Masha had always been a bit of a gossip, but now she didn't have time for explanations. Alone, I didn't know what to do. I tidied up mechanically, washed clothes, made dinner. All of these habitual actions helped me think about the day before, about what was going on with our marriage, with us.
It was about two o'clock in the afternoon when I heard the door open. I was paralyzed, with a rag in my hand. Anton never came home at that time.
Never. My first thought was that something had happened.
But after the click of the keyhole, I heard not one voice, but two. And the second one was all too familiar. It was the voice of my mother-in-law, Natalya Viktorovna.
I crept out into the hallway and stood behind the half-open door in the back room. I knew not to eavesdrop, but something about the way they talked, so carefree in the middle of the working day, left me cold... 😲😲😲
I held my breath. My heart was pounding so hard that I thought they would hear it through the wall. Anton and his mother entered the living room and I heard the door slam. Obviously, they did not expect it.
There could be someone at home.
"I told you," echoed Natalya Viktorovna's familiar, cold voice. "He's no match for you. He does not want family or children. Just think about your career."
It was like an electric shock. What career? Which children? Never... not a word... I've given no one reason to think that I didn't want a family.
Anton sighed deeply.
"Mom, let's not do this. Now is not the time."
⏬ Continued on the next page ⏬
