“No, please don’t do that. We’re strangers to you. I’ll find a solution.”
“We’re not strangers anymore. Please accept my help. Andrei is a good-for-nothing. Forgive me for raising such a son.”
Elena didn’t reply.
The next day, Olga withdrew the money and brought it to Lena. Lena thanked her repeatedly and promised to pay her back in time.
“Andrei, pack your bags and move into your apartment. Your tenants just left, so it’s empty. I don’t want to live under the same roof as you anymore.”
“Wow, what a surprise. Is this because of Lena? You’re unbelievable, Mom. You worry about another woman’s son, but you don’t take care of your own?”
“I’m ashamed of you. I’m afraid to think what will happen to me when I’m old.” Andrei
left, slamming the door loudly behind him.
Olga’s heart was heavy. He was her only son, and this was the man he had become.
There was nothing she could do about it now.
A charity intervened and helped buy the medicine. Vlad began to recover. Throughout this time, Olga stayed in touch with them. She visited them, bringing gifts and food.
She still spoke to Andrei but treated him coldly. Lena tried never to talk about him and never asked any questions.
One day, Olga noticed that Lena had started wearing looser dresses and that her waist was less defined.
« Lena, forgive me for asking, but are you pregnant? »
« You guessed it. Yes, I’m already five months pregnant. I hid it from Andrei because I was afraid he would accuse me of trying to force him into marriage because of the pregnancy. » I simply couldn’t bring myself to have an abortion. I had intended to, but I changed my mind at the last minute.
« I’m having a girl. Don’t worry. I’ll manage. »
« My goodness, Lenotchka, I’m so happy! I’ve always dreamed of having a granddaughter. I’ll help you, I promise. Thank you for this wonderful gift, my dear! »
Olga hugged Lena happily.
They would now become even closer, although Andrei knew nothing about it.
The pregnancy went smoothly, and a healthy baby girl was born at term. They didn’t tell Andrei.
Olga often visited Lena, helped with her granddaughter, bought gifts for the children, and ran errands.
The little girl was named Alina. She looked very much like Andrei. She had the same dark hair and the same small, delicate nose.
“Oh, my son,” Olga thought, “such happiness is passing you by. You could have lived with them and enjoyed your family.”
One day, Andrei saw his mother with a stroller near his building. Lena had gone to the hospital and asked Olga to look after the child, so she had taken her daughter to Olga’s.
“Hi, Mom! Are you working as a nanny now? Are you short of money? You should have told me. I would have helped you.”
“I don’t need anything from you, Andryusha. I can manage on my own.”
Andrei looked into the stroller and froze for a moment.
Had he guessed that this child was his own flesh and blood?
Apparently not. He said nothing.
At that moment, Lena arrived in a taxi and got out of the car.
“Hello, Andrei. How are you, Olga Ivanovna? Has Alina been crying?”
“No, Lenotchka, everything is fine.” She ate, slept, and now we’re going for a walk. »
Andrei looked at them, confused.
« Is that your child? Are you married? But the little girl is so young. Who’s the father? »
« The little girl has a mother, and that’s enough. »
« And a grandmother, I might add, » said Olga. « Andrei, she’s your daughter. In case you’re interested. »
« Mine? And you’ve been hiding it from me all this time? You women are unbelievable. »
Andrei looked around the carriage, bewildered, then walked away without another word.
« Well, now he knows, » said Olga.
A few days later, Andrei went to Lena’s house. He offered her money, but she refused. Her resentment toward him was too strong.
Five years passed.
Olga had a stroke.
Lena and the children moved in with her to care for her, as Olga had difficulty walking.
Alina and Vlad also helped. They brought food to their grandmother, and Vlad read to her. They loved their grandmother Olya very much and felt sorry for her.
Andrei remained single and continued to live alone in his apartment. He visited his mother from time to time. He saw Lena and the children and talked to them.
Alina knew he was her father, but she was afraid of him.
Olga transferred ownership of her apartment to Lena through a deed of gift, so that Lena could then give it to Alina.
« Lenochka, how lucky I was to have met you. Now I have two precious ‘baggage’s’: Vlad and Alina. I am so happy you are in my life. Thank you for everything. »
Olga would never have imagined that this fragile woman would become like a daughter to her, while her own son would go from being family to being a stranger.
Life sometimes brings the most unexpected surprises.
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