“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 isn’t anything ordinary. I even suspect what you’re thinking now. Think it over, 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 to her.

I’d known Ivan Petrovich for three years. He owned a chain of gas stations and other businesses. Tatiana worked as a cleaner at one of those stations. She always greeted the staff kindly and spoke with a friendly tone. Overall, she was a good person.

The pay at the gas station was decent, and there were many people interested in working there. About two months ago, after cleaning, Tatiana was sitting outside: her shift was almost over, and she had some free time.

Suddenly, the door to the staff 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 good day.”

She smiled and sat back down.

“Yes, it always seems to be nice in spring.

“That’s because we’re all tired of winter.

“Maybe you’re 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 schedulemy 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 there. That’s why we take turns with Larisa when necessary. She always helps out.”

I understand… And what’s happening with the little girl?

Oh, don’t even ask… The doctors don’t even fully understand. She has seizures, she can’t breathe, she panics, a lot of things. And the tests are serious and expensive. They say we have to wait, that maybe she’ll get over it with age. But I can’t wait…

Well, hang in there. Everything will be okay.

Tatiana thanked him. And that evening she learned that Ivan Petrovich had given her a bonusno explanation, he simply 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 proposal, she felt even worse.

Ivan Petrovich had a son, Stas, who was almost thirty. 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, and an almost total rejection of communicationeven with his father.

And then Ivan Petrovich had the idea: to marry his son off. Really. To give him a purpose, a will to live, a will to fight. He wasn’t sure it would work, but he decided to try. And he thought Tatiana was the ideal person for the role.

Tatiana, you’ll live with complete care. You’ll have everything. Your daughter will receive all her tests and treatment. I’m proposing a one-year contract. In a year, you’ll leave, no matter what. If Stas gets better, great. If not, I’ll reward you generously.

Tatiana could not utter a word: indignation overwhelmed her.

Ivan Petrovich, as if reading her thoughts, said softly: “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’ll be in a respectable position, legally married. Imagine that you’re marrying not for love, but because of circumstances. I only ask you: don’t tell anyone about this conversation.”

Wait, Ivan Petrovich… And your Stas? Does he agree?

The man smiled sadly.

“He says he doesn’t care. I’ll say I have problemswith 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 there, paralyzed. Inside, she seethed with indignation. But his direct and sincere words softened the harshness of the proposal somewhat.

And if I thought about it… what wouldn’t I do for Sonya?

For everything.

And him? He’s also a father. He loves his son too.

She hadn’t even finished her shift when the phone rang:

“Tatiana, hurry! Sonya’s having a seizure! It’s really bad!

“I’m coming! Call an ambulance!”

He 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 ruin the child’s nerves. I wish they could go to the capitalto 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 left.

Ivan Petrovich came in person, accompanied by a clean-shaven young man.

“Tatiana, take only what you need. We’ll buy the rest.”

She nodded.

Sonya looked curiously at the carbig and shiny.

Ivan Petrovich crouched down in front of her:

“Do you like it?

“Very much!

“Do you want to sit up front? You’ll be able to see everything that way.

“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 grew more nervous.

“Oh my God, why did I agree? What if he’s strange, aggressive…?”

Ivan Petrovich noticed her concern…

Tania, calm down. There’s still a week until the wedding. You could change your 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 stood still, staring at the house. It wasn’t just a building: it was a real castle. And Sonya, unable to contain herself, shouted 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?

“Very much!”

Until the wedding, Tania and Stas saw each other only a few times, at dinner parties. The young man barely ate, barely spoke. He simply sat at the table, as if his body were there but his mind elsewhere. Tania 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 was living 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 like a hundred people were hovering around Tania. The dress arrived literally the day before. When she saw it, she plopped down on 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 they had to cover their ears. Then came the fitting: the little princess paraded proudly around the room, beaming with happiness.

At one point, Tania turned around and saw Stas. He was standing in the doorway of her room, looking at Sonya. A faint hint of a smile shone in his eyes.

The girl now lived in the room next to her bedroom. Her bedroom. Before, Tania would never have imagined finding herself there.

Ivan Petrovich suggested they go to the country house, but Stas shook his head: “Thank you, Dad. We’ll stay here.”

The bed in the dormitory was enormous. Stas kept his distance, showing no intentions. And Tania, who had planned to spend the night on guard, unexpectedly fell asleep right away.

A week passed. They began talking at night. Stas turned out to be incredibly intelligent, with a sense of humor, interested in books and science. He never once made any attempt to get close to her. Little by little, Tania began to relax.

One night he woke up abruptly, his heart pounding.

“Something happened…”

She ran to her daughter’s room. There was what she’d been so afraid of: Sonya was having a seizure.

“Stas, help me! Call an ambulance!”

A second later he 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 modern equipment. Then the attending physician arrived. They deliberated for a long time, after the attack had passed. Tania remained with her daughter. Stas was at her side, holding the little girl’s hand.

“Tania,” he asked quietly, “has this happened since birth?

“Yes… We’ve been to so many hospitals, done so many tests, but it’s been no use. That’s why my ex said not to ruin his life.

“And you loved him?”

“I guess 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 run into. And when I saw you, I was shocked. You’re not at all 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? If 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… 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 assembled 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 was embarrassed. For Sonya. For you.”

Someone knocked on the door. Ivan Petrovich’s head appeared in the frame:

“May I come in?”

“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 was pulled out suddenly and her temporal bone was damaged. From the outside, everything’s healed; you can’t see anything. But inside, it’s pressing on a nerve.”

Tania slumped 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 said 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 does it cost?”

Ivan Petrovich looked at her in surprise.

“That question no longer concerns you. 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 could no longer understand: where was her home really?

Stas called every day. They talked for a long timeabout Sonya, about themselves, about small things. It seemed as if they had known each other their whole lives.

And time passed. The year of the contract was coming to an end. Tania tried not to think about what would happen next.

They returned in the afternoon. Ivan Petrovich arrived with themsomber, tense.

“Something happened?

“I don’t know how to put 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. He turned on the light and began collecting 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 puzzled.

Well… just for a while… Sonya’s healed now. So you have no reason to stay with a cripple anymore.

Tania straightened up.

“Did you mean ‘next to an idiot’? Stas, I thought you were strong, smart, that you’d make it. Was I so wrong?”

He lowered his head: “Forgive me… I think I didn’t make it.”

And I’m home now. Maybe we can 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 would soon walk, and perhaps then run.

And Tania… it was time to go.

“Maybe offer her 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, 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 remained silent. Then, suddenly, he stood up, hugged the three of them, and began to cry. Loudly, as if he feared it was a dream.

She was cryingfrom happiness, from relief, from the fact that her family had finally become real.