Veronica was sitting in the kitchen, sipping coffee, when Dmitry’s phone rang in the living room. Her husband spoke quietly, but his tone was unmistakable—her mother was demanding something again. Her wife rolled her eyes and downed her drink in one gulp. These conversations repeated themselves with enviable regularity.
Dima walked into the kitchen with a guilty look on his face. Veronika didn’t even turn around—she knew what awaited her.
« Honey, Mom needs a little help, » her husband began, scratching his head. « She needs about five thousand. She’s having plumbing problems and needs a plumber. »
“One more time,” Weronika said, without asking any questions.
“Well, she’s a mother,” Dmitry shrugged. “Who else will help?”
Veronica put her mug in the sink. She quietly passed her husband and entered the room. She didn’t want to argue. Over the four years of their marriage, Galina Petrovna had squeezed a tidy sum out of Dmitry. The refrigerator broke down, the utility bills weren’t enough, and sometimes they needed expensive medications. And yet, she still had two sons – the eldest, Andrei, and the youngest, Maxim. But for some reason, Dmitry was the family’s main breadwinner.
Galina Petrovna adored her sons—all three of them. But she was especially greedy towards the middle son. Perhaps it was because Dmitry earned more than the others. Or perhaps he simply had a gentler nature. Regardless, the woman called regularly, always demanding money.
Weronika watched this circus with growing irritation. Everything would have been fine if her mother had truly needed help. But no—she lived in her own two-bedroom apartment, received a decent pension, and worked part-time as a retail consultant. She had simply become accustomed to living at her son’s expense.
Dmitry transferred the money without even asking questions. He said it was only right that their mother had raised them alone. Veronica didn’t protest aloud. But anger was building inside her.
One evening, Andrei called. Dmitry’s older brother, thirty-six, worked at a large IT company. To everyone’s surprise, he announced that he was moving out.
« Dima, I’ve rented an apartment, » Andrei announced over the loudspeaker. « I’m moving this weekend. I’m tired of living with my mom. »
Dmitry was happy for his brother.
« You’re doing the right thing. It’s about time. »
« Mom doesn’t know yet, » Andrei warned. « I’ll tell you tomorrow. Be prepared for the phone calls. »
Veronica laughed to herself. Galina Petrovna would certainly cause a stir. She wouldn’t want to lose control of her eldest son.
The next day, the prophecy came true. Dmitry’s phone rang incessantly, calling his mother. Galina Petrovna was crying, indignant, and demanding that Dmitry influence his brother. Her husband spent an hour trying to calm his mother down, but to no avail.
Three days later, Andrei did indeed move out. He packed his things and left, despite Galina Petrovna’s pleas. His mother called Dmitry daily, complaining about her eldest son’s infidelity. She said she was left completely alone in the large apartment.
And then something completely unexpected happened. A week after Andrei’s departure, Galina Petrovna suddenly announced that she had given the apartment to her eldest son. Quite simply, as a gift. She filled out the paperwork, took it to Rosreestr, and surprised him.
Dmitry learned about this from an angry Andrei.
« What is she doing?! » the older brother shouted into the phone. « I come home at night, and she hands me the deed! She says, ‘I’m giving you an apartment, be happy!’ »
“Well… maybe she really wants to help?” Dmitry suggested uncertainly.
“Help?” Andrei laughed angrily. “Dima, she thought I would take pity on her and take her back! If the apartment is mine, I should let her live there!”
– What did you tell her?
« He thanked her for the apartment and let her go to a rented one, » Andrei snapped. « It’s not small, she’ll earn her own living. I don’t intend to be her private ATM for the rest of her life. »
Veronica listened to the conversation and felt a growing unease within her. If Galina Petrovna became homeless, where would she go? The question was rhetorical.
The next day, the doorbell rang around ten a.m. Dmitry had gone to work and Veronica was home alone. She opened the door and froze.
Galina Petrovna stood in the hallway with two enormous suitcases and a shoulder bag. Her mother-in-law looked determined, even triumphant.
“Hello, Veronica,” Galina Petrovna began, entering without invitation. “Help me carry the suitcases, they are very heavy.”
Veronica didn’t move.
– Galina Petrovna, what’s going on?
« What do you mean? » my mother-in-law raised her eyebrows in surprise. « I’m moving in with you. Andriusha kicked me out of my own apartment. Can you imagine how ungrateful he is? »
“Did you throw him out of the apartment you gave him?” Weronika asked.
« Well, » Galina Petrovna waved her hand. « I thought she’d come to her senses, but no. We had to find a new apartment. Luckily, you have a large, three-room apartment; there’s enough room for everyone. »
Veronica felt the blood rush to her face.
— Galina Petrovna, do you really think you can just move in here and live?
The mother-in-law frowned.
« What’s all the fuss about? We’ll easily fit in three rooms. I won’t bother you, I promise. I’ll even help you cook. »
“No,” Weronika replied shortly.
“What do you mean no?” Galina Petrovna did not understand.
“No, you won’t live here,” Weronika repeated slowly and clearly.
The mother-in-law stepped back as if someone had hit her.
« Are you kidding? I’m Dima’s mother! I have nowhere to go! »
“That’s your problem,” Weronika said, reaching for the doorknob. “Rent an apartment, stay with friends. But not here.”
“You can’t throw me out!” Galina Petrovna’s voice rose to a scream. “Dima won’t allow it!”
“This is my apartment,” Veronica snapped. “And I decide who lives here.”
With those words, Weronika slammed the door. A cry of outrage rang out from the other side, but his wife ignored it. She went to the kitchen, poured herself some water, and drank it in one gulp. Her hands shook with adrenaline.
Galina Petrovna pounded on the door for another ten minutes, then fell silent. Veronika glanced through the peephole—her mother-in-law was sitting on a suitcase in the hallway, dialing a number. Apparently, she was calling Dmitry.
Twenty minutes later, my husband burst through the door. His face was red and his eyes were stinging.
“What are you doing?!” Dmitry shouted from the doorway. “Mommy’s in the hallway! Are you crazy?”
Veronica stood by the living room window, crossing her arms over her chest.
“In mine,” his wife replied calmly.
“That’s my mother!” Dmitry threw the keys on the bedside table. “She has nowhere to go! You have to let her in!”
« I don’t owe anyone anything, » Veronica replied. « It’s my apartment, bought with my own money before we were married. I decide who lives here. »
“We are husband and wife!” Dmitry stepped closer. “My mother is your mother too!”
« No, » Veronica shook her head. « Your mother is your problem. For four years, I watched Galina Petrovna squeeze money out of you. For four years, I remained silent when she called with her latest demands. But she won’t live here. Period. »
Dmitry blinked in surprise.
– Veronica, but where else can she go?
« For example, rent an apartment, » Veronica suggested. « It’ll be enough for my pension and salary. Or ask Andrei for help. Or Maksym, for that matter. »
“Andrei threw her out!” her husband shouted.
« Because Galina Petrovna herself gave him the apartment, expecting gratitude, » Veronica replied. « That stupid manipulation didn’t work. »
“She’s still my mother,” Dmitry insisted. “I won’t leave her on the street.”
Weronika walked up to her husband and looked him straight in the eyes.
— Tell your mother she will only move into my apartment over my dead body.
Silence fell. Dmitry opened his mouth, then closed it. He tried to say something, but the words stuck in his throat.
“Are you serious?” the husband finally choked out.
« Absolutely, » Veronica nodded. « Either she stays in the building, or you solve her problem in some other way. But Galina Petrovna is not going to enter that apartment. »
Dmitry grabbed the keys from the bedside table.
– Okay. We’ll talk later when you’ve calmed down.
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