Julia Palmer turned around, puzzled as she viewed a young woman approaching. She couldn’t quite place her.
The woman came nearer, almost slipping on the icy pavement. Julia quickly caught her and froze in surprise.
“Angelica? Angelica Mitchell? Wow, where did you come from?”
“I was walking by the school and saw someone who looked like you coming out. I was so surprised! How are you doing? What’s life like? What are you up to? You left like the businesswoman you are and we just lost touch.”
“Lost touch? I tried calling, but your line was always unavailable.”
“I… lost my phone back then and things just spun out. But enough about me, how have you been?”
“Hey, why are we standing out here in the cold? Let’s go to my place. You know what? We’re hosting a little party tomorrow with some friends. How about joining us?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to impose…”
“Nonsense, you’re a childhood friend! Here’s the address. By the way, where are you staying?”
“In a hotel.”
“Why not stay with us? We just bought a place with three bedrooms.”
“When was that? Sorry, it’s just a reflex — I’m a real estate agent now, ha-ha-ha. No, Julia, work pays for my hotel, but thank you.”
“So will you come by?”
“I’ll do my best, Julia. It was lovely seeing you again… By the way, how’s your husband? Or… are you still single?”
“Married, of course! I married Boris!”
“Boris?”
“Yes, Boris Taylor. Don’t you remember? He studied at the school right by my house and lived in the same building. Remember how he used to give us bike rides, with me on the frame and you on the back?”
“Ohhh… Boris? So you married him? Yeah, I kind of remember.”
“Yes, we’ve been together for eight years now. We’ve got two kids, Michael and Annie. How about you?”
“I’m good, Julia, I will definitely come… and we’ll chat.”
“I’m so glad I ran into you.”
“Indeed…”
At dinner, Julia Palmer — or simply Julia at home — mentioned to Boris that she had met Angelica.
“Which Angelica, Julia?”
“Angelica Mitchell. Remember how you used to give us rides on your bike, always putting me on the frame and her on the back? And then we, so silly, demanded that you ride us one at a time, ha-ha-ha, saying the other would feel left out. And you… you ended up only riding me! I even thought Angelica might have been upset, maybe even had a crush on you… Oh, sweet childhood.”
“Yeah. So why bring her up?”
“I told you, I ran into her.”
“In our town? What’s she doing here? Or is she living here now?”
“No, she’s here for some courses. She’s a real estate agent now.”
“Agent? Didn’t she study something else?”
“I don’t know, I’ll find out tomorrow… we lost touch completely after we parted ways back then. Why did you think she studied something else?”
“No idea, everyone studies something…”
“Well, yes… I’ll ask her tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Are you meeting up? Did you forget the Smiths are coming over?”
“Yes, I remember, I invited Angelica too.”
“What? Why?”
“She’s a childhood friend, Boris… and yours too, for that matter.”
“How so?”
Julia worked as a primary school teacher, adored by her students. She had always dreamed of this career, so she went to work on wings and came home, though tired, always cheerful.
Today, however, Julia seemed preoccupied. Everything was fine, but what was bothering her?
As she helped Boris prepare dinner, that nagging feeling clung to her, an urge to cry, for what reason?
Their friends arrived at seven. The Smiths had one child, a three-year-old boy who was the same age as Annie, and everyone found his antics delightful. Meanwhile, Julia and Boris’s five-year-old son, Michael, preferred not to play with the younger ones and retreated to his room to watch cartoons.
The adults gathered around the table, chatting and laughing. Julia was starting to shake off that unsettling feeling when the doorbell rang, making her jump.
“Who could that be?” Julia asked nervously.
“Your childhood friend, what’s her name… Amanda?” Boris chuckled.
“Oh, right… Angela… yes.”
Julia opened the door to a stunning, fragrant Angelica with snowflakes twinkling in her hair. She lightly brushed cheeks with Julia and handed over her coat to her host before waltzing into the living room.
“Meet Angela,” Julia introduced with an oddly dim voice, noticing Boris’s reaction and how Oleg straightened up.
Throughout the evening, Angelica was the center of attention, laughing and seamlessly joining in any conversation, captivating everyone with her charm. Julia, on the other hand, was plagued by a sense of unease.
On top of that, under the guise of humor, Angelica shared childhood stories that embarrassingly painted Julia in an unflattering light.
Retreating to the kitchen, tears welled up in Julia’s eyes. What was going on? She leaned against the window facing the balcony, where she heard murmuring outside.
“Well, darling, you’ve done well for yourself,” Angelica’s voice floated up. “A three-bedroom place, you say? And I have to squeeze into a one-bed? Well, you’ve got money for kids, yes? Your dear little wife is dressed to the nines, even drives a car…”
Julia didn’t want to hear more. With a steely expression, she returned to the living room, where the friends were amusing the restless children.
“Julia, are you okay? You look pale,” her friend asked.
“No, I’m fine… just a bit queasy from the wine. Where did everyone go?”
“Boris stepped out for a smoke, Angela went too, turns out she smokes?”
“Really? I didn’t know…”
Julia tried to participate, but every action felt forced. Her thoughts raced, her stomach churned, and she was on edge.
When Boris and Angelica returned, Angelica was even more lively, drinking wine, while Boris seemed confused.
Julia thought, when everyone leaves… he will leave too, surely. She had mentally bid farewell to her husband. There was no doubt left – they were involved somehow. But, when did he manage?
He was never late from work, always with her, everything shared — phone, computer, all open. Such deception…
Julia barely waited for the guests to leave. The friends noticed the tension and started gathering their things, except for Angelica, who remained cheerful as ever.
Once the door shut behind the last friend, Julia sent the children to their rooms and sat down facing Angelica and Boris.
“Well, lovebirds, when were you planning to tell me everything? What am I to you, Boris? If there’s love, why stay with me? My salary is modest, no inheritance to speak of, why torture yourself? Pack your things and go. Angela, does my house bother you that much? Well, it’s mortgaged, take it. I’ll find a place for me and the kids.”
“You envied me then and still do now? Take him, be happy…”
Boris tried to speak, but Julia cut him off.
“Ha-ha-ha, what’s with the outburst? Why would I want your clueless idiot… he owes me, actually, the child needs support…”
“What child?”
“Julia, let me explain,” Boris attempted to approach, but she held him back.
“Boris, you have a child with this… woman?”
“Oh Boris, you have a child with her?!” Angelica mocked, laughing heartily. “Well, why don’t you answer?”
“I’ll explain everything, Julia.”
“Please try, and then I’ll explain… Though, maybe I should tell you now. Remember the summer after school? You went away with your family? Your Boris, he was so eager to spend nights with me and… I ended up pregnant.”
“Why?” Julia asked with tear-filled eyes, questioning someone… “Why? What was the point of keeping me around?”
“She’s lying, Julia. I barely remember anything, it happened once at Rus Egorov’s farewell. It was my first time trying moonshine. She was hovering all evening, plying me with drinks… I don’t justify myself, I was responsible. She turned up a week later, claiming I attacked her and she was pregnant… She said her mom was forcing her to go to the police, but she loved me, and wouldn’t do it… Told me to marry her…”
“I refused, she threatened, cried, begged. Then said I’d regret it. I told her if the child was truly mine, I wouldn’t abandon it, and if guilty, I’ll face consequences. She never went anywhere, never filed anything. I offered to go to the police together, but she refused… I suggested the hospital… But parents moved soon after, I lost track of her…”
“Five years ago, when Michael was born, she showed up. Demanding money for our son…”
“And?”
“All my bonuses, extra earnings, even with a salary bump, it all went towards the child, he’s innocent…”
“Of course,” Angela smirked, “with the amount he’s already given me.”
“That’s the way it was, Julia… The child’s not to blame.”
“What’s your son’s name?” asked Julia.
“Both Boris and Angelica blurted out different names. ”
“Is it Alex or Sam, Angela?”
“He’s got a double name,” Angela squirmed.
“Have you ever seen your son?”
“No, only in photos she sent. I saved them in a folder… I… well, the child… I… Julia, I want to keep supporting him…”
“Boris, is the folder by any chance named AAA?”
“Yes,” Boris admitted, blushing.
“Oh, for a moment I thought you’d lost it, saving photos of some boy who acted in old British films. Angela, really? You were sending him photos of an actor? You played him for five years for money?”
“Yeah, right, I’ve conned you,” Angela admitted boldly. “The plan hatched when I saw Boris again… First time didn’t stick, figured I’d try now, and he fell for it, fool.”
“Hold on,” Julia blocked her exit. “You think you can just leave? You’ll return every penny he gave you.”
“No, I won’t, I’m leaving, just like that,” Angela smiled. “You’ve got no proof, money he gave willingly because I was his fancy, not you, little house mouse. I’ll prove in court we were lovers, he merely gave gifts, nothing more… So just accept it quietly… friend.”
Angela walked out. Julia and Boris sat in silence.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Out of fear of losing you…”
“How foolish, Boris… even knowing a pregnancy right after… well, it’s absurd.”
Boris shrugged helplessly.
“I promise, Julia, never again… no secrets…”
Please understand, if you think the author mishandled language, or you find the story unrealistic, that times have changed, or it simply doesn’t sit right with you – that’s fine. This space is for me and my friends to share good vibes.
Your opinion on my shortcomings isn’t needed here. If you’re here to argue or spread negativity, take it elsewhere. I’m a person, not a candy to please all.
For dissenters and critics, just move on. If you must express disdain, the exit is over there…
