<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d Nina asked, spatula in hand, without looking down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe need to talk. Without mom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He leaned on the shaky railing beside her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNina\u2026 you upset my mother. Her blood pressure was twenty over ten yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d Nina shrugged. \u201cShe should take her pills. Your request is insolent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInsolent?!\u201d Marat bellowed above the wind. \u201cIt\u2019s helping the family! You have two apartments! Two! And my brother lives in a dump. You know how lucky he is that Larissa even looked at him? If there\u2019s no wedding, she\u2019ll leave. You want to ruin his life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nina smoothed excess mortar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMarat\u2026 why don\u2019t you earn the money for his wedding yourself? Aren\u2019t you a man?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t touch my money!\u201d he growled. \u201cThe apartment\u2026 your father gave it to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy father worked his whole life to give me security,\u201d Nina said, ice in her voice. \u201cNot to spend it on your brother\u2019s wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFine,\u201d Marat said, closing in. \u201cMom\u2019s already spoken to the realtor. They\u2019ll come tomorrow to take pictures. Give them the keys.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd if I refuse? You hit me? Force the door?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t provoke me. We are family. If you don\u2019t sell, your life will become a hell. I don\u2019t need a greedy wife.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He spat into the courtyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTonight. Papers. On the table.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Part 3: Valerian and Musty Air<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Galina Petrovna\u2019s apartment greeted Nina with the scent of fried potatoes, old shoes, and corvalol. Cardboard boxes cluttered the entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the living room sat everyone involved. Victor\u2019s lame leg stretched across a chair. Larissa, overdone with garish makeup, perched on the armrest. Galina Petrovna sorted receipts with sharp precision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh, here\u2019s the benefactor,\u201d Victor sneered. \u201cSo\u2026 when do we get the money? We\u2019ve already paid a deposit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m here to make it clear,\u201d Nina said, voice steady. \u201cI will not sell the apartment. I will not give money for the wedding. Not fifty thousand, not a penny more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow dare you?\u201d Larissa shrieked. \u201cMarat said everything was settled!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMarat lied to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou want to shame us?\u201d Galina Petrovna roared. \u201cI\u2019ve already taken out a loan! You\u2019ve put us in debt!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou brought it on yourselves,\u201d Nina replied calmly. \u201cVictor\u2026 why should your wife pay for your wedding?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGo to hell!\u201d Victor shouted. \u201cYou have two apartments!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n