Almost a year I lived with Cyril in a civil marriage. We did not have our own apartment, we roamed from his parents to mine. And finally, they decided to legalize relations. Upon learning of this, relatives sighed with relief. But at the same time asked where we are going to live. "The family should have its own nest," Fyodor Ilyich, Cyril's father, categorically declared.
"I also think that our youth deserved the right to have their own homes," his wife supported.
"Of course, it would be fine," my mother sighed. "But where can they get that much money?"
- I know the way out! Iraida Lvovna looked at all present with an intriguing look.
- What? - I could not resist my Kirill. Iraida Lvovna only smiled indulgently at him:
- Son, since you and Tanyusha decided to create a family, I think it would be advisable to build a house.
"House?" Kiryukha whistled. - Well, you give, Mom! I have enough money only for the foundation.
- Carry our country house, and in its place will build a capital house. For your happiness, my father and I are ready for any sacrifice. - All the same, the dacha is already falling apart. Yes, Fedya? He nodded. But with obvious reluctance.
"Thank you for the offer," Kirill thanked. "Only I'm not going to get into this bondage."
- And you have us. Most of the credit we pay off, and the rest themselves somehow pay. Midnight, I and Cyril consulted about the offer of my mother-in-law.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not used to such gifts," I began to doubt. "Just imagine how much money this is!"
- Quit, - Kirill dismissed. - They themselves took the initiative. I heaved a deep sigh. - In my opinion, Feodor Ilyich is not enthusiastic about this idea. He likes to rest at the dacha ... He had a gloomy look.
- Oh, look like a sight! Snapped Kiryukha. - Do not invent! Mom suggested a reasonable solution ... - It's decided! - Cyril announced, after ten minutes. "We take out a loan, we begin construction, and ..." he rolled his eyes dreamily. "Can you imagine how great it is to have a house?" Wake up, and outside the window - the grass rustles, birds sing ... Krasotishcha!
"All right, all right," I laughed. - Consider that you convinced me ... I never thought that building a house is connected with such paper red tape. Thanks Iraida Lvovna, she took all this upon herself.
How many instances had she had to run around to erect a two-story mansion! The problems started already when choosing a house design. The future mother-in-law assured, that in what in what, and in design she understands perfectly. However, what she proposed, led us into horror - a cumbersome clumsy semblance of a medieval fortress!
- It is necessary to keep up to date. Otherwise, the house will become morally obsolete before we finish the construction! Fedor Ilyich supported us.
"All right," she sighed. "We'll hire some fashionable architect."
- Why do we need a fashionable architect? - Outraged Kiryushka. - My classmate, Sasha Boyko, is a construction company. For me, he will do everything for half the price.
Iraida Lvovna agreed. I thought this was the end of the friction. But no. To the project, which was prepared by Sasha, Iraida Lvovna found fault for a long time, it had to be changed three times.
Only two months later we received the approved drawings on hand. As soon as the cottage was demolished and began to dig a new foundation, she stated that behind the "lazy" (that is, the construction team), the eye and the eye are needed. Every morning Iraida Lvovna rushed to the construction site to keep an eye on the progress of the work. Then she called Cyril and reported.
"They work coolly," she complained. "If it were not for me ... At last the house was erected." Finishing work began. But here between me and the future mother-in-law there were new misunderstandings. It seemed to her that I did not know anything about which parquet was better. And what tile is suitable for a bathroom or kitchen.
"The kitchen has always been aged in blue or light green tones," Kiryusha's mother insisted.
"Before, there was no other tile or paint," I disagreed.
- And now a smart choice. I want the tile to be ornamented.
- It will be too lurid!
- A wallpaper in a flower - is it modern?
- They will look great with the bed linen, which I gave you! - my mother-in-law did not give up. I gave the linen secretly to my aunt, but Iraida Lvovna did not talk about this. The next clash was due to the design of the site around the house. Kiryusha's mother decided to plant the beds with vegetables, and I looked at the wonderful seedlings - petunias and lobelia.
"You will have your own vegetables every day," Iraida Lvovna urged us. - And what savings ?!
"Oh, how many of these vegetables do we eat?" - I objected. "You can buy them in the store."
Beauty is more important! Then we were waiting for a new surprise.
"Mamula bought two chandeliers for us," Kirill said immediately.
- What for?! - I was surprised. "We were going to choose together."
"She said she did not want to distract us from work," he smiled guiltily.
"But are the chandeliers at least beautiful, worthy?" - I sighed doomedly.
"How do you say," he shrugged vaguely. - So-so...
"I see," I said. "Tomorrow we're going to buy the rest." At least something should please me in my house!
- Hush! Kirill hissed. "It seems my mother came." Hear what you say - offended!
"But I, too, can be understood," I whispered indignantly. "Why does she not consult us?"
"Mom pays," Kiryukha hissed at the door. - Make her remarks categorically impossible.
- Well, you know ... - I was indignant, but I did not manage to finish the angry tirade, because Iraida Lvovna burst out into the room.
- Well! Cyril already pleased you?
- Than? - I asked dejectedly.
- How? Asked my mother-in-law. - Kirill, how is it? You did not tell Tanya that I bought you chandeliers?
- Here's the bald! - Cyril banged his forehead. - Has flown from a head.
- Well, nothing, - Iraida Lvovna smiled, - there were nothing. The kitchen will be delivered tomorrow. Together with the fridge. And on Thursday I'm going to the bedroom.
- What do you mean "I'm going" ?! Grunted Cyril. "The bed is an intimate thing, so Tanya and I will only choose our bedroom." "It's clear," Iraida Lvovna pursed her lips. - Do not want - as you want ... If you think that I have a bad taste, then say so.
"Mom, what are you making up!" - In Kiryusha's voice there was repentance. - We are very grateful to you for everything ...
- True? - eyes of mother-in-law were filled with tears. I felt ashamed. Embracing my mother-in-law, I whispered profoundly: "Thank you very much ..."
Our gratitude entailed another surge of activity on the part of Iraida Lvovna. Seeing in the hallway an antediluvian chest of drawers, I just came in complete horror:
- Suitable ?! - Waiting for praise, my mother-in-law asked. - An antique thing.
"My God, it's probably impossible to move him from the spot!" - With difficulty restraining irritation, I breathed out.
"And do not say it, child," my mother-in-law agreed. "The loaders have hardly dragged him here." Do you even like this dresser?
"Aha," I nodded, smiling sourly. "But it does not really fit in with our interior." The house is in a modern style. And suddenly - an antique chest of drawers!
- Nothing. - Iraida Lvovna lovingly ran her hand along the shabby varnish. "It's a real oak!" Yes, he will serve you for another hundred years! And even more. "Maybe it will," I thought angrily. "Not here." Today I'll put Cyril a condition: either I, or this museum exhibit! "And the point. The extended ultimatum to Kiriukha was puzzling. But the groom flatly refused to return the hulk to the store:
- Tanya! Understand, my mother will never forgive this monster. She is still offended by the wallpaper! Let's cover it with something, in the sense of drape ... Decorate with ikebana, There will be very much nothing.
"I do not want" very much "! I freaked out. - I already accepted many things. Even with this eerie cuisine. And with crystal chandeliers, under which I feel myself a member of the Verkhovna Rada! And with the damn geranium, which I'm allergic to.
"Tanechka, I did not know that you were allergic to geraniums," I heard Iraida Lvovna's guilty voice behind me suddenly.
My legs gave way. Has flown!
"Sorry, baby," the mother-in-law continued. "I'll take her back to the store today ..."
"That's right," I muttered. After that curious case, I decided to be more reserved.
What, in fact, vzelsya? Another would thank you said that they care about her so much. In the end, on Wednesday we will sign, move to a new house and then ... After the painting, we sat modestly in a cafe. But on Saturday, covered a chic table in the courtyard of his house, among the greenery and the many-voiced chorus of birds. Already handing to us from Kirill, documents for the mansion, mother-in-law suddenly realized:
"Oh, but I was going to give you something else besides home." - She turned to her husband: - Fedya, bring the picture. She stayed in the trunk. Fyodor Ilyich ran to carry out the assignment. A minute later he returned with a huge picture in his hands. Looking at the gift, I just gasped. From the canvas, the smiling face of Iraida Lvovna's dear mother-in-law was looking at me.
- Like? - pleased with the effect produced, my mother-in-law asked. "What house?" And this ... Once I will not, and she will create the illusion of my presence.
She sobbed, raised her handkerchief in her hand to her eyes. Cyril tenderly embraced his mother by the shoulders:
"Mamulya, what are you, really!" You're still quite young! A portrait ... It's just wonderful! After the guests, we washed the dishes and sat on the door to rest. Breathing in the clean night air, Kiryushka hugged me by the shoulders and said:
"Listen, Tanyuha, I've weighed everything and decided: now you and I can safely think about the child."
"Has your mother hinted?" And she did not order a child's sex, by any chance, for you? I laughed sarcastically.
- No! We did not have such a conversation, "he laughed. "But she wants grandchildren to be three."
- Three ?! I shouted indignantly. "Although ... Of course, the house is big ... Before turning off the light, I angrily looked at the mother-in-law standing by the wall. And I knew that Kirill could not find another place for him except in the bedroom! I thought sadly that this is how we will live under the leadership of Iraida Lvovna.
"Good night," I hissed at the portrait, showing the tongue. Then she looked toward her husband and just in case added: "Mummy ..."