Andrei wasn’t a very good liar. As he packed his suitcase in the bedroom, he tried to avoid the gaze of Marina, the woman he had lived with for almost ten years.
‘A conference, a whole week,’ said Marina, leaning against the doorframe. “And, of course, in Sochi, just when everyone else is on holiday.
‘Well,’ Andrey muttered, hiding his swimming trunks under a stack of shirts. ‘The company is covering all the expenses, it would be strange to refuse.’
‘Is your colleague Vika going too?’ There was no question in Marina’s voice, but rather a weary statement.
Andrei hesitated for a moment, then continued packing as if nothing had happened.
‘Yes. She’s in charge of the presentation. Work is work.’
‘Of course,’ Marina replied, crossing her arms over her chest. ‘Just like at last year’s corporate party, when you “worked” until four in the morning.’
‘Are you starting again?’ Andrei slammed his suitcase shut. ‘I explained everything then. It was an important project.’
‘The project for which she made you delete all the messages from your phone?’
Andrei put his bag on the bed and finally met his wife’s gaze.
‘I’m not going to discuss this. The plane leaves in three hours.’
‘Say hello to your “colleague”,’ said Marina and moved away from the doorway, letting him pass. ‘Have a good rest.’
Andrei muttered something and hurried to the door.
Marina stood alone in the middle of the bedroom for a long time, looking at the family photo on the bedside table. Then she decisively picked up the phone and started looking for the number of someone who could help her.
Mid-June in Sochi: the water was a pleasant temperature, the waves were gentle. Andrei lay under an umbrella and watched Vika swimming in the sea. Her tanned body glistened in the sun and attracted the attention of other holidaymakers.
‘Come here!’ she called, waving her hand. ‘The water is just wonderful!’
‘What are you thinking about?’ Vika asked, swimming closer and hugging him around the neck. ‘Don’t tell me it’s about work.’
‘No, it’s just… I forgot to send the report before I left.’
‘Liar,’ Vika smiled and kissed him lightly on the cheek. ‘You’re thinking about your wife, aren’t you?’
Andrei frowned.
‘We agreed not to bring that up here.’
“All right, fine,‘ Vika calmed down. ’Maybe we should swim to the buoys?”
In the evening, they had dinner at a restaurant overlooking the sea. Vika was wearing a new dress she had bought the day before at a boutique on the waterfront. Andrei watched as the setting sun gilded her skin and found her beautiful. But something continued to bother him.
‘Shall we go to the mountains tomorrow?’ Vika asked, sipping her wine. ‘I want to take some nice photos for social media.’
‘Of course,’ Andrei nodded. ‘We’ll buy a couple of souvenirs at the same time.’
‘Does Marina like souvenirs?’ Vika asked childishly.
Andrei grimaced.
‘I asked you not to bring that up.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Vika, placing her hand on his. ‘But sooner or later you’ll have to resolve this situation. We can’t hide forever.’
‘I know,’ replied Andrey gloomily. ‘I’ll talk to her after the holiday.’
‘Really?’ Vika’s eyes lit up with hope. ‘Promise me.’
‘I promise.’
The week flew by quickly. They swam, sunbathed, went on excursions, ate seafood in good restaurants, and spent passionate nights in their hotel room. Andrei almost stopped thinking about home and what awaited him there. Almost.
On the day of departure, Vika hugged him at the airport.
‘Don’t forget your promise,’ she said quietly, touching his lips with hers. ‘I’ll wait for your call.’
‘I know,’ Andrey muttered, letting her go with difficulty. ‘I’ll call as soon as I talk to her.’
They had bought tickets for different flights — a precautionary measure.
On the plane, Andrei ordered whisky and thought about what he would say to his wife. After ten years of marriage, their relationship seemed like that of strangers.
Late in the evening, the taxi stopped at his flat. After paying, the driver left, and Andrei froze for a moment, looking through the windows into his flat. The light was on in the living room. Marina was still awake. He sighed deeply and walked to the door.
The door opened silently. He put his suitcase in the hallway and listened. Soft music and voices came from the living room.
‘The TV,’ he thought, and took off his shoes, heading in that direction.
What he saw made him stop dead in his tracks. In the centre of the living room stood a festively laid table with champagne and a cake decorated with a candle in the shape of the number ‘10’.
Marina was sitting on the sofa — but she wasn’t alone. Standing next to her was a tall blond man whom Andrei had never seen before. They were laughing, and the stranger’s hand was resting on Marina’s shoulder.
‘Wh… what’s going on here?’ Andrei asked hoarsely and took a step into the room.
Marina flinched and turned to him.
‘Andrei? Are you back already?’ She looked at her watch in surprise. ‘We weren’t expecting you for another two hours.’
‘We?’ Andrei looked from his wife to the stranger. ‘Who is this?’
The blond man stood up and smiled, extending his hand.
‘Alexei. Pleased to meet you.’
Andrei ignored the hand.
‘Marina, what’s going on here? What’s the celebration?’
‘Have you forgotten?’ Marina asked in surprise. ‘Today is our tenth wedding anniversary.’
Andrei felt the ground slipping away beneath his feet. It was their anniversary. He had completely forgotten — and worse, he had spent the week with another woman, planning their divorce.
‘And you decided to celebrate it with… with him?’ He nodded towards Alexei, who was smiling calmly.
‘Oh, don’t worry,’ Alexei said and sat back down on the sofa. ‘I’m only here for work.’
‘For work?’ Andrei clenched his fists. ‘In my house? In the evening? With champagne?’
‘He’s an interior designer,’ Marina explained calmly. ‘I wanted to renovate while you were away. It’s a surprise for our anniversary.’
‘In one room? In a week?’ Andrei asked incredulously.
‘Not just the living room,’ Marina stood up and motioned for him to follow her. ‘Come on, I’ll show you the rest.’
As if in a fog, Andrei followed his wife. The bedroom had undergone just as many changes: new wallpaper, a new bed, lamps, paintings on the walls.
‘This is…’ He was at a loss for words.
‘Do you like it?’ Marina asked hopefully. ‘I’ve wanted to change something for a long time. I think the conference was the perfect time.’
Andrei noticed how she emphasised the word ‘conference’ and inwardly shuddered.
‘Very… unexpected,’ he finally said.
‘That’s not all,’ Marina opened the door to the next room, which used to be his study.
Andrei stopped at the threshold, as if paralysed. The room had been completely transformed into a nursery: blue walls, a small cot, toys.
‘What is this?’ he muttered.
Marina hugged herself, suddenly feeling very vulnerable.
‘I wanted to tell you about our anniversary. I’m pregnant, Andrei. Fourteen weeks.’
Time seemed to stand still. Andrei looked at his wife, at her slightly rounded belly, which for some reason he hadn’t noticed right away, at the cot, at the teddy bear on the shelf.
‘Pregnant?’ The word sounded foreign. ‘But we…’
‘Do you remember the night before your business trip to Novosibirsk?’ Marina smiled weakly. ‘We were a little drunk.’
Andrei remembered — three months ago. A rare moment of intimacy in their relationship, which by that time had already begun to fade.
‘Why didn’t you tell me earlier?’
‘I wanted to be sure. I was waiting for the right moment,’ Marina shrugged. ‘And then you announced your “conference” with Vika.’
Andrei turned pale.
‘You knew?’
‘Of course,’ Marina said and looked him firmly in the eyes. ‘I’m not stupid, Andrei. But I wanted to give it a chance. A chance for all of us.’
She put her hand on her stomach, and this simple gesture made the situation palpable. They were going to have a baby. Their baby.
‘Marina, I…’ He was at a loss for words.
‘Don’t say anything,’ she gently interrupted. ‘Go to the living room. Alexei was just about to leave. We’ll have some champagne and… talk.’
Andrei nodded and left the nursery. In the living room, Alexei was already packing his things.
‘Happy anniversary,’ he muttered, shaking hands with Andrey, who was still in shock. ‘And congratulations on the new addition. Your wife is an amazing woman.’
‘Yes,’ Andrey said hoarsely. ‘Thank you.’
When the designer left, Marina returned with two glasses. One was filled with champagne, the other with something that looked like juice.
‘To us?’ Marina held out her glass.
He took it, but couldn’t raise it for a toast.
‘Marina, I need to tell you something.’
‘I know,’ she replied calmly. ‘About Vika, your relationship, about you wanting to leave.’
He looked at her in surprise.
‘Where…’
‘Your phone died before you left, remember? You took my old one to call a taxi, logged in with your account and didn’t log out. All your messages came to me. Every single one.’
Andrei felt his face go pale. All the correspondence with Vika, plans for the future, promises of divorce…
‘Marina, I don’t know what to say.’
‘Don’t say anything,’ she said, coming close to him. ‘Just answer one question: do you love her?’
Andrei opened and closed his mouth. He thought he loved her. He had been sure of it all week. But now, standing here, looking at his wife, their renovated house, and knowing about the child…
‘I don’t know,’ he replied honestly. ‘I’m confused.’
Marina nodded, as if she had expected just that.
‘All right,’ she said, taking his untouched glass and placing it next to hers. ‘I’ll give you a week. Pack your things and stay with friends, parents, or in a hotel — wherever you want. Think about everything: about us, about the baby, and about your feelings. Come back in a week and tell me what you’ve decided.’
‘What if I decide to leave?’ Andrei asked quietly.
Marina closed her eyes for a moment, and it was clear how difficult it was for her.
‘Then I’ll let you go. And I’ll be grateful for your honesty.’
Conclusion
This story is about the complexity of choice, love and responsibility. Andrei faces an important decision: whether to preserve his family or start a new life. We all have moments of doubt, but human strength lies in finding the way forward and making the right decision.
