— There are three rooms in the house. You’ll give one of them to my daughter, — the mother-in-law declared, deciding how Kristina’s property should be used.
Kristina leaned against Oleg’s shoulder, staring at the massive door of their new apartment. The keys trembled in her husband’s hands with excitement. The three-room apartment in the city center now belonged to them.
“I can’t believe Aunt Lida left me such an inheritance,” she whispered, her voice trembling faintly with joy.
“She always loved you more than the others,” Oleg said as he turned the key in the lock. “Remember how she used to say, ‘Kristinochka is the only one who visits this old woman.’”
The door swung open, revealing a spacious entryway. Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the parquet floors. Kristina stepped inside and froze. For the first time in five years of marriage, they had a home of their own. No more renting tiny one-room apartments that cost a third of their salary.
“Olezha, look at those ceilings!” she exclaimed, lifting her head and spreading her arms.
“They must be at least three meters high,” her husband said, wrapping an arm around her waist.
Kristina laughed, already imagining bookshelves lining the walls. At last, their dreams were beginning to take real shape. They walked from room to room, planning where the furniture would go. In the bedroom, Oleg picked her up and spun her around.
“Now we’ll finally have a real home,” he said, setting her back down and kissing the top of her head.
The next three weeks flew by in a whirlwind of renovations. Kristina chose wallpaper while Oleg worked on the wiring. In the evenings, they collapsed onto an inflatable mattress and discussed purchases. The new furniture arrived piece by piece: a sofa, a dining table, a wardrobe.
“The refrigerator is coming tomorrow,” Kristina said, flipping through a kitchen appliance catalog. “And the dishwasher.”
“We’ll finally start living like normal people,” Oleg said, stretching until his back cracked.
On Saturday morning, the doorbell rang. Kristina looked through the peephole and saw familiar faces. Her mother-in-law, Galina Petrovna, and her sister-in-law, Inna, stood outside with strained smiles.
“Olezha, your family is here,” Kristina said as she unlocked the door.
“Hello, Kristinochka,” Galina Petrovna said, stepping inside and examining the hallway with an intense gaze. “We decided to come see how you’ve settled in.”
“Of course, come in,” Kristina replied, stepping aside.
Inna silently walked past her, inspecting every corner. Her eyes moved over the walls, furniture, and chandeliers as though she were estimating the value of everything. Kristina felt an odd heaviness in her chest. She hadn’t expected such close scrutiny.
“Mom, Inna, how are you?” Oleg asked, emerging from the kitchen while drying his hands on a towel.
“We’re fine, son,” Galina Petrovna said, walking into the living room. “Wow, this furniture looks expensive. Must have cost quite a lot.”
“My aunt left me some money along with the apartment,” Kristina explained, though her voice sounded uncertain.
Inna ran her hand along the back of the sofa, testing the upholstery. Then she peeked into the bedroom without asking permission. Kristina followed behind her, unable to understand what was happening. Usually, her sister-in-law was much easier to deal with.
“What’s this room?” Inna asked, pointing toward the third door.
“We’re planning to use it as an office,” Oleg replied. “Or maybe a nursery someday.”
The mother and daughter exchanged a meaningful glance. There was something unsettling in it. Kristina noticed their silent communication, and her heart began to beat faster.
“Well, we’ve seen everything,” Galina Petrovna said, heading toward the exit. “You’ve settled in nicely.”
“Very nicely,” Inna added as she put on her jacket.
After they left, the apartment suddenly seemed strangely empty. Kristina stood by the closed door, trying to understand the uneasy feeling inside her. Something had been wrong with their behavior. Their looks had been too attentive, too calculating.
“Olezha, that was strange,” she said, turning to her husband.
Oleg stared thoughtfully at the door, as though trying to solve a puzzle. His eyebrows drew together. He slowly nodded, and the gesture made Kristina’s anxiety grow even stronger. Something was definitely wrong.
The next two weeks turned into a nightmare. Galina Petrovna began appearing every other day. Sometimes she claimed she had forgotten to give them something; other times, she said she had simply been passing by. Kristina noticed how carefully her mother-in-law examined every detail of the apartment.
“Galina Petrovna, why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you?” Kristina asked during one of those visits.
“Nothing in particular, dear,” the woman replied with a forced smile. “I just want to know how my children are living.”
Oleg came out of the kitchen looking puzzled. His mother had never shown such interest in their everyday life before. She used to call once a week, and even that felt like a formality.
“Mom, seriously, what’s going on?” he asked, sitting beside her on the sofa.
“Son, you’re being far too suspicious,” Galina Petrovna said, adjusting a cushion. “Is there something wrong with a mother taking an interest in her son’s life?”
Kristina stood by the window, watching the scene. A dull sense of unease grew inside her. Her mother-in-law’s behavior was completely out of character. Too much attention. Too many questions about their plans.
On Thursday evening, Galina Petrovna called with an unexpected request.
“Kristinochka, may I come over for dinner tomorrow?” she asked in an overly cheerful voice. “I miss your cooking.”
“Of course,” Kristina replied, unable to refuse. “What time should we expect you?”
“Seven o’clock, dear.”
Kristina spent the entire next day preparing her mother-in-law’s favorite dishes: borscht, meat cutlets, and Olivier salad. She wanted to create a warm atmosphere. Maybe Galina Petrovna would finally open up over dinner.
Her mother-in-law arrived exactly on time. She brought a cake from a pastry shop and a bouquet of chrysanthemums. But something about her behavior made Kristina even more uneasy. Her movements were too nervous, her smile too bright.
“You cook so wonderfully, Kristinochka,” Galina Petrovna said as she tasted the borscht. “Oleg is lucky to have such a wife.”
“Thank you,” Kristina replied, sitting down at the table without taking her eyes off her mother-in-law.
The first half hour passed in ordinary conversation. They talked about the weather, the news, and work. Then Galina Petrovna abruptly changed the subject.
“You know, children, my poor Innochka is completely exhausted,” she said, putting down her fork. “She lives with me in my two-room apartment. The rooms are tiny. There’s hardly any space at all.”
Kristina tensed. So this was the real reason behind all the visits. Oleg became alert too, lifting his eyes from his plate.
“Mom, Inna is a grown woman,” he said cautiously. “She can find a place of her own.”
“With what money, son?” Galina Petrovna exclaimed, throwing up her hands. “Her salary is tiny, and renting is expensive.”
Kristina remained silent, already anticipating where the conversation was going. Her heart began pounding faster. She could see exactly what her mother-in-law was leading up to.
“Innochka is already thirty,” Galina Petrovna continued. “It’s time for her to live separately from her mother. She wants freedom, some personal space.”
“Then she can rent an apartment,” Kristina finally said. “We did that for five years.”
Galina Petrovna instantly stiffened. Her eyes narrowed, and the smile disappeared from her face. Slowly, she placed her glass on the table and looked directly at Kristina.
“There are three rooms in this apartment,” she said, her voice turning hard and demanding. “You’ll give one of them to my daughter.”
Silence settled over the table like a heavy blanket. Kristina stared at her mother-in-law, unable to believe what she had just heard. Oleg froze with a piece of bread in his hand. The air seemed to thicken, becoming oppressive and difficult to breathe.
The demand had been delivered so naturally, as though she were making the simplest request in the world. Kristina felt everything inside her twist with outrage.
“What did you just say?” Kristina asked, her voice trembling with anger.
“You understood me perfectly,” Galina Petrovna replied, straightening in her chair. “Inna needs her own room.”
Oleg slowly placed his fork on his plate. His expression hardened before Kristina’s eyes. She could see anger flaring in his gaze.
“Mom, are you serious?” he asked, rising from the table. “This is our home.”
“The apartment is big. There’s enough room for everyone,” his mother replied, refusing to back down. “Inna is a quiet girl. She won’t bother you.”
Kristina stood up so abruptly that she knocked over her chair. Her patience snapped like a stretched string. Her hands shook from the emotions overwhelming her.
“No one is going to live here except us!” she shouted. “This is our apartment!”
“Don’t shout at your husband’s mother!” Galina Petrovna rose as well. “You have no manners!”
“And do you?” Kristina stepped closer. “You come into someone else’s home and start making demands!”
Oleg positioned himself between them, but he stood firmly on his wife’s side. Kristina could see the determination in his posture. He wasn’t going to betray her for his mother.
“Mom, this conversation is over,” he said firmly. “No one else is going to live here.”
“Oleg!” his mother raised her voice. “I’m your mother! You’re obligated to help your sister!”
“I’m obligated to protect my family,” he replied, pointing toward the door. “Leave.”
Galina Petrovna stared at her son in disbelief. Her face turned red with anger.
“You won’t get rid of me that easily!” she shouted. “This isn’t fair!”
Kristina could no longer restrain herself. Anger overwhelmed every rational thought. She grabbed Galina Petrovna by the wrist and pulled her toward the hallway.
The woman immediately screamed.
“Kristina! Let go of me this instant!”
“Enough of harassing us!” Kristina said, dragging her mother-in-law toward the door. “Get out of here!”
Oleg approached from the other side and took his mother by her other arm. Galina Petrovna twisted and struggled, trying to break free.
“Oleg, stop your wife!” she screamed. “She’s gone mad!”
“My wife is right,” Oleg replied as he opened the front door. “You’ve gone too far.”
Together, they escorted his mother onto the landing. She continued protesting and demanding to be let back inside. Kristina breathed heavily as the tension that had been building inside her finally began to release.
“Forget the way to this house,” Oleg said coldly. “Goodbye, Mom.”
The door slammed shut.
Kristina leaned against the wall, her heart pounding wildly.
An hour later, the phone rang. Inna’s name appeared on the screen. Oleg looked questioningly at his wife before answering.
“Olezh, forgive Mom,” his sister sobbed into the phone. “She’s really upset. But… please think about letting me move in. I promise I won’t bother you!”
“Inna, forget this phone number,” Oleg replied before ending the call.
He blocked both his mother’s and sister’s numbers. Then he wrapped an arm around Kristina’s shoulders. She leaned against his chest, finally allowing herself to relax.
“I never thought my family was so greedy,” he whispered into her hair.
Kristina smiled softly. Her husband had become her protector, her solid wall. That realization warmed her more than any fireplace ever could.
Their home would remain theirs alone.