Andrey was never a fantastic liar. While packing his luggage in the bedroom, he tried not to meet Marina’s eyes, the lady he had lived with for nearly 10 years.
So, a conference. “A whole week,” Marina replied, leaning against the doorframe. “And definitely in Sochi, when everyone is on vacation.”
“Well, yeah,” Andrey murmured, putting his beach shorts beneath a stack of shirts. “The corporation bears all expenses. “It would be strange to refuse.”
– Is your colleague, Vika, also coming? Marina’s voice contained no query, merely a tired statement of fact.
Andrey hesitated for a moment before continuing to get ready as if nothing had occurred.
– Yes. She is accountable for the presentation. Work is work.
“Of course,” Marina replied, crossing her arms across her chest. “Just like at last year’s corporate party, when you ‘worked’ until four in the morning?”
– Are you starting again? Andrey slammed the suitcase. – I explained everything then. We had an essential project.
— The one who ordered that all of her messages be removed from her phone?
Andrey moved the bag off the bed and finally looked his wife in the eyes.
– I will not address it. The plane departs in three hours.
“Say hello to your ‘colleague,'” Marina said, stepping away from the door to allow him to pass. “Have a good rest.”
Andrey muttered something and dashed towards the exit.
Marina stood alone in the middle of the bedroom for a long time, looking at the family portrait on the bedside table. Then she stubbornly picked up the phone and began searching for the number of the person who could assist her.
Mid-June in Sochi, satisfied with the right water temperature – warm but not overly warm, with gentle waves. Andrey casually laid under an umbrella, watching Vika relax in the waves. Her brown body played in the light, drawing curious looks from people around her.
“Come here!” she exclaimed, waving her hand. “The water is simply magnificent!”
“What are you thinking about?” Vika asked, swimming closer and hugging him around the neck. “Just don’t tell me it’s about work.”
– No, it’s just… – Andrey hesitated. – I forgot to send the report before leaving.
“Liar,” Vika smiled, lightly kissing him on the cheek. “You’re thinking about your wife, right?”
Andrey frowned.
— We agreed not to raise this topic here.
“Okay, okay,” Vika said conciliatorily. “Maybe we should swim to the buoys?”
In the evening, they dined in the hotel restaurant, which overlooked the sea. Vika was dressed in a new frock she had purchased earlier that day at an embankment boutique. Andrey watched the sunset turn her skin golden and thought she looked magnificent. However, something continued to annoy him.
“Are we going to the mountains tomorrow?” Vika inquired, taking a drink of wine. “I want to take some nice photos for social media.”
“Of course,” Andrey nodded. “We’ll buy some souvenirs at the same time.”
“Does Marina like souvenirs?” Vika inquired innocently.
Andrey grimaced.
— I asked that you not start this conversation.
“I’m sorry,” Vika said, covering his hand with hers. “But sooner or later you’ll have to resolve this situation. We can’t hide forever.
“I know,” Andrey replied gloomily. “I’ll talk to her after my vacation.”
– Seriously? – Vika’s eyes brightened with hope. – Do you promise?
– I promise.
The week sped by. They swam, sunbathed, went on excursions, ate seafood at nice restaurants, and spent steamy nights in their hotel rooms. Andrey almost stopped thinking about his home and what awaited him when he returned. Almost.
On the day of departure, Vika hugged him at the airport.
“Don’t forget your promise,” she said softly, caressing his lips. “I’m waiting for your call.”
“I remember,” Andrey murmured, pulling away with reluctance. “I’ll call as soon as I talk to her.”
They were on separate flights, so such precautions seemed appropriate.
On the plane, Andrey ordered whiskey and considered what he would say to his wife. After ten years of marriage, their connection had become like strangers.
Late in the evening, a cab pulled up near his residence. After paying the driver, Andrey froze for a few moments, gazing out the windows of his apartment. The light was turned on in the living room. Marina wasn’t asleep. He took a deep breath and moved towards the entrance.
The door opened silently. He put his suitcase down in the hallway and listened. Quiet music and voices were coming from the living room. “TV,” he thought, took off his shoes and walked toward the sound.
What he saw made him freeze in his tracks. In the middle of the living room stood a festive table with champagne and a cake decorated with a candle in the shape of the number “10”.
Marina was sitting on the sofa, but she wasn’t alone. Next to her was a tall, fair-haired man Andrey had never seen before. They were laughing, and the stranger’s hand was on her shoulder.
“What… what’s going on here?” Andrey asked hoarsely, taking a step into the room.
Marina shuddered and turned around, her eyes widening in surprise.
– Andrey? Are you back yet? – She glanced at her watch. – We weren’t expecting you for another two hours.
– We? – Andrey looked from his wife to the stranger and back. – Who is this?
The blond man stood up from the couch and extended his hand with a smile.
– Alexey. Nice to meet you.
Andrey ignored his hand.
– Marina, what’s going on here? What kind of holiday is this?
– Have you forgotten? – Marina looked genuinely surprised. – Today is ten years since our wedding day.
Andrey felt the ground sinking beneath his feet. It was his wedding anniversary. He’d entirely forgotten. Worse, he had spent the week with another woman plotting how he would request a divorce.
“And you decided to celebrate with… with this?” He nodded towards Alexey, who continued to smile calmly.
“Oh, don’t worry,” Alexey said, returning to the sofa. “I’m here purely for work.”
— For work? — Andrey clenched his fists. — In my house? In the evening? With champagne?
“He’s an interior designer,” Marina explained calmly. “I decided to do some renovations while you were away. It’s an anniversary surprise.”
– In one room? In a week? – Andrey asked incredulously.
“Not only in the living room,” Marina stood up and gestured for him to follow her. “Come on, I’ll show you the rest.”
As if in a fog, Andrey followed his wife. Their bedroom had been transformed no less than the living room: new wallpaper, a bed, lamps, paintings on the walls.
“This…” he couldn’t find the words.
– Do you like it? – Marina asked hopefully. – I’ve wanted to change something for a long time. I thought that while you’re at your “conference”, it’s high time.
Andrey noticed how she emphasized the word “conference” and cringed inwardly.
“Very… unexpected,” he said finally.
“That’s not all,” Marina opened the door to the next room, which used to be his office.
Andrey froze at the threshold. The area had been totally transformed into a nursery, complete with blue walls, a small crib, and toys.
“What is this?” he murmured.
Marina embraced herself, suddenly being quite vulnerable.
– I wanted to tell you about our anniversary. I am pregnant, Andrey. Fourteen weeks.
Time seemed to have stopped. Andrey looked at his wife, at her slightly rounded belly, which for some reason he had not noticed right away, at the baby crib, at the teddy bear on the shelf…
– Pregnant? – The word sounded foreign. – But how? We…
– Do you remember that night before your business trip to Novosibirsk? – Marina smiled weakly. – We were both a little drunk.
Andrey remembered. Three months ago. A rare moment of intimacy in their relationship, which by then had already begun to fade.
– Why didn’t you tell me earlier?
– I wanted to be sure. Then I waited for the right moment, – Marina shrugged. – And then you announced your “conference” with Vika.
Andrey turned pale.
– Did you know?
– Of course I knew, – Marina looked him straight in the eyes. – I’m not stupid, Andrey. But I decided to give you a chance. A chance for all of us.
She placed her hand on her stomach, and that simple gesture suddenly made the situation tangible. They were going to have a baby. Their baby.
“Marina, I…” he couldn’t find the words.
“Don’t say anything now,” she stopped him gently. “Go back to the living room. Alexey was just about to leave, we’ll drink some champagne and… talk.”
Andrey nodded automatically and exited the nursery. In the living room, Alexey was already packing.
“Happy anniversary,” he murmured, shaking hands with Andrey, who was still astonished. “And a happy new addition to the family. “Your wife is an incredible woman.”
“Yes,” Andrey said hoarsely. “Thank you.”
When the designer left, Marina returned to the living room with two glasses. One contained champagne, the other something that looked like juice.
“To us?” she handed Andrey a glass of champagne.
He took it, but was unable to raise it for a toast.
– Marina, I need to say something.
“I know,” she answered calmly. “About Vika, your relationship, about you wanting to leave.”
Andrey looked at her in surprise.
– Where…?
– Your phone di:ed before you left, remember? You took my old one to call a taxi. You logged in with your ID and didn’t come out, – Marina put her glass on the table. – All your messages came to me. Every single one, Andrey.
Andrey felt blood draining from his face. All of his chats with Vika, plans for the future, pledges of divorce…
– Marina, I don’t know what to say.
“Don’t say anything,” Marina came up close to him. “Just answer one question. Do you love her?”
Andrey opened and closed his mouth again. He believed he loved her. All week, he was certain that he loved her. But today, standing here, gazing at his wife and their remodeled flat, knowing about the child…
“I don’t know,” he replied honestly. “I’m confused.”
Marina nodded, as if she expected just this response.
– Okay. Then this is what we’ll do: she took the untouched glass from him and placed it next to her own. – I will give you a week. Pack your belongings and stay with friends, parents, or a hotel – anywhere you like. Think of everything. About us, the child, and how you feel. Come back in a week and tell me what you’ve decided.
“What if I decide to leave?” Andrey asked quietly.
Marina closed her eyes for a moment, and he saw how much effort it took her to remain calm.
– Then you will leave. I will not hold you back. But I want you to be absolutely sure of your choice.
Andrey glanced at his wife, as if for the first time in years. Her strength, dignity, and affection were all things that had once piqued his interest, but had since become habitual and imperceptible.
“I don’t deserve you,” he whispered.
– Perhaps, – Marina smiled weakly. – But it’s up to you. Now go. And don’t call me this week. I want you to think, and not look for easy ways.
Andrey nodded. He slowly approached the suitcase, which was still standing in the corridor, and picked it up.
“See you in a week,” he said, standing at the door.
“See you later,” Marina replied.
