In the kitchen, the sweet scent of vanilla from the cooled cake on the table lingered in the air. Nadezhda was washing dishes in the sink, occasionally glancing at the gray, November courtyard outside the window.
Anatoly, meanwhile, was absorbed in the news on his tablet, occasionally commenting with nonchalance, as if his opinion were the most important in the world.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. The man glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.
— It’s Mom — he sighed, setting the tablet aside.
Nadezhda simply nodded, drying her hands with a towel. In her mind, she was already preparing for Irina Valentinovna’s arrival.
A visit from her mother-in-law required almost as much effort as an exam. The door opened, and Irina Valentinovna entered the apartment with the natural authority she always carried.
Short, slim, with perfectly arranged gray hair, she began inspecting every corner of the place with a gaze that seemed to pierce right through.
— The curtains are hanging wrong again — she commented, taking off her coat and handing it to Nadezhda as if she were a cloakroom attendant. — And the drapes need ironing,
Nadezhda. Men don’t notice these little things, but a woman is supposed to create a cozy home atmosphere. That’s a woman’s role.
— Hello, Mom — Anatoly kissed her on the cheek, as if completely ignoring her critique.
— Hello, son. I brought you vitamins; you’ve been coughing lately. And woolen socks, my friend made them — she took a carefully wrapped package from her bag and handed it to her son.
— Thank you — he smiled.
Nadezhda watched silently. For her and their seven-year-old daughter Katya, there was nothing in the bag: no vitamins, no socks, not even a small candy for the child. It had always been that way. Gifts, care, attention — all reserved exclusively for Anatoly.
At first, it had hurt Nadezhda; then it irritated her; now it only evoked a bitter smile. She had long stopped expecting even the simplest courtesy, let alone warmth, from her mother-in-law.
They sat down for tea. Irina Valentinovna asked her son about work, gave advice, shared news, completely ignoring Nadezhda, who sat next to him, almost invisible.
— So — she suddenly spoke in a solemn tone, sipping tea from a porcelain cup. — Next month is my anniversary. Fifty-five years. It’s a significant milestone. I want to celebrate it properly.
— Of course, Mom — Anatoly nodded. — Should we do it at a restaurant?
— Restaurant? Oh, no! — she waved her hand. — It’s expensive and tasteless. I want to gather close family at my home. But that’s not all. The most important thing is the gift — she added, making a dramatic pause and savoring the attention.
— I want a new smartphone. The latest model. Not just any, the best. With a great camera and huge memory. All my friends already have one, and I’m falling behind.
Nadezhda nearly choked on her tea. The smartphone Irina Valentinovna dreamed of cost half of their monthly salary.
— Mom, that’s… quite an expensive gift — Anatoly said cautiously, trying not to offend her.
— Expensive? — Irina Valentinovna’s eyebrows rose. — It’s an anniversary! Such things happen only once in a lifetime. Besides, you’ll all get it for me together — you, Nadezhda, and Katya. Together, as a family!
Nadezhda couldn’t take it anymore. She pushed the cup away, and the porcelain clinked loudly against the saucer, the echo filling the kitchen.
— Irina Valentinovna, do you really expect the whole family to buy you such an expensive gift? — she asked, trying to keep her voice steady even though her heart pounded in her chest.
— What’s wrong with that? — the mother-in-law said, looking at her as if she were speaking a foreign language. — It’s normal. Children and grandchildren give gifts to their parents.
— Children… — Nadezhda repeated softly, studying her carefully. — Yes. But you always give gifts only to your son. For all ten years we’ve been together with Tolya,
you’ve never given me or our granddaughter even a single flower for our birthdays, not even a small token. Everything goes to Anatoly, and Katya and I just watch from the sidelines.
A heavy silence fell over the kitchen. Anatoly stared at the table, his face tense. Irina Valentinovna went pale.
— I don’t understand what you’re talking about — she said coldly. — I give what I consider appropriate. Anatoly is my son. My blood. And you…
She didn’t finish, but the pause in her words spoke louder than anything.
— We are his family — Nadezhda finished for her. — I am his wife. Katya is his daughter and your granddaughter. But to you, it’s as if we don’t exist. And now, when you need an expensive gift, suddenly you remember that you have a family who should contribute?
— Nadezhda, it’s not necessary — Anatoly whispered, fearing his mother might have a fit.
— No, Tolya, it’s necessary! — she turned to him sharply. — I can’t stay silent anymore. Your mother doesn’t treat us like family. We are just an addition to you. And that’s humiliating for me and our daughter.
Katya is already asking: “Why does Grandma only give gifts to Dad? Doesn’t she love me?” What should I tell her?
— A granddaughter is different — Irina Valentinovna tried to answer, but her confidence began to waver. — I love her too.
— Love is attention. Small gifts for no reason, interest in her life. Have you ever asked what Katya likes? What she’s passionate about? No. You give socks to an adult son as if he were the only resident in the house.
— I don’t have to justify my gifts to you! — the mother-in-law snapped, standing up. — I raised my son alone, I devoted everything to him…
— Mom, enough! — Anatoly stood up sharply.
His voice was firm, and both women fell silent, surprised by his tone. He rarely raised his voice.
— Nadezhda is right. I’ve seen it all but tried not to pay attention, not to escalate things. I thought it would sort itself out, but no. You’ve never given anything to Nadezhda or Katya.
It’s unfair! We are one family. If you want us to give you gifts together, your treatment of us must be equal. Otherwise, it looks like you’re using us as a wallet when you need an expensive gift.
Irina Valentinovna looked at her son with a shock that seemed as if she had been struck. Her lips trembled.
— Is this how you treat me? Me, who worked two jobs for you! Who didn’t sleep at night when you were sick! And now you… together with her, against me?
— We are not against you, Mom — Anatoly sighed. — We just want fairness.
— Fine… — Irina Valentinovna whispered. — I understand. You owe me nothing. I’ll manage without your gift.
She slowly walked to the hallway, put on her coat, avoiding anyone’s gaze.
— Mom, stay, let’s talk calmly — Anatoly tried to stop her.
— No. I have nothing more to do here.
She left, quietly closing the door. Silence returned to the apartment, heavy and oppressive this time. Nadezhda sank into a chair, feeling emptiness inside. The argument brought no relief.
— I didn’t want a quarrel, Tolya — she sighed. — But I couldn’t stay silent. We felt we were being used.
— I know. You were right. Everything you said is true.
A week passed.
Neither Nadezhda nor Anatoly called Irina Valentinovna, and she did not reach out either. The atmosphere in the house was tense. They both knew the woman probably felt deeply offended and interpreted everything as ingratitude.
One evening, when Nadezhda was picking up Katya from kindergarten, the little girl asked:
— Mom, did we have a fight with Grandma?
— Why do you think that?
— Because she hasn’t come for a long time.
Nadezhda squeezed her hand. Children always sense lies.
— We had a little quarrel. But it’s grown-up business.
— At school we were drawing pictures — Katya said. — I drew our family: you, Dad, me, and Grandma. I want to give it to her.
Nadezhda’s heart beat faster, but she said nothing.
On Saturday morning, the doorbell rang.
On the threshold stood Irina Valentinovna. She looked tired, without a perfect hairstyle, in a simple coat. She held two bags in her hands.
— I… I came to see you — she said softly, not looking Nadezhda in the eyes.
Anatoly, who came to the hallway, was equally surprised.
— Come in, Mom.
Irina Valentinovna entered the kitchen and placed the bags on the table.
— This… this is for Katya — she took a beautiful drawing set out of one bag. — I remembered she likes to draw. And… this is for you, Nadezhda — from the other bag, she took out a silk scarf in a delicate peach color.
— Your color, I thought. I was passing by a shop, saw it… and thought you’d like it.
Nadezhda took the scarf. It was soft and light. She didn’t know what to say. It was the first gift from her mother-in-law in ten years.
— Thank you — she whispered.
— You’re welcome — Irina Valentinovna lowered her eyes. — I’ve been thinking about your words all these days. Maybe you’re right. It was hard for me. I raised Tolya alone, everything for him.
And when he got married, it seemed to me that I was becoming unnecessary. And… I clung to him as if he were my possession. And you… I didn’t take into account. I was hurt. But I didn’t want Katya to think I didn’t love her.
At that moment, hearing a voice, Katya ran out of the room.
— Grandma! — she shouted joyfully and threw herself into her arms.
— Hello, sunshine. I brought you a gift — Irina Valentinovna hugged her granddaughter.
— And I drew you a picture! — Katya ran to her room.
Irina Valentinovna, slightly embarrassed, looked at her son and daughter-in-law.
— About the anniversary… Forget it. I’ll celebrate it modestly, with friends. You don’t have to buy me anything.
— No, Mom — Anatoly said firmly. — We’ll celebrate your anniversary together.
For her birthday, they gave Irina Valentinovna a phone, simpler than the one she had asked for. She turned it over in her hands, thanked them, and put it in her bag. A slight disappointment was visible on her face.
After the anniversary, everything returned to the old order: Irina Valentinovna once again brought gifts and little things only for her son.
— Mom, why are you acting this way again? — Anatoly asked coldly.
— Because I want to! — she smiled ironically. — You gave me some cheap gift… it would have been better to give nothing…
Understanding that arguing with his mother was pointless, Anatoly waved his hand and no longer brought up the topic. Nadezhda, realizing she could not change her mother-in-law, also decided to stop worrying about it.
