– Interesting, – Max said calmly, waiting for her to climb down from the ladder. – So you’re doing just fine without me, and your leg doesn’t hurt at all? – I’m sorry, son, – Vera sighed, lowering her eyes. – Lydia talked me into it. She said I needed to keep you busy so Irene could meet someone else. Some friend’s son, a promising businessman…
– Max, could you help me with something, please… – Lydia forced the words out, trying not to show how unpleasant this conversation was for her. What luck her daughter had marrying a man like him! There had been much better options!
Max looked up at his mother-in-law. Her face, usually stern and arrogant, now showed a strange mix of irritation and despair. He smiled to himself: “Does she really need this so badly that she’s actually speaking to me politely?”
– Lydia, you’ve surprised me! – Max smiled widely, clearly enjoying the moment. He knew perfectly well how his mother-in-law felt about him, and her polite request seemed extraordinary. – Has the sky fallen, or what?
– Don’t mock me, – the woman replied sternly, pursing her lips. – If it’s too difficult for you…
– No, go ahead, I’m listening. I’ll help if I can.
– My sister, Vera… – Lydia paused, waiting for a reaction. Max nodded: yes, he knew the woman. Unlike the other relatives, she had always treated him with respect and care.
He remembered that at their wedding she was the only one who raised a toast to his and Irene’s happiness, instead of wishing “may this marriage fall apart soon.”
– She broke her leg. She’s in a cast and can barely move around the house. It’s spring now, and there’s so much work in the garden: digging beds, pruning bushes, preparing the greenhouse… And her cat, Barsik, got sick – we need to call the vet and buy medicine.
Max involuntarily frowned. He had planned to spend the weekend fishing with his friends – to feel the hours by the water, the silence, the splash of fish, the smell of the campfire…
But he couldn’t refuse so easily – he always repaid kindness with kindness. Besides, he remembered Barsik – the fluffy red rascal who once stole a sandwich right off his plate.
– Well, there goes the plan again, – thought Max. – But how can I refuse someone who was always kind to me?
– It’s just a few hours a day. It’s a forty-minute drive to her house, and then only a couple of hours of work. You’re on vacation now anyway.
– Alright, – Max sighed. – But in return, you’ll stop inviting me to your family dinners. It’s always the same: first gossip, then your lectures. I’m tired of it!
He remembered the last such dinner: Lydia, pressing a lace handkerchief to her eyes, complaining about her son-in-law.
– And he chose an unserious job (a programmer – is that even a profession?). He doesn’t bring in enough money, and his character is unbearable.
– And most importantly – who does he take after? Did his parents even raise him? They abandoned the child, so he grew up like this!
Max had only smiled in response. He didn’t want to argue with his wife’s relatives, though it hurt: no one noticed his good qualities, but they happily listed his flaws.
Meanwhile, he was a wonderful husband! He earned very well! Irene didn’t work, she did yoga, went for manicures and spa treatments.
Their home had everything needed for a comfortable life: a robot vacuum, a multicooker, a dishwasher, a fancy washing machine with a dryer.
Max had done the renovation in their apartment himself – redesigned the kitchen and restored the bathroom. The family’s property was also in good order – a spacious apartment in a new district, a car, a country house outside the city.
– Maybe they just don’t see how much I invest in our life? – Max wondered. – Or they don’t want to see?
– But the main thing is that I love Irene. And if I need to help her aunt for her peace of mind, even at the cost of ruined weekends – I’ll do it.
When Max arrived at Vera’s, the day turned out to be surprisingly sunny. Rays of spring sun broke through the bare tree branches, and light steam rose from the ground – spring was asserting its rights.
– Aunt Vera, how did this happen? – Max shook his head, watching the woman carefully shift from foot to foot. The cast reached her knee, and it was clearly difficult for her to move. Barsik rubbed against the guest’s legs, happy with the new “owner.”
– I don’t understand it myself, – the old woman sighed. – I slipped on wet tiles in the bathroom. Thank you, Max! I don’t know what I would do without you.
– Lydia offered for me to stay with her for a while, but I don’t want to leave the house. What if something happens while I’m gone? And Barsik would miss me here.
– Don’t mention it, – Max smiled, sipping his tea. – Until the end of the month, I’m your helper.
He got to work with enthusiasm. He dug the beds, pruned dry branches, fixed the gate, and bought groceries. Vera could only exclaim:
– You’re such a good man, Max!
And Barsik followed him everywhere, as if checking whether everything was done properly.
One day, already approaching the store, Max suddenly realized he had left his phone at his aunt’s house. Cursing, he turned around and drove back. He had the keys – Vera had given them to him on the first day so she wouldn’t have to be disturbed.
Quietly opening the door, Max froze on the threshold. Instead of lying in bed, Vera was cheerfully climbing the ladder, reaching for boxes in the storage space. Barsik sat below, watching his owner attentively, as if approving her agility.
– How is this possible? – flashed through Max’s mind. – Yesterday she could barely walk, and today…
– Interesting, – Max said calmly, waiting for her to climb down. – So you’re doing just fine without me, and your leg doesn’t hurt?
– Oh, Max… – the old woman got flustered, blushing. – This… I…
– Let’s be honest. I helped you from the bottom of my heart, asking for nothing in return. And you?
– I’m sorry, son, – Vera sighed, lowering her eyes. – Lydia talked me into it. She said I needed to keep you busy so Irene could meet someone else. Some friend’s son, a promising businessman… I don’t know the details!
– A friend’s son? – Max felt everything inside him go cold. The past few weeks flashed before his eyes: Irene often came home late, became distracted, and sometimes answered calls in another room. “Was I really that blind?”
– Today Andrew – that’s his name – is visiting Lydia. She wants Irene to get to know him better and make a good impression!
– Don’t think Irene cheated on you, she’s only seen this Andrew a couple of times! But I won’t deny it, she was quite inspired…
– Thank you for telling me, – Max said through clenched teeth. – I think I’ll drop by the gathering too.
– Just don’t do anything stupid! – Vera shouted after him. – Oh, what have they done… And Barsik will be so sad if you divorce! He loves you so much…
On the way, Max tried to calm down. He drove slowly, watching trees, houses, and pedestrians flash by. Thoughts swirled in his head: “How could she? I tried so hard, did everything for her… Were all my efforts worth nothing?”
– Make a scene? No, that’s not my style, – he decided. – I’ll just show up, see everything with my own eyes, and make a decision.
– The apartment was bought before marriage, the car is mine, the country house is registered to my parents. Household appliances? Let her take them, I’ll buy new ones. Jewelry? Gifts – so they’re hers.
Fifth floor. Laughter and the clinking of glasses could be heard through the door of Lydia’s apartment. How did the neighbors tolerate this? Max paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and rang the doorbell.
– Max? – Lydia froze in confusion at the threshold. – What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at Vera’s?
– Where is Irene? – Max ignored the question.
– At home, probably, – the woman swallowed nervously. Her plans were collapsing before her eyes.
– So she’s not here? – Max smiled, gently moved his mother-in-law aside, and walked into the room. Lydia almost ran after him, trying to stop him.
In the living room, guests sat around a large table: Irene, Andrew, a cousin with her husband, and a grandmother from the father’s side. Irene and Andrew were sitting close together; she was whispering something in his ear, and he was laughing. When they saw Max, everyone froze.
– There’s the answer, – thought Max. – Everything is clear without words.
– And here’s my wife! – Max looked around at those present. Silence instantly fell over the room. He noticed how Irene turned pale and her hand, resting on Andrew’s knee, clenched convulsively.
– And who are you, if I may ask? – Max tried to speak calmly, but his voice trembled on the last word.
– Irene, are you married? – Andrew exclaimed in surprise. His face stretched, eyebrows raised. – Why didn’t you tell me? That’s not fair!
Irene jumped up from her chair so sharply that it fell over with a crash.
– Max, it’s not what you think! – her voice trembled. – Mom, tell him!
Lydia turned pale and stepped back to the wall, as if trying to blend into the flowered wallpaper.
– And you stay silent? – Max looked around at everyone. Irene’s grandmother lowered her eyes and nervously adjusted a lace napkin on her lap. The cousin giggled nervously but immediately covered her mouth with her hand.
– Well, I’ll say it directly: I’m filing for divorce. We have no jointly acquired property and no children. You can continue seeing each other and planning your future…
– No, I didn’t sign up for this, – Andrew stood up sharply. He pushed back his chair, not even trying to hide his relief. – Count me out!
– Max, please… – Irene stepped forward and reached out her hand. Her eyes filled with tears, and red spots appeared on her cheeks. – Let me explain!
Max stepped back, avoiding her touch. He looked at his wife – at her trembling lips, at the strand of hair that had fallen on her forehead, at the wedding ring he had given her for their anniversary – and suddenly realized he no longer felt pain. Only a light sadness and a strange sense of release.
– I’ll send your things here, – Max said coldly. – There’s nothing for you to do in my apartment.
He turned and headed for the exit. Lydia tried to grab his sleeve, but he deftly dodged.
– Max, wait! – Irene shouted after him. – We could have talked!
He stopped at the threshold but didn’t turn around.
– After what I saw? Definitely not!
Outside it was cool. The spring wind played with his hair, bringing the scents of blooming trees and damp earth. Max took a deep breath and walked to his car. He wasn’t in a hurry – he had plenty of time now.
– Was none of it real? – thought Max. – Or did she simply lose herself in her mother’s advice and family expectations?
He started the car and drove not home – he didn’t want to go there – but out of the city to the country house. There, in the quiet, he could think everything over.
The country house greeted him with silence and the smell of old wood. Max opened the windows to let in fresh air, then brewed strong coffee and sat on the porch.
The sun was setting, painting the sky in pink and orange tones. Birds called somewhere in the distance, and grasshoppers chirped in the grass.
– What next? – Max pondered. – I have work, a place to live, friends. I’m young, healthy, and I have many plans.
– I can finally work on that project I’ve been putting off for years. I can go hiking in the mountains, like I dreamed. I can simply… live for myself.
The phone in his pocket vibrated. A message from Vera arrived:
– Max, forgive me, dear. I’m so guilty before you. If you want, come visit tomorrow, I’ll bake your favorite cherry pie. Barsik misses you very much.
Max smiled. His fingers quickly typed a reply:
– Thank you, Aunt Vera. I’ll come. And I’ll bring something tasty for Barsik.
He put the phone aside and looked at the sunset again. The sky had turned dark pink, almost purple. Somewhere beyond the forest an owl hooted. Max took a sip of his cooled coffee and felt truly calm for the first time in a long while.
– Life goes on, – he thought. – And perhaps the most interesting part is still ahead.
