The husband and mother-in-law’s plan fell apart after one call from a notary.

The husband and mother-in-law’s plan fell apart after one call from the notary.
Irina rearranged the cups of seedlings on the windowsill. Somewhere in the depths of the apartment, the muffled voices of her husband and mother-in-law could be heard.
They were discussing something again without her. Such secret conversations had become the norm lately.
“Ir, is dinner ready?” Sergey appeared in the kitchen doorway, phone in hand.
“In ten minutes,” Irina stirred the soup. “What were you and Mom discussing?”
Her husband winced. His eyes darted around.
“Oh, just some nonsense.”
“What nonsense exactly?”
“Listen, I don’t remember every little detail,” Sergey waved his hand irritably. “You better go tell Mom that dinner is soon.”
Irina wiped her hands on her apron and went into her mother-in-law’s room. Valentina Petrovna sat at the table, hastily stuffing some papers into a folder.
“Valentina Petrovna, lunch is in ten minutes.”
“Okay,” her mother-in-law didn’t even look up. “Did you overdo it again?”
“No, everything’s fine this time,” Irina pretended not to notice the folder. “Were you discussing something important with Seryozha?”
Valentina’s head snapped up.
“And what business is it of yours? A son and mother can’t have personal matters?”
“Of course, maybe,” Irina shrugged. “It’s just that you were talking about exchanging apartments a month ago, and now there’s silence.”
“We’ll figure it out without you,” her mother-in-law snapped. “Go ahead, I have high blood pressure.”
There was a tense silence during lunch. Sergey buried his head in his phone, Valentina ate silently, pursing her lips.
“Seryozha, so what about the apartment exchange?” Irina decided to approach it from a different angle.
Her husband choked. “What about him?” “Well, we wanted to separate. You said it yourself—you and I get a one-room apartment, and Mom gets a one-room apartment.” “Mind your own business,” Valentina interjected. “We’ll decide.” “Isn’t that any of my business?” Irina felt herself boiling. “Who am I anyway?” “Ir, what are you starting?” Sergey winced. “It’s just not the time.”
That evening, while Irina was washing the dishes, their neighbor, Nina, rang the doorbell.
“Ir, could you lend me some salt?” “Come in,” Irina took out a pack of salt. “Want some tea?” “Come on,” Nina plopped down on a stool. “How are the three of you here?” “It’s fine,” Irina put the kettle on. “It’s just weird with this apartment.”
“What do you mean?” “Well, we were planning to exchange it, but now my husband and mother-in-law are up to something and keeping me out of it.”
Nina looked away.
“Don’t you know anything?” Irina looked closely at her neighbor.
“Listen, I don’t want to gossip, but…” Nina lowered her voice. “I was at the notary yesterday, drawing up some paperwork. And your mother-in-law was there too. She said something about an inheritance, that she wanted to leave everything to her son.”
Irina’s stomach sank.
“What inheritance? The apartment, perhaps?”
“I’m not sure,” Nina stirred her tea. “But they were whispering. Maybe I was mistaken.”
After the neighbor left, Irina stood by the window for a long time. Thirty years of marriage, and her husband is still planning something behind her back. With Mommy, as always.
The next day, Irina noticed Sergey hiding his phone when she entered the room. And her mother-in-law announced she was going “on business”—for the third time that week.
“To the notary again?” Irina couldn’t help but ask.
Valentina froze in the doorway.
“Where are you from?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Irina turned to the window. “Say hello.”
That night, Irina couldn’t sleep. Sergey snored next to her, and she stared at the ceiling, thinking she’d become a void in her own family.
“Why don’t I know anything?” Irina couldn’t resist asking over breakfast. “Who am I to you—a stranger?”
Sergey froze, his cup at his lips.
“What are you talking about?” “About your and Mom’s little secrets! About the notary! About the papers you’re hiding!”
“Ira, why are you so worked up so early in the morning?” her husband put down his cup. “What secrets?” “Don’t take me for a fool, Seryozha,” Irina slammed her palm on the table. “Thirty years together, and you’re still plotting something with your mother.”
Valentina entered the kitchen in the midst of the row.
“What’s all that shouting about?”
“Well, Irka’s gone crazy,” Sergei spread his hands. “She’s seeing some papers.”
“What about the notary?” Irina turned to her mother-in-law. “Nina saw you there!”
Valentina’s face turned white.
“That gossip…” She pursed her lips. “There’s no point in believing all those gossips.”
“So you were there!” Irina felt tears welling up in her throat. “What are you planning? Are you trying to leave me without an apartment?”
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