Svetlana felt a rush of embarrassment flood over her; her temples pulsed, and her palms began to sweat. Her husband had been right all along—gathering the entire family around one table had been a mistake. It should have been a quiet celebration at home, but now it was too late, and she was left to deal with the consequences of her own naivety.
While dusting the top shelves of the cabinet, the phone rang. Svetlana quickly hopped off the stool and wiped her hands on her apron before answering.
“Hello!” she said brightly, seeing her husband’s work number on the display. “How’s everything?”
“Good, Svetik, but I don’t have much time,” Pavel’s voice crackled from the street. “My parents are coming to town, and they want to have dinner with us sometime soon. I’m running to grab some flowers, but I’ll stop by after work tonight. What do you think?”
“Well, sure, come by, I don’t mind…” Svetlana replied, trying to keep it light.
“No, dinner, Svet! Should we cook something?” her husband asked, cutting in.
“Maybe we should go to a café?” Svetlana suggested. “It was a bit spontaneous, and we still need groceries. The new set hasn’t come in yet, and we’ve already gotten rid of the old one. We can’t even set the table properly for your parents.”
“Right, right! I almost forgot. Good thing you called!” Pavel said.
“Always a pleasure,” Svetlana laughed.
“So, can you find a nice café? You know, somewhere decent with good food?” he asked.
“Of course, I’ll handle it,” Svetlana assured him, realizing he was in a rush and didn’t want to hold him up. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything.”
Although Svetlana and Pavel had been married for five years, she didn’t know his parents very well. They had only visited a few times—either staying with relatives or stopping by for tea. There wasn’t much to go on. Svetlana wasn’t particularly worried about their dinner plans. It would just be a casual get-together with some light conversation. Nothing to cause concern.
That evening, Pavel came home from meeting his parents, looking upbeat.
“Why are you so cheerful?” Svetlana asked, intrigued.
“Mom went for a check-up, and everything’s fine! You won’t believe what they’re planning! I’m so glad,” Pavel said as he poured himself a cup of tea.
“That’s great! Doctors can make such a fuss, but it’s good to hear she’s fine,” Svetlana replied.
“Yeah, and speaking of older folks,” Pavel added, munching on some cookies, “my relatives are joining us for dinner.”
Svetlana felt a flicker of unease. “I don’t really know anyone very well,” she said, her voice filled with uncertainty.
“You’ll get to know them. They’re all decent people. Besides, it’s just dinner. It’ll fly by,” Pavel said, holding a cookie above his cup of tea as though the evening would pass quickly.
“So, a table for four?” Svetlana asked.
“Five. My aunt’s niece is joining us too.”
“Wait, isn’t she the one you were supposed to marry?” Svetlana asked, her brow furrowing.
“Oh, that was a long time ago. Forget about it,” Pavel waved off her question, but Svetlana couldn’t shake the memory of the story.
Pavel had told her about his past. Before meeting Svetlana, his parents had tried to set him up with Nadya, a relative of his uncle’s wife. Svetlana had heard stories of Nadya—tall, blonde, with big blue eyes and a perfect figure. Svetlana had seen her in family photos and couldn’t help but feel a little threatened by her. When she’d asked Pavel why it hadn’t worked out, he told her that Nadya wasn’t to his taste—he preferred brunettes like Svetlana. Svetlana had been reassured at the time, but now, as she was about to sit down at the same table as this former rival, she was filled with a sense of anxiety. She wanted to look her best for the dinner.
The next day, Svetlana went to the café herself to check it out. She wanted to make sure everything was perfect, and she was determined to keep control of the situation.
But as she had lunch, she began to relax. The food was excellent, the waiters were friendly, and the ambiance was just right. The bill was even reasonable, considering the city’s standards. Svetlana confidently made the reservation for Saturday night, knowing that she still needed to get a manicure, dye her hair, and find the perfect dress. Time flew by as the weekend approached.
“Pash, are your parents taking a taxi?” Svetlana asked as she finished getting ready, adjusting her gold bracelet.
“No, they’re walking. Dad doesn’t like spending money on taxis, restaurants, or anything we consider normal here. He thinks it’s all luxury for the rich. He’s fine walking with Mom’s borscht,” Pavel called from another room.
“Good, because I was already worried,” Svetlana said, relieved.
“I brought up the budget for the café with Mom. She said to pick a place we like. They don’t come to town often, so they might go all out,” Pavel added.
Svetlana exhaled. “I’m glad you took care of that. Well, I’m ready.”
As Svetlana walked out to meet Pavel, he nearly dropped his cufflinks in surprise. The red dress she wore flattered her figure, and her dark curls fell just right, framing her face perfectly. Pavel had never seen her look so radiant and excited. She felt like she was going on a first date.
Despite arriving early, Svetlana and Pavel found the relatives already seated at the table: Pavel’s parents, Victoria Ivanovna and Gennady Andreevich; Uncle Misha; Aunt Olya; and Nadya.
Svetlana’s eyes immediately went to Nadya. She had expected to see the slender beauty from the past, but instead, Nadya now wore a tight dress that clung to some extra pounds. Her once perfect figure had changed, but she still looked confident as she greeted Pavel with a hug, clearly thrilled to see him. Nadya’s change was noticeable, but she was still the same woman Svetlana had feared.
“Pashenka, do you recognize me, kitty?” Nadya purred, her voice smoky and playful.
Svetlana stayed silent as the family exchanged greetings. Victoria Ivanovna gave an approving nod, while Uncle Misha and Aunt Olya eagerly hugged Pavel.
Svetlana kept her composure, but the awkwardness of the evening was beginning to sink in. Once everyone was seated, the relatives announced that they had already placed their orders. Svetlana and Pavel were expected to hurry because, according to Nadya, the service was “snail-paced.”
Svetlana ordered a warm salad, and Pavel chose pasta with mushrooms. The food arrived, but it seemed the relatives had already gone all out—ordering veal medallions, chef’s salmon, and sea scallops for Gennady Andreevich alone.
Svetlana could tell that Pavel’s parents were used to a more lavish lifestyle than she had imagined.
The group also ordered expensive wine and a decanter of premium vodka, while Svetlana and Pavel stuck to mineral water with lemon. This choice didn’t sit well with Uncle Misha, who complained loudly, “Well, suit yourselves, but it’s not very polite. We don’t see each other every day!”
Nadya, already tipsy, started dancing with Pavel, pulling at his tie. He tried to resist, but she wasn’t going to give up. Eventually, he relented, and they danced.
“Well, that would have been quite the couple,” Victoria Ivanovna said dreamily, “If things had worked out, he would have married Nadya.”
Svetlana knew all too well that she was the reason that didn’t happen, but she kept her feelings in check.
The rest of the evening was chaotic. Nadya clung to Pavel, clearly bothering him, while his parents complained about the food and the venue. Aunt Olya and Uncle Misha became louder and more boisterous after drinking.
Unable to take it anymore, Svetlana slammed her hand on the table and shouted, “The bill!”
The waiter rushed over, sensing the tension. Pavel picked up the folder and read the total—1,200 rubles, plus tip, bringing it to 1,500. He handed it over to Gennady Andreevich.
But his father wasn’t in a hurry to accept the bill. He had already put on his jacket and was preparing to leave.
“You pay the café bill yourselves,” Gennady Andreevich declared. “We didn’t like anything.”
Pavel was stunned. “But we agreed on ‘going all out.’ What about that?”
“It would’ve been great if we actually enjoyed it! But the food was awful, the service worse, and the place was dirty!” Gennady Andreevich continued.
Svetlana couldn’t stay silent anymore. “Then why did you eat so much? And drink the vodka?”
Pavel’s father glared at him. “We know how to live, don’t worry about us,” he snapped.
Svetlana looked at Pavel, who was now calmly staring at his father. He said, “You spent the whole evening complaining and praising Nadya. Nadya, no offense, but enough is enough! I’m married, and I’m happy with my life.”
He threw some money on the table, grabbed Svetlana’s hand, and said, “Let’s go, dear. I’m done here.”
Pavel’s parents never visited again. Even though they still came to town for business, they never asked to see him. Nadya, however, continued to try to impress Victoria Ivanovna with her cooking, hoping for a future with Pavel, but he was done with it all.