“You must be joking,” Tatiana said, looking at Ivan Petrovich with wide eyes.
He shook his head:
“No, I’m not joking. But I’m giving you time to think. Because the proposal is not at all common. I even suspect what you’re thinking now. Think it over carefully, meditate on it… I’ll be back in a week.”
Tatiana looked at him in bewilderment. The words he had just spoken made no sense in her head.
She had known Ivan Petrovich for three years. He owned a chain of gas stations and other businesses. And at one of those gas stations, Tatiana worked as a cleaner. She always greeted the staff kindly and spoke cordially. Overall, she was a good person.
The salary at the gas station was decent, and there were many interested in working there. About two months ago, after cleaning, Tatiana was sitting outside: her shift was almost over and there was a little free time left.
Suddenly, the door to the employee entrance opened and Ivan Petrovich appeared.
“Can I sit down?”
Tatiana jumped up:
“Of course! Why are you asking?”
“And why are you standing up like that? Sit down, I don’t bite. Today is a nice day.”
She smiled and sat back down.
“Yes, it always seems to be nice in spring.”
“It’s because we’re all tired of winter.”
“Maybe she’s right.”
“I’ve always wanted to ask you: why do you work as a cleaner? Larisa had offered you a job as an operator. Better pay, easier work.”
“I’d love to, but I can’t because of the schedule—my daughter is young and gets sick. Everything’s fine if the neighbor takes care of her, but when there’s an outbreak, I have to be around. That’s why Larisa and I take turns when necessary.” She always helps.
—I understand… And what about the little girl?
—Oh, don’t even ask… The doctors don’t even fully understand. She has seizures, can’t breathe, panic, a lot of things. And the tests are serious and expensive. They say we have to wait, that maybe it will go away with age. But I can’t wait…
—Well, hang in there. Everything will be fine.
Tatiana was grateful. And that evening she learned that Ivan Petrovich had given her a bonus—without explanation, he just handed it over.
After that she didn’t see him again. And today, suddenly, he appeared at her house.
When Tatiana saw him, her heart nearly stopped. And when she heard the offer, she felt even worse.
Ivan Petrovich had a son: Stas, almost thirty years old. He spent seven of those years in a wheelchair after an accident. The doctors did everything they could, but he was never able to walk. Depression, isolation, an almost total refusal to communicate—even with his father.
And then Ivan Petrovich had the idea: to marry his son off. Really. So that he would have a purpose, a will to live, a will to fight. He wasn’t sure it would work, but he decided to give it a try. And it seemed to him that Tatiana was the ideal person for the role.
“Tatiana, you will live with complete care. You will have everything. Your daughter will receive all her tests and treatment. I propose a one-year contract. In a year, you will leave, no matter what. If Stas gets better, great. If not, I will reward you handsomely.”
Tatiana couldn’t say a word: indignation swept over her.
Ivan Petrovich, as if reading her thoughts, said gently:
“Tatiana, I beg you, help me. This is beneficial for both of us. I’m not even sure my son will approach you. But it will be easier for you: you will be in a respectable position, legally married. Imagine marrying not for love, but for circumstances.” I only ask you: don’t tell anyone about this conversation.
“Wait, Ivan Petrovich… And your Stas? Is he okay with it?”
The man smiled sadly:
“He says he doesn’t care. I’ll say I have problems—with business, with my health… The important thing is that he’s married. Honestly. He always trusted me. So this… is a deception for the better.”
Ivan Petrovich left, and Tatiana sat, paralyzed. Inside, indignation seethed. But his direct and sincere words softened the harshness of the proposal a little.
And if she thought about it… what wouldn’t he do for Sonya?
For everything.
And him? He’s also a father. He also loves his son.
The shift hadn’t even ended when the phone rang:
“Tatiana, hurry! Sonya’s having a seizure! A severe one!”
“I’m coming! Call an ambulance!”
She arrived just as the ambulance with the doctors stopped at the door.
“Where were you, Mother?” the doctor asked sternly.
“I was working…”
The attack was really serious.
“Maybe to the hospital?” Tatiana asked timidly.
The doctor, who was coming for the first time, waved his hand wearily:
“Why? They won’t help her there. They’ll only upset the child’s nerves. I wish they could go to the capital—to a good clinic, with real specialists.”
After forty minutes, the doctors left.
Tatiana picked up the phone and called Ivan Petrovich:
“I accept. Sonya is having another attack.”
The next day they were leaving.
Ivan Petrovich came in person, accompanied by a young man, clean-shaven.
“Tatiana, take only what is necessary. We’ll buy the rest.”
She nodded.
Sonya looked curiously at the car—large and shiny.
Ivan Petrovich crouched down in front of her:
“Do you like it?”
“A lot!”
“Do you want to sit up front? That way you’ll see everything.”
“Is that possible? I really want to!”
The girl looked at her mother.
“If the police see us, they’ll fine us,” Tatiana said sternly.
Ivan Petrovich laughed and opened the door:
“Get in, Sonya! And if anyone wants to fine us, we’ll fine them!”
As they approached the house, Tatiana became more nervous.
“My God, why did I agree? What if he’s strange, aggressive…?
Ivan Petrovich noticed her unease…
“Tania, calm down. There’s still a week until the wedding. He could change his mind at any moment. And besides… Stas is a good, intelligent boy, but something inside him snapped. You’ll understand.”
Tania got out of the car, helped her daughter out, and suddenly froze, staring at the house. It wasn’t just a building: it was a real castle. And Sonya, unable to contain herself, cried out with joy:
“Mom, now we’re going to live like a fairy tale!”
Ivan Petrovich burst out laughing and picked up the girl in his arms:
“Do you like it?”
“A lot!”
Until the wedding, Tania and Stas saw each other only a few times, at dinner parties. The young man hardly ate, hardly spoke. He just sat at the table, as if his body were there but his mind was elsewhere. Tanya watched him cautiously. Outwardly he was attractive, but pale, as if he hadn’t seen the sun for a long time. She felt that, like her, he lived in pain. And she was grateful for the fact that he never brought up the subject of their impending marriage.
On the wedding day, it seemed as if a hundred people were hovering around Tanya. The dress arrived literally the day before. When she saw it, she sank into a chair:
“How much did this cost?”
Ivan Petrovich smiled:
“Tania, you’re too impressionable. It’s better if you don’t know. And now look what I have here.”
He took out a miniature copy of the wedding dress.
“Sonya, shall we try it on?”
The girl squealed so loudly that she had to cover her ears. Then came the fitting: the little princess paraded proudly around the room, beaming with happiness.
At one point, Tanya turned and saw Stas. He was standing in the doorway of her room and looking at Sonya. A faint hint of a smile shone in her eyes.
The girl now lived in the room next to her bedroom. Her bedroom. Before, Tanya would never have imagined finding herself there.
Ivan Petrovich suggested they go to the cottage, but Stas shook his head:
“Thank you, Dad. We’ll stay here.”
The bed in the bedroom was enormous. Stas kept his distance, showing no intention of anything. And Tanya, who had planned to spend the night on guard, unexpectedly fell asleep right away.
A week passed. They began to talk at night. Stas turned out to be incredibly intelligent, with a sense of humor, interested in books and science. He never made any attempt to approach her. Little by little, Tanya began to relax.
One night she woke up abruptly: her heart was pounding.
“Something happened…”
She ran to her daughter’s room. There was what she had feared so much: Sonya was having a seizure.
“Stas, help me! Call an ambulance!”
A second later, she was at the door, phone in hand. A minute later, a sleepy Ivan Petrovich came in:
“I’ll call Alexei myself.”
The ambulance arrived quickly. The doctors were strangers, in immaculate suits and with modern equipment. Then the family doctor arrived. They deliberated for a long time, after the attack had passed. Tanya remained with her daughter. Stas was at her side, holding the little girl’s hand.
“Tania,” he asked in a low voice, “has this happened since she was born?”
“Yes… We’ve been to hospitals so many times, done so many tests, but it was no use. That’s why my ex said not to ruin her life.”
“And you loved him?”
“I suppose so. But it was so long ago…”
“So you accepted my father’s proposal…”
Tania raised her eyebrows in surprise.
Stas smiled:
“My father thinks I know nothing. But I always read him like an open book. I was afraid of who I’d meet. And when I saw you, I was shocked. You’re nothing like those who would accept something like that for money. And now everything seems to fall into place.”
He looked at her:
“Tania, don’t cry. We’re going to heal Sonya. She’s strong. She didn’t break, unlike me.”
“And why did you break? You’re smart, handsome, well…”
He shrugged with a bitter smile:
“Tell me the truth: would you marry me if everything had been different?”
Tania thought for a second and nodded:
“Yes. I think falling in love with you would have been much easier than with many people who run around pretending to be heroes. But it’s not even about that. I just… I can’t explain it.”
Stas smiled:
“No need. For some reason, I believe you.”
A few days later, Tania surprised Stas with a strange activity. She had put together a complex device and was trying to exercise on it.
“It’s a rehabilitation device,” she explained. “After the accident, I was supposed to use it at least three hours a day. But I decided it didn’t matter anymore. Now… I felt ashamed. For Sonya. For you.”
There was a knock on the door. Ivan Petrovich’s head appeared in the frame:
“May I?”
“Come in, Dad.”
The man froze when he saw what his son was doing. He swallowed and turned to Tania:
“Tell me… did you have a difficult birth?”
“Yes, why?”
“The doctor said that, most likely, Sonya’s body was pulled out suddenly and her temporal bone was damaged. Everything’s healed on the outside, nothing can be seen. But inside, it’s pressing on a nerve.”
Tania sank into a chair:
“It can’t be… What do we do now?”
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Calm down, don’t cry,” said Ivan Petrovich. “The doctor assured us it’s not a death sentence. An operation is needed. Remove what’s in the way, and Sonya will be healed.”
“But it’s her head… it’s dangerous…”
Stas leaned toward her and took her hand:
“Tania, listen to Dad. Sonya will be able to live without seizures.”
“And how much will it cost?”
Ivan Petrovich looked at her in surprise:
“That question doesn’t concern you anymore. You’re part of the family now.”
Tania was in the hospital with Sonya. The operation had been a success. They were due to return home in two weeks.
Home.
But now Tania couldn’t understand: where was home really?
Stas called every day. They talked for a long time—about Sonya, about themselves, about small things. It seemed as if they had known each other all their lives.
And time passed. The year of their contract was coming to an end. What would happen next, Tania tried not to think about.
They returned in the afternoon. Ivan Petrovich arrived with them—somber, tense.
“Something happened?”
“I don’t know how to say it… Stas has been drinking for two days.”
“What? He never drinks!”
“I thought so too. He’d been training for a month, making progress… and suddenly he got frustrated. He says nothing works for him.”
Tania entered the room. Stas was sitting in the dark. She turned on the light and began clearing the bottles from the table.
“What are you doing with this?”
“You’re not going to drink anymore.”
“And why?”
“Because I’m your wife. And I don’t like you drinking.”
Stas was taken aback.
“Well… just for a while… Sonya’s already healthy. So you no longer have any reason to stay next to an invalid.”
Tania straightened:
“Did you mean ‘next to an idiot’? Stas, I thought you were strong, intelligent, that you’d make it. Was I so wrong?”
He lowered his head:
“Forgive me… I don’t think I made it.”
“And I’m home now. Maybe we’ll try again?”
The year was coming to an end. Ivan Petrovich was nervous: Stas was just beginning to stand with the help of a walker. The doctors said he’d soon be walking, and maybe then running.
And Tania… it was time to go.
“Maybe offer him more money?” he timidly asked his wife.
During dinner, Tania, Sonya, and Stas appeared in his wheelchair.
“Dad, we have news for you,” he said.
Ivan Petrovich tensed and looked at Tania:
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?”
Tania and Stas looked at each other. She shook her head:
“Not exactly.”
“Don’t torture me!”
“You’re going to be a grandfather soon. Sonya will have a little brother… or a little sister.”
Ivan Petrovich fell silent. Then, suddenly, he stood up, hugged the three of them, and began to cry. Hard, as if he feared it was a dream.
He was crying—from happiness, from relief, from the fact that his family had finally become real.
