Marina found herself standing amidst a vacant room, inhaling the scent of aged wallpaper mixed with dust. Her mother’s apartment felt both familiar and foreign simultaneously — the same worn parquet floors and high ceilings adorned with molding, yet absent were her mother’s belongings and the comforting sound of her voice echoing from the kitchen. The space seemed to have lost its very soul.
“Well, have you decided yet?” Alexey leaned against the doorframe, arms folded. “Will you hire a designer or handle it yourself?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Marina brushed her hand over the dusty windowsill. “Maybe just freshen up the walls and update the plumbing at first. It should be fine for renting out as is.”
Alexey remained silent, gazing at the peeling ceiling paint with an expression that revealed more than mere exhaustion from endless renovation talks.
“Lyosha, what’s on your mind?” Marina turned toward her husband. Over their fifteen years together, she’d learned to detect his moods in the slightest gestures — how he held his shoulders, or avoided eye contact.
“Just thinking,” he sighed and moved from the door to sit on the windowsill. “You know, Olya’s about to turn forty soon.”
“Yes, I already picked her gift: a beautiful throw and a spa certificate.”
“Marina, what if…” Alexey hesitated, carefully choosing his words. “What if we gave her something more… substantial?”
“What exactly are you suggesting?” Marina’s chest tightened at the tone in his voice that signaled an unwelcome conversation ahead.
“Think about it. She’s forty, raising her child alone, living with her mom in a two-room apartment. Misha’s twelve now and needs his own space. And here’s this opportunity…”
“Lyosha,” Marina’s voice grew cautious, “say it plainly.”
“Let’s gift my sister your mom’s apartment. You’ve got somewhere to live anyway.”
The words hung in the air like a cold mist, making Marina feel the ground shift beneath her feet.
“Are you serious?”
“Absolutely serious. Logically, the apartment only brings us income, but Olya needs a home. She has a son growing up and deserves her own place. We’re not struggling.”
Slowly, Marina sank onto an old stool that remained from her mother’s kitchen. Thoughts swirled, all crashing against one undeniable truth: her husband was proposing to give away her mother’s inheritance.
“Lyosha, this apartment was left to me by my mother. Not to us — to me.”
“So what? We’re family. My sister is family too.”
“Family, yes, but not my mother’s daughter!” Marina’s voice quivered. “Mom worked two jobs and sacrificed so much to secure this apartment—for me as a safety net.”
“Safety net?” Alexey stood abruptly, a metallic edge creeping into his tone. “We already have our apartment and good jobs. What more safety net? But Olya really does need help.”
“Let Olya solve her own problems! Why should I give up my inheritance for her?”
“Because she’s family! She has a child; you don’t! She’s got nowhere to go, and you can afford generosity!”
Key Insight: The mention of children struck Marina like a slap, touching the most sensitive subject since she and Alexey had tried for years unsuccessfully to have their own.
“So that’s it!” Marina jumped up. “No children means no right to inheritance? Because I couldn’t give birth to my cousin’s nephew, I should hand the apartment to his mom?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Exactly that!” Tears welled up as she declared, “You believe Olya’s rights are more important simply because she has a son and I don’t.”
“Marina, calm down. I just want fairness.”
“Fair? It would be fair if Olya took care of her own future rather than depending on relatives’ charity.”
“Charity?” Alexey grew angry. “She’s my sister! Raising a child alone, working herself to the bone.”
“So now everyone must help her? I work too, and we spent thirteen years paying off a mortgage, sacrificing vacations and purchases. And now, when I could earn extra income, you want to give it away to her?”
Alexey paced, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration.
“You sound like a possessive owner.”
“I am! It’s MY apartment—MY inheritance!” Marina’s emotions boiled. “And until you start handing out my property freely, I’ll be hiring a construction crew. Renovations start next month.”
As she headed toward the door, Alexey blocked her way.
“We’re not done talking.”
“We are. I’ve said all I feel.”
“Marina, be reasonable. Think beyond yourself.”
“I am thinking about us—our future. Renting this apartment will bring thirty to forty thousand rubles monthly. We could save more, travel, live better.”
“But doesn’t Olya deserve a better life too?”
“She does, but she should earn it herself, not at my expense.”
Alexey stepped aside and Marina slipped past him, pausing in the hallway.
“Lyosha, next time before deciding the fate of my inheritance, consult me first. Otherwise, it feels like you’ve already made up your mind, and I’m just supposed to agree.”
The apartment door closed with a heavy thud.
For the next two weeks, thick tension filled the house, oppressive like the heaviness before a storm. Marina and Alexey spoke only about trivial matters—shopping errands or picking up clothes from the dry cleaner. Every dinner was punctuated by an awkward silence, broken only by the television’s background noise.
Meanwhile, Marina found a construction team and ordered materials. Though Alexey pretended indifference, she caught subtle signs of irritation whenever she spoke to the foreman or flipped through tile catalogs.
During a visit to his mother, Alexey asked, “Did you hear what Marina plans to do?”
Galina Mikhailovna, a practical and straightforward woman, listened carefully while occasionally glancing at her silent daughter-in-law.
“Lyosha, have you thought about how Olya might feel?” she finally asked. “Maybe she doesn’t want your gifts.”
“Mom, she has no choice. She needs housing.”
“Everyone has a choice, son. Marina is right—this is her inheritance. If my mother left me an apartment, I’d think twice before giving it away to strangers.”
Alexey looked surprised, expecting support.
“But Olya is really struggling…”
“Yes, she struggles. But that doesn’t mean all relatives must solve her problems. She has hands, a mind, a profession. She should work.”
Marina cast a grateful glance at her mother-in-law, who had always treated her fairly during the marriage without favoritism.
“Mom, you don’t understand…”
“I understand more than you think,” Galina interrupted. “I know you want to help your sister. That’s admirable. But not at someone else’s expense.”
On the way home, the couple remained silent until Alexey parked near their building. Then Marina whispered:
“Your mother is a wise woman.”
“She doesn’t know all the facts,” Alexey muttered.
“She knows enough to see you’re wrong.”
The birthday party for Olga was held at a nearby café. Family gathered: the celebrant with her son Misha, Galina Mikhailovna, Marina with Alexey, and several of Olga’s friends from work.
Olya appeared tired but content. Turning forty often prompts reflection, and she seemed pleased with her achievements. Her bank job offered stability, even if the pay wasn’t high. Misha was a smart, well-behaved boy. Her mother supported both with her grandson and household chores.
“You know, Olechka,” a friend toasted with champagne, “I truly admire you. Not every woman could handle what you have.”
“It’s nothing special,” Olya waved a hand. “Just living life.”
“What’s special is that you didn’t break down,” the friend continued. “Many give up after divorce, but you raised your son, work, and look great.”
Olya smiled shyly. Marina observed her sister-in-law and marveled at how life had unfolded. Olya was indeed managing well, self-reliant even without luxury. So why did Alexey assume she needed help?
As the evening wore on and champagne flowed, Alexey suddenly spoke:
“Olya, I wanted to give you something special, not just a gift…” He glanced at Marina, whose heart sank. “Real support. Marina has an apartment inherited from her mother. I suggested giving it to you, but…” He sighed heavily. “My wife disagreed.”
A heavy silence fell. All eyes flickered between Alexey and Marina. Olya paled.
“Lyosha, what are you doing?” Marina whispered.
“I’m telling the truth. Olya should know she has a brother willing to help.”
Olya slowly placed her glass on the table, her eyes filled with confusion, shame, and something else.
“Lyosha,” she began quietly, “have you lost your mind?”
“What?”
“You sit here telling everyone you wanted to give me someone else’s apartment? Making your wife look bad in public?”
“I’m not trying to embarrass her, I just…”
“Enough!” Olya’s raised voice turned heads from nearby tables. “Stop it, now!”
She stood, sat beside Marina, and said gently, “Marinka, dear, please forgive him. He’s a complete fool.”
Marina felt her hands trembling; public airing of family issues was a nightmare.
“Olya, it’s not your fault…”
“Of course not. And neither is yours. The blame is on this so-called benefactor.”
Turning to her brother she said, “Do you even realize what you’re doing? First, this apartment belongs to Marina, not you. You have no right to decide its fate. Second, who asked you to rescue me?”
“But Olya, life is hard for you…”
“I’m fine!” she slammed her fist on the table. “I have a job, a roof over my head, and a mother helping with Misha. I don’t need your charity!”
Misha, quietly playing with a tablet nearby, looked up:
“Mom, what’s going on?”
“Nothing, dear. Uncle Lyosha just said something silly.”
Olya sat again, holding her son’s hand.
“Mish, do you like living with Grandma?”
“Yes!” the boy nodded. “Grandma cooks yummy food and helps me with math.”
“See?” Olya faced Alexey. “We’re happy. Misha grows up surrounded by love, has his own room and friends nearby. Why would I need someone else’s apartment?”
“But it’s family property…”
“Lyosha, stop it!” Galina Mikhailovna interrupted. “I’ve already told you at home: don’t meddle in others’ affairs.”
“Mom, but—”
“No ‘buts’! Olya is right. Marina is right. And you’re acting like a fool.”
She hugged her daughter-in-law.
“Marinochka, forgive him. Sometimes men think they know what’s best for everyone.”
Marina felt a weight lift. Family backing meant a lot.
“Olya,” she whispered, “I’m not selfish. This is just all that’s left from my mother.”
“Of course you’re not,” Olya squeezed her hand. “You have every right to use your inheritance as you wish. Rent it out, live there, sell it—your choice.”
“But if you ever need help…”
“I’ll ask. I promise I will. But first, I’ll try to manage alone, okay?”
Marina nodded, tears welling.
Alexey sat red-faced, realizing he’d made a fool of himself. His attempt to appear generous had backfired publicly.
“Lyosha,” Olya looked at her brother sadly, “I love you. But next time before interfering in my life, ask if I want your help. Deal?”
He nodded without looking up.
The drive home was quiet until Alexey finally said, “Forgive me.”
Marina stared out the window at passing houses.
“For what exactly?”
“For everything. For deciding for you. For airing our private matters. For reproaching you about children.”
She turned to him. His weary profile expressed regret.
“Lyosha, you know I wouldn’t mind helping Olya if she truly needed it.”
“Now I understand that.”
“But it hurt that you didn’t talk to me first. Like my opinion didn’t matter.”
“It matters. Very much. I was a fool.”
Marina reached out, touching his shoulder.
“You know what surprised me most today?”
“What?”
“How Olya reacted. She wasn’t offended or demanding the apartment. Instead, she defended my right to it.”
“She’s a strong woman.”
“And independent. Maybe it’s time to stop seeing her as helpless?”
Alexey nodded.
They arrived home calmer. At the stairwell, Marina paused.
“Lyosha, I’ve made a decision.”
“What?”
“Once the renovation is done and I start renting out the apartment, I’ll save part of the income in a special account. For family members who might truly need help—Olya, Misha, your mother, my relatives.”
Alexey smiled.
“That’s a good plan.”
“But decisions about who and when to help will be ours, together. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
Outside, the April day was dying down. The apartment felt warm and cozy. Tomorrow, renovations in Marina’s mother’s apartment would begin, bringing fresh responsibilities and challenges. Yet tonight, for the first time in a long while, Marina felt grounded, standing firmly on her own land—her own.
This story reveals the complexities that can arise when family, inheritance, and differing perspectives intersect. While generosity and support are vital, respecting boundaries and communication are equally important to maintaining harmony. Navigating these sensitive matters with empathy and openness can help families find solutions that honor everyone’s needs and feelings.