“Nikit, you haven’t forgotten we’re starting the work on the baby’s room tonight, right?” Marina asked, handing her husband a cup of coffee.
“Of course not. I promised, didn’t I?” Nikita replied, hastily buttoning his shirt. “I bought all the supplies yesterday, just like we planned.”
Marina smiled as she looked at her husband. They had been married for five years, and she had come to appreciate his reliability. Nikita always kept his promises, no matter what.
“Perfect. I’ll prep the room before we come back home,” she said, handing him his briefcase.
After seeing Nikita off, Marina got started on the housework. She cleaned the apartment, did laundry, and began cooking lunch. But her mind was elsewhere — on the renovations ahead. She and Nikita had long dreamed of having a child, and now that their son was finally born, it was time to create a warm, welcoming nursery.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Marina glanced at the clock — it was only 2 PM. Who could it be at this hour?
When she opened the door, she froze. Standing there was her mother-in-law, Zinaida Petrovna.
“Hello, Marina,” Zinaida said, walking in without waiting for an invitation. “I was in the area and thought I’d stop by to see how you’re living.”
Marina stiffened. She had never had a good relationship with her mother-in-law. Zinaida constantly criticized her, always making her feel unworthy of her son.
“Hello, Zinaida Petrovna. Come to the kitchen — I was just about to make some tea.”
Her mother-in-law examined the apartment with a sharp eye, inspecting every detail critically. Marina already knew she wouldn’t get through this visit unscathed.
“It’s a bit dirty in here,” Zinaida remarked, running her finger along a shelf. “And that wallpaper in the hallway? It’s long overdue for a change. Are you really taking care of this place?”
Marina sighed inwardly, doing her best to stay calm. She set the kettle to boil and brought out some cups.
“We’re actually planning to redo the baby’s room,” she said, trying to redirect the conversation.
“Renovate? And you have money for that? Nikita works hard to support you. You should be saving.”
Marina felt her anger rising. She was about to reply when the baby started crying.
“Excuse me, I’ll go check on the baby,” she said, leaving the kitchen.
When she returned, her son in her arms, Zinaida was already rummaging through the cupboards.
“You’re still breastfeeding? Time to switch to formula.”
“Zinaida Petrovna,” Marina said, trying to keep her voice calm, “the pediatrician advised us to continue breastfeeding for now.”
“Doctors today… nonsense. Back in my day—”
Marina tuned her out. She stared at her mother-in-law, realizing how much this woman had disrupted her life. Every visit turned into a trial.
“I was thinking maybe I should move in,” Zinaida suddenly announced. “I could help with the baby, the house. Clearly, you’re not managing.”
That was the final straw.
“Zinaida Petrovna,” Marina said, her tone calm but firm, “I appreciate the offer, but Nikita and I are managing just fine. There’s no need for you to move in.”
Zinaida’s face hardened with anger.
“Is that how you talk to me? I’m just trying to help, and you humiliate me like this!”
Still holding her baby, Marina braced herself for the argument she knew was coming.
“You’ve gotten so arrogant, Marina! You seduced my son, turned him against me — and now you dare give me orders?”
“Please, let’s not turn this into a fight. It’s not an attack. But this is our home, and we have the right to decide how to live in it.”
But Zinaida was no longer listening. She grabbed a frying pan:
“Look at this! Scratched all over! You don’t even know how to cook! And these towels — they smell awful!”
Marina felt her anger boil over. She gently laid the baby in his crib and turned to face her mother-in-law.
“Enough. This is our home. You have no right to talk to us like this.”
Zinaida laughed bitterly:
“You little brat! You’re disrespecting me? I’m older, I’m your husband’s mother! You owe me respect!”
“Respect is earned,” Marina snapped back. “All you do is judge and impose yourself.”
Blinded by rage, Zinaida shouted:
“I’ll tell Nikita how you treat me! He’ll see the real you!”
“Go ahead. Tell him everything. But don’t forget to mention how you barged in uninvited and attacked me.”
Zinaida suddenly lunged forward, hand raised. Marina stepped back, stumbled over a chair, and grabbed her mother-in-law’s arm to avoid falling. Zinaida lost her balance and fell to the floor alongside Marina.
“You pushed me!” she screamed, clutching her elbow.
“It was an accident. You came at me first.”
Zinaida got up slowly, then rushed at Marina again, fists raised. Marina tried to push her away, but the older woman kept screaming and hitting. Finally, Marina punched her in the face. Zinaida staggered back — two teeth fell from her mouth.
“You’ll pay for this! My son will know everything!”
“Get out. Get out of my house. Now.”
“Your house? Don’t fool yourself. Nikita will wake up soon. You’ll regret your insolence!”
She slammed the door behind her. Marina collapsed into a chair, eyes full of tears, overwhelmed with anxiety. How would she explain this to Nikita?
The baby cried. Marina rushed over and hugged him tightly.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. Mommy’s here. She’ll protect you.”
That evening, Nikita came home later than usual. Marina waited anxiously, listening as the key turned in the lock.
“Hi,” he said, his tone strange.
“Hi. How was your day?”
He sat down in the kitchen, solemn.
“Mom called. She said you hit her.”
Marina felt her heart sink.
“Nikita, listen to me. She… she attacked me first.”
“Really? And her teeth, her elbow? An accident too?”
“I had no choice. She came at me. I defended myself!”
“My mom would never do that. You don’t know her.”
“I don’t know her? She’s hated me from the start! She shows up unannounced, insults me, turns you against me!”
“She’s just trying to help.”
“That’s help? If you don’t believe me, maybe you should go live with her.”
“Are you serious?”
“Very serious. It’s her or us.”
A heavy silence fell. Nikita looked lost.
“I can’t turn my back on my mother, Marina. She gave me everything.”
“And what about me? And our son? Are you ready to leave us?”
“It’s not that simple…”
“Yes, it is. She attacked us. You have to choose.”
The baby started crying again. Nikita went to check on him. When he returned, something in him had shifted.
“When I held him, I understood. You’re my family. And I have to protect you.”
“Are you sure?” Marina asked, tearfully.
“Yes. I love my mother, but if she keeps acting this way, we’ll limit contact.”
They embraced.
“Thank you, Nikita. You don’t know how scared I was.”
“I’m sorry. I’m with you now. Completely.”
Together, they went to the baby’s room, ready to start the renovation — hand in hand, more united than ever.
