Endured humiliations, hints, condescending attitude. Supported you when we learned your diagnosis. Though your mother did everything to blame infertility on me.
And what did I get? You let your mother humiliate me publicly and recorded it. Is that love, Ethan?» A ragged sigh sounded on the phone. «I… I was in shock.
Didn’t know how to react.» «Two years?» Olivia repeated. «Two years I waited for you to take my side once.
But you always chose mother. What now?» Ethan asked dully after a pause. «I think we need to separate,» Olivia answered calmly.
This marriage was a mistake from the start. «Because of one incident?» pleading notes appeared in his voice. «Olivia, let’s discuss when Mom recovers.
I’ll come, we’ll talk.» «No, Ethan, not one incident. Because of two years full of such incidents.
Yesterday was just the last straw.» «You can’t just cross everything out,» he exclaimed. «We had good moments too.»
«We did,» Olivia agreed. «And I’m grateful for them. But it’s not enough for marriage.
Marriage is partnership, support, respect. We had none of that.» «I love you,» Ethan suddenly said.
Olivia closed her eyes. Once these words made her heart beat faster. Now they sounded empty.
«Goodbye, Ethan,» she said quietly and hung up. All day the phone rang with calls and messages. Colleagues, acquaintances, even people she hadn’t talked to in years called.
All wanted scandal details, to express support or satisfy curiosity. By evening, she turned off sound and just lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling. The door rang around seven.
On the threshold stood Linda Carter with grocery bags. «Thought you wouldn’t cook,» she said, going to the kitchen. «I’ll make dinner.»
Olivia gratefully hugged her mother. «You’re my savior.» While Linda Carter worked at the stove, Olivia told her about Ethan’s call and the story spreading online.
«All this buzz will die down soon,» mother noted philosophically, chopping vegetables. «People will find a new topic.» «Margaret Wilson is in the hospital,» Olivia reported.
«Hypertensive crisis.» Linda Carter paused, then cautiously asked. «Do you feel guilty?» Olivia thought.
«No. Maybe should, but don’t. She got exactly what she deserved.
If a person sows malice and contempt for years, sooner or later it returns.» «And right,» Linda Carter nodded. «Can’t take others’ responsibility.»
Over dinner, they talked about the future, that Olivia might change jobs, start fresh. «Maybe even change cities,» Linda Carter suggested. «Move to New York or Los Angeles.
With your qualifications, you’ll find work.» «And you?» Olivia asked. «What about me?» mother shrugged.
«I’ll find work anywhere. My hands are always needed.» Olivia looked closely at her mother, at her work-worn hands, gray hair, wrinkles around eyes.
This woman sacrificed herself all life for her daughter, never complaining, not demanding thanks. «I’m so proud of you, Mom,» she suddenly said. «Always was.»
Linda Carter got embarrassed. «What are you? I’m ordinary, nothing special.» «No, not ordinary,» Olivia objected.
«You’re the strongest person I know. And I’m happy to be a janitor’s daughter, if the janitor is you.» They talked until late night.
Linda Carter stayed overnight at her daughter’s, refusing to go home so late. Before sleep, Olivia checked her phone, another dozen messages and one missed from Ethan. She ignored it and opened Sophia’s message.
«How are you? Holding up? Coming to work tomorrow?» Didn’t want to, but hiding neither. «Coming,» she replied.
«Time to move on.» Morning started with insistent door ring. Olivia, just woken and not yet had coffee, opened, expecting Ethan.
But on the threshold stood Margaret Wilson, pale, with circles under eyes, but not in hospital clothes, in her usual strict suit. «Hello,» Olivia said coldly, surprised by the visit. «I came to talk,» Margaret Wilson replied dryly.
«May I come in?» Olivia silently stepped aside, letting her mother-in-law in. Linda Carter came from the kitchen, hearing voices, and froze seeing the guest.
«And you’re here,» Margaret Wilson noted, pursing lips. «Well, even better. The talk concerns you too.»
«Go to the living room,» Olivia said, closing the door. «Want tea?» «No need for courtesies,» Margaret Wilson cut off.
«I came on business.» They went to the living room. Margaret Wilson remained standing, refusing to sit.
«Because of you,» she began, looking at Linda Carter. «My reputation is ruined. All acquaintances discuss me.
Library colleagues call with condolences. I had to turn off the phone.» «Because of me?» Linda Carter asked calmly.
«Weren’t you the first to publicly humiliate my daughter?» «It was a toast,» Margaret Wilson exclaimed. «Ordinary joke.»
«Joke?» Olivia stepped closer. «Calling me janitor’s daughter with such contempt before all guests at my birthday—is that a joke?» Margaret Wilson got confused for a moment but quickly composed herself.
«You all misunderstood. I just wanted to emphasize what path you took, Olivia. From cleaning worker’s daughter to office manager in a solid company.
It was a compliment.» «No need to lie,» Linda Carter said softly. «You knew well what you were doing…
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