Anna carefully dried her hands on a soft towel, casting a satisfied glance at the arrangement of white roses she had just prepared for one of her loyal customers. Outside, a gentle October rain pattered down, mingling with the shop’s fragrant air—a blend she often described as the essence of freshness and vibrant life. Just three years prior, the intricate world of flowers was a mystery to her. She would never have imagined gaining in-depth knowledge about the diverse species, their longevity, or their delicate preferences for water and temperature.
The familiar sound of the door chime broke the calm, announcing a visitor. It was Mikhail, her husband, whose visits to the shop were rare as he usually preferred conducting matters by phone.
“Hello, how have you been?” he greeted her, placing a kiss on her cheek. Yet, beneath his words, Anna sensed an undercurrent of tension.
“Doing well. I’ve already sold the fifth bouquet today. By the way, Mrs. Kovalyova requested another centerpiece for her dining table; she claims our flowers outlast others by over a week,” Anna replied with a hopeful smile.
Mikhail responded with a distracted nod, appearing caught up in his own thoughts. Anna instantly recognized the expression—something weighed heavily on him. Across over a decade of marriage, she had become adept at interpreting his subtle cues: the slight furrow of his brow, the pressing of his lips, or his avoidance of eye contact before delivering difficult news.
“Anya, we need to have a serious conversation,” he said as he settled into a chair near the counter. “It’s about the shop.”
Anna’s heart skipped a beat. She placed the scissors down and gave him her full attention.
“What is it concerning the shop?”
“You understand it’s not exactly profitable. It brings in some revenue but falls short of making a real profit. We’ve been supporting it financially for three years now, but it still hasn’t broken even.”
“Misha, what exactly are you trying to say?” Her voice trembled slightly with anxiety.
He sighed, gazing out the display window. “Katya is facing difficulties. She divorced Igor, and he retained the apartment. She has no permanent place to stay, currently living temporarily with a friend.” He gathered courage before continuing, “We plan to sell your shop and buy her an apartment.”
Anna felt as though the ground had shifted beneath her feet. The words were spoken so matter-of-factly, almost like suggesting a simple errand.
“What?!” she exclaimed incredulously. “How can you suggest selling my shop just like that?”
“Anya, you need to be pragmatic. We’ve poured funds into this business for years without seeing returns. Katya is family, and she needs our support.”
“And what about me?” Her voice cracked with hurt. “Am I not your wife? This is not just a store — it’s my passion, my livelihood!”
“But it hasn’t been profitable!” Mikhail countered.
“It wasn’t, but it is now!” She motioned towards the cash register. “Look around; there are more visitors, more orders. I’m finally mastering this business.”
He stood up with a firm resolve. “Anna, I am not asking for your approval. The decision to sell the shop has been made.”
“No!” She struck the counter forcefully, causing petals to drift from the rose bouquet. “I refuse to allow this! This shop is mine!”
“The same shop I helped start — with my money!” Mikhail reminded her sharply.
The sting of those words hit Anna sharply. She felt a surge of pain and indignation.
“So, am I just an employee you can dismiss when inconvenient?”
“Don’t be absurd. Family comes first, not flowers. Katya is in urgent need.”
“And what about me? Don’t I deserve support too?” Her voice trembled as held-back tears threatened to fall. “Don’t I need my husband to believe in my dreams?”
Mikhail shrugged dismissively. “I have believed for three years. Isn’t that sufficient?”
Turning away towards the rain-speckled window, Anna whispered, “Leave. Just go.”
“Anya…”
“Leave!” she repeated firmly, her voice resolute enough to make him hesitate.
He lingered briefly then exited silently, his departure marked by the mournful chime of the bell.
Anna collapsed into a chair, allowing tears to fall freely. Each droplet carried the weight of sorrow and confusion. How could he dismiss three years of her dedication and dreams so lightly?
She recalled the beginnings of the shop. Mikhail had initially supported her idea, albeit with reservations. “Try,” he said cautiously, “but don’t be upset if it doesn’t work out.” She had persevered, educating herself about the trade, connecting with suppliers, honing bouquet-making skills, enduring exhausting fourteen-hour days.
The initial year overwhelmed her with challenges: spoiled flowers, sparse customers, uncertainty about storage. But she refused to surrender. Slowly, a clientele emerged, and she developed a keen intuition for the needs of her flowers.
And now, just as success seemed within reach, he threatened to dismantle it all — for Katya.
Anna disliked her husband’s sister, not openly, but with a silent unease. Katya was attractive, bright, and adept at drawing attention. Her comments often bore a thinly veiled envy: “Oh, Annushka, you have such a caring husband, a beautiful home, and now your own business!” Yet Anna always detected insincerity.
That evening at home, their conversation resumed with Mikhail returning from work in a somber mood.
“Have you reconsidered my proposal?” he asked without preliminary greetings.
“I have. My answer remains unchanged — no.”
“Anna, your stance is selfish.”
Turning from the stove where she prepared dinner, she retorted, “Selfish? I have devoted my soul to this shop for three years. You call me selfish for wanting to protect it?”
“Katya has nowhere to go.”
“Why should that be my responsibility? Let her earn, rent somewhere — like everyone else.”
“She’s my sister!”
“And I’m your wife!” Anna raised her voice. “Or was, perhaps…”
The room fell silent except for the sizzling pan.
“What do you mean by that?” Mikhail inquired.
“A husband should support his wife, not crush her dreams to favor his sister,” she declared, turning off the stove and facing him boldly.
“This isn’t a whim! She’s in real trouble!”
“So am I! My husband wants to take away the fruit of my hard work!”
“The fruit of your labor?” he scoffed. “You’ve been selling flowers for three years, don’t overstate things.”
Their final exchange left Anna feeling shattered.
“Leave the kitchen,” she instructed calmly but firmly, implying no debate was welcome.
The ensuing days were marked by silent tensions. They communicated only when necessary, slept apart, and avoided meeting eyes. Anna sensed their twelve-year marriage fracturing but felt powerless to act.
Immersing herself in her shop brought solace. Flowers never betray or cause such pain; they simply exist to bring beauty during their brief lives.
On Thursday, Marina, the owner of the neighboring beauty salon, stopped by. Over coffee, she noticed Anna’s gloominess.
“Anya, you look down. Anything you want to share?” she asked gently.
“Family troubles,” Anna admitted with a sigh.
“Talk to me.”
After a pause, Anna confided, “Misha wants to sell the shop.”
“What? Why?”
“To help his sister. She divorced and needs a place to live.”
Marina shook her head in disbelief. “Can’t she earn for herself?”
“Maybe. But apparently, it’s easier to rely on her brother.”
Leaning closer, Marina whispered, “Anya, didn’t I tell you I saw your husband with some woman in a café?”
Anna tensed. “You did? And?”
“What if it was Katya? Could they be scheming?”
“Scheming what?”
“Maybe it’s more than just getting her a home. Perhaps they’re planning to divide assets in case of a divorce.”
Anna’s heart raced.
“Marina, that’s ridiculous.”
“But think about it — why sell your shop? You also have a country house, a car, other possessions.”
- They have a rarely used country house near Moscow.
- A second car parked in the garage.
- Other assets untouched.
“Why pick the flower shop?”
“Maybe Katya convinced him somehow,” Marina speculated. “Maybe she feels you don’t appreciate him enough.”
“Why would she think that?”
“Envy is a powerful emotion. She might resent the life you have.”
That night, Anna lay awake, Marina’s words swirling in her mind. Was Katya deliberately trying to turn Mikhail against her?
The following day, Anna contacted Lena, a friend common to both her and Katya.
“Lena, hi! How are you?”
“Oh, Anya! All good, working as usual. What about you?”
“Family troubles… Have you heard Katya say anything about me?”
There was a moment’s hesitation on the other end.
“Did something happen?”
“Just wondering.”
“Anya, better to ask Katya yourself.”
“Please, it’s important.”
After a pause and a sigh, Lena revealed, “She said you don’t appreciate Mikhail and spend too much time at the shop instead of caring for the family.”
“Anything else?”
“She suspects you’re seeing someone else. A man. That you stay late and go out in the evenings.”
Anna’s blood rushed to her head.
“Lena, that’s absolute nonsense! I only go between the shop and home!”
“I know, Anya. I told her so. But she insisted on ‘opening Mikhail’s eyes.’”
“She claims you’re lying and cheating, and he should divorce you before you take everything.”
Anna sank into her chair, realization settling like a stone in her chest. Katya was actively working to alienate Mikhail, spreading falsehoods to sabotage her.
“Thank you for telling me, Lena.”
“Anya, just be careful. Maybe it’s not true.”
“No, it’s clear now.”
Anna sat lost in thought. Katya had orchestrated a cunning plot: eliminate her and seize the apartment.
That evening, waiting for Mikhail’s return, Anna announced, “We need to talk.”
“About the shop? Have you changed your mind?” he asked, frowning.
“No. About your sister.”
He looked curious. “What about her?”
“What she told you about me is false.”
“What do you mean?”
“The rumors of me having an affair, that I don’t appreciate you, that I’m a bad wife — none of it is true.”
Mikhail’s expression shifted.
“How do you know what was said?”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is it’s all lies. You have to see that.”
“Katya wouldn’t lie…”
“She’s jealous,” Anna looked him in the eye. “She envies my happy marriage, my own business, and she wants to destroy everything.”
“That’s nonsense.”
“Then why sell my shop? We have other assets: a country house, your investments, a car.”
He opened his mouth but found no reply.
“She wants you to leave me with nothing,” Anna continued. “So after a divorce, the apartment will be hers.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“It’s the truth. And deep down, you know it.”
Mikhail remained silent, doubt evident in his eyes.
“Even if it were true,” he finally said, “Katya still needs assistance.”
“Help her in other ways. Sell the dacha, lend her money, but leave my shop intact.”
“It doesn’t make money…”
“It does!” Anna extracted a notebook from her bag. “Here, see for yourself. The past three months’ net profit equals two hundred thousand, and it’s rising.”
Mikhail flipped through the pages.
“Where did you get these numbers?”
“From learning how to run the shop well. Regular clients, corporate orders. I’m even planning a second location.”
“A second one?”
“Yes. A shop space is opening on Sovetskaya Street with higher foot traffic, which should boost profits.”
He slowly closed the notebook.
“Why didn’t you show me this before?”
“Because you weren’t interested. You’d decided the shop was a failure and refused to listen.”
He sighed deeply.
“Maybe you’re right.”
“Not maybe. I am.”
The following day, Mikhail visited his sister. Anna didn’t know the details of their conversation, but he returned looking downcast.
“You were right,” he admitted, sitting opposite her. “Katya told me all sorts of lies about you.”
“And?”
“I told her I won’t support her financially anymore. She has to solve her own problems.”
Relief washed over Anna, but resentment lingered.
“And my shop?”
“It remains yours. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry isn’t enough. You almost destroyed my life.”
“I know, and I aim to make amends.”
“How?”
He considered and replied, “I will help you with the new shop, if you want.”
Anna smiled, true happiness returning after a long time.
“I want that — very much.”
A month later, Anna opened the new shop on Sovetskaya Street. She worked mornings there and afternoons at her original store. Business exceeded her expectations. Mikhail contributed by bringing clients from his ventures and advising on finance.
Katya ceased her visits and calls. Anna later learned she found employment and rented her own apartment. Perhaps fate had settled the matter fairly—everyone receiving what they deserved.
As she closed the shop one evening, Anna admired the display of white chrysanthemums mingled with yellow roses. Their sunny hues brightened even this damp, gloomy day.
Three years ago, she could not distinguish a chrysanthemum from an aster. Now, she dreamed of expanding her business into a chain of shops.
Mikhail approached quietly, as pledged.
“How’s everything going?” he asked, planting a kiss on her cheek.
“Great. Today, I sold more arrangements than last week combined.”
“Fantastic. I found a location for a third shop.”
“A third?” Anna asked, surprised. “I haven’t even fully settled the second one!”
“I’m already thinking about franchising,” he smiled.
She laughed — a genuine, joyful sound that had been rare lately.
“Let’s master managing two first, then we’ll consider more.”
“As you wish, boss.”
Stepping outside, the rain stopped, and sunlight broke through. Anna reflected that life, like flowers, demands patience and unwavering faith. One must persevere, even when things seem bleak. Often, the most exquisite blossoms emerge after the stormiest weather.
Key Insight: Patience, resilience, and belief in one’s dreams can overcome even the darkest challenges, enabling growth and unexpected success.
In conclusion, Anna’s journey is a testament to dedication in the face of adversity. Despite personal and family conflicts threatening to uproot her aspirations, she remained steadfast. Her story illustrates how determination combined with support and clarity can nurture fresh beginnings and revive hope.