Agnes cried all evening. Today she put her house in the village for sale. I never thought that this would happen!
– Mom, you will lose your last health in this garden! Sell it and come live with us. Daniel can’t wait for his grandmother to come! And Steven will be happy, you know! Okay, Mom?”, – her daughter Victoria persuaded her every time they called.
Agnes and her husband built this house as soon as Victoria got married. When her grandson was born, Agnes began to dream of spending summers outdoors with her grandson in retirement. A lot of things from Agnes’ parents’ apartment were brought to the house. And the house became even dearer to her from the usual things.
But everything did not go as she dreamed.
First, her husband, Roger, said that he changed his mind about retirement. That, they say, why become old beforehand. And then it turned out that he had another woman, younger, from work.
– You understand, Agnes, we are different. I still want a lot of things, I can’t sit in the village like an old man, – Roger mumbled, looking away.
Agnes mentally gasped, what old people? They were riding bicycles with her husband. They used to go fishing. They used to play table tennis. So many plans were shared, and suddenly – “different”! And that was it.
The divorce was formalized. It was decided that the husband would take the car, and Agnes would keep the house. The apartment was hers, my mother’s.
– Mom, don’t worry so much, – consoled her daughter Victoria, – we are here for you!
But a year later her husband Steven was promoted and sent to another city.
– “Mom, we are leaving, you understand that such offers are not refused,” Victoria persuaded her, “we will come to you. Or are you coming to us, right, mom?
Agnes nodded, losing one support in her life after another. This house in the village remained her only outlet. But after a while she realized that she was very sad here alone. Everything that was planned to be done together, she was not happy alone.
As a result, the trips to the village were reduced to the fact that Agnes came, mowed the lawn, tended the garden, got tired and did not understand why she needed all this.
And so, when Victoria began to persuade her again:
– “Well, mom, what should we do, sell this house and come to us, we will all be together, you are not alone there. Daniel is sad.
Agnes thought about it and agreed:
– Okay, Victoria, I will sell it and I will come to you. And really, there was no need for all this.
At first there were no calls. It is not easy to sell a house, many people want a plot without a house to make everything for themselves.
But in two weeks a nice young man called:
– Agnes, good afternoon, my name is Philip. I would like to see your house and land, when can I come?
Agnes somehow hesitated, although she was waiting for a call from the buyers.
– Agnes, excuse me, maybe I made a mistake? Is this your ad for the sale of a house with a plot?” – Philip was excited.
– Yes, yes, sorry, the connection is bad, let’s meet, – Agnes could not imagine that she would sell her house, in which everything is dear to her.
Philip turned out to be a very nice guy. They quickly agreed on the price, Agnes did not bargain, and the guy immediately agreed with the appointed amount:
– What a cozy house, – Philip walked on the first floor, went up to the second floor, – I understood correctly, Agnes, you are selling with furniture?
– Yes, Philip, I’m going to my daughter in another city, I can’t take the furniture, and who needs it? You throw it away yourself, please, okay?” – Agnes ran her hand over the wooden carved cabinet – dad’s pride. She turned away bitterly, so that Philip would not notice her tears welling up.
– Come on, how can you throw away this comfort, we will not throw anything away, I think dad will be fascinated by all this, – Philip smiled and looked around the living room.
– If so, then very well, – and Agnes, mentally saying goodbye to the house and her dreams, hurried to the exit
In a week Agnes was going to go to her daughter. And suddenly the phone rang – Philip called:
– “Agnes, hi, I’m sorry, there is a situation, it turned out that the land plot is not correctly entered in the register. I really ask you, can you come over?
Agnes agreed.
Philip did not come alone:
– Meet my dad, Ralph, the new owner of this house! It was my dad’s dream, he has golden hands. Here, we are bringing the machine, tools, dad was going to arrange a workshop in the garage. Do you mind?” Philip smiled, “I was just kidding, Dad, this is Agnes, the owner of this wonderful house,” Philip turned to her, “Dad is fascinated by your house, he said he would not change anything.
– I am very glad that you liked everything, – Agnes exhaled, – but I am the former owner. And the new owner of the house also liked everything?” Agnes asked automatically, and she suddenly felt uncomfortable.
– You understand, – Philip stammered, – my father lives alone, my mother is long gone.
– Excuse me,” Agnes turned to Ralph, “would you like me to show you the garden?
When they went and made corrections to the register, Ralph suddenly offered:
– “Agnes, I have a favor to ask you, Philip is going to his wife, and I wanted to celebrate the housewarming here, maybe you can keep me company, if you are free?
Agnes smiled at the ambiguity of the word “free”.
– You will forgive me, if you have no time, or you are married, then I cancel my offer, – he smiled back at her. And she understood that he guessed her thoughts.
And Agnes agreed.
They roasted fish on the fire and spent a wonderful day.
Two days later Ralph called and offered to go fishing.
– “Mom, I don’t understand, are you coming to us, or something happened to you?” – Victoria was worried, “Mom, are you feeling well?
– I feel great, just as I dreamed, – Agnes answered her daughter.
When Ralph invited her to ride bicycles, Agnes thought: “Does it really happen, a stranger, but such a warm, dear, understandable person. And he wants to live the same way as me?”
– Agnes, – his voice interrupted her thoughts, – Agnes, I do not know how to say! I have been living alone for a long time, and for the first time in many years I met a woman with whom I really want to be together. Be my wife, Agnes, and mistress of our home! It has never ceased to be yours, every thing here, every book is about you.
– Ralph, – Agnes was both surprised and not. It was easy and very good for her with this man, – Ralph!, – she took his hand and looked into his eyes.
*****
Their house shone with all the windows. The happy hostess baked pies, prepared delicacies for her beloved guests.
– Agnes, my dear, can you imagine, Philip called, he and Maria are coming too, – Ralph in an apron helped his beloved wife.
– Ralph, that’s just great! Bring some more chairs and cutlery.
When all the relatives gathered at the table, Agnes looked around them with eyes shining with happiness.
Victoria with her husband Steven and grandson Daniel, Ralph’s son with his pregnant wife Maria, and Ralph.
– Quiet, family, quiet, – Ralph tapped his fork on the wine glass, – My toast is to happiness, to love, and to the hostess of the house, my Agnes.
Everyone clapped cheerfully, especially Daniel.
– And to dreams that come true, – Agnes added, looking at her husband with loving eyes.
