My mother-in-law, making me hating eyes, hissed: "I've brought my husband! Look, you jump! Will end with ... "- I did not hear the continuation of the phrase: after throwing a jacket, I jumped after Kolya. Going down the porch, I saw our car leaving the gate. She rushed after her in the hope that my husband would notice me and take me with him. It was simply unbearable to be alone now with my mother-in-law. Running out into the street, I realized that I was late: the car, rushing at full speed, was already far away. Frustrated that I could not catch up with Kolya, I was about to return to the house, when suddenly ... The brakes squealed, the sound of a blow and the sound of broken glass was heard ... I remember screaming terribly, and then everything happened like in a slow-motion shot : people jumped out of the houses and ran to the scene of the accident, and I stood still, holding the gate, and could not tear my gaze from the twisted pile of metal that was recently our car.
There, inside, was my husband. Everything swam before my eyes. There was a dull noise in my ears, as if huge rattling drums surrounded me from all sides. And then everything disappeared: I lost consciousness ... I woke up from the fact that someone slapped me lightly on the cheeks. I opened my eyes and saw above myself the vague contours of someone's faces. The man who helped me to get up, hastened to reassure: "Your husband is alive. His "ambulance" took him to the ambulance. I can take you there - I'm in a car. " The hospital met me with silence, the smell of bleach and endless whiteness. I wandered for a long time along the long empty corridors. The department seemed to die out ... Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. Turned around and saw the doctor.
- Hello. My husband got into an accident today, I was told that he is in this department. I do not know who could tell me what happened to him ...
"What's your name?"
- Malik. Nikolay Malik. About two hours ago the ambulance brought him.
"He's alive," the doctor said, "but he was brought in unconscious, and he still did not come to himself." Your husband has a very violent concussion, his arm and multiple cuts are broken. He was stitched, and everything will be fine with his hand. But the head injury worries me. We did an x-ray, there's no hematoma there ... The cardiogram is fine too. But it is not known how long the coma will last and what the consequences will be.
Now I will take you to the ward where your husband lies. Talk, hold your hand. Let him know that he has someone to return to. We did everything we could, and now medicine ends and human faith begins ... I sat next to Kolya until the morning. I stroked his hand and told how I was worried about him and how I want everything bad to be behind. Before leaving, she bent down, touched his cheek with her lips and whispered: "I love you, come back soon!" And it seemed to me that Colin's eyelids trembled. I left, taking hope in my heart. ... There was silence in the house. I looked in the kitchen and saw: my mother-in-law is sitting at the table in the same position in which I left her in the evening, running after her husband. She stumbled into her eyes full of hatred and a chill ran down her back: for a moment it seemed that there had not been an accident and that terrible night, and for Kolya the door had just slammed shut .... Unfortunately, it was just an illusion. But now my mother-in-law's accusation did not accuse me of bringing my husband to a nervous breakdown, but of the fact that because of me this misfortune had happened to him. I tried to tell Kolya my mother everything that I learned in the hospital. But she interrupted me with an imperious gesture.
- Do not bother. I spoke on the phone with my doctor. - She got up heavily and went out, and I stayed sitting with my head in my hands and swallowing my tears. When I hurried home, for some reason I was absolutely sure that the common misfortune would force my mother-in-law to end the hidden war that she had been waging against me for the whole year. A year ago, as Colia's wife, I crossed the threshold of this house, built before the war. On the walls and on the shelves there were many photographs in beautiful carved frames. Looking at them, I noticed that on many of them - a young attractive woman and two cute kids. On one of the photos next to them I saw Kolya smiling and realized that this woman was his first wife Marina. They parted four years ago. I did not know the reasons for the rupture. To my questions Kolya vaguely replied: "It did not work out ..." At that time I did not expect that I would have a long rivalry with the spirit of Marina, who lived in this house. Her mother-in-law created the cult of the former daughter-in-law and jealously guarded the memory of her. For me there was no place, I constantly felt like a stranger, trying not to get caught once again by Colina Mama's eyes.
For the same reason, I conceded to my mother-in-law at every step and patiently endured her mocking tone. But sometimes the grievance turned out to be so strong that I stopped restraining myself, and then we had a violent quarrel between us. Kolya usually tried to reconcile the warring sides. But his peacekeeping mission often ended in failure, and then he left home to wait out a "storm" in the courtyard or calm his nerves by driving around the city. This habit led to tragedy. I sat motionless in the kitchen when my mother-in-law came in again, put the phone brought from the living-room on the table, turned on the answering machine. "Hello, Nick," I heard a woman's voice. "I could not reach you on the mobile, so I'm calling home." Do you remember that you asked the children to spend this winter vacation with you? I decided that this is a good idea, and Lisa and Andrey miss you very much. I'll bring them tomorrow. The train comes to you at one o'clock in the afternoon, eight cars. " "Again she, everywhere she ... - I thought with longing. "Even in such a difficult period, as luck would have it, it again reminds us of its existence ..." She looked at her mother-in-law. "Marina called when a neighbor came running and said she was with Kolya ..." she stretched out and added in a dull voice: "It's because of you that I lost my grandchildren."
I almost choked with such injustice: "Mom, what are you talking about? After all, Kolya and I met after his divorce from Marina. How much can I make a scapegoat out of me? "- broke into a scream. I expected that another tub of mud would pour on me, but ... My mother-in-law was sitting, nervously biting her lips, and tears appeared in her eyes. It was so unlike her that I was taken aback. Without looking at me, Colin Mom said: "Before, this house was full of life. Andryusha was born, and a year later Lizochka. They were so funny! Lisa followed me with a tail: I went to the toilet, and she was under the door ... "Grandma, come out!" And Andrei is a robber. If it calmed down, then he thought up some sort of school ... I thought ... I dreamed that Kolya and Marina would reconcile, and everything will be the same. And then you appeared, and all my hopes went to ruin ... Dina Sergeyevna covered her face with her hands. And I sat and watched as tears flowed from under her hands and flowed with clear streams of tears.
For a year, this strong woman with a hard and secretive character was the source of my torment, and now, opening her soul a little, suddenly awakened my feeling of aching pity.
- Mom, do not cry. It's hard for us both now. It's good that Marina decided to bring the children on vacation, they will revive this house a little. I'm going to the station now and bring them here ... Yes, and more ... Do not tell your grandchildren that there was a misfortune with their father. Let's say that Kolya had to go on a business trip urgently. Let the children rejoice in the New Year. Her mother-in-law took her hands from her face and looked at me with hope.
"Are you really going to the train station and bringing the children?"
- Of course. Do you want me to invite Marina to spend the holidays with us? The weeping face of my mother-in-law beamed.
- Anechka, what a fine fellow you are, how well you thought up ... If only Marina would agree. Oh, "she said, clasping her hands," there's nothing to feed them. I'll cook lunch now. What do you think, rassolnik and pancakes with cottage cheese - normal? Lizonka loves them. And we will open the compote of peaches, yes?
"Great, Mom." I went, or already half past twelve, I'm afraid of being late. I rushed into the waiting room at the beginning of the second. It was almost empty, and I immediately recognized in the woman nervously measuring the passage between the benches, Marina. And two children, nestled on one of the shops, looked.
I approached Marina: "Hello, my name is Anna, I'm Colin's wife ..." The woman raised her eyebrows in puzzlement.
- And where is Kolya? Is he so busy that he can not meet his own children?
- Nick in the hospital ...
- What happened to him? Marina asked anxiously.
- Yesterday I had an accident. Trauma of the head, very heavy, is still in a coma.
In the eyes of Marina splashed pain and confusion. Without a word, she quickly went to the bench, took hold of the handle of the suitcase ... She stood in thought, put it back in place and again approached me. The children raised their heads and looked at their mother in bewilderment.
"They let him in?"
- They only let me into the intensive care unit ...
- The return train will be in an hour and a half. I only have one ticket for myself. Do you think that now you can take tickets at the ticket office? - Marina spoke quickly, nervously pulling the strap of the bag.
I touched her arm: "Do not hurry ... Dina Sergeyevna is waiting for you with the children. It is very hard for her now. Lisa and Andrey will be able to distract her a little from sad thoughts. And the children can say that their father has an urgent business trip ... "Marina listened to me in silence. It was clear that she was still hesitating. Children did not take their eyes off her, Andrew even got up from the bench and took a few hesitant steps in our direction.
- Dina Sergeyevna really misses the children. Do not add to her grief, do not leave, - I continued to persuade. At last she made a decision.
- This is Aunt Anya. We are now going to grandmother Dinah.
"And where's Dad?" Asked Lisa.
"He's on a business trip." As soon as he settles all his affairs, he will immediately come. My mother-in-law was waiting at the gate. Seeing us, blossomed a smile and rushed to meet. Having kissed my grandchildren and Marina, she whispered in my ear: "Thank you." The old house revived and rang with childish voices. But it was hard on adults, it was hard for the adults, the informant constantly replied: "The state is unchanged" ... The next two days I spent in the hassle. Bought products, gifts, brought and dressed up a Christmas tree. And, of course, I sat for a long time near Kolya. I told him about everything: about the fact that the children are staying with us, and that we are all very much waiting for him to be with us again. The evening came on December 31. Lisa and Andrei were already sleeping in the upstairs room, and the three of us were sitting at the table. They sat in silence, but they obviously thought about the same thing: "How's Kolya?"
The hands of the wall clock showed at ten minutes to twelve. "Well, girls, the New Year is still necessary to meet," - finally broke the silence of her mother-in-law and began to open champagne. And I thought that if the saying "How to meet the year and spend it" is correct, then the coming year does not promise me anything good. And then the phone rang. Dina Sergeyevna jumped up, but then she sat down on a chair, clutching her heart. I walked to the phone on my stiff legs and picked up the phone. My mother-in-law and Marina were looking at me intently. "Anna Alexeevna?" - I heard the voice of Konstantin Eduardovich. "Your husband has just come to his senses." Memory and speech are restored. He asked about you and sent greetings and congratulations. Now everything will be fine. I understood that I had to answer something, but my throat was compressed by a spasm, everything was trembling from the happiness that was filling me. The doctor, apparently, understood my condition, therefore he said: "Happy New Year!" - and hung up. Surely the news was written on my face, because my mother-in-law and Marina rushed to hug me. For several minutes the three of us howled like a woman in a voice ... When they calmed down a bit and sat down again at the table, the clock was already five minutes past one. So I met New Year, sobbing in awe. But if the old saying is true, then the coming year will by all means be the most beautiful, the most wonderful and the happiest in my life.