Julia Patterson turned around, looking at the young woman before her, puzzled by who she was and from where she knew her.
The woman approached, nearly slipping; the ground was icy. Julia caught her and then froze…
“Angelica? Angela Miller? Wow, where did you come from?”
“I was just passing by the school and thought I saw you coming out. I couldn’t believe it… So how are you? How’s life treating you? What are you up to? You moved away, all business-like, and then we lost touch.”
“What do you mean lost touch? I tried calling, but your number was unavailable.”
“I lost my phone back then… life just got hectic. Enough about me, how about you?”
“Hey, why are we standing outside? Let’s go to my place. You know what? We’re having a little party tomorrow with some friends. Why don’t you come?”
“Oh, I don’t want to intrude.”
“It’s no bother, seriously. We’ve been friends since nursery. Look, here’s my address. By the way, where are you staying?”
“At a hotel.”
“Why not come to ours? We just bought a three-bedroom flat.”
“When did you get it? Oh, forgive my curiosity… It’s a habit. I work as a real estate agent, ha-ha. But no, Julia… work is covering the hotel costs, so thanks anyway.”
“Will you come by tomorrow?”
“I’ll try, Julia. It’s lovely to see you.”
“I’m so glad we ran into each other.”
“Me too…”
Over dinner, Julia Patterson—known simply as Julia or mom at home—told Boris she’d met Angelica.
“Which Angelica, Julia?”
“Angela Miller, remember? You used to give us bike rides, me on the bar and her on the back.”
“Oh, those were silly times, ha-ha. Remember when we demanded you take us separately because one of us felt left out, ha-ha? And you kept taking only me on the bar… I thought Angela was upset.”
“I even suspected she had a crush on you, Boris… Oh, childhood.”
“Hmm. So why bring her up now?”
“I ran into her.”
“In our town? What’s she doing here? Is she living here now?”
“No, she’s here for some courses. She’s apparently a real estate agent.”
“A real estate agent? Wasn’t she studying something else?”
“I don’t know; I’ll ask her tomorrow. We lost touch after we moved. Why did you think she was studying something else?”
“I don’t know, everyone studies something…”
“Yeah, true… I’ll find out tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? You planned to meet? Didn’t you forget about the Smiths coming over?”
“I remember; that’s why I invited Angela over too.”
“What do you mean, why?”
“How could I not, Boris? She’s an old friend… Yours too, by the way.”
“Mine? How?”
Julia Patterson worked as a primary school teacher, adored by her students. She loved her job and always felt uplifted, despite the exhaustion.
Today, Julia seemed troubled, though everything was fine. What was bothering her, she couldn’t understand.
She came home, cooked with Boris—they did everything together—but Julia couldn’t shake off a nagging feeling. Did she want to cry?
What was wrong?
Their friends arrived at seven. They had one child, Anne’s age, a three-year-old little comedian.
Five-year-old Michael, their son, wasn’t keen on playing with the younger ones and retreated to his room to watch cartoons.
The adults sat around the table, chatting and enjoying themselves. Julia started forgetting the unsettling feeling when the doorbell rang, making her jump.
“Who’s that?” Julia asked nervously.
“Remember you invited your old friend, Angela…” Boris chuckled.
“Oh right… Angela…”
Julia opened the door to her stunning, perfume-wearing friend, hair freshly styled and glistening with snowflakes.
“Wow, you look amazing, friend.”
Angela lightly touched her cheek to Julia’s, handed her coat to the hostess, and breezed into the living room.
“Everyone, meet Angela,” Julia said in an unusually dull tone, noticing Boris’s expression change while Oliver straightened up…
All evening, Angelica was the center of attention, effortlessly managing any conversation, charming everyone with Julia’s childhood stories told at Julia’s expense.
Julia withdrew to the kitchen, tears stinging her eyes. What’s going on? The kitchen window led to the balcony, as did the large room’s door.
Julia stayed in the dark, leaning against the window, when she heard voices…
“So, darling, you’ve settled well,” she overheard her friend’s voice, “a three-bedroom flat, you said? And I’m stuck in a one-bedroom?”
Good for you, affording kids, decking out your plump little wife, and she even drives…
Where’s the money for the child? I want a nice big flat, too, just as good as your wife’s… Or else…
Julia couldn’t listen anymore. With a stony face, she returned to the large room where her friends were now entertaining the bored kids.
“Julia, what’s wrong? You look pale…”
“No, I’m fine… just felt a bit unwell from the wine… Where is everyone?”
“Boris went for a smoke, Angela too. Did you know she smokes?”
“I didn’t…”
Julia forced herself to be cheerful, but her mind raced. Her insides twisted, unwilling to sit still.
Boris and Angela returned, with Angela laughing even more, swirling her wine. Boris seemed… confused?
Everyone would leave soon… and he would leave too, Julia thought, already mentally preparing to say goodbye to her husband.
There was no doubt he and Angela were involved. How did it happen? He never stayed late at work, they were always open with each other, his phone, his computer…
Julia barely waited for everyone to leave, as her friends sensed the tension and began to leave.
But Angelica carried on laughing as if nothing happened.
Once the door was shut behind the guests, Julia sent the children to their room and sat down opposite Angela and her husband.
“So, lovebirds, when were you planning on telling me? I don’t understand you, Boris… If you’re so in love, why do you need me? What do I offer? My small salary? I haven’t brought you an inheritance. Stop torturing yourself, and pack for her. Angela, my flat getting under your skin? There’s a mortgage; take it. I’ll find a place for the kids and me.”
“You envied me as kids and still do? Take him, go on…”
Boris tried to speak, but Julia wouldn’t let him…
“Ha, broke your silence? Why would I need your nincompoop… He owes me, rather the child…”
“What child?”
“Julia, let me explain,” Boris attempted to approach his wife, but she stopped him.
“Boris, do you have a child with this…woman?”
“Boris, a child with her?” Angelica mocked Julia, laughing, “why are you silent?”
“I’ll explain everything, Julia.”
“Try, then I’ll explain… In fact, I’ll tell you now. Remember that summer after school? When you went with your family? Boris was delighted to spend nights with me and… naturally, I got pregnant…”
“Why?” Julia asked, tears in her eyes, “Why bother with me then?”
“She’s lying, Julia.”
I can’t recall a thing; it happened once, at Ruslan’s party, I tried moonshine for the first time.
She sat beside me, hung all evening, kept pouring me drinks… Not excusing myself, I’m responsible, but then she came a week later, claimed I… forced myself on her and now she’s…pregnant… said her mom wanted to file a case, but she loved me too much to do it… asked me to marry her.”
“I refused, she threatened, begged, cried, then said I’d regret it.”
I told her if the child was mine, I wouldn’t abandon them, to punish me if I was guilty.
She didn’t go anywhere; I urged her to report it; she refused… Offered to go to the hospital…
Then you went to study; I followed you, our parents moved; I lost her track…
Five years ago, when Michael was born, she showed up.
Demanding money for the son…
“And?”
“I gave her my bonuses, extra earnings, they increased my salary, I had to give it for the child, he’s innocent…”
“Of course,” Angela slyly said, enough was saved over time.
“That’s how, Julia… The child isn’t at fault.”
“What’s your son’s name?” Julia asked.
Boris and Angelica spoke… different names.
“Really? So is it Alexander or Alex, Angela?”
“He has a double name,” Angela began to backtrack.
“Did you ever see your son?”
“No, not in person, she sent photos, I filed them… I… a child… I wanted to continue supporting him…”
“Boris,” Julia softly inquired, “the file named ‘AAAA’?”
Boris blushed, nodded.
“Oh, I assumed you lost it, storing photos of some random child actor?” Angela? Manipulating this whole time?
“You’ve been sending edited photos of some child actor all this time while he paid you five years?”
“Goodbye, you fools. I got my revenge… Upon seeing Boris again, I hatched this plan… I thought it hadn’t worked before, I’d try now, and he swallowed the bait, idiot.”
“Wait,” Julia blocked her way, “you think you can just leave? You must return everything my husband’s given you, friend.”
“Oh, I’m leaving, just like that,” Angela smiled, “you’ve no evidence, he gave me money out of affection, not you, plain and dull.”
“In any court, I’ll prove we were lovers, that he just gifted me things. Accept it and appreciate it… friend.”
Angelica left silently.
Julia and Boris stayed silent for a long time.
“Why didn’t you speak up?”
“Afraid of losing you…”
“How foolish, Boris… modern guy, pregnancy right after a week? Come on…”
Boris shrugged.
“I swear Julia, no more secrets…”
I remind you to read this text carefully. If you think I’ve used an incorrect expression, if it seems impossible or outdated, if you disagree with my style or choices, which don’t apologize daily for errors…
We may not see eye to eye.
Spare me tales of your zestful life or style choices; I’m uninterested.
Trying to provoke anger or shame me won’t work.
I’m human, imperfect, not a pleaser for all.
Keep negative views of my shortcomings elsewhere.
This is my space; friends visit for good laughs.
Close the page, and quietly depart, critiquers of nonsense and mischief shall be banned.
And frankly, I won’t care about your disregard.
The exit is over there…
