— Is your mother ready to pay for this if she wants to invite so many guests? Or is it going to be on us again?!

— Is your mother ready to pay for this if she wants to invite so many guests? Or is it going to be on us again?!

Alexey was looking at his phone, checking where so much money had gone on the credit card while Marina washed the dishes after dinner. His mother’s call caught him off guard—she usually called on Sundays, and today was Wednesday.

— Alyoshenka, — Valentina Petrovna’s voice sounded unusually tender, which always made him wary, — I was thinking about my anniversary. I really want to celebrate my seventieth beautifully. After all, it’s such a milestone!

Marina turned around when she heard her mother-in-law’s familiar intonations. By her expression, Alexey understood that the conversation wouldn’t be easy.

— Of course, Mom, — he replied cautiously. — What do you have in mind?

— Well, I’d like to invite all our relatives, friends… Maybe celebrate in a restaurant? But you know what my pension is like. I just want everything to be beautiful, festive.

Alexey felt Marina tense up at the sink. They both understood perfectly where this conversation was heading.

— Mom, how many people are you planning to invite? — he asked, already sensing a catch.

— Well, as usual, about fifteen people. You know our circle.

Alexey exhaled in relief. Fifteen people was quite manageable. He looked at his wife; she nodded, drying her hands with a towel.

— Alright, Mom. Marina and I will think about it. Maybe it will be our gift to you for your anniversary.

— Oh, Alyoshenka, thank you! I’m so happy! So, it’s settled then?

— Mom, first we’ll do the calculations, check the prices. Then we’ll make a final decision, okay?

After he hung up, Marina sat down next to him at the kitchen table.

— So, shall we calculate? — she asked without much enthusiasm.

They opened the laptop and began looking for suitable restaurants. There were a few decent options with moderate prices in their area. The most suitable one offered a banquet menu for two thousand rubles per person. If the guests brought their own alcohol, the total cost would be thirty thousand rubles.

— We can afford it, — Marina said, though there was a hint of doubt in her voice. — It’s not a small amount, but your mother only celebrates her birthday once a year.

— Exactly. And look, she was so happy. I haven’t heard her so cheerful in a long time.

The next day, Alexey called his mother and told her about the restaurant they had found.

— “Cozy Courtyard”? — Valentina Petrovna asked. — Where is it located?

— On Sadovaya, not far from the metro. Very convenient to get to.

— Alyosha, have you been there yourself? I’ve never heard of it… Maybe “Golden Age” would be better? Remember, we were there for Sveta’s wedding?

Alexey remembered. “Golden Age” was an expensive restaurant. The banquet there would cost three times as much.

— Mom, but “Golden Age” is very expensive…

— Well, Alyoshenka, it’s my anniversary. Seventy years is a serious milestone. I want everything to be top-notch.

That evening at dinner, Alexey recounted the conversation to Marina. She listened silently and put down her fork.

— How much would the banquet cost there? — she asked.

— About ninety thousand if we use their alcohol. If we bring our own, seventy.

— Seventy thousand? — Marina shook her head. — Alyosha, that’s a lot of money. We don’t have that kind of money.

— Well, we could take it from our vacation fund. Or borrow from your parents.

— What vacation? We haven’t gone anywhere for two years. And my parents don’t have that kind of money either.

But Alexey already imagined how upset his mother would be if he refused her request. Valentina Petrovna had a way of making him feel guilty even when he had done nothing wrong.

— Alright, I’ll talk to her again. Maybe I can persuade her to go back to the restaurant we found.

Three days later, Valentina Petrovna called again. This time her voice sounded even more excited.

— Alyosha, I have news! I met Nina Vasilievna yesterday, remember, my colleague? She was so happy that I invited her to my anniversary. And then I thought—why not invite all my former colleagues? And our neighbors at the dacha? We’ve been friends with some of them for so many years!

Alexey’s heart sank.

— Mom, how many people does that make in total?

— Well, I counted… About thirty. Maybe a few more. But it’s my anniversary! Seventy years is no joke!

Alexey felt the blood drain from his face. Thirty people at “Golden Age” would be over one hundred fifty thousand rubles. They simply didn’t have that kind of money.

— Mom, but we were planning for fifteen people…

— Well, Alyoshenka, you understand. How could I not invite the people I’ve known for so many years? They’d be offended. And I want the celebration to be truly big, memorable.

That evening, the conversation with Marina was tense.

— One hundred fifty thousand rubles? — she repeated when Alexey told her about the call. — Alyosha, do you realize that’s more than we earn together in a month?

— I know. But maybe we could take a loan?

Marina was silent for a long time, staring out the window.

— A loan, — she finally said. — So we’d take a loan for one hundred fifty thousand to celebrate your mother’s birthday. And then spend two years paying it off with interest. That would come to two hundred thousand or more.

— Well, we could take it for a year…

— A year would be fifteen thousand a month! Fifteen thousand, Alyosha! That’s a lot! We won’t be able to go on vacation, or fix the car if something happens, or buy new furniture. We’d live in poverty for one evening!

Alexey knew his wife was right, but he couldn’t imagine how he would explain a refusal to his mother. Valentina Petrovna had worked as a teacher all her life, earned a small salary, and now her pension was small. She had received so little beauty and festivity in her life.

— Maybe you should talk to her? — he suggested. — Woman to woman…

— Talk about what? — Marina raised her voice. — About the fact that in eight years of our marriage your mother never said a kind word to me? That she still thinks I’m unworthy of being part of your family? Remember what she said at our wedding? “It’s a pity Alyosha chose the wrong girl.”

— Marinochka, don’t bring up the past…

— The past? — Marina’s eyes sparkled. — What about last birthday? When she said in front of everyone that I cook poorly and she doesn’t understand how you live with me? And when we brought her groceries while she was sick, she asked for receipts—not because she wanted to pay, but because she thought we were buying the cheapest stuff. And recently, that conversation about how good daughters-in-law help their mothers-in-law with money?

Alexey remained silent. He couldn’t deny that his mother had often been unfair to Marina. But he was used to justifying her behavior with her age, loneliness, and hard life.

— So now, — Marina continued, — she wants us to go into debt for her celebration. And she hasn’t thought once about how it will affect our lives. — Is your mother ready to pay if she wants to invite so many guests? Or is it going to be on us again?!

The question hung in the air. Alexey realized his wife was right. His mother should have offered to share the costs or find a cheaper option herself.

— I’ll talk to her, — he said quietly.

— Talk about what? That we can’t afford it? She’ll call us stingy. Or that she should limit the guest list? She’ll be offended and tell everyone what an ungrateful son she has.

On Saturday, they went to Valentina Petrovna’s. The apartment, as always, was perfectly clean. His mother met them in a fancy robe and with freshly styled hair.

— Come in, come in! I made tea, baked cookies. Sit at the table.

During tea, the conversation at first revolved around the weather, news, and health. Finally, Alexey summoned the courage to bring up the celebration.

— Mom, Marina and I did some calculations… A banquet for thirty people at “Golden Age” would be very expensive. Maybe we should limit the number of guests?

Valentina Petrovna’s face changed instantly.

— What do you mean? — she asked coldly. — I’m supposed to not invite someone? Offend people?

— Well, maybe we could choose those who are especially dear to you?

— Alyosha, everyone is dear to me. And what will people think of me? They’ll say my son is so stingy he can’t organize a proper birthday for his mother.

Marina sat silently, clutching her cup. Alexey noticed her cheek twitching—a sure sign she was restraining her anger.

— Mom, it’s not about stinginess. It’s just that the amount is very large for us…

— And how much do you spend on your own entertainment? Restaurants, movies, clothes? — Valentina Petrovna looked at Marina. — On her expensive cosmetics and jewelry?

— Mom, Marina doesn’t have expensive jewelry…

— Oh, of course. And what’s this? — She nodded at Marina’s simple earrings. — Gold, I bet?

— It’s costume jewelry for five hundred rubles, — Marina said quietly.

— Aha, of course. And the ring?

— Wedding ring.

— By the way, speaking of jewelry, — Valentina Petrovna suddenly brightened. — I thought… For my anniversary there should be not just a celebration, but also a gift. I’ve long dreamed of a gold ring with a stone. Not very expensive, of course. I just want something beautiful.

Alexey felt his mouth go dry. A gold ring would add another twenty to thirty thousand rubles to the total.

— Mom, well… we’re organizing a banquet. That’s already a gift.

— Alyoshenka, but the banquet is for everyone. A gift should be just for me. Do you understand?

Alexey mumbled something incoherent, unable to find words. Marina stayed silent, but he could see her hands trembling.

— We… we’ll think about it, — he finally managed.

— Think about it, of course, — Valentina Petrovna nodded. — But I’ve already told everyone about the banquet. Nina Vasilievna even bought a new dress just for it.

They drove home in silence for a long time. Finally, Marina couldn’t hold back.

— Eight years, Alyosha. Eight years she’s been talking to me like this. Eight years I’ve tolerated her hints, reproaches, comparisons. Eight years listening to how bad a wife, hostess, daughter-in-law I am. And now she wants us to go into debt, deprive ourselves for a year, and buy her a ring on top of it?

— Marinochka…

— No! Enough! — Marina turned to him. — Tell me honestly: when was the last time your mother said something nice to me? Asked about my life? Thanked me for help? Asked if we could afford it?

Alexey was silent; there was nothing to answer.

— And now she’s demanding more than one hundred fifty thousand rubles plus a ring. And she hasn’t even thought to offer help or share the costs. Do you know what angers me the most? It’s not even the money. It’s that she takes it for granted. Your duty is to provide her with a luxurious celebration, and she doesn’t even think to thank us in advance.

— She did thank us…

— She was happy! That’s different. She was happy to get what she wanted, not happy that we were willing to make sacrifices for her.

By evening, Alexey decided to try once more to talk to his mother on the phone. Perhaps calmly, without emotions, he could explain the situation.

— Mom, let’s discuss everything again. One hundred fifty thousand is really a lot for us. Maybe we can find a compromise?

— What compromise? — Valentina Petrovna’s voice grew louder. — Alyosha, I’ve worked my whole life, saved all my life.

I raised you alone, never denied you anything. And now, at seventy, when I want to celebrate my birthday beautifully just once in my life, my own son starts bargaining.

— Mom, I’m not bargaining…

— You are. And it’s all because of your wife. She’s brainwashed you, hasn’t she? Whispering all sorts of nasty things about me, being stingy.

— Mom, what does Marina have to do with this?

— She has everything to do with it. A proper wife supports her husband, not turns him against his mother. You weren’t like that before you married her.

At that moment, Marina entered the room. She heard the last words and stopped.

— Mom, that’s not true…

— It is, Alyoshenka. Look at how she’s looking at me. As if I’m taking something from her. And what am I, a stranger? I am your mother!

— Yes, you are his mother, — Marina said suddenly. — And you’ve been using that for eight years.

Alexey froze. Valentina Petrovna also fell silent.

— What did you say? — she asked quietly.

— I said the truth, — Marina stepped closer to the phone as Alexey put it on speaker. — For eight years you’ve been using the fact that you are his mother. Making him feel guilty for every refusal.

For eight years I’ve listened to your reproaches, hints, comparisons. For eight years I’ve endured your treatment of me like I’m a second-class person. And now you demand that we go into debt for your celebration, without even asking if we can afford it.

— Alyosha! — Valentina Petrovna shouted into the phone. — Do you hear how she’s talking to me?

“I’m speaking to you honestly,” Marina continued. “For the first time in eight years. And you know what? You can organize your own celebration. You have a pension, you have savings. If a lavish banquet is so important to you, pay for it yourself. We’ll give you what we can afford.”

— Ungrateful! — Valentina Petrovna’s voice trembled with rage. — Stingy! Alyosha, do you see who you married? I knew she was unworthy of being part of our family! She doesn’t even understand what it means to respect her elders!

— And do you understand what it means to respect other people? — Marina didn’t back down. — To be grateful for help? To understand that people have their own plans and limitations?

— How dare you! I am a mother!

— And I am a wife! And I have the right not to be insulted!

Alexey listened to the exchange and, for the first time in eight years, realized Marina was right. Absolutely right about everything. His mother had indeed used his sense of filial duty as a weapon, making him feel guilty. She had treated his wife like an enemy. She had never considered their abilities or desires.

— Mom, — he said quietly. — Be quiet.

— What? — Valentina Petrovna was taken aback.

— I said—be quiet. Marina is right. She’s right about everything.

A silence fell over the line.

— You… you’re taking her side? — his mother finally whispered.

— I’m taking the side of justice, — Alexey said firmly. — For eight years, you’ve mistreated my wife. For eight years, you’ve forced me to choose between you. For eight years, I stayed silent, hoping things would improve. But enough.

— Alyosha…

— No, Mom. Now listen to me. Marina is a wonderful woman. She is kind, smart, caring. She has never stopped me from helping you. She has always supported our visits. She has cooked for you, cleaned for you, bought medicine when you were sick. And in return, you only criticized and reproached her.

— But I didn’t mean any harm…

— What else? — Alexey felt the anger that had built up over the years rising inside him. — Out of love? Out of care? Mom, in eight years you’ve never said anything good to Marina. Never thanked her for helping. But you regularly compared her to other wives, criticized her cooking, her clothes, her work.

— I wanted her to be better…

— You wanted her to know her place. To understand that she’s an outsider in our family. Well, congratulations. You achieved that.

Valentina Petrovna remained silent.

— Now, about the anniversary, — Alexey continued. — We are ready to give you what we can afford. But we will not go into debt for your celebration. If you want a banquet for thirty people in an expensive restaurant, organize it yourself. You have the money, and friends who can help.

— I don’t have that kind of money…

— Then invite fifteen people to a simple restaurant. Or celebrate at home. We’ll help with the food, the cleaning. But you have no right to demand the impossible from us.

— So be it, — his mother’s voice became icy. — So my son thinks I don’t deserve a beautiful celebration.

— Mom, enough with the manipulation. You do deserve a beautiful celebration. But with your own money. Like any normal person.

— I see. Then don’t come to my birthday at all. Since I am a burden to you.

— As you wish, — Alexey said wearily. — If you decide to celebrate modestly, invite us. We’ll come with a gift and congratulations. If you sulk and manipulate, I’m sorry.

He hung up and embraced Marina.

— I’m sorry, — he whispered. — Sorry for all these years. I should have stood up for you much earlier.

Marina hugged him back. For the first time in a long while, she felt that they were truly a family. Not him separately and her separately, each pulling the blanket in their own direction, but a real team.

A week later, Valentina Petrovna called again. Her voice was quiet and apologetic.

— Alyoshenka, — she said, — I was thinking… Maybe we should really celebrate more modestly? At home, with only the closest family?

— That’s fine, Mom, — Alexey replied. — We’ll help.

— And… invite Marina too. Let her come.

— Mom, you know—we always come together.

— Yes, of course. I just… wanted to say I’d be glad to see her.

It wasn’t an apology, but it was a start. And perhaps, for now, that was enough.

On the day of the anniversary, they arrived at Valentina Petrovna’s with a bouquet of flowers and a small gift—a beautiful jewelry box. Not a gold ring, but a sincere token of affection.

Ten people gathered at the table—the closest relatives and friends. Valentina Petrovna looked elegant and festive in her best dress. She received congratulations with dignity and even thanked Marina for her help with the preparations.

It wasn’t the warmth Marina had dreamed of, but it was respect. And as it turned out, that was enough to start a new relationship.

On the drive home, both of them understood that something important had changed in their family today. They had learned to be a team. And that was worth more than any gold ring.