A sharp, echoing squeal of hard plastic wheels suddenly shattered the peaceful silence of the apartment, making me flinch involuntarily.
The noise dragged across the hallway and then rolled toward the living room, as if someone was deliberately ignoring the possibility that others might want to rest.
The unexpected sound startled me so much that the porcelain cup in my hand tipped, and before I could catch it, it slipped from my fingers.
The hot tea splashed across the kitchen counter in a wide arc, ran over the light-colored surface, and a few drops dripped onto the floor.
Under normal circumstances, I would have immediately reached for paper towels because I liked order and cleanliness, but now I stood motionless because the sounds coming from the hallway had captured all my attention.
Before I could do anything, I heard that familiar, powerful, commanding voice that I had learned to recognize instantly over the years.
My mother-in-law, Nina Stepanovna, spoke as though the entire world was obligated to adapt to her wishes and ideas.
«Egor, don’t rub that dirty coat against the wallpaper or you’ll leave marks! Masha, don’t throw your bag on the floor, put it on the ottoman! Ksenia, where are you? Come out, we’ve arrived!»
I slowly exhaled while instinctively supporting my enormous belly with one hand. I was in my thirty-fourth week of pregnancy, and lately every movement required extra effort.
My lower back ached almost constantly, my ankles swelled regularly by evening, and my doctor had clearly advised me to avoid stressful situations whenever possible.
Life, however, seemed to have other plans for me.
When I slowly walked into the hallway, I froze for a moment at the sight before me.
On my freshly cleaned carpet stood two children wearing muddy shoes, and behind them towered two huge suitcases that clearly suggested something more than a short visit.
Ten-year-old Egor sniffled loudly while carefully spreading dirt from his shoe soles across the carpet.
Eleven-year-old Masha chewed gum with a bored expression while staring at her phone and seemed completely unconcerned that she was standing in someone else’s apartment.
Meanwhile, my mother-in-law was trying to place a cardboard box on top of the spotless white shoe cabinet. Damp soil and tomato seedlings peeked out from the box, scattering bits of dirt onto the furniture.
The woman’s heavy, sweet perfume instantly filled the entryway, while the children’s coats carried the smell of rain and damp fabric.
«Nina Stepanovna?» I asked in disbelief. «We weren’t expecting guests, especially not with this much luggage. Maxim is still asleep because he got home very late from work yesterday.»
She looked at me as if I had said something incredibly foolish.
«And what does that have to do with Maxim? Your maternity leave starts today, doesn’t it? No more work, no more office, now you finally have time.»
«Sveta left for work early because she has important clients, so we decided we could head out.»
For several seconds I simply stared at her because I didn’t understand what she meant.
«Head out where?»
«To the summer cottage, of course!» she declared enthusiastically, as if she had brought me some wonderful gift. «We’re going to Zarechnoye. The air is clean there, the pine trees are beautiful, and the river isn’t far away.»
«A change of scenery will do you good too, because you sit in the apartment all day. And the children will stay with you all summer.»
After those last words, it felt as though time stopped around me for a moment.
«Excuse me?»
«All summer. For three whole months. Sveta and her husband can finally finish their renovation, and you’ll take care of the children. Everyone wins.»
The shock slowly began to turn into something entirely different. I could feel indignation pounding harder and harder in my chest.
The worst part wasn’t even the idea itself. What hurt most was that they presented the whole thing as if my opinion didn’t matter at all.
As if I had no right to make decisions about my own life, my own time, or my own health.
I looked down at the children. Egor was curiously flicking the light switch on and off, while Masha continued staring at her phone. They weren’t to blame for any of this. The problem had always been the same people.
This whole story had started years earlier. When Maxim and I bought our small two-bedroom apartment, we could barely afford the mortgage payments.
We worked incredibly hard, budgeted every month carefully, and tried to build our own life.
But Sveta had already developed an unpleasant habit. She regularly appeared with her children without any prior notice. Smiling, she would leave them with us and announce that she needed to take care of something for a few hours.
Those few hours often turned into an entire day.
I remembered one afternoon when Masha accidentally spilled a glass of cherry juice over my work. I had spent weeks on that project, and most of the plans became unusable.
Sveta simply shrugged and laughed, saying that children are just like that.
When we finally started saying no, my mother-in-law took over. Sometimes she asked for help, sometimes she complained of feeling unwell, and sometimes she cited some urgent family matter. Every time, we went to help.
Once we arrived, it usually turned out that the children were waiting for us while my mother-in-law was actually on her way somewhere else.
This endless story continued for years.
But now something inside me had finally changed.
«I’m not going to the cottage,» I said slowly and firmly. «And I will not spend three months taking care of the children.»
My mother-in-law’s face changed instantly.
The smile vanished and was replaced by offended disbelief.
«What do you mean, you won’t?»
«Exactly what I said.»
«And then who’s going to watch them?»
«Their parents.»
«My back hurts!»
«Then you should rest more.»
«Sveta works!»
«Then she should hire a babysitter.»
My mother-in-law’s face grew redder and redder with anger.
«Why should she waste money on a babysitter when you’re home all day anyway?»
«Because I’m not a free employee.»
After my reply, complete silence settled over the hallway for several seconds.
The tension became almost tangible.
«You certainly know how to treat your family,» she hissed.
«I know exactly how to treat my family. That’s why I’m refusing to let people take advantage of me.»
«Take advantage of you? How dare you say such a thing?»
«I’m eight months pregnant. My child will be born soon. I need rest, not three months of raising someone else’s children.»
«In our day, women worked right up until the day before giving birth!»
«Then those women must have been very strong.»
My mother-in-law was practically trembling with rage.
«Start packing immediately! Maxim will explain to you how things work in this family!»
At that moment, the bedroom door opened.
Maxim appeared in the doorway.
His hair was still messy from sleep, but his face looked so cold that it seemed the air around him had frozen.
«No need to wake me,» he said quietly. «I heard everything.»
My husband slowly walked over to me and calmly placed his hand on my shoulder. He didn’t raise his voice, didn’t gesture angrily, and didn’t try to smooth things over. That was exactly what made his calmness so intimidating.
His gaze moved over the children, the suitcases, and finally settled on his mother.
«Egor, Masha, put on your coats. You’re going home.»
The children stared at him in surprise.
«Maxim!» my mother-in-law shouted. «Have you completely lost your mind?»
«No. For the first time, I’m completely clear-headed.»
At that moment, I knew that something had changed forever between us and the rest of the family.
And although I had no idea then what consequences that morning would bring, I could feel that nothing would ever be the same again.
