— And you won’t burst from taking my money, my dear mother-in-law? Say one more word about this and you can take your precious son back home with you.

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— “Here’s how it’s going to be, Zoyenka.” The voice of Tamara Igorevna, sounding from the kitchen doorway, held not a drop of sentiment; it was more like an order barked at a negligent subordinate than a conversation with a daughter-in-law. Without an invitation she walked into the spacious room flooded with morning sun; her … Read more

— Why do you need a three-room apartment just for yourself? Rent it out, and you can live with me, — suggested the mother-in-law, planning to take all the income.

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— I have a two-room apartment, — Valentina Petrovna frowned, stirring sugar into her cup. — But after Artem moved in with you, the apartment became so empty and cold. Olga nodded, sipping her hot tea. Steam rose above the cup, creating a light haze between the women. Her mother-in-law’s kitchen always seemed dark but … Read more

Watching the last departing guests with her eyes, Yulia sat in the gazebo of the country house and waited for Kirill to return — now no longer her fiancé, but her lawful husband.

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Watching the last departing guests, Yulia sat in the gazebo of the country house waiting for Kirill to return—now no longer a fiancé, but her lawful husband. Their modest but homely cozy wedding, attended only by relatives and closest friends, went exactly as Yulia had planned. With one exception: at the height of the celebration, … Read more

“Let him pay off his debts himself now. I’m nobody to him anymore,” Irina smirked.

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The first phone call from Sveta caught Irina by surprise. Her sister-in-law never called just like that—usually, their communication was limited to holiday greetings and rare meetings at family gatherings. But that June evening, when Irina was washing the dishes after dinner and Andrey was watching the news, the phone rang insistently. “Andryusha, hi,” Sveta’s … Read more

Alexander Mikhailych and Avdotya Pavlovna had already lived most of their lives neither in peace nor in harmony, but somehow they managed to live together—they never divorced.

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Alexander Mikhailych and Avdotya Pavlovna had already lived most of their lives neither in peace nor in harmony, but somehow they lived together — they never divorced. “Well, what, mother, it’s been 50 years since you married me, huh?” Alexander Mikhailych suddenly remembered the memorable anniversary of their wedding celebration. “Remember? And I thought you’d … Read more

“I’m getting married! I’m having a wedding!” Yulia wanted to sing and shout it to the whole world. The wedding was in just two weeks. Yura was the most wonderful, the most amazing man.

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— “What do you mean, they’ll ‘stay here for a while’?” — “Well, since I’m not paying child support right now, my wife told me that for this month I have to take care of the kids myself.” — “Actually, I’m your wife.” — “Well, ex-wife—slip of the tongue. Why do you always nitpick?” — … Read more

“Tomorrow I’m going to my mom’s country house. For a week, maybe longer. And who’s going to wash and iron your shirts—that’s not my problem.”

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  — Tomorrow I’m going to my mom’s dacha. For a week, maybe longer. And who’ll wash and iron your shirts—that’s not my problem.    — What do you mean you’re leaving? I thought you’d be at home. You’d finally do a proper cleaning. — No, I’ve decided I’d rather rest at my mother’s. Sasha … Read more

“Then take your little boy by the hand and move him back in with you! Because I don’t need another child here who keeps running to complain to his mommy, and then she comes storming in to make a scene!”

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“Katya, come here, quick! Look at this machine! This isn’t a motorcycle, it’s a dream!” Denis’s voice, full of boyish, genuine excitement, burst into the kitchen, cutting through the steady hum of the extractor fan and the soft clink of dishes. Without turning, Katya finished rinsing a plate and set it in the rack. She … Read more