“Gena, are you sure you’ve thought everything through?”
“Ma…”
“I know what I’m talking about. She’s only with you because of your money, isn’t she?”
Gennady sighed deeply.
“Ma, I understand your concerns, but they are completely unfounded. Arguing with you is pointless; you’ll never change your mind. Think what you want. We’re not planning anything grandiose.”
“Gena, stop it. I’m sure: she’s just using you. You know that very well. This girl…”
“Ma, please, let’s not continue. Lena and I have known each other for more than five years, and we’ve prepared for this step for a long time.”
“I just want to remind you: you’re a desirable groom. Any girl would jump at the chance to be with you. Don’t you realize our situation?”
Gennady closed his eyes as if to shield himself from fatigue.
“Ma, tell me honestly: what’s more important to you—our status or my happiness?”
Anna Nikolaevna looked helplessly at her husband.
“Sasha, why are you silent?”
Alexander, putting down the newspaper, smirked slightly.
“Anya, you know there’s one thing about you: you only address me when you hit a dead end. All the other times, you’ve been making decisions on your own for the past 27 years. And if something goes wrong, you always blame me.”
Anna Nikolaevna squinted.
“Done? Now let’s talk seriously.”
“Gena is an adult, fully capable of making his own decisions. I don’t understand why we should interfere with his choices. In my opinion, Lena is a worthy girl.”
“What’s worthy? In our day, no one survives without money.”
“By the way, you weren’t always wealthy either, did you forget?”
Anna Nikolaevna clearly began to lose her composure.
“Sasha, you’re irresponsible! Our son is about to ruin his life!”
“Calm down. Nothing terrible is happening. He’ll continue his treatment, and perhaps his wife will even have a positive influence. What are you so dissatisfied about? I don’t understand.”
Anna Nikolaevna abruptly left the room, and Gennady struggled to rise from his chair.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Fine, don’t worry.”
When the son turned 17, something strange happened to him. The doctors could never pinpoint a precise diagnosis. One theory after another was proposed – the treatment helped only partially. One well-known professor once said:
“It seems as if your son has lost the ability to resist illnesses. Had this happened a hundred years ago, I would have called it a curse. But now… there’s nothing to be done but shrug and watch.”
Alexander knew that money couldn’t solve everything, but he spent enormous sums on treatment at the best clinics. However, one day Gennady asked:
“Please, let me have a little break. I’ve already forgotten what our home looks like, and when was the last time I slept in my own bed.”
Unexpectedly, the mother, who until then had insisted on every possible treatment method, supported her son:
“Sasha, maybe it really is time to let Gena rest? Let’s follow the doctors’ recommendations.”
Alexander waved his hand dismissively. He would have argued if he had seen even the slightest improvement. But there was none. However, at home Gena felt better: he had regained his appetite, and he even put on a little weight.
From then on, he went to the clinic twice a year for check-ups, then returned home with new instructions from the doctors.
Gena did manage to finish university thanks to financial support from his father. He was a capable student, but frequent absences due to illness did not endear him to the professors.
He and Lena met during their university years. Their friendship lasted several years until Lena recently confessed her feelings to him. It gave Gena strength, as if wings had sprouted behind his back.
As he had suspected, the wedding turned out to be far more lavish than he expected. His mother organized such a celebration that it seemed the whole town was invited. Lena spent the entire evening trying to keep a smile on her face, ignoring the tense atmosphere.
Relations between Lena’s mother, Galina Ivanovna, and Anna Nikolaevna did not get off to a good start. The latter believed that Galina, having neither status nor money, should be grateful for such a marriage. However, Galina preferred to keep her distance from the groom’s parents.
The climax of the evening came with the gift presentation. When Lena’s mother announced that the young couple was being given a little house inherited from her grandfather, located in a nature reserve area, Anna Nikolaevna couldn’t hold back:
“My God, how can you present that ramshackle building on the edge of nowhere as a valuable gift?” Anna Nikolaevna fumed.
Gena looked at his mother reproachfully:
“Mom, enough.”
“What’s ‘enough’, Gena? Now nothing can be fixed!”
After Galina Ivanovna left, Anna immediately turned to her husband:
“Did you see her? She doesn’t do anything herself, yet she acts as if she were a queen!”
Some days after the wedding, Gena informed his parents:
“Lena and I have decided to move into that house, the one Galina Ivanovna gave as a gift.”
Anna Nikolaevna nearly lost her senses:
“Are you out of your mind?!”, “It’s all her influence! She wants to hide you in the middle of nowhere so that you’ll deteriorate faster and she can take the inheritance!”
“Anya, what are you talking about? Have you completely lost it?”, Alexander frowned.
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Anna exploded, “I’m speaking absolutely sensibly! He needs constant medical supervision, and he’s planning to go to the middle of nowhere! I won’t allow it!”
“We already have the tickets”, Gena replied calmly.
Anna said coldly, “Fine, if that’s the case, don’t come to me for help anymore. Let your new family take care of you.”
“Gena, don’t be mad at Mom; you know her character”, Alexander said. “She’ll come to her senses. If you need anything, call me, and I’ll help.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“But still, why exactly there? In this respect, she’s right—that place is a real dump.”
Gena smiled: “Maybe you won’t believe it, but there are healing springs there. Lena and her mother are sure that this place will help me get better. Honestly, I don’t really believe it myself, but why not try?”
“You’re such a skeptic. Sometimes what cannot be explained turns out to be the most effective. I wish you good luck.”
As they arrived at the house, Gena looked around in surprise at the overgrown yard: “It’s all wildly overgrown here!”
Lena smiled, saying: “Of course, no one has lived here for many years. But don’t worry, a little work and it’ll be as good as new.”
She opened the door, and they stepped inside. Gena was surprised, the house turned out to be quite cozy, and there was hardly any dust. He was so exhausted from the journey that he barely sat on the sofa before he instantly fell asleep.
Initially, Lena took care of the cleaning, while Gena helped as much as his strength allowed. To his surprise, he began to feel better—more energy, and his appetite became voracious. A week later, he completely devoured his dinner and even surprised himself: – I can’t understand how it happened, but everything went in!
Lena gave a sly smile: “I told you, miracles happen in these places.”
Gena looked at her curiously: “Why are you so sure?”
“When I was a child, I used to come here often and saw many strange and amazing things.”
“Of course, and all the local guys were chasing after you!”
– Stop it, – Lena laughed. – By the way, tomorrow a surprise awaits you!
Despite all his attempts to coax Lena into revealing what the surprise was, Gena never found out. They went to sleep, happy and full of hope, embracing each other.
— Sasha, I don’t understand how you can be so indifferent! It’s been half a year since that girl took our son away, and you haven’t lifted a finger! — Anna Nikolaevna grumbled.
Alexander tore himself away from his papers: — And what do you propose? To call in riot police and forcibly bring him home? Don’t forget, he’s married now and living his own life.
Anna stamped her foot: — Nonsense! A month ago, he was supposed to be admitted to the hospital, but all he does is assure me that everything is fine and immediately hangs up the phone. How can he be alright without treatment?!
Alexander realized that behind this torrent of words lay the mother’s anxiety. Setting aside his documents, he gently suggested: — If you’re so worried, let’s go visit them. Let’s see how they are settling in.
Anna thought for a moment, then smiled: — That’s a great idea.
— Then get ready. I’ll call Gena, and tomorrow morning we leave.
They reached the village only by evening.
— My God, what a wreck! — Anna Nikolaevna sighed.
Alexander smiled: — I like it. Fresh air, no trash… Oh, look, a hare!
Anna watched in amazement as a hare dashed in front of the car: — It’s like a nature reserve! I wouldn’t be surprised if bears roamed the streets here.
— Looks like we’re here, — Alexander noted.
At that moment, the house’s gate swung open, and Gena appeared on the doorstep. Anna froze, and Alexander nearly lost his speech. Standing before them was a robust, healthy young man, completely different from the previously pale youth.
— Mom, Dad, I missed you so much! — Gena exclaimed joyfully.
They embraced for a long time, and Anna couldn’t hold back her tears: — Gena, how you’ve grown!
— It’s all thanks to Lena. And also—to the bees. You wouldn’t believe how interesting it is!
Lena stepped onto the porch, smiling shyly. She too hugged the husband’s parents.
— Thank you, dear, — Anna Nikolaevna said through tears. — You did what even the best doctors couldn’t do.
After mutual greetings and embraces, they finally unloaded the car and handed over all the gifts they had brought. Lena, smiling warmly, invited everyone to the table. Anna Nikolaevna inspected the dishes with interest, as if they had transported her back to her childhood: everything looked incredibly appetizing and homely. Meanwhile, Gena took out a bottle:
— Dad, here’s some mead. Real, homemade.
Alexander laughed: — You act just like true hosts! You have everything right here!
Everyone tasted the mead, except Lena.
Noticing this, Anna Nikolaevna asked with a hint of irritation: — What, still offended? You won’t even drink for our sake?
Lena blushed and replied sheepishly: — I can’t.
Anna looked at her son in surprise: — Is she sick?
Gena smiled broadly: — We’re going to have a baby. So, Mom, get ready to become a grandmother!
These words unleashed a flood of emotions in Anna Nikolaevna. Tears streamed down her face; she alternated between hugging her son and Lena, and then bursting into tears of joy again. At one point, completely unexpectedly for everyone, she decisively declared:
– That’s it, I’m staying here for a couple of weeks. I need to buy a few things and help you settle in. Sasha, haven’t you been promising me a new car for a long time? Well, buy it! And a big one, so I can bring everything the granddaughter will need before she—or he—arrives. We’ll definitely take Lena back to the city—let her give birth in a good clinic.
She continued giving directions, but those around couldn’t help but laugh. Anna Nikolaevna blushed slightly:
– Well, I just want the best!
Lena approached her and hugged her: – I’ll listen to you. Gena knows nothing about these matters, and I’m a bit scared.
Anna gently embraced her: — Don’t be afraid, I’m always here for you.
