Alina carefully placed the box with the dishes on the floor and looked around. The new apartment still seemed strange, but it was already filling up with her and Paweł’s things, gradually turning into a dream home.
“Pash, where should I put this box?” she shouted towards the bedroom.
“Let’s go to the kitchen,” the husband replied, leaving the room with an armful of clothes. “We’ll deal with this later.”
Alina nodded and went to the kitchen. Passing a mirror in the hall, she involuntarily stopped, looking at her reflection.
Tired face, ruffled hair – moving was not easy. But there was a spark of happiness and expectation of a new life in her eyes.
So, how do you like our new nest? – Paweł came from behind and embraced his wife.
Alina smiled, hugging her husband:
– Still unusual, but I like it. So many plans, so many ideas…
“And there are still many years ahead of us to accomplish all this,” added Paweł, kissing his wife.
Alina frowned for a moment, remembering the impressive mortgage amount, but immediately pushed the thought away. Now is not the time to think about problems.
In the evening, while unpacking boxes in the kitchen, Alina heard Paweł talking on the phone in the next room.
Yes, mom, we’re almost settled… No, we don’t have to yet, we’re managing… Of course, come visit us for the weekend, I’d love to.
Alina tensed. Her relationship with her mother-in-law was… complicated. Nina Sergeyevna, a domineering and sharp-tongued woman, believed that her son had made a bad choice by marrying Alina.
“Mom is coming on Saturday,” said Paweł, entering the kitchen. “He wants to see us settle in.”
Alina nodded, trying to hide her concern:
Okay, I’ll cook something tasty.
Paweł smiled gratefully and kissed his wife:
You are the best for me!
A few months have passed. Alina threw herself into work, trying to perfectly follow all the orders of her superiors. Her efforts did not go unnoticed – she was soon offered a promotion.
“Pash, can you imagine? I was promoted to senior manager!” – she happily told her husband during dinner.
Congratulations, honey! – Paweł raised his glass of wine. – You deserved it.
“How are you doing at your new job?” Alina asked.
Paul became a bit gloomy:
Oh, so normal. It’s true that the salary is not high yet, but they promise a raise in six months.
Alina squeezed her husband’s hand encouragingly:
– Don’t worry, you’ll definitely succeed. Meanwhile, I can contribute more to the budget because they increased my salary.
Paul nodded gratefully, but there was a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes.
Nina Sergeevna’s visits became regular. She arrived every weekend with bags of groceries and a critical eye.
“Alina, you should hang the curtains tighter. Otherwise all the neighbors will see what’s going on in your apartment,” she noticed one day, looking around the living room.
“Thank you for the advice, Nina Sergeevna. We are just choosing new curtains,” Alina replied politely, trying to hide her irritation.
– And rightly so, darling. The farm is the main advantage of a wife, said the mother-in-law emphatically, looking significantly at her son.
Paweł pretended not to notice this look and quickly changed the subject:
Mom, tell me better, how are you feeling? How’s your health?
Nina Sergeyevna immediately began to tell a long story about her illnesses and her neighbors, and Alina, having excused herself, went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
In the evening, when her mother-in-law left, Alina couldn’t stand it:
Pash, how long will this go on? Why do you never defend me in front of my mother?
Paweł sighed wearily:
Alin, what should I do? This is my mother. And besides, she’s not saying all this out of malice.
Not out of malice? – Alina was outraged. – He criticizes me all the time, he picks on everything. I feel uncomfortable in my own home!
“Okay, I’ll talk to her,” Paweł promised, hugging his wife. “Let’s not argue about this.”
Alina nodded, but deep down she knew nothing would change.
Time passed. Alina successfully climbed the career ladder, while Paweł changed jobs again. Their financial situation was becoming more and more unstable, and the main burden rested on Alina’s shoulders.
One morning, Alina woke up feeling a little dizzy. Recognizing it as overwork, she got ready for work. However, at lunchtime she felt really bad and her colleagues insisted that she go to the doctor.
“Congratulations, you’re pregnant!” – said the doctor after the examination. “You are six weeks pregnant.”
Alina froze, not knowing how to react. On the one hand, she and Paweł had dreamed of having a child for a long time. On the other hand, now wasn’t the right time for it.
In the evening, she told her husband the news. Paweł was delighted:
Alinka, that’s great! We will become parents!
– Yes, but… – Alina hesitated. – Pash, how will we manage financially? We have a mortgage, your job is unstable…
“We can do it!” – Paweł confidently declared. “I’ll find a better job, I promise.”
Alina nodded, trying to share her husband’s optimism. But her anxiety did not leave her.
The pregnancy was going well, but with each passing day Alina was more and more worried about the future. She continued to work even though her fatigue was increasing.
In the fifth month of pregnancy, Alina decided to talk to her boss about maternity leave. They promised to keep her job, but warned her that they would immediately start looking for a replacement.
In the evening she shared this news with Paweł.
“Honey, maybe you could work a little longer?” – he asked carefully. “Well, at least until the seventh month?”
Alina looked at her husband with surprise:
Pash, you see how hard it is for me. And the doctor said I needed to rest more.
“Yes, yes, of course,” Paul hastily agreed. “I just thought…”
He didn’t finish, but Alina understood: her husband was worried about money. This made her think: what if she could actually work a little longer?
Time flew. Alina continued to work, although it was becoming more and more difficult for her every day. Paweł has tried to find a more stable and better-paid job, but so far to no avail.
Nina Sergeevna, after learning about her daughter-in-law’s pregnancy, began to visit them even more often. She constantly advised and criticized the choice of furniture and clothes for the children, and seemed to be more concerned about the financial situation of the young family than the health of the future mother.
In the seventh month of pregnancy, Alina finally decided that it was time to go on maternity leave. She felt exhausted and longed for rest. In the evening she told Paweł about it.
“I’m applying for maternity leave tomorrow,” she said, stroking her belly.
Paweł became nervous:
Alin, maybe you could work a little longer? Even for a month?
“Pash, I can’t do this anymore,” Alina replied in a tired voice. “It’s hard for me.”
At that moment, Nina Sergeevna, who had been visiting them for several days, entered the room.
“What are you kids arguing about?” she asked.
“Mom, Alina wants to go on maternity leave,” Paweł replied.
Nina Sergeevna frowned:
What about maternity leave? Who will work? You have a mortgage!
Alina felt the blood rush to her face:
Nina Sergeevna, I’m seven months pregnant. I need rest.
Vacation? – the mother-in-law was outraged. – What about the family? Pasha himself cannot bear all the expenses!
Alina looked in shock at her mother-in-law, and then at her husband, who stood silently with his eyes downcast. She couldn’t believe what was happening.
“Do you really think I should work until I give birth?” she asked quietly.
– So how else? And after giving birth, Nina Sergeevna shrugged. – Why do you need maternity leave? Work and feed your family! You have mortgage debt! Why do you need grandma? That I can’t cope with a child.
Alina turned to her husband:
Pash, say something!
But Paul remained silent, avoiding his wife’s eyes. And at that moment Alina realized that she was completely alone in the fight for her health and the health of her future child.
The silence in the room became unbearable. Alina felt a wave of anger and resentment rising within her. She slowly rose from the sofa, supporting her stomach with one hand and clenching her fist with the other.
“So that’s what you decided, huh?” she said quietly, looking between Paweł and her mother-in-law. “Am I just a money-making machine to you?”
Nina Sergeevna snorted:
– Don’t be dramatic, Alina. We think about the good of the family. A child needs stability, not a lazy mother.
These words were the last straw. Alina was filled with anger:
Sloth? I worked until I was seven months pregnant and you were here giving orders! What about you, Paweł? Do you really agree with this nonsense?
Paul finally looked up at his wife. He showed confusion and fear:
Alin, let’s talk about it calmly. Maybe we can come to some compromise… Don’t be nervous, it’s bad for you.
– Compromise? – Alina smiled bitterly. – What compromise, Pasha? Between my health and your greed? Being part of such a family is harmful.
– Don’t you dare talk to your son like that! – Nina Sergeevna interjected. – We are worried about your future. Who will pay the bills if you stop working?
Alina took a deep breath, trying to calm down:
You know what, Nina Sergeevna? Please leave. I need to talk to my husband privately.
Her mother-in-law wanted to protest, but something in Alina’s voice made her listen obediently. As soon as the door closed behind her, Alina turned to Paweł:
And now you. Explain to me why you are silent? Why do you let your mother decide for us?
Paweł nervously ran his hand through his hair:
Alin, you don’t understand. Mom is just worried. We really have a difficult financial situation…
And do you think the solution is to force a pregnant woman to work until she exhausts herself? – Alina interrupted him. – Pash, where’s your common sense?
“I don’t know what to do!” – Paweł suddenly shouted. “I can’t find a normal job, I can’t support my family. I’m scared, do you understand?”
Alina fell silent, moved by this sudden outburst. It was the first time she had seen her husband so helpless and confused.
“Pasha,” she said quietly, coming closer. “Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier? We are a family, we have to solve problems together.”
Paweł fell on the sofa, covering his face with his hands:
I’m ashamed, Aline. I should be strong, I should protect you, but instead…
Alina sat down next to her husband and hugged him by the shoulders:
Instead, you let your mother rule us? Pash, this is not a solution.
“I know,” Paweł replied quietly. “I just don’t know what to do.”
They sat in silence for a long time, lost in their own thoughts. Finally Alina broke the silence:
You know, I was thinking… I have an idea.
Paweł looked at her questioningly.
Do you remember my former boss, Sergei Petrovich? He recently opened his own company and was looking for experienced employees. Maybe you should talk to him?
“Do you think he’ll accept me?” – Paul asked doubtfully.
“We won’t know until we try,” Alina smiled. “I can also take on some freelance projects. It’s not as tiring as working in an office and I can work from home.”
Paweł thought:
— What about maternity leave?
I’ll take it, but I’ll work from home, one step at a time. The most important thing is not to overwork yourself. Talk to your mom, she’s used to us. I’m fed up with her control. But we do not refuse help, we explain the situation.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Nina Sergeevna stood on the threshold:
“Have we reached an agreement?” – she asked hopefully.
Paweł stood up, straightening his shoulders:
Yes, mom, we agreed. Alina will go on maternity leave as planned. And I will find another job.
“But how…” Nina Sergeevna began, but Pavel interrupted her:
Mom, that’s enough. This is our family and we will decide how to live.
Nina Sergeevna looked at her son and daughter-in-law with embarrassment:
“Raising your voice at your mother is your fault, your influence,” the mother-in-law glared at her daughter-in-law.
Mom, you again!
“I just wanted to help…” Nina Sergeevna muttered.
Alina sighed:
Nina Sergeevna, we appreciate your concern. But now we need support, not pressure. Maybe instead of making me work, you could help me prepare for the birth of my baby?
The mother-in-law’s face softened:
Of course, honey. I just didn’t think… Sorry.
The next weeks passed in a rush and worry. Pavel contacted Sergey Petrovich and after the interview, he received a job in his company. The salary was higher than in my previous job and the prospects were much better.
After maternity leave, Alina took some small projects home. She worked several hours a day, not overtiring herself, but feeling needed.
Nina Sergeevna, to everyone’s surprise, completely changed her behavior. She helped with cleaning, cooked dinner, and even started knitting tiny shoes for her future grandson or granddaughter.
One evening, when Pavel returned from work and Alina had finished another project, they sat down for dinner with Nina Sergeevna.
“You know,” the mother-in-law began, “I have to apologize. I shouldn’t have pressured you.
Alina and Paweł looked at each other surprised.
“It’s just,” Nina Sergeevna continued, “I was so afraid that you wouldn’t be able to cope. That you would repeat the mistakes that Pasha’s father and I once made.”
“What mistakes, mom?” Paul asked.
Nina Sergeevna sighed:
When you were born, we were in a difficult financial situation. Your father insisted that I go on maternity leave. But a month after giving birth, I had to go back to work. I could never enjoy motherhood, I was constantly torn between work and my child. We finally broke up and I was left feeling guilty in front of you.
The room fell silent. Alina felt a lump in her throat:
Nina Sergeevna, we didn’t know…
“Now you know,” the mother-in-law smiled. “And I want everything to be different for you. So that you can enjoy every moment before and after your baby is born.”
Paweł hugged his mother:
Thanks, mom. We can do it, you’ll see.
“I know, son,” Nina Sergeyevna replied, wiping away a tear. “Everything will be fine.”
Alina looked at this scene and felt warmth spread inside her. They went through difficult times, but they only became stronger.
Two months later, Alina and Paweł gave birth to a healthy daughter. When Nina Sergeevna held her granddaughter in her arms for the first time, tears appeared in her eyes:
“She’s so beautiful,” she whispered. “She’s just like Alina.”
Paweł hugged his wife and daughter:
“Thank you both,” he said. “For not giving up, for believing in me.”
Alina smiled as she looked at her small but strong family. She was now sure: together they would solve any problem.
