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— How can this be, San Sanych? Pashka’s been your favorite grandson his whole life! And now this kind of twist at your age? Has something snapped? — fumed Pashka’s father and, at the same time, San Sanych’s son-in-law, Sergei Ivanych. — And what exactly doesn’t suit you, Seryozha? — San Sanych looked over the … Read more

Galina stood by the window and watched Viktor stride toward the neighboring entrance. Again. For the third time that week. He had some kind of little toolbox in his hands. “Where are you off to?” she shouted from the balcony. “To Alina’s! Her outlet’s acting up!” he waved and disappeared into the stairwell. An outlet. … Read more

Three days Maria scrubbed every corner of the house, as if her enemy weren’t dust but time itself—the time that had separated her from her son. She woke before dawn, even though the bus wouldn’t arrive in the village until after lunch. She still couldn’t sleep. Andrei was coming home after five years in Germany. … Read more

  — Inga, I’ve been thinking… Basically, I’ve got an idea how we can get our life on track, — Stas’s voice, full of self-satisfaction and expecting praise, caught her in the kitchen. She was slicing vegetables for a salad, the sharp knife gliding confidently through the firm cucumber, leaving behind perfectly even, fresh-smelling rounds. … Read more

Hello, darling! I’ve got a big surprise for you! Make your signature dish for dinner tonight! “What happened?” Svetlana grew uneasy. “Everything’s wonderful! I’ll tell you this evening!” The call ended, and the woman looked doubtfully out the window. It was a raw, damp October. Her husband’s call didn’t lift her spirits—over twenty-five years of … Read more

Alice pressed her forehead to the cool glass of the hospital room window, feeling under her fingers the steady, lulling breath of her newborn son, nestled against her chest. Her third son. Outside, under the streetlights, thick March snow swirled as if in slow motion—just as blind and hopeless as it had been six years … Read more

Elvira stood by the window, looking out at the rainy October street. Three days earlier, the money from selling her late grandmother Raisa’s apartment had hit the bank account. Twenty million rubles—a sum that could change a life. The deal had been done officially through a notary; all the documents were in a folder on … Read more

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the sweet hint of baked goods hung in the air, creating a cozy atmosphere that contrasted sharply with Anna’s inner state. She had ducked into this café for a quick lunch — a rare luxury in her hectic schedule lately. Home-cooked meals had become an unattainable dream, giving … Read more

“— And what is this supposed to be?” Alexey’s voice—steady and cold, like a scalpel—cut through the cozy evening quiet. Larisa, absorbed in her reading, didn’t look up right away. He stood in the living room doorway, arms folded across his chest, his gaze fixed on a small paper bag with a bookstore logo lying … Read more

  When Vera Nikolaevna received a message that her third cousin Tatyana, who lived somewhere deep in the Urals, was asking to stay with her in Moscow with the kids for a couple of weeks, her first reaction was to refuse. What could they possibly have in common? The last time they’d seen each other … Read more