\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman couldn\u2019t stand it and slammed her hand on the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up,\u201d she said harshly. \u201cAnother word, and I\u2019ll fire you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Viktor\u2019s face turned red, while Yana\u2019s turned even paler.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m the founder of these two companies that bring you money. I know how much you actually earn and how much you transfer to Irina. So my proposal is simple: you make a deed of gift to Irina and quadruple the amount of child support starting next month. Otherwise\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOtherwise what?\u201d her son asked angrily.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst option,\u201d Margarita Vladimirovna replied, \u201cI fire you. Second option\u2014I file a police report. Choose whichever you find more suitable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Viktor leaned back in his chair. He understood that, by dodging taxes, he had dug himself into a hole. Yes, it helped him hide a large part of the income, and until this moment, his mother had never contradicted him.<\/p>\n
\u201cViktor,\u201d Yana muttered with a trembling voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cBe quiet,\u201d he said dryly.<\/p>\n
Margarita Vladimirovna took a handbag, took out a folded folder, laid her hand on it, and started tapping her fingers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s enough information here to get you interested,\u201d she said, looking her son straight in the eyes.<\/p>\n
Viktor\u2019s eyes were glassy. He hadn\u2019t thought his mother would ever betray him.<\/p>\n
The woman took the folder and put it back in her bag, then stood up and, thanking Viktor for coming, calmly walked away, leaving behind a trail of expensive perfume and a heavy atmosphere of tension.<\/p>\n
A few more days passed. Margarita Vladimirovna, by habit, approached the familiar door. She pressed the doorbell, and immediately somewhere deep in the apartment, a joyful cry of her granddaughter was heard.<\/p>\n
\u201cLittle one,\u201d the elderly woman said with a smile on her lips.<\/p>\n
The door opened, and her daughter-in-law, Irina, let her mother-in-law into the house.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrandma! Grandma! Grandma!\u201d the little girl joyfully jumped on Margarita Vladimirovna\u2019s neck.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy beauty! My darling!\u201d the grandmother exclaimed, tightly hugging her granddaughter.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrandma, grandma, grandma!\u201d was all the little girl could say, clinging to her grandmother.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, shall we go for a walk?\u201d the grandmother offered to her daughter-in-law, admiring her granddaughter\u2019s glowing face.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes!\u201d the girl shouted loudly and, getting down from her grandmother\u2019s arms, ran to get dressed, her little feet tapping on the parquet.<\/p>\n
Margarita Vladimirovna turned to her daughter-in-law, giving her an attentive look.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, how are you feeling?\u201d she addressed the hostess, noticing the shadows under her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cTerrible,\u201d she replied and, entering the living room, spread her arms wide.<\/p>\n
The mother-in-law followed her. Almost all the cabinets were empty, and a mountain of boxes piled up along the walls. The sunlight streaming through the loosely drawn curtains illuminated the chaos reigning in the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cWow, I didn\u2019t think there would be so many things,\u201d Margarita Vladimirovna whistled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I didn\u2019t think they would add up to so much,\u201d Irina sighed, running her hand through her hair.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, good for you,\u201d the mother-in-law nodded approvingly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll get Alice dressed now,\u201d Irina bustled.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait,\u201d Margarita Vladimirovna stopped her. She opened her handbag and took out several sheets of paper, handing them to her daughter-in-law. \u201cTake these,\u201d she said, and went to help her granddaughter get dressed.<\/p>\n
Irina took the papers and began to read intently. She didn\u2019t notice how tears started streaming down her cheeks. Approaching Margarita Vladimirovna, the girl hugged her and whispered quietly:<\/p>\n
\u201cMom\u2026 thank you so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom?\u201d Alice was surprised and looked attentively at her grandmother with her big brown eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, darling, mom,\u201d Irina replied, hugging the woman even tighter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would never let anyone hurt my granddaughter,\u201d Margarita Vladimirovna said softly, patting her daughter-in-law on the back.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d Irina replied, trying not to cry, wiping her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, are we going for a walk or what?\u201d the mother-in-law tried to lighten the emotional atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Alice immediately shouted:<\/p>\n
\u201cYes!\u201d<\/p>\n
Irina approached a box, opened it, and, taking out a worn teddy bear\u2014Alice\u2019s favorite toy\u2014placed it back on the shelf. A ray of sunlight, breaking through the curtains, lit up the teddy bear\u2019s face, as if welcoming it back home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Irina had just put her daughter, Alice, to bed a few minutes ago. She was about to lie down herself to enjoy the quiet of her cozy… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25442,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n