Strange, why did she choose me?” Olesya pondered.
Maria Aleksandrovna had three daughters-in-law, but she disliked the youngest the most. Perhaps it was because she was “always nearby” — after all, the other daughters-in-law had chosen to move to neighboring cities, far away from the meddlesome mother-in-law. Or maybe it was some personal antipathy.
In reality, that wasn’t nearly as important to Olesya. What troubled her was that her mother-in-law regarded her solely as an unfailing housemaid.
Olesya’s husband, Sergey, had no interest in getting involved in their conflicts and believed that women’s quarrels were not his concern; they should sort out their problems on their own. Even when Olesya burst into the bedroom in tears, complaining about her mother-in-law, Sergey would dismiss it as nonsense—every family has its contradictions, and it’s no reason to air dirty laundry.
It was easy for him to think that way. He was at work all day, and when he came home, he cared only about dinner and whether his wardrobe was ready for the next day.
Meanwhile, Maria Aleksandrovna had practically settled into their modest apartment. Few days passed without her intruding.
“Why are you chopping the potatoes like that?
Where did you put on so much cream?
What did you dress yourself in?
You cleaned last time… last year…”
These were just the standard remarks. Maria Aleksandrovna always showed up with something new to criticize her daughter-in-law.
This time, too, she was standing at the doorway, slightly agitated. Olesya immediately realized that her mother-in-law had come up with a new way to torment her.
“Olesya, my dear, why do you look so glum? I’ve bought us some pastries for tea!” Maria Aleksandrovna said, extending a bag with a box over the threshold with a cheerful smile.
“Thank you, come in,” Olesya replied cautiously. “I’m just about to put the kettle on.”
They sat in the kitchen, and before them, cups of aromatic tea steamed gently.
“Olesya, what a wonderful tea,” the sly-eyed mother-in-law remarked, hinting that this was only the beginning, “oh, how beautifully Katya used to brew tea for Sergey once—she would mix ordinary tea with herbs… It turned out so delightful!”
Katya had been Sergey’s schoolgirl crush. They had dated in high school until Katya went off to university and met her first husband. Sergey suffered a little for appearances and set off on his own journey, eventually forgetting about his high school sweetheart.
Yet, at every opportunity, Maria Aleksandrovna would mention Katya, as if without her, the mother-in-law would be bereft of her barbs.
“Let’s try the pastries then!” Olesya changed the subject.
“Yes, of course,” the mother-in-law chimed in, “just control yourself—don’t eat it all. Sergey likes slim men. By the way, Katya has lost so much weight!”
“Alright, so today is Katya’s day,” Olesya thought, “but it’s still better than when she specifically targets me.”
“Olesenka, have you ever thought about dieting? I read something so interesting! Imagine, you can eat everything you want but just eliminate carbohydrates—pastries, fruits, sweets…”
“Do you really think I need a diet?” Olesya interrupted, looking at her with undisguised irritation.
“Well, there’s nothing wrong with taking care of one’s figure,” Maria Aleksandrovna shrugged. “Years go by and we don’t get any younger,” she added as she poured herself more tea.
Olesya was quite a slender girl, and she knew full well that her mother-in-law was simply fanning the flames. She enjoyed tormenting her daughter-in-law so much that any means seemed acceptable.
“Could you write down that diet for me, if you wouldn’t mind?” she asked.
“Oh, what are you talking about? What difficulties? Of course I’ll write it down. The main thing is that Sergey doesn’t run off to Katya…” she said, as if having let slip too much, dramatically covering her mouth with her hand, “oh, what am I saying, I’m such an old chatterbox! A tongue with no bones! Don’t mind me—it’s just old age.”
But to both Olesya and Maria Aleksandrovna, it was obvious that this wasn’t mere coincidence. The mother-in-law was simply having fun at the expense of Olesya’s gullibility.
“It’s the same old thing again,” Olesya later told her husband about her day, “your mother said that you could go with Katya.”
“With which Katya?” Sergey asked in surprise.
“With your schoolmate Katya,” Olesya smiled.
“That’s nonsense. Has your mother lost it?”
“No, she’s just entertaining herself,” Olesya replied, picking up a tube of hand cream and squeezing a bit onto her palm.
“Listen, would you like me to talk to her?” Sergey asked seriously.
“No, we can handle it ourselves. You have plenty of your own things to do,” Olesya reassured him.
In truth, Olesya had already decided that her mother-in-law should no longer be allowed such behavior. She understood, of course, that for some reason she hadn’t won favor, but she would no longer allow herself to be humiliated. When she thought about it, it was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her soul. She took a deep breath and believed that life with Sergey could become much more harmonious and peaceful if they kept the insolent mother-in-law at bay. Moreover, her personal circumstances had suddenly changed drastically, and living under Maria Aleksandrovna’s pressure was now impossible. But she would tell Sergey about it later.
“What have you started now?” Maria Aleksandrovna arrived on a Sunday morning as Olesya began cleaning in the kitchen.
“I started cleaning,” the daughter-in-law replied calmly.
“Working on a Sunday is a sin!” the mother-in-law declared.
“That’s fine for you; you can choose a day without sin, but we, in fact, are working.”
“You want to say that I’m doing nothing?” Maria Aleksandrovna protested.
“I’m just voicing my assumptions out loud,” Olesya said as she set down the dust cloth and sat on a chair at the table.
“She’s just voicing her assumptions. I’m running around all day with the children, making sure everyone is alright. You wouldn’t understand—you didn’t have children,” the woman snapped, waving her hand in exasperation.
After that remark, Olesya was completely convinced that Maria Aleksandrovna did not deserve any compassion.
“Maybe you should loosen your control a bit? Who knows, maybe the children will manage on their own,” Olesya suggested with a smile.
“And why are you so cheeky? Sergey wouldn’t mind re-educating you,” Maria Aleksandrovna retorted, rising from the table and approaching her daughter-in-law.
“Quick, get up and make me some scrambled eggs,” the mother-in-law commanded, but the daughter-in-law immediately put her in her place.
“Quick, get up and leave my apartment!” Olesya shot back.
Olesya looked at her mother-in-law with a serious, heavy gaze, not taking her eyes off her for a second. The mother-in-law first raised her eyebrows questioningly, then frowned as if preparing to retaliate, and finally returned to a look of astonishment. It was clear she was bewildered by such an unexpected turn of events.
“Olesya, what did you just say?” she asked softly.
“I said that you should quickly leave my apartment.”
“How dare you speak to me like that?”
“Just as you deserve. You come to visit us, yet you act as if I were your housemaid. You meddle in our personal lives, trying to drive a wedge between me and your son. Would you feel any better if we broke up and Sergey were unhappy? How strange for a mother.” Olesya took the cloth in her hands and began wiping the table.
“How dare you!” Maria Aleksandrovna snapped out of her stupor and switched back to her usual mode. “We pulled you out of the countryside! Sergey clothed and shod you, provided you with a home!” she almost shouted.
“I’m grateful to him for that, but not to you,” Olesya replied coldly.
“What’s all this noise this morning?” a sleepy Sergey appeared in the kitchen.
“This snake is driving me out of my own apartment!” the mother-in-law exclaimed, delighted both to have support and an audience.
“This is not your apartment. It’s Sergey’s apartment. His inheritance was left to him by his grandmother—not to you.”
“It doesn’t matter! We’re a family, and that means we share everything!” the mother-in-law raised her voice.
“Sergey and I share everything, yes. But what relation do you have to OUR family?”
“Sergey!” Maria Aleksandrovna glared demandingly at her son, “are you really going to let this stand?”
“What am I supposed to do then? What’s gotten into you this morning?” Sergey, still half asleep and yawning, said.
“Your mother insists that I drop everything and make her scrambled eggs, and I suggested that she leave our apartment. For instance, I’m cleaning and have no time to serve uninvited guests.” Olesya turned on the tap and began rinsing the cloth.
“Well? Did you hear that? What does she think she’s allowed to do? A brat!” the mother-in-law demanded support.
“Mom, if Olesya is busy, then she is busy. Why did you even come here?” Sergey said as he quietly approached the kettle in his soft slippers and poured himself a cup of boiling water.
“And now does Mom need an excuse?”
“You really should have called ahead,” he remarked as he dropped a tea bag into his cup, “who knows, maybe we’re walking around naked here.”
“What’s gotten into you?” Maria Aleksandrovna slammed her hand on the table and clutched her purse in protest. “I think I’ll just go, since I’m the extra one here.”
She turned on her heels, stepped into the hallway, paused for a moment as if expecting to be chased after, and opened the front door.
“Don’t forget to call if you plan to visit!” the daughter-in-law shouted after her.
The door slammed with such force that Olesya was frightened they might have to repair the door frame.
“Thank you for supporting me,” Olesya said, placing her hand on Sergey’s.
“And what other choice did I have? I’m your husband. Besides, Mom is really going too far. You did the right thing by not tolerating her antics.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes. It bothers me when she says all those foolish things to you. She knows it hurts and offends you. It’s not right.”
Olesya smiled at her husband and snuggled against his shoulder.
“By the way, regarding Katya—I’m not interested in her at all. It was just a schoolboy crush. I saw her here recently, and she has changed a lot in appearance. And not for the better.”
“I’m not jealous, Sergey. I know you wouldn’t risk our family so easily.”
“You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“Not quite,” Olesya laughed playfully.
“What do you mean?”
“We’re having a baby!” Olesya exclaimed as she nudged her husband. “Well! Didn’t you understand?”
“Really?” Sergey jumped up from behind the table. “Did it work out?”
“Yes!” Olesya cheered, leaping into his arms and hugging him tightly.
Their family would become even happier. For the first time, Olesya had managed to defend their personal boundaries.