Marina and Maxim were sitting at a table in a cozy restaurant. The girl was stroking her rounded belly and nervously looking around, and then looking at her husband again.
“Maxim, I’m really hungry,” she said pleadingly. “Let’s order something already. I don’t think I can last even five minutes!”
Maxim looked away and leaned towards the table, as if trying to make out the lines on the menu.
“Please, dear, wait a little longer,” he said, a quiet plea in his voice. “Mom should be here any minute. You know how she hates it when her food is brought to her last.”
“Yes, I remember, but I’m pregnant, Maxim!” Marina sighed, frowning slightly. “Maybe she’ll understand…”
“You don’t know her like I do. If we order now, it will be a disaster,” Maxim tried to calm her down, but it was clear from his face that he was also worried.
At that moment, Margarita Semenovna entered the hall. She confidently moved between the tables, there was not a shadow of shame on her face for being late. Approaching their table, she barely nodded to Marina and kissed Maxim on the cheek.
– Oh, what a terrible day, – she began with irritation. – My colleagues at the conference are absolutely unbearable! All they know how to do is talk about nothing. And that taxi driver who brought me here is a rare boor! And that girl at the entrance… – Margarita Semyonovna pressed her lips together in a sign of disdain. – What kind of service is this place? No respect at all!
Marina sighed heavily and glanced furtively at Maxim. Her stomach was literally growling from hunger, but she nodded silently, trying not to show her irritation.
Maxim quickly realized that the conversation could go in an unpleasant direction, and tried to steer it in another direction.
“Mom, let’s order something first,” he suggested with a smile that seemed a little forced. “Marina is very hungry, and you probably want to have dinner too after such a tiring day.”
– Well, since you brought it up, – Margarita Semyonovna answered reluctantly, – then it really is time. Although, to be honest, it seems to me that I am losing my appetite from all this incompetence around me.
She glanced at the waitress who approached them with a notepad in her hands.
“I hope at least everything will be all right here,” she said sternly, and the waitress seemed to turn slightly pale.
Marina rolled her eyes furtively, but didn’t make a sound, realizing that this meeting was important for Maxim.
After dinner, when Marina was dreaming only of getting home as quickly as possible and lying down on the sofa, Margarita Semyonovna suddenly suggested:
– Maybe we should go for a walk? The air here is wonderful, and it’s so nice to freshen up after a hard day.
Marina tensed up inside. All her strength was focused on getting through dinner, and the thought of having to walk was simply unbearable. She cast a pleading glance at Maxim, hoping that he would come up with an excuse to refuse.
But Maxim, noticing his mother’s displeasure, bit his lip slightly and, leaning towards his wife, whispered:
– Marinochka, let’s go for a walk. It’s just a walk. Mom will be pleased, and then straight home. I promise.
Marina wanted to object, but seeing his eyes, she took a deep breath and nodded.
“Okay,” she replied.
They were walking slowly down the alley when Marina suddenly felt a sharp pain in her stomach. She instinctively grabbed her side and stopped, trying not to show how bad she felt.
“What happened?” Maxim asked anxiously, noticing her condition.
“My stomach…” Marina whispered, “it hurts. I need to sit down.”
Maxim immediately sat her down on the nearest bench. But before he could say anything else, Margarita Semyonovna butted into their conversation.
– Oh, what are you saying! – she waved her hand. – Women used to be completely different. For example, I spent my entire pregnancy in the operating room, saving lives, and nothing – I didn’t fall apart! But now… The generation of young women is somehow weak, one thing is wrong, then another.
Marina felt her anger growing. The pain in her stomach was getting worse, but she barely noticed it as her mother-in-law’s words flashed through her head over and over again. How could she be so tactless? She pressed her lips together and, not wanting to make a scene, sat quietly.
Meanwhile, Maxim looked nervously at his wife and then at his mother, clearly feeling awkward.
– Mom, let’s take you to the hotel? Marina is tired, and I would like to take her home as soon as possible.
Margarita Semyonovna just sighed, as if she hadn’t noticed anything.
– Yes, yes, of course. But remember, Maxim, strong women are raised by strong men, – she added with a smile, getting up from the bench.
Marina didn’t listen any longer. She felt that if another word was said in that tone, she simply wouldn’t be able to stand it. When they finally got Margarita Semyonovna to the hotel and said goodbye, Marina got into a taxi without saying a word.
At home she went straight to the bedroom. Maxim, not knowing how to behave, followed her and tried to speak:
– Marina, you know what mom is like… She just doesn’t know how to do it any other way. Don’t be upset with her, she really respects you, it’s just…
But Marina didn’t listen.
“I tried…” Maxim continued, looking at his wife. “I wanted this evening to go normally. I’m sorry…”
— Tried? — Marina looked him straight in the eye, irritation in her voice. — Will you ever say something to her when she crosses all the boundaries? Or will you always “try” instead of supporting me?
Maxim froze, realizing that there was no point in making further excuses. He sighed heavily, sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at his wife.
– I really don’t know what to say. I’m sorry…
“Just leave me alone,” she replied tiredly, turning to the wall.
They didn’t say another word to each other that night.
The next evening, Marina stood at the stove, trying to concentrate on preparing dinner. Her mood was much better than the night before, and she hoped that this evening would pass calmly. She was whipping up pumpkin soup in a blender when the doorbell rang.
Approaching the door, she was surprised to find Margarita Semyonovna standing on the threshold with a beaming smile.
– Hello, Marina! I decided to stop by and visit my future grandson. – Without waiting for an answer, the mother-in-law had already stepped over the threshold, as if she were at home.
“Of course, come in,” Marina answered reservedly, trying to suppress her anger.
Margarita Semenovna quickly walked into the kitchen, looking around the room with that same fastidious look that Marina simply could not stand. Her mother-in-law’s gaze immediately stopped on the stove.
– What is this? Pumpkin soup? – She raised her eyebrows in obvious disappointment. – My God… Where is the meat? Maxim really needs meat, you know that, right? In this situation, Marina, you yourself need to eat properly. I have always fed Maxim only the best dishes, and as you can see, he has grown into a strong man.
Marina swallowed, feeling herself boiling again. But, reminding herself to be polite, she answered calmly:
– Yes, I’ll cook something meaty later. But now it’s soup, it’s good for me and for the baby.
However, her calm answer did not impress Margarita Semyonovna.
“Well, you know… If I were you, I’d think better about what’s good for my husband,” the mother-in-law commented sarcastically.
Marina took a deep breath, trying not to give in to provocation, and tried to change the subject:
– Do you want to sit in the room? Maxim will be here soon.
– Yes, perhaps. I’ve had a hard day, I’ll rest a little, – agreed Margarita Semyonovna and headed to the living room.
Marina breathed a sigh of relief, her mother-in-law would at least leave her alone for a little while. But something told her that this peace would not last long.
Twenty minutes later the door opened again and Maxim entered the house.
“Hi, Marina,” he smiled at his wife, walking over to hug her, but suddenly heard muffled sobs from the living room. “Mom?”
Margarita Semyonovna sat on the sofa with a handkerchief in her hands, pretending to wipe away tears.
– Oh, Maxim, you’ve finally come… I’ve been waiting for you for so long. But you know, I think it’s time for me to leave, – she sobbed even harder. – I’m no longer welcome here. Marina… Insulted me.
Maxim looked at his mother in confusion, and then at Marina, who was standing at the threshold of the room, frowning.
“What do you mean?” he asked cautiously.
Margarita Semyonovna shook her head, as if she couldn’t even utter a word.
– She… She spoke to me like that. Disrespectfully. I understand everything, but did I really deserve such treatment? – She sobbed again, covering her face with a handkerchief.
Marina, not believing her ears, took a step forward.
– What are you saying? I didn’t say anything like that, – she was indignant, looking at Maxim. – She simply suggested another dinner, and I answered politely. I don’t understand what the matter is at all.
Maxim turned to his wife, his face reflected bewilderment, but he still knew whose side was right.
“Marina, I believe you,” he said calmly. “Mom, I’m sure Marina didn’t mean to offend you. There was probably just some misunderstanding.”
But Margarita Semyonovna did not let up.
– A misunderstanding? Of course… Your wife kicked me out of the kitchen! I waited for you, Maxim, to tell you this. This is not my place, – she stood up and headed for the door.
Maxim ran after his mother.
– Mom, wait, don’t be offended. I really apologize if something is wrong. But don’t leave so abruptly. Everything can be sorted out, let’s talk.
Marina, watching this scene, felt irritation growing inside her. How many more times would she have to put up with such antics?
————————————————————–
When Margarita Semyonovna finally left their house, Maxim returned to the kitchen, where Marina stood with an icy gaze.
“Marina, I’m sorry about all this… I talked to my mother, but she… You understand yourself…” he began, approaching her.
“Maxim,” Marina interrupted him, looking him straight in the eyes, “I can’t do this anymore. I don’t want to feel guilty every time for something I didn’t even do.”
“I understand,” he answered quietly. “I promise I’ll do everything I can to make sure this never happens again.”
In the morning, Maxim was awakened by a call. His mother’s name appeared on the screen. He glanced at his watch: it was still too early for regular calls. When he answered, he heard Margarita Semyonovna’s tearful voice.
– Maxim, forgive me for everything that happened yesterday! I feel terrible. Forgive me!
– It’s okay, Mom. You’re just tired.
– Yes, exactly. And as luck would have it, they didn’t register me correctly at the hotel, it turned out that my room had to be vacated today and now I have nowhere to spend the night. Can I come to you? I don’t want to bother you, but I just have no other choice…
Maxim hesitated for a moment. There was no extra room for guests in their apartment anyway, and Marina had been sleeping poorly in recent weeks due to her pregnancy. But he couldn’t refuse his mother.
– Sure, Mom, come. We’ll think of something.
When Maxim approached Marina and told her the news, she nodded reservedly.
“Well, if she has problems with the hotel,” she said calmly. “Then I’ll probably spend the night at my sister’s. She lives nearby, everything will be fine.”
But Maxim immediately objected:
– No, Marina, what are you saying? You’ll stay here. Mom will kill me if she finds out you went out to spend the night when she came to visit. We’ll all fit in together somehow.
Marina looked at her husband as if he were crazy.
– Maxim, we simply don’t have the space. Where will she sleep? Should we inflate a mattress for her? And you? And me? Don’t be silly.
“We’ll think of something,” he repeated stubbornly. “Let’s discuss it in the evening, but now we need to get ready for work.”
Marina reluctantly agreed, realizing that arguing with Maxim at this point was useless. They went their separate ways, deciding to return to the conversation later.
However, already in the first half of the day, messages started coming to Marina’s phone. They were from Margarita Semyonovna. The first message made her heart clench:
“You won’t dare leave the house.”
She paused, rereading the text as if she couldn’t believe her eyes. A minute later, a new message arrived:
“You won’t dare to ruin my reputation. I won’t allow it. What will your parents say?”
Marina felt her palms sweat. Her mother-in-law continued to rain down threats, one message after another.
“If you go to your sister, you’re no longer part of our family.”
Marina felt the ground slipping out from under her feet. She tried to calm down, but her heartbeat quickened. Her head started spinning and her vision started to darken. The last thing she remembered was one of her colleagues running up to her, trying to hold her back. Marina lost consciousness.
When Maxim arrived at the hospital, his heart sank at the sight of his wife lying under a drip. Her face was pale, and there were traces of injections on her arms. The doctor explained that it was all because of stress. The baby was not safe either. They did everything possible and necessary, but Marina needed rest.
Maxim clenched his fists in rage. He understood that his mother and her crazy threats were the cause of everything. He approached Marina’s bed and gently touched her hand.
– Forgive me… I will fix everything.
Marina didn’t answer. She couldn’t trust him anymore.
Maxim drove up to the hotel, where his mother was already waiting for him with a suitcase in her hands. She stood there, flashing a displeased look, as always, ready to pour out another portion of complaints and grievances. Maxim got out of the car, greeted her reservedly and helped her with her luggage. Everything inside him was seething, but he decided to keep a straight face – at least for now.
Margarita Semyonovna sat down in the front seat and immediately began her usual song:
– Oh, Maxim, if you only knew how terrible the service is in this hotel! The same thing again – everyone is so incompetent. I’m so tired of this constant unprofessionalism around! And that girl at the reception, how did she even find a job? A complete nightmare.
Maxim listened silently, gritting his teeth and gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his fingers turned white. He didn’t want to interrupt her, didn’t want to get drawn into pointless conversations again. The car slowly rolled out of the parking lot, and he headed along the ring road, still silent.
A few minutes later, Margarita Semyonovna frowned, she noticed that this was not the road to her son’s house, and asked in surprise:
– Maxim, where are we going? It’s not towards your house…
Maxim glanced at her for a moment, then turned his eyes back to the road.
“I bought you a new ticket,” he said calmly, but with such cold confidence that Margarita Semyonovna tensed up a little. “You’re flying home today. Your conference in our city is over, there’s nothing more for you to do here.”
Margarita Semyonovna turned sharply to her son, not believing her ears.
– What? What are you saying? I came to you! And to my grandson!
Maxim slowly turned his head towards her, his voice even but full of hidden rage.
– You almost killed my child. Because of your messages, Marina ended up in the hospital with the threat of miscarriage. You brought her to this with your constant pressure and demands, scandals and manipulations. And you know what? That’s enough. I won’t let you destroy my family anymore. Go home and live your life!
Margarita Semyonovna sat stunned. She opened her mouth, trying to say something, but no words came. For the first time in a long time, her son looked at her with such cruelty that she did not even know what to do.
“I don’t want to see you,” he concluded coldly, “at least until you understand that you are not the center of the universe and must respect my wife.”
Margarita Semyonovna finally realized that her son was not joking. She sank into her seat and remained silent the entire journey.
Marina was discharged from the hospital a few days later. She still felt weak, but it was nice to finally be home. Maxim tried to be there for her, to support her in everything, and it seemed that the tension between them began to subside.
They had just entered the apartment when the doorbell rang. Maxim opened it, and a courier with a large bouquet was standing on the threshold. Marina immediately tensed up, and a thought flashed through her mind: “Could this really be from Margarita Semyonovna?”
Maxim took the bouquet and handed it to Marina. She looked at the card carefully, trying to prepare herself for any outcome. But to her surprise, the card had a completely different name written on it.
“To Maxim and Marina from Ira,” Marina read out loud.
Maxim’s younger sister, Ira, had always been a straightforward and courageous person. Marina knew her well enough to understand that Ira probably had her own opinion on recent events. She took out the card attached to the bouquet and read:
— “I’m proud, brother. Finally, you put our mother in her place. Kisses. Take care of my nephew.”
Marina smiled involuntarily. She looked at Maxim, who also smiled, reading the postcard.
“Well, at least someone is definitely on your side,” Marina said with a smile.
Maxim shook his head smiling:
– Ira has always been like this… But this time I’m really glad that she thinks so.
Marina put the card and flowers on the table, looked at her husband and exhaled.
“Thank you for protecting us, Max,” she said quietly.
He hugged her, kissing her tenderly on the top of her head.
– I will always be on your side, Marina. I made my choice.
