My mother-in-law was yelling so loudly into the phone that I could hear the membrane rattling even with the phone at arm’s length. Artyom stood barefoot in the middle of the living room, wearing a wrinkled T-shirt, staring not at me—but at the wall. I was sitting on the floor by the disassembled vacuum cleaner, … Read more
“Give me your bank card, I’ll just take what I need myself,” declared my mother-in-law as she carefully wiped her mouth—with my own linen napkin. “You’re always busy anyway, and I have to get ready for the anniversary. Restaurant, menu, outfits. I’m an elderly woman, it’s too late for me to learn these bank transfers … Read more
“Come on, it wouldn’t cost you anything! The apartment is just sitting there empty anyway—well, except for the tenant, but she’s just a renter. And this is family! My nephew really needs to get his start in the city, find a real job. He could stay for six months or so, just to get oriented. … Read more
Gleb called that same evening. Nelly stared at the screen, where his name showed as “Gleb,” realizing she still hadn’t changed the contact note. For eight years, it had said “Glebushka,” but at some point, she’d deleted the affectionate diminutive. She couldn’t remember exactly when—probably when he first didn’t come home for the night and … Read more
Irina was standing by the stove, stirring borscht, when she heard the key turn in the lock earlier than usual. Viktor walked in, dropped his bag on the floor, and mumbled without looking at her: “Ira, we need to talk.” She froze, the spoon trembling in her hand. Nearly thirty years of marriage had taught … Read more
Vadim threw his keys onto the hall table with a noise that sounded like a challenge to a duel. He didn’t even take off his shoes, just stood frozen in the doorway, arms crossed. Marina stood still in the middle of the room, holding an open passport—the same one she hoped to fill with tickets … Read more
“My parents are already picking out suitcases, Kat. They need that specific sanatorium in Kislovodsk. It has healing mud treatments and the whole joint therapy program,” Artyom said, carefully spreading pate on his bread without even looking at his fiancée. Katya froze, her hand still holding the salt shaker above the table. There were only … Read more
“Keep your hands away from that bowl, those berries aren’t for you, they’re for my grandkids!” my mother-in-law Nadежda Borisovna snapped, smacking my six-year-old son Yegor’s hand and snatching the big plate of fresh strawberries from right under his nose. Yegor quickly pulled his fingers back, looking at me with eyes full of tears. I … Read more
“I’ve transferred your holiday booking at the resort,” Igor announced, generously and with clear delight as he spread liver pâté onto a toasted piece of bread. He said it with such calm and pleasant composure, you’d think he was reading tomorrow’s weather forecast. The morning outside our spacious kitchen was gloomy, the water with lemon … Read more
Luda never liked her daughter-in-law. Not from the very beginning, when Semyon first brought her home to meet the family. He was only twenty at the time, and Luda was used to him always having some girl in the background, but he had never actually introduced anyone at home before. She made it clear early … Read more