“Darling, don’t forget to buy some good curd mass for the Easter cake. Just not the one you bought for the pie at Christmas. Remember how tasteless it was?”
Lisa put the phone down face down. More unsolicited advice. More subtext: “you can’t do anything properly.”
– Who wrote it? – Igor entered the kitchen, stretching his neck, which had become stiff after sitting at the computer for a long time.
“Your mother,” Lisa tried to make her voice sound neutral. “Reminds me of Easter cake.”
– Oh, yeah, – Igor nodded, pouring himself some tea. – She’s nervous before the holiday. Wants everything to be perfect.
“Perfect for her,” Lisa thought, but said nothing. Three years of marriage had taught her to pick her battles. And this one wasn’t worth it.
Liza remembered every look her mother-in-law had given her since they met. Margarita Stepanovna assessed her like a commodity on the market – from her hairstyle to the way she held her fork. And the verdict was always the same: not suitable. Liza worked in an architectural bureau, often stayed late, ran in the park in the morning, did not eat meat on principle, and was in no hurry to have children – work, mortgage, she wanted to live for herself. For Margarita Stepanovna, this was incomprehensible.
“When will you come to your senses?” asked the mother-in-law at a family dinner a month ago, when Igor went out for a smoke. “When I was your age, I already had Igor. Do you understand that time is running out?”
“Igor and I don’t have any plans yet,” Lisa answered calmly. “But thank you for your concern.”
– You don’t plan? – Margarita Stepanovna shook her head. – Or you don’t plan? You know, men are like that… They need a real family. Children, comfort, a hot dinner. And not an eternally tired wife who comes home after work and says she has no time for this.
Lisa didn’t answer then. But the words stuck like a splinter.
Now Easter was coming up. Igor suggested inviting his parents to their place, and Lisa agreed – another attempt to mend relations. She decided to cook a special dinner, although without the traditional meat dishes.
Liza spent three days choosing recipes, cooking, decorating – it turned out beautiful and delicious. Potato zrazy with mushrooms, avocado forshmak, baked beet salad with nuts and honey sauce, baked eggplants with cheese, eggs stuffed with olives and herbs. She ordered the Easter cake from a pastry chef she knew – ideally shaped, with elegant glaze.
Igor appreciated the efforts:
– It looks amazing! Unusual, but delicious. I could eat this every day.
Lisa beamed. But the party hadn’t started yet.
——————————————————-
When Margarita Stepanovna and her husband Viktor Andreevich crossed the threshold, the atmosphere immediately changed. The mother-in-law glanced at the table and pursed her lips.
“Where’s the meat?” she asked instead of greeting.
“I made a vegetarian dinner,” Lisa smiled. “But I assure you, everything is delicious.”
– Vegetarian? For Easter? – Margarita Stepanovna turned to her son. – Igor, this is something new. I thought you liked normal food.
– Mom, everything is really delicious, – Igor was already chewing right away. – Try it.
– Victor, did you hear? – the mother-in-law turned to her husband. – At Easter they will feed us grass.
Viktor Andreevich just chuckled and sat down at the table. Liza felt her cheeks burning. But for Igor’s sake she kept silent.
The dinner was tense. Liza tried to keep up the conversation, Igor tried to smooth over the rough edges. Margarita Stepanovna barely touched her food, demonstratively picking at her plate with her fork, and after dessert she said a phrase that stuck in Liza’s head for a long time:
“I’ve never eaten such a shameful Easter in my life! And I haven’t eaten this either,” she nodded at her almost untouched plate. “I hope that next holiday we’ll meet at our place and eat normally.”
Igor tried to console Lisa:
– Don’t pay attention. You know Mom… These are just words. She’s used to something else.
“And you?” Lisa asked quietly.
– What me? – Igor didn’t understand.
– Do you also think that I disgraced the holiday?
“Don’t be silly,” Igor took her hand. “I liked it. But Mom… she’s from a different generation. For her, a holiday is a certain set of dishes. Give in to her, okay? Next time, make something meaty, and everyone will be happy.”
Lisa didn’t answer. Why should she always give in? Why not the mother-in-law?
A week had passed since the unsuccessful Easter. Lisa returned from work tired – the project was dragging on, the management was nervous. She just wanted to take a shower and go to bed. Igor had not arrived yet – he had a meeting with clients. Lisa turned on the kettle and automatically checked her phone.
A new message in the family chat made her freeze. Margarita Stepanovna wrote: “We’re going to Liza and Igor’s for May. We’re starting at noon, there will be shashlik. Liza, try your best!”
Dozens of messages from Igor’s relatives followed – someone promised to bring baked goods, someone asked what else he needed to buy, someone asked for the address… As if everything had been decided long ago.
But Lisa didn’t know anything. Nobody asked her.
The phone rang. Margarita Stepanovna.
– Liza, did you see the message? – businesslike tone, no preamble.
“I saw it,” Lisa answered slowly. “I just don’t understand…”
— What do you mean? May Day, a family tradition. We always get together. Last year we were at Tatyana’s, this year at yours. And then you understand: there has to be meat! And for everyone! And not that green horror of yours, like on Easter. You disgraced us then!
Lisa took a deep breath and mentally counted to five.
“Sorry, but Igor and I didn’t invite anyone,” she said as calmly as she could. “If you want to get together, discuss it with him.”
There was a pause.
– What do you mean, “not invited”? – the mother-in-law’s voice took on an icy tone. – Are you refusing your husband’s relatives? Or maybe you have other plans? More important than family?
“I’m not refusing,” Lisa tried to speak evenly. “I’m just saying that things like this need to be discussed in advance. I have work, plans…”
– Work! – interrupted Margarita Stepanovna. – The eternal excuse! A woman should be able to accept her husband’s family, feed everyone! That’s your duty! But I understand… I’ll talk to Igor now.
The call ended. Lisa sat down on a chair, feeling her hands shaking. She had to explain herself to her husband.
Igor returned late, tired and a little gloomy. Liza immediately understood that Margarita Stepanovna had already spoken with her son.
“Liz, what’s going on?” Igor asked, without taking off his jacket. “Mom called and said you refused to have guests for May Day.”
“I didn’t refuse,” Lisa tried to speak calmly. “I just said that we hadn’t discussed it. That she should have asked us first, and not announced it to the whole family.”
– But it’s a tradition, you know, – Igor threw the keys on the nightstand. – Last year we went to Aunt Tanya’s, now it’s our turn.
– No one asked me! – Lisa felt her voice tremble. – No one even asked if I had plans!
– Do you have them? – Igor took off his jacket and hung it on the hanger.
– That’s not the point! – Lisa was already having a hard time holding back. – It’s about respect! About basic politeness! Your mother decided for us! And, as always, you’re taking her side!
– Liza, don’t start, – Igor rubbed his temple. – This is just a family gathering, don’t make a tragedy out of it. Give in once, and everything will be fine.
– Once? – Lisa smiled bitterly. – And Easter? And your birthday, when your mother changed my menu? And my birthday, when she dragged your entire family over without asking? I always give in!
“Mom’s just worried,” Igor sighed. “She said you didn’t receive her well.”
– Oh, so now I didn’t take her well? – Lisa raised her voice. – Wonderful! And you believed her?
– Liza, calm down, – Igor raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture. – These are all small things. Let’s just spend May with the family, that’s all. Why are you so worked up?
– Because these are not trifles, Igor! – Lisa could no longer hold back her emotions. – This is disrespect! To you and to me! Your mother always decides for us, and you let her!
“Don’t talk about her like that,” Igor’s voice took on a metallic tone. “She means well.”
– Whose better? Her? – Lisa smiled bitterly. – And have you ever thought that I am your wife? That I am also part of this family? Although what am I talking about… For you, apparently, I am second only to Mommy.
– I won’t listen to this, – Igor shook his head. – You’re talking nonsense. You just need to adjust a little. She asked me to tell you to have meat on the table. And to buy better champagne, not what you usually buy.
– What? – Lisa couldn’t believe her ears. – She also tells me what to buy?
“She said you got too sweet last time,” Igor shrugged. “No big deal, just buy something else.”
“I won’t buy anything,” Lisa said firmly. “And I won’t receive anyone. If you want to throw a party for Mom, go ahead. But without me.”
– Lisa, don’t be a child, – Igor started to get angry. – What will I tell mom?
— The truth! That your wife is also a person, and not a servant! That her opinion matters!
“You’re just jealous,” Igor blurted out suddenly. “You’re jealous of my mother. I’ve always been jealous.”
– What?! – Lisa was taken aback.
– Mom always said you were trying to isolate me from the family. And I’m starting to think she’s right.
“Your mother…” Lisa choked with indignation. “So your mother is always right?”
“Don’t exaggerate,” Igor shook his head. “But in this case, yes. It’s just a family event, and you’re making a scene. Is it really that hard to just do what you’re asked to do?”
Liza looked at her husband for a long time. Three years. For three years she adjusted, smiled, endured, tried to be a good daughter-in-law. And here is the result – even her husband does not see her as a person with a right to vote.
“You know, you’re right,” Lisa suddenly said with unexpected calm. “It’s just an event. You and Mom will have a great time without me.”
– What do you mean? – Igor frowned. – Where are you going?
— I haven’t decided yet, — Lisa took out her phone. — But I definitely won’t be here on May Day. Anna has been inviting me to the forest for May Day for a long time, I think it’s high time to agree.
– Are you kidding? – Igor looked at his wife with distrust. – What about the relatives? Mom? They all count on…
“At me?” Lisa interrupted. “It’s strange, considering that no one even asked if I wanted to throw this party.”
Liza dialed her friend’s number. Igor looked at his wife as if she were a stranger.
– Anechka, hi! Listen, is the offer to go to nature still on the table? – Lisa listened to the answer, smiling. – Great! I’m with you. Yes, absolutely.
Igor waited for his wife to finish the conversation.
“What does that mean?” he asked when Lisa put the phone down.
“That means I won’t be hosting your relatives on May Day,” Lisa answered calmly. “I’m not holding you back. If you want, stay and welcome guests. I’m not the hostess of the booth.”
– Do you understand that you are putting me in an awkward position? – Igor’s voice was irritated. – What will I tell my relatives? Mom?
– The truth, – Lisa shrugged. – That your wife is also a person with her own plans and desires. Or that you preferred your mother’s opinion to your wife’s. Choose any version.
In the morning, Lisa was packing her things, and Igor was walking around the apartment with a gloomy look.
“Maybe you should stop sulking?” He stopped at the bedroom door. “Talk to your mom, apologize, and everything will be fine.”
– Apologize? – Lisa laughed. – For what? For not wanting to be a service staff on first request?
– For refusing to accept my family! – Igor raised his voice. – For behaving like a child!
– No, Igor, – Lisa put the last of her things in her backpack. – For the first time in a long time, I’m behaving like an adult who knows what she wants. Believe me, this feeling – defending your opinion – is much more pleasant than endlessly adapting to other people’s rules.
Strangely, getting ready was surprisingly easy. Liza felt not anger or resentment, but an unusual calm. As if a break in the relationship was exactly what she needed for a long time. Her head was completely clear for the first time in a long time.
“When will you be back?” Igor asked, watching Lisa zip up her backpack.
“The third evening,” Lisa answered. “You have enough time to make your own decision.”
“What other solution?” Igor frowned.
“Who do you really want to spend your life with?” Lisa met his gaze. “With me or with Mom.”
On the first of May, Lisa woke up in a tent with the sun’s rays shining through the fabric. The forest rustled around her, the birds sang. Anna and four other friends were already busy around the fire. The smell of smoke and coffee filled the air.
– Good morning, sleepyhead! – Anna handed Lisa a mug of freshly brewed tea. – How did you sleep?
“Surprisingly good,” Lisa smiled.
– And how is your husband? Was he offended that you ran away? – asked the friend.
“I was offended,” Lisa shrugged. “But, you know, for the first time in three years I don’t care. I’m so tired of adjusting that now I feel only relief.”
Liza sat down on a log by the fire, breathing in the forest air. Here, among the trees and friends, the problems with her husband and mother-in-law seemed so small, almost insignificant. The phone beeped – a message from Igor arrived:
“Mom is furious. She says you’ve disgraced everyone. Relatives have already started arriving. Please come back.”
Lisa stared at the screen, feeling laughter rising inside her. Even now, when she had made her position clear, Igor was trying to get her back just because his mother was unhappy.
“I’m no longer living in a script where I have to be comfortable. Enjoy the holiday,” Lisa typed back and put her phone away.
– Problems? – Anna sat down next to him.
– Not anymore, – Lisa smiled. – Tell me better where we’re going today.
The day flew by. A walk to the lake, baked potatoes, songs with a guitar by the fire. Liza did not think about her husband or her mother-in-law. For the first time in a long time, she truly rested – without false smiles, without tension, without the need to live up to other people’s expectations.
Meanwhile, Igor was rushing around the apartment, trying to please his mother and relatives. The kitchen was filled with smoke – Margarita Stepanovna was trying to fry shashlik in a frying pan, because it was “too dirty” on the balcony. Aunt Tanya criticized every dish, Uncle Volodya demanded a cold beer, the cousins had a football match in the living room, having already knocked over a vase.
– Igor, what a mess! – Margarita Stepanovna threw up her hands. – Where are the napkins? Where are the normal plates? Liza is not prepared at all!
“Mom, Lisa wasn’t planning on cooking anything at all,” Igor answered tiredly. “I told you so.”
– Don’t protect her! – snapped the mother-in-law. – This is real betrayal. Everyone gathered, and she ran away. Shame!
Igor rubbed his temples. Strangely, the phrase about “betrayal” suddenly seemed absurd to him. Liza really hadn’t invited anyone, hadn’t promised anyone anything. It was their mother who had decided everything for them…
– Why didn’t you marinate the meat overnight? – continued Margarita Stepanovna. – But I taught you! Now the shashlik will be dry.
Igor suddenly caught himself thinking: it was easier to understand Liza than to please his mother. And this discovery surprised him.
In the evening, when the last guests had left, leaving behind mountains of dirty dishes and a mess in the apartment, Igor was finally alone. He dialed his wife’s number.
“Hello,” Lisa’s voice sounded relaxed and calm.
“Hello,” Igor didn’t know where to start. “How… how was your vacation?”
“Wonderful,” there was not a drop of regret in her voice. “And how was your holiday?”
— Honestly? It’s terrible, — Igor admitted. — I’ve been like a squirrel in a wheel all day. Mom is bossing everyone around, the relatives are unhappy with everything, the apartment is trashed. Maybe you’ll come tomorrow? Without you, it’s not the same here.
Pause. Igor literally saw his wife thinking about his words.
“Igor, think about it: do you need a wife or a housekeeper?” Lisa asked calmly.
“What does this have to do with anything?” Igor was confused.
“Although you’re calling me not because you miss me, but because there’s no one to clean and cook,” Lisa answered without malice, simply stating the fact. “When you decide what’s more important – Mom or our marriage, call. But for now, I’m enjoying my vacation.”
She hung up, leaving Igor at a loss. Before, Lisa had always given in, always made concessions. This new firmness was unusual.
On May 3, Liza returned home rested and calm. The apartment was cleaned – apparently Igor had done his best. The husband himself was sitting in the kitchen, thoughtfully looking out the window.
“Hi,” Lisa put her backpack in the hallway.
“Hello,” Igor looked up. “How was the trip?”
“Wonderful,” Lisa sat down opposite. “Did you want to talk about something?”
“I don’t know where to start,” Igor admitted. “Probably with an apology. Mom… she went too far. And so did I. I shouldn’t have pressured you.”
“It’s not about apologizing, Igor,” Lisa shook her head. “The point is that this will happen again and again if we don’t set clear boundaries. I can’t live by your mother’s orders anymore. Either we have boundaries or we have nothing. I don’t live to please anyone anymore.”
Igor was silent, twirling the cup in his hands. Lisa saw the internal struggle on his face.
“Mom won’t like this,” he finally said.
“It’s not her life,” Lisa replied. “It’s our life. Our marriage. And it’s up to us to decide.”
“She called this morning,” Igor winced. “She said that you… that you’re manipulating me, alienating me from my family. That you’re ungrateful and…”
“That’s her opinion,” Lisa interrupted. “What’s more important is what you think. Are you ready to build a wall between us and your mother’s constant interference? Or will her opinion always come first for you?”
Igor was silent. Liza understood that he was at a crossroads. Margarita Stepanovna had been guiding her son all his life, making decisions for him. Would he be able to break out of this circle? Or was their marriage doomed?
“I’ll think about it,” Igor finally said.
Lisa nodded. She didn’t push, didn’t demand an immediate answer. For the first time, she was prepared for any outcome. If Igor couldn’t put their relationship above his relationship with his mother, well, so be it.
A week later, Margarita Stepanovna arrived without warning. Liza opened the door and froze on the threshold.
“Hello, dear,” the mother-in-law walked unceremoniously into the apartment. “Is Igor home?”
“No, at work,” Lisa answered. “You could have called before you arrived.”
– Why? – Margarita Stepanovna went into the kitchen and sat down at the table. – I came to see my son. Do you have any tea?
Lisa took a deep breath. Before, she would have rushed to make tea, to fuss, to please. But not today.
– Margarita Stepanovna, – Lisa began calmly. – I would like you to respect our space. Call before coming. Ask if it is comfortable for us.
– What? – the mother-in-law raised her eyebrows. – Are you telling me what to do? In my son’s apartment?
“In our apartment,” Lisa corrected. “Igor agrees with me. We discussed it.”
“I don’t believe it,” Margarita Stepanovna snapped. “My son would never…”
“Mom,” Igor’s voice interrupted his mother-in-law’s tirade. He stood in the doorway, and it was unclear from his face how long he had been listening to the conversation. “Lisa is right. You need to warn about visits.
– Igorechek! – Margarita Stepanovna jumped up from her seat. – Are you really going to let her talk to your mother like that? After everything I’ve done for you?
“Lisa is my wife,” Igor said firmly. “And I want you to respect her, as well as our space. No more surprise visits, no more decisions for us, no more accusations.
Margarita Stepanovna choked with indignation.
– It was she who set you up! – exclaimed the mother-in-law. – It was all her! You never before…
“Don’t push, Mom,” Igor shook his head. “I’ve said everything. Either this, or… I’ll have to limit communication.”
Liza looked at her husband with surprise. For the first time he spoke so firmly to his mother. For the first time he took her side.
– Are you showing me the door in my own apartment? – the mother-in-law looked from her son to her daughter-in-law. – Are you sure you haven’t gotten it wrong? Or have you already decided that you’ll live here with someone else instead of me?!
“Mom,” Igor sighed. “Stop being dramatic. I’m just asking you to respect our boundaries. It’s a normal request.
Margarita Stepanovna was boring into him with her gaze, but Igor did not look away. Something had changed. Something had shifted inside him over the past few days.
“Okay,” the mother-in-law finally said through gritted teeth, grabbing her bag. “Let’s see how you cope without me. When she leaves you, don’t come crying.”
When Margarita Stepanovna closed the door, Liza and Igor stood silently in the hallway. Then Igor turned to his wife:
– I’m sorry for all these years. I should have done this a long time ago.
Lisa smiled and took his hand.
“Better late than never,” she said quietly.
