CH1 The husband went out for bread, leaving Elena with the baby in her arms. He returned after 10 years, intending to divide her apartment. But upon entering the living room, he was STUNNED

You’ve been missing for ten years, and now you show up like nothing happened. What do you want from us? Jennifer looked at her ex-husband, who was standing on the doorstep, shifting from foot to foot, and didn’t hide her indignation. Don’t get worked up, — Michael squinted.

— We’re not strangers to each other after all. I was your husband. Have you really forgotten? I also wanted to see little Alex.

He’s my son, after all. I remember that you were my husband. Ex, I should note.

And you didn’t think about our existence for so many years, and now you’re standing on the doorstep asking me to let you in.

Did you remember to see your son? It’s inconvenient to talk across the threshold. You don’t want the whole building to hear our conversation.

Jennifer, sighing heavily, still stepped aside and gestured for him to come into the apartment. Okay, come in, but I warn you right away, I have little time. Michael walked into the living room and settled on the couch.

He looked around with interest at how everything had changed here in ten years. So, what do you need? — Jennifer repeated her question. She deliberately chose not the couch, but the armchair, to be as far away from her ex-husband as possible.

Why do I necessarily need something? It was noticeable that Michael was dissatisfied with the tone in which his ex-wife was talking to him.

He clearly hoped for a warmer reception. You didn’t think about our existence for so long, you just took off and left.

You didn’t give a damn about how we live, whether everything is okay with us. Has something changed now? You tell me what changed, since you don’t want to see your husband, even if he’s an ex. Mike, remember.

Jennifer was already starting to lose her temper. You went out for bread and disappeared. And then it turned out that you have a new life and another family…

We’ve been divorced for a long time. And by the way, I have a legal husband. So in fact, we’re complete strangers to each other…The woman stood up and paced the room. I really don’t have time right now. Alex and Robert should be back soon, and dinner isn’t ready yet.

And I need to go to the store. Maybe we’ll postpone our conversation for another time? In fact, she just didn’t want her husband and son to catch Michael at home. She needed to get him out the door by any means.

You always put everything off, grumbled the ex-husband. If you had listened to me then, instead of playing your usual record about «another time,» who knows, maybe I wouldn’t have left anywhere. Michael, unlike Jennifer, had free time and was well prepared for the conversation.

So you left me, but I’m the one to blame? Interesting approach to life you have. Jennifer was offended to the core. And what about the fact that you racked up a bunch of loans, half of which fell on me after the divorce.

What about abandoning your own son. Does that not count? You’re the only one to blame for me leaving. I can repeat it a hundred more times.

Michael replied calmly. I tried to explain the situation to you so many times. And you just brushed it off.

I was just fed up to the gills with your explanations. Jennifer exploded. You just talked a lot, but did nothing.

And I had to think about our family myself. Understand? Everything was somehow on my shoulders. I had to raise little Alex, take care of you, and also think about where to get money to pay off the debts.

Not forgetting that I also went to work. We barely made ends meet. All wives try for the family.

What’s so special about that? Michael had his own views on life. Okay. Jennifer wanted at all costs to prove to her ex-husband that he was wrong.

But then what is the role of a man? Isn’t the husband supposed to be the main breadwinner? Whatever about breadwinners. You could have just helped me. But you just lounged on the couch and took out loans.

Well, to hear you tell it, I’m just some lazy degenerate. Michael was offended. By the way, I worked too…

And it’s not my fault they paid me little. Who in their right mind would pay good money to a worker like you? The ex-wife laughed. You were just slacking off at work.

That’s why they asked you to leave. They wanted me to slave away there from morning till late evening for pennies. They picked the wrong guy.

I respect myself, so I left on my own to just find myself, my place in life. And how? Successfully? Jennifer asked sarcastically. Michael always loved cheap pathos.

It’s just that his wife had managed to forget about it in 10 years and now wrinkled her nose, as if there was a bucket of garbage in front of her. It was clear that Michael was having trouble with the answer. Jennifer noted to herself with some satisfaction that her ex-husband was probably still not appreciated as he deserved…That’s why he came to her to try his luck in the old place. But he was too late. Jennifer began pushing Michael toward the exit.

Mike, come on, go already. Our conversation is going in circles, and you haven’t said anything important. I really don’t have time.

What, are you kicking me out? Michael said reproachfully. But we haven’t really talked to you properly. You always avoid serious topics.

The ex-husband reluctantly but still headed for the exit. That’s it, I need to run to the store. Jennifer quickly put on her outdoor shoes and opened the door.

Michael, on the contrary, was dragging out time. He laced up his sneakers for so long that his ex-wife thought to herself that she could have gone to the store and back by now. When the laces were finally done, Jennifer began pushing Michael out onto the landing.

We didn’t finish talking, the ex-husband sniffed offendedly. Yes, yes, later, everything later. Jennifer quickly closed the door and hurried down the stairs.

But when can we talk normally? «I want to see my son!» the ex-husband shouted after her. «Let’s do it after the weekend!» – Jennifer replied on the run. She walked quickly along the house and turned the corner.

There was a playground there, surrounded on all sides by thick trees. Jennifer sat down on one of the benches, sure that she couldn’t be seen from here, and caught her breath a little. The arrival of her ex-husband caught her off guard.

It’s good that Alex and Robert weren’t home, otherwise there could have been a serious scandal. Jennifer sat on the bench for about half an hour. During that time, she managed to outline the main plan of action.

The woman decided to talk to her son and husband and prepare them for a possible meeting with Michael. Jennifer was most worried about little Alex. He was at that difficult teenage age when it seems like the whole world is against you.

The woman looked around and headed toward the store. When she returned home with her purchases, Michael was no longer on the landing. Over the weekend, Jennifer chose what seemed to her a suitable moment and knocked on her son’s door.

— Come in, — Alex shouted. He was flattered that his mom didn’t just walk in, but actually knocked. — I wanted to discuss one issue with you.

Jennifer decided to approach from afar. — About your childhood and about your father. Alex spun around in his computer chair and looked attentively at his mother.

— What is there to say about him? I hardly remember him. — Yes, you were very little, still going to kindergarten. — I was five, — Alex suddenly said, which greatly surprised Jennifer.

— So he does remember him after all, — she thought to herself. — Dad promised to give me a transformer robot that we saw in the store window, but he didn’t have time because he ran away from us. — Wow, I didn’t know anything about the robot.

Jennifer was getting closer to the main topic of the conversation. — You know, Michael, your father, suddenly showed up. She looked intently at her son.

How would he react? But Alex listened without saying a word. He said he would like to meet you and talk. — I have nothing to talk to him about, — the teenager cut off.

— Mom, I spend a ton of time at school. Then I have practice and exam prep with a tutor. On weekends, I barely find time to play on the computer.

A cool new game just came out. When am I supposed to meet him? While Jennifer was choosing the right words, Robert walked into the room. — Oh, I remembered, — Alex suddenly slapped his forehead.

— My friends invited me to hang out. So definitely no time to meet him. Jennifer looked at Robert.

He put his hand on his shoulder and said. — Alex, the guys will have to wait. — Come on, Dad, — Alex drawled…He had long been calling his stepdad Dad, and Robert greatly appreciated the teenager’s affection and tried to set a good example for him. — Don’t you find this strange. You raised me, taught me, walked with me, played and all that.

The list could go on forever. But suddenly he appears. And what, I should run to him, dropping my slippers? I’m not interested in meeting him, understand.

— Alex, — Jennifer tried to give her voice strictness. — I think it would be better if you did meet him. Remember, we talked about how you need to be able to solve problems with dignity.

They won’t resolve themselves. — I don’t see any problem at all, — Alex flared up. — Mom, I think you’re making a mountain out of a molehill…

For me, this Michael is a stranger. If I see him on the street, I won’t even recognize him. I was five years old when he left us.

Hear that, five! I don’t understand why I should waste time on this traitor. — You’ll meet him just once, — his mother persuaded. No one is forcing you to see him regularly.

You’ll just talk, and everyone will go their own way. After all, he’s your biological father, even if we don’t like it. Alex looked at Robert with a probing gaze.

He understood what the boy wanted to ask him. — No, buddy, I won’t be offended by that. You can rest easy.

The stepdad assured him. — All right. Alex reluctantly agreed.

Jennifer exhaled with relief. For some reason, it seemed to her that if Michael met his son and realized that the teenager had forgotten him and had a completely different life, he would definitely leave him alone. She was afraid that her ex-husband would start stalking them and ambushing them at every turn.

It’s better for father and son to meet not on the street, but at their home. In case of anything, she and Robert would always come to the rescue. Jennifer called Michael and invited him over.

He arrived not empty-handed. He handed his ex-wife a bouquet of nine roses. To Robert — a bottle of wine.

Although Jennifer’s new husband didn’t drink alcohol at all. And for Alex, he had a box wrapped in beautiful paper. — Here, Alex, this is for you, — Michael extended to his son.

While Alex was pondering whether to accept the gift from his biological father or not, Robert said thank you for him. Then everyone went to the kitchen, where everything was ready for a family tea party. In the center of the table stood a large Napoleon cake, and in a bowl lay chocolate candies, bird’s milk.

— Oh, my favorites! — Michael appreciated the treats. — Imagine that! — Jennifer said almost inaudibly. — Little Alex loves them too.

— Michael, where have you been all these years? — Robert decided to ask. — All over the place! — Michael answered vaguely. — I get bored sitting in one spot.

You could say I was finding myself. — Did finding yourself become more important to you than family? — Robert couldn’t hold back again. Michael looked at his ex-wife’s new husband from under his brow.

He knew perfectly well who this man was to her, but still didn’t miss the chance to make a snide remark. — Excuse me, who are you to my wife and son? I don’t think I’ve seen you before. — Michael! — Jennifer said in an icy tone…

He had long been calling his stepdad Dad, and Robert greatly appreciated the teenager’s affection and tried to set a good example for him. — Don’t you find this strange. You raised me, taught me, walked with me, played and all that.