-“You should never introduce a guy to your friends!” Grandma Maria told her many times.
Rebecca laughed in response and asked:
-Should I hide him in a box or something? And in general – for example, who should not be invited to the birthday party, him or his friends?
-You can meet your friends in the afternoon and him in the evening. You have to be taught everything like a little girl.
-You know, grandma, – Rebecca parried, -Your tactics didn’t work for you, you live alone.
-“Tell me more,” the grandmother answered menacingly, and laughed herself. “I kicked my grandfather out myself, because he was out for a walk. But I’m still loyal to him, as you can see, my neighbor from the fifth floor was following me, and another man from work…
No, grandma was wrong. Rebecca had good friends, and they were all married or with boyfriends, so she introduced everyone to Victor.
Tina was even a maid of honor at her wedding and was sad that she would have to look for another friend, not Rebecca, because she was not allowed to be married.
Tina had a promising fiancé with an expensive car and a director’s chair, so the wedding was not far off.
After the wedding, Rebecca’s life became like a fairy tale. They lived soul to soul, got a dog and walked together in the evening parks, then watched a TV series and ate hot pizza.
Rebecca taught at school and gave private lessons, and Victor kept trying to develop his business, but so far unsuccessfully.
He was not sad, and Rebecca supported him in everything, even agreed to take a risk and take a large loan for development.
And she didn’t lose – her husband’s company suddenly went uphill, so Tina, who at first scolded her friend for imprudence, promising her that she would be left with nothing, admitted that she was wrong.
-“I’m so jealous of you, Rebecca,” she said, “you got such a man.
She often began to visit them in the evenings, because her promising fiancé had found an equally promising bride and left Tina.
Victor and Rebecca took pity on her, took her to cafes and movies.
For happiness Rebecca lacked only a child, but Victor kept delaying this moment – he said that he needed to live for himself, and earn more money. Money became everything for him, he kept developing his business, and Rebecca had to accompany him to all the meetings where the couple used to come.
Finally, Victor gave up. They managed to get pregnant on the first try, which Rebecca was very happy about, and the man was surprised.
-“I thought it would take a few months,” he admitted.
But Rebecca’s joy was short-lived – before any signs appeared, she was put on life support.
-“They say that the chances of saving are high,” she explained to him on the phone.
-“And when will they discharge you?
-I don’t know, if everything goes well, in three weeks, and if not, even longer…
-“Damn it, Rebecca, I told you I was invited to a very important award with investors. You promised to come with me and now what?
Rebecca was offended by her husband’s words, she didn’t need to think about that now.
-And the concert tickets, we were looking forward to…
-“Well, go with your friends,” Rebecca said.
-And to the award ceremony with friends? -Vitya asked.
Rebecca wanted to be completely offended and hang up, but changed her mind.
-Listen, take Tina with you. She’s sad anyway, and it will help her to relax.
She said and forgot – Rebecca was not in the mood for that. She was thinking about the baby. So three weeks passed – they did not want to let her go home.
And yet, the worst happened… They did not save her… And the next day, when she was discharged home, Victor left on the table a bag of oranges, a can of pomegranate juice and a package of her favorite chocolate, then packed his things and… moved to Tina.
The grandmother was right, it’s good that she didn’t have time to see it.
Strangely enough, Rebecca survived all this calmly. The divorce was peaceful, Victor honestly left her half of all property and rewrote the apartment to her. So Rebecca had nothing to complain about.
From mutual acquaintances she learned about the wedding of Tina and Victor, but although she was sad, she believed that if he was happy, it was good. There was nothing to worry about. Rebecca herself also had fans, but she apparently went to her grandmother and refused everyone.
When one day Tina called her, it had been two years. Her voice was strange and strange, her tongue was tied.
-“And you, Rebecca, are lucky,” she said with a nervous laugh, “You grabbed a fat piece, and I’m left with only debts.
-“What’s wrong, Tina?” despite all the insults she couldn’t be indifferent to her friend, and judging by her condition, it was really bad.
-What? Haven’t you read the newspapers? Yours is broke, in debt and… In short, he did something stupid. He decided he had nothing else to do in this world. And now I have to clean up the mess.
Rebecca’s legs gave out and she sat down on the floor where she had been standing.
-“What are you talking about?” she said.
-Don’t worry, he’s alive. He’s just very weak. And I’m on beans.
-What do you mean, weak? How is he?
-How should I know? Who needs him anymore? I’ve already filed for divorce… As if my mother had…
Not listening to Tina, Rebecca quickly dressed and called a taxi. She remembered where Victor’s mother lived well, although she never really got along with her. Rebecca prepared for a less than warm welcome, but when Victor’s mother opened the door, a smile lit up her face.
-“I told him you were coming,” she said, and Rebecca let out a single breath:
-Where is he?
Victor was in the room. Thin, emaciated.
Rebecca rushed to him, crying. He expectedly told Rebecca that she had nothing to do here, he was a traitor. Rebecca did not listen to him. She drank tea with his mother in the kitchen and then said:
-Get ready, Victor, I’ll order the car.
-Where to go? – he did not understand.
-“Home,” Rebecca answered simply. “Where else…
