“Am I supposed to greet the guests myself? You mean, you’re going to go on vacation for a week?!”

and emotionally drained. For the first time, he understood what Lyuba had endured for years.

On Friday morning, Lyuba returned—rested, glowing, calm.

Behind him, his mother muttered pointed remarks. Lyuba looked around at the mess and simply said, “Looks lively.”

After politely seeing the guests off that evening, she sat across from Tolia.

“How was your continue reading …