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The Real Son “Lena, you won’t believe it! Matvey and I have decided—we’re off to Turkey again next year!” My stepdad was practically glowing with happiness. “He says he needs that hotel with the sea view all over again. What can I do? My own son makes the call, you know?” That word—*own*—slipped out so naturally, as if it mattered. “I’m happy for you,” I answered, thinking back to better times, before Matvey appeared on the scene. “Your own son… And you always said we were a family. That there was no difference, whether a child was born to you or not.” He used to say that. That I was his daughter, and that’s all there was to it. “Here you go again… Oh, Lena! You’re my daughter, that’s not up for debate! You know I love you as if you were my own. But still, Matvey is my son…” He didn’t even realize he’d just proven my point. “Matvey’s your son. So I’m just…what, an acquaintance?” “Lena, what are you talking about? I just said, you’re like a daughter to me!” “Like a daughter… Did you ever take me to the seaside? In the fifteen years you’ve called yourself my dad?” Nope. Never did. Arthur was always saying there was no difference between me and Matvey, but I could hear it in how much he did for his son—there was a world of difference. “It just never worked out, Lena. You know money was always tight in the past. You’re not a kid, you know what two weeks in a five-star hotel costs… It’s expensive.” “I get it,” I nodded. “Expenses. It’s a bit much to take me there. But for Matvey, whom you only discovered six months ago, you’re already thinking of buying a flat, so he’s got somewhere to bring his wife?” I smiled thinly, “Guess that’s a minor expense if it’s for a son?” “I’m not buying anyone a flat. Who told you that, eh?” “People.” “Tell your ‘good people’ to stop spreading gossip.” For a minute, I felt a flicker of hope. “Really, you’re not?” “Of course not. Oh, by the way! Guess where we’re going with him this Saturday? Karting! Back when he was at uni, he did some sort of racing, and I just tag along.” “Karting?” I repeated, “Sounds thrilling.” “Doesn’t it just?!” “Can I come with you two?” The question popped out before I could stop it. Arthur, clearly not wanting me there, spluttered: “Uh… Lena… You’d be bored, honestly. It’s a guy thing, really. Matvey and I, we’ve got our… you know, father-son stuff to talk about.” Ouch. “So… it might be entertaining for you, but not for me?” “That’s not quite it…” Arthur fidgeted, “It’s just, well, we haven’t seen each other for a lifetime. We’re trying to make up for lost time, just the two of us, you understand?” Understand. “You understand” had become the cruellest phrase in our new family lexicon. I was supposed to understand that flesh and blood always comes first, that now my place is somewhere out in the cold. And to be fair, Matvey was a great guy. Grew up without a father—his mum never told Arthur she’d had a child. And yet he’d done well for himself: clever, good-looking, kind. Everything a father could want from a son. “Dad, I helped out at the animal shelter. Fixed up the dog kennels,” Matvey would say. “Dad, by the way, you know I graduated top of my class?” “Dad, look, I fixed your phone!” He wasn’t just a son. He was the ideal son. That evening, after Arthur left, I found myself flipping through old photos. Arthur and Mum’s wedding (Mum, gone five years now, just leaving Arthur and me). Us at the allotment… Me on my school graduation day… Nothing would ever be as it was. * “Lena, you up? I’ve got an urgent question.” Arthur turned up at eight on the dot the next morning. “What’s so urgent?” I pushed back my fringe and started the coffee machine. “It’s about the flat for Matvey.” “So it’s true, then?” I breathed out. “Sorry, but yes. True.” “And you lied to me.” “I just didn’t want to upset you. But I need your advice! I’m thinking I should move quickly. He’ll want to get married sooner or later, and it’s best to help him while he’s still young. Give him a roof over his head. You know what I went through…” “Take out a mortgage,” I said tightly, dreading this whole conversation. Matvey really had landed on his feet. “I know, I know. But you know my credit history is a mess… Matvey deserves help from a dad he never had before.” “So what exactly do you want from me?” “Here’s the thing. I’ve got £20,000 saved. That’s enough for a deposit. The bank will never approve a loan for me. But they’d approve it for you. Clean record, you see? We put it in your name, make the payments together. All above board, I promise.” The illusion that “there’s no difference” between us was shattered forever. Oh, there’s a difference, all right. Not like he’d have put Matvey in this position. “So Matvey gets the flat, and I get the mortgage? Is that the deal?” Arthur shook his head, as if I’d just offered him an insult. “No, no! I’ll make all the payments… I’m not asking you to pay! Just need it in your name. Just think it over—” “I’m not thinking about the mortgage, Arthur. I’m thinking about the fact you don’t see me as your daughter anymore. You’ve got a son now. Him, you’ve known for six months. Me, for fifteen years. And only blood matters.” “That’s not true!” Arthur flared, “I love you both equally!” “No. You don’t.” “Lena, that’s not fair! He’s my real—” Curtain down. I wasn’t his daughter anymore. Just someone convenient to have around, until the real deal showed up. “Right then,” I said as politely as I could. “I won’t be signing anything, Arthur. I’ll need to buy my own flat one day. The bank won’t give me a second mortgage, will they?” Arthur seemed to remember for the first time that I’d be needing a place too. “Oh… I suppose you will, won’t you? But at least for now, before you buy your own, you could help me. I’ve got most of it covered, honestly. It’s just a couple of years—” “No. I’m not having anything registered in my name.” I didn’t expect Arthur to understand. “Fine,” he said, “If you can’t help me as a daughter… then I’ll have to manage by myself.” Whether he actually ever saw me as a daughter didn’t matter anymore. Now, Arthur existed only in the photographs. One evening, scrolling through my feed, I saw it. Arthur and Matvey at the airport, both in matching light jackets. Arthur’s hand, proudly on his son’s shoulder. The caption: “Off to Dubai with my dad. Family means everything.” Family. I put my phone down. A memory came back—me at five, years before Mum married Arthur. Life was tough then. My favourite doll broke, the one Gran had given me, and I sobbed and sobbed. My real father just shrugged: “Lena, why cry over a silly toy? Don’t bother me!” He was a man who never wanted to be bothered. His main interest was a bottle. I never really had a father, not until Arthur. Or so I thought. Arthur tried once more to change my mind. “Lena, we need to sort out this trust issue between us…” “What trust issue, Arthur? I said no, clearly.” “You really don’t understand. Matvey… he never knew his dad. Not ever! I have to make it up to him, somehow. He’s a grown man—he needs somewhere to live. And you wouldn’t have to do anything except sign! I promise, not a penny out of your pocket.” “Who’s going to make it up to me?” That hit a nerve. “Lena, enough! I don’t want any more arguments. I do love you, I do! But you have to understand—Matvey is my real family now. Maybe you’ll get it if you have your own kids one day. Yes, I love you both, but it’s different. That doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.” “You need me. As a resource.” “Lena, cool off! You’re being dramatic.” “You switched to him in six months, Arthur,” I said. “I never asked you to choose. There never was a choice. You’ve told the truth: Matvey is your real one. I never was.” Six months went by. Arthur didn’t call. Not once. One day, I saw a new photo in my feed. Arthur and Matvey, this time in the mountains, both wearing expensive skiing gear. The caption: “Teaching Dad to snowboard! He’s a bit old for it, but with a son by your side, anything is possible!” I looked at it for a long while. I reached for my laptop to finish my report, when I got a text from an unknown number. “Hi Lena, it’s Matvey. Dad gave me your number, but he can’t bring himself to call. He wanted me to let you know he sorted the flat without your help, and he’s worried about you. He also wants to invite you over for the May bank holiday. He can’t explain why, but he’s really hoping you’ll come.” I typed and rewrote my reply three times. “Hi Matvey. Tell Arthur I’m really glad things are going well for him. I think about him too. But I won’t be coming. I have my own plans—I’m off to the seaside.” I didn’t mention that I’d bought my own ticket, and that it was only Brighton, not Turkey, and I wasn’t going with my dad but with a friend. I hit send. And realized that happiness was still possible, even without him.

– Ellie, you wont believe this! Me and Daniel have decided to go back to Spain next year!

There Won’t Be a Wedding “Why are you so quiet today?” Tanya asked. “We agreed we’d go pick out bedroom furniture on Saturday, but you seem down. What’s wrong?” Denis knew: now or never. He had to say it now. “Tanya… I need to say something. About the wedding.” Tanya had waited so long for this conversation. They’d agreed on a simple celebration, but she could tell Denis wanted to throw her a proper wedding—with guests, a photographer, the whole lot. She’d been looking forward to him bringing it up! “Just skip the long intro; I think I know what you’re about to say,” Tanya smiled. But Denis said: “Let’s postpone it… Let’s postpone the wedding.” Not the conversation Tanya had prepared for. “Postpone?” she froze. “What sort of sudden decision is that? Why? We were just talking about ordering invitations… You picked them! We discussed who’d come! Have you changed your mind about marrying me?” She thought he’d announce that his feelings were gone, like in a movie. But Denis replied off-script: “Money’s tight right now,” he mumbled. “My salary’s late. We’re not saving. And… We’ve only lived together half a year. A bit soon, don’t you think?” “Too soon?” Tanya sputtered. “We’ve been together for three years! Three years dating, six months living together—and that’s too soon for you?” Denis no longer looked so scared. “Come on, Tanya. I don’t want an argument. It’s just… a pause. I haven’t changed my mind, but weddings are expensive.” “Fine… Let’s just sign the register, the two of us, then celebrate with friends.” “Tanya, then it won’t be a real wedding.” “Well, then let it go to hell!” “But you wanted—” “I’ll live!” He keeps making odd excuses. “Tanya…” “Be honest. Did something happen? Are you not sure you love me? Or did you meet someone else? Because ‘the wedding’s too expensive’ is not a convincing excuse.” Denis shook his head. “No, Tanya, honestly. I just want everything to be perfect, you know? And right now, I can’t give you the perfect wedding. And yeah, it’s only been six months—we’re still getting used to each other. We need to see if we’re right together…” There was logic in his words. He was convincing, but Tanya’s gut screamed warning. Rarely did Denis work so hard to persuade her. He’d been the one urging a quick wedding. But she pretended to believe him. After that, Denis became not just a boyfriend, but the perfect boyfriend. He paid attention to details he’d always ignored, as if making up for the cancelled wedding. In shops, he always asked her opinion; he always washed the dishes himself. But he walked around gloomy—not just thoughtful, but truly glum, sighing at night, staring at the ceiling, brushing off Tanya’s questions: “It’s nothing, just tired.” Tanya tried not to push. “Later, later, later,” her inner voice whispered. A couple weeks later, Denis’s parents invited them over. Tanya resisted; she didn’t want to go. Denis wasn’t talking about the wedding anymore, but his parents would surely bring it up—and that would be awkward. But she had to go. And of course, the wedding came up. “So, when will you finally bring us some good news?” his mum asked after his dad left to watch TV. “We’ve already picked a venue for the reception. Table for twenty. What date should we book?” Denis wore the same sour face as Tanya. What was there to book? There’d be no wedding. “Mum, we’ve talked. It’s postponed,” he croaked. “Postponed? How come? Short of money? Denis, as a man, why didn’t you plan ahead?” After dinner, while the men excitedly examined a dismantled, still broken speaker, Tanya headed to the bathroom to freshen up. It was spotless, like an operating theatre. Not a speck of dust. No toiletries except shower gel and shampoo—his mum kept everything else in her bedroom. Tanya always wondered how she had the patience to carry it back and forth. Wiping her face, Tanya listened… The bathroom walls always carried whispers of secrets. Denis was back in the kitchen, talking to his mother. Tanya heard… “Denis, are you planning to break up with Tanya?” Tanya froze, towel pressed to chin. What? She didn’t let herself pretend she’d misheard. Quietly, she pressed her ear to the tiles. “Mum, I told you. We’ve postponed. We haven’t broken up.” “Postponed is just an excuse!” Galina whispered. “I can see you’re in torment. Why do you need her? She’s not wifely. A wife should obey her husband—not behave like that. What’s the point if you’ll just get divorced in a year?” “I love her, Mum,” Denis insisted. Tanya almost melted. But his mother’s next words knocked any sentimentality away. “You say you love her? She’s sly, Denis. I warned you! She’s not even your wife yet and she’s already turning you against us. You’ve stopped helping your sister, you don’t visit the cottage… She’s changing you, and not for the better.” Tanya clung to the cold tile, heart racing. Turning him against his family? When? She’d always tried to be polite, even when Anatoly, his father, had torn apart her new haircut. It hurt, but she kept her mouth shut! Never had she deliberately turned Denis against his family. Quite the opposite—she encouraged him to keep close, knowing how important they were to him. And then it hit her: postponing the wedding? Not about money. His mum, lying to her face, was dead set against their marriage! Tanya hurried to rejoin them. “Ah, Tanya, you’re back! We were just saying you shouldn’t wait too long to make it official. I understand youth, but I don’t approve of living together without a marriage certificate.” How charming of her. “Of course, Mrs Smith,” Tanya smiled. “We won’t postpone for long. Once we’ve saved a bit, it’s off to the register office. Right, Denis?” “Yeah, Tanya, we’re basically already married,” Denis agreed. That night, driving home, Denis tried to put his arm around her but Tanya kept pulling away. She didn’t know how to start the conversation—or whether she should. If Denis hadn’t dumped her at his family’s demand, surely he loved her… but he had cancelled the wedding. “You acted odd when your mum started talking,” she said, watching the city lights fade behind them. “Me? Nah, she’s just rushing the wedding and—” “Don’t lie. She’s not rushing you. She’s completely against our wedding. She said I turned you against them, and that you should break up with me.” Denis’s hands jerked on the wheel. “So you heard? Tanya, my mum’s afraid her little boy will get married and forget her. Classic case. Don’t take it personally. She’ll get over it.” Tanya didn’t take his mum’s words to heart—what worried her was Denis’s reaction. He hadn’t stood up for her; he’d just agreed, rather than argue with his mother. The wedding question remained open. Denis continued looking like he’d bitten a lemon, and now, whenever Tanya mentioned future plans, he always said, “Maybe later…” Then, one day, Denis’s phone was left unlocked. “I’m just checking the time,” Tanya told herself. “I won’t look at his messages. Just a quick glance—” A notification from his sister, Vera, flashed up. Vera was only two years younger than Tanya but acted twelve. No job, no studies, lived off her parents. The message was blunt: “I see, no money for me. She’s got you under her thumb again. Go on, live with her then, if some girl matters more than your family.” Tanya reread it: “She’s got you under her thumb again.” It brought something back… Before the wedding was cancelled, when Vera had called Denis (again) asking for money, Tanya couldn’t help but say: “Denis, she’s twenty-seven, living at home, always asking you for spending money. Maybe it’s time she got a job? Our budget isn’t endless.” She wouldn’t usually butt in, but it was their shared money she contributed as much as Denis—and she hadn’t signed up to bankroll his family. Denis had reluctantly agreed: “Yeah, you’re right, Tanya. Enough’s enough.” Now she saw who was working to turn everyone against her. She copied the message, sent it to her own phone as evidence, and replaced Denis’s mobile exactly where she’d found it. Denis was dusting off snow in the hallway: “Got bread, got your favourite chocolate with hazelnuts. I was thinking, Tanya, maybe we should have—” “Denis,” Tanya cut him off. “What, expecting someone else?” he joked. But Tanya didn’t laugh. “What does Vera mean in her message to you?” she asked. Denis remembered that if you’re about to be cornered, attack first. He erupted, offended: “What, you’re snooping through my phone while I’m out?!” Classic defence tactic—shift the blame. “Doesn’t matter what I was doing, Denis. I want you to explain. Right now.” For a few seconds, his face cycled through all emotions: anger, panic. “Oh, Tanya, don’t worry. She’s still young, sulks about everything.” “She’s sulking because I asked her to grow up?” Tanya pressed. “Well, she’s used to asking me for money. Quite the habit. Hard to break. But don’t stress, she’ll get over it.” “Did she turn your parents against me?” “Well… yes,” Denis admitted. “I tried explaining it’s our money, that Vera should stand on her own feet… But Mum flipped out—Tanya’s got you under her control, you’ve abandoned us for her! But I don’t see it that way…” “But you cancelled the wedding… So she turned your family against me. Got it. I can’t be around them. But what about you? Do you want to marry me, or are you just putting it off because you can’t say ‘no’ to your mum?” “Of course I want to marry you! Just not now… maybe later, when everything’s settled…” That’s your answer. “You know what, Denis, I’ve realised something… I don’t want to marry someone who’s not sure about me and jumps at every whim of his little sister. It’s a good thing the wedding’s off.”

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