— Well, hello there, hard workers! I’ve come for some treats! The bright voice burst into the kitchen through the open window, making Nina flinch. The tongs slipped from her hands and splashed into the pot of boiling water. The scalding droplets burned her wrist, but the pain faded to the background—Svetlana herself was standing … Read more
Late evening settled over the city, painting the sky in deep shades of violet. A cozy half-darkness reigned in the quiet apartment, broken only by the soft glow of a desk lamp. Sofia was dozing on the couch, wrapped in a throw, when the insistent ring of her mobile phone tore her from the arms … Read more
Anya, there’s not going to be a wedding for now. My parents bought a car.” Those words hit like a bolt from the blue. Anna froze with a cup of tea in her hands, unable to believe her ears. Just an hour earlier she had come home from a wedding dress fitting, spinning in front … Read more
Zoya had always felt that her mother didn’t love her. It wasn’t that Yelizaveta Leonidovna ever said it outright or behaved deliberately cold. She never shouted, never reproached her, never said anything openly hurtful. Everything was like in other families, even better: nice clothes, new toys, trips to the sea. She always cooked delicious food, … Read more
Friday was hellish. Dasha and I were worn out at work like dogs, but there was no choice — urgent chores were waiting at the dacha. We left in traffic and arrived after dark. It poured all night, and in the morning the sun burned all the moisture away, turning the ground into a dirty … Read more
So, tomorrow morning we’re taking the bikes to the new park, and then to that little Georgian restaurant that opened on the embankment?” Katya set a plate of pasta down in front of Alexey with a smile. Her voice sounded light, filled with the anticipation of a well-deserved rest. Friday evening was spreading through their … Read more