Has anyone from my side called you today?” Alexey asked his wife. “Because they’ve already driven me nuts! I’m seriously fed up!”
“I don’t get it. What do they want from you? And why would they call me?” Nastya replied, puzzled.
“Not from me—from you!” Alexey smiled.
“From me?” she asked, surprised. “What could they possibly want from me?”
“My mom’s completely losing it! I even argued with her today! She nearly drove me crazy. I honestly wanted to strangle her! In the end, I yelled, told her to get lost, and went home.”
“Wait, what happened? What does she want?” Nastya asked, still confused.
“She somehow found out we have a second apartment, even though I never told a soul! She even learned we’re renting it out! At work, only my boss knows we bought that place—no one else! Could your family have spilled the beans?”
“No way! They don’t even talk to yours!” Nastya shrugged. “But I still don’t understand why she’s asking you through me?”
“Well, I told her it’s your apartment, that you inherited it from distant relatives—just to get her off my back! But now she wants us to either sell it or gift it to Inna! Can you believe that? I was shocked when she started telling me this like it’s no big deal. ‘Oh, it’s just an apartment—just give it away,’ she said.”
“Yeah,” Nastya sighed. “With your mom, there’s never a dull moment. But how did she even start that conversation? Didn’t you ask where she heard about the apartment?”
“Of course I asked! But she didn’t answer, so I lost it, told them all off, and left.”
A few hours earlier, Alexey was quietly working in his office when his older sister called.
“Hello! Hi, Inna! Are you calling about something or just to chat? I’m kind of busy,” he said.
“It’s important. Hi! When will you be free after work?”
“Around seven. What’s up?”
“Come by mom’s—I’ll be there. We need to talk urgently. It’s serious, can’t wait.”
“Can’t you just tell me? Maybe I can help over the phone? I don’t want to go to mom’s. What happened?”
At that moment, their mother, who was nearby, grabbed the phone.
“What do you mean you don’t want to come to me, son? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Hey, mom! Listen, I’m busy working. I’ll call you back when I’m free. Bye!”
“I’m not done talking to you! Answer my question!” Svetlana Olegovna demanded.
“Am I a kid? I said I’m busy. Bye! I’ll call when free.”
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He hung up, stood, and paced around his office, furious. Only his mother could ruin his mood so quickly. He tried to keep contact with her minimal, because every conversation ended in shouting matches—just like since childhood.
He couldn’t focus the rest of the day. Near seven, he called Inna back.
“So, what did you want?” he asked immediately. “Is mom around? I won’t talk if she’s there!”
“No, she’s not,” Inna replied annoyed. “I’m just at the store. Lyosh, please stop by today. We need a serious talk. I don’t want to discuss it on the phone. Will you come?”
Alexey hesitated, then said, “Alright, I’ll come. But can you at least give me a hint what it’s about? And why mom’s place? Maybe meet somewhere else, like a café? You can tell me there.”
“No café. It’s a family matter. We’re waiting for you. Come soon.”
Alexey already knew the meeting wouldn’t end well. But if he didn’t come, they’d pester him endlessly.
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When he arrived, his mom and sister greeted him. His father wasn’t home, and Alexey didn’t care; his relationship with his father was even worse.
