On her way home, Liza stopped by the grocery store. After gathering everything she needed, she headed toward the alcohol aisle. It had been ages since she and her husband had treated themselves to a romantic evening with a bottle of light wine. They used to sit up late, talking about anything and everything…

Those evenings the wine went down easily. Her husband became cheerful, witty; Liza relaxed quickly, laughing at every joke. Both enjoyed that feeling of lightness and freedom, as if their old spark reawakened. And then they would go to bed…

Now, standing in front of the shelves, Liza studied the labels uncertainly. She never understood wine and always trusted her husband’s choice. At that moment another young woman approached the aisle, grabbed a bottle without hesitation. Afraid she’d walk off, Liza hurried to speak:

“Excuse me… I know nothing about wine. Could you recommend something for dinner?”

The woman turned, and suddenly a memory flashed in Liza’s mind: a student dorm party, a classmate introducing his girlfriend… They had even planned to marry. But later she and Ivan broke up.

Liza was surprised she remembered Natalia’s face so clearly, while Ivan’s name came only with effort. Memory works in strange ways.

“Natalia?! What a surprise! What are you doing here?”

At first, Natalia didn’t recognize her.

“I’m Liza — I studied with Ivan,” she prompted.

“Liza… Oh! Right. Where else could we meet but by the wine shelves?” Natalia laughed, and Liza joined in.

“I live nearby. And you? I’ve never seen you here before,” Liza said, curiously examining her.

“I’m visiting someone. Didn’t want to show up empty-handed, so I ran in for wine. And you — celebrating something? Remember how much we used to drink this brand?” she said dreamily. “This one is feminine — sweet, light. You can’t go wrong.” She pointed at a bottle.

“No special occasion. Just wanted something for dinner.”

“If it’s dinner with a man, better take this one,” Natalia said, taking another bottle. “Less sweet.”

“Alright, I’ll take it.” Liza put it in the basket.

“So, dinner with a man? A romantic date?” Natalia teased.

“Something like that. Just want to surprise my husband.”

Liza quietly studied Natalia. Same age, but Natalia looked ten years younger — groomed, slim, tanned, with long chestnut hair. Natalia caught her gaze.

“You look great,” Liza blurted quickly.

“Thanks,” Natalia replied — without returning the compliment.

They paid together and stepped outside. Natalia pointed her key fob at a car, which blinked in response.

“Want a ride?”

“No, I’m close — I live in those buildings.” Liza gestured.

“Oh! I’m headed there too. Forgot the exact address. Here—” She handed Liza the bottle and pulled out her phone. “Damn, dead battery.” She took the phone and bottle back with a sigh.

“Come to my place, then. If it’s an iPhone, I have a charger.”

“In another situation I’d say no… but why not? Let’s go. We’ll drink to our reunion.” Natalia lifted the bottle playfully.

They got into the car; Liza named her building and entrance.

“You’ve lived here long?” Natalia asked in the elevator.

“Five years. You’ve never been here?”

“No. I wanted to make a surprise.”

“Are you married? You were engaged to Ivan… I don’t remember why you split,” Liza asked casually.

“It doesn’t matter. I was married later, then divorced. Now I’m planning to marry again,” Natalia said, watching Liza as if weighing how much to reveal.

“Any children?”

“No.”

“I have a daughter. Fifteen already,” Liza said proudly.

“Did you marry someone from our class?”

“No. You don’t know him. We met after you and Ivan broke up, before final exams.”

“I saw Sveta Pavlova recently,” Natalia switched topics. “She’s huge now. Three kids! Who would’ve thought?”

Liza wondered whether Natalia was shocked more by the three kids or by Sveta’s size.

They entered the apartment.

“Wow!” Natalia exclaimed, looking at the spacious hallway.

“Who are you visiting? Maybe I know them?” Liza asked.

“Then I definitely won’t say. What if you do know them?” Natalia winked.

Liza went to the kitchen, hearing delighted exclamations from the room.

“What does your husband do?” Natalia asked, stepping into the kitchen. “Wow, again!”

“He’s an engineer. A well-paid one.”

Liza put groceries away, set out two glasses, a corkscrew. “Open it — I’ll peel potatoes.”

The wine turned out sweet and pleasant. Liza finished her glass quickly.

“I thought you were going to see a man — and you bought sweet wine?” Liza teased. “Let me get the charger. Give me your phone.”

“I’m seeing a man. I’m in love. He’s wonderful but married. Can’t bring himself to tell his wife he wants a divorce. So I decided to help him.”

“Help? By coming to his wife’s home? Saying: ‘Hi, I’m your husband’s lover. Move aside’?”

“You disapprove?” Natalia detected her tone.

“I’m not the morality police,” Liza shrugged. “Not my business.”

“Let’s have another drink,” Natalia said.

“Maybe I should fry the potatoes first? Or I’ll get tipsy…”

“It’s light wine — you won’t. And we’ve got two bottles.”

“To our reunion, then!” Liza raised her glass. “Maybe we’ll never see each other again.”

“Or maybe we’ll become neighbors. Visiting each other all the time.” They clinked glasses.

“Are you thinking of starting a ‘Swedish family’?” Liza joked.

“No. I won’t share him with anyone. He’ll divorce her. I’m the woman of his dreams.” Natalia drank half her glass. “I’m done waiting. It’s been six months. He still can’t leave that fat chicken.”

“You’ve seen her?” Liza asked sharply. “How do you know she’s fat?”

“Oh please. They’re all the same. Buying groceries by the bag — got their men and let themselves go. Soups and cutlets on their mind.” Natalia spoke with venom.

“He must’ve loved her when he married her. Aren’t you afraid?”

“Of what? That she’ll pull my hair? Nah. They freeze from shock first…” Natalia smirked.

“So this isn’t your first time? You’ve done this before?” Liza stared at her.

“You can’t break what’s already broken. If he loved his wife, he wouldn’t be with me.” Natalia poured more wine.

“Mom, hi. Hello,” a girl’s voice said.

“Your daughter? She’s beautiful. Hi! What’s your name?”

“Lika.”

“Lovely name!” Natalia slurred slightly — the wine was kicking in.

Lika left. Silence filled the kitchen. Liza chopped potatoes.

“Nice apartment,” Natalia said eventually.

“So… six months. And what if he never leaves her?” Liza resumed.

“He will. I’m his dream, remember? Their kid’s grown anyway. I want one of my own.”

“You…” Liza set down the knife, turned. “You’re vile, Natalia. A real snake — tearing apart someone else’s family.”

“Easy for you to say. You’re married. A nice flat, a gorgeous daughter. And me? Live alone forever? Time’s running out. No single men my age left — only boys or old men. Who should I marry? All the good ones are taken.”

“By chickens,” Liza added. “Ever think that once you steal him, you’ll become his next ‘chicken’? He cheated with you — he’ll cheat on you. You’ll have a baby, gain weight, and turn into a hen, like us. He’ll get bored and find someone new. You’re not a girl anymore. What are you now, forty? Though I admit, you look good.”

“Thirty-five,” Natalia said stiffly. “Didn’t expect this from you…”

“You know what? Get out,” Liza snapped.

“Liza, come on… I’m not going after your husband.”

“You better not.” Liza grabbed the knife again. “I’d scalp you. Make a winter hat out of it.”

Just then the front door slammed. Liza dropped the knife and hurried out.

Natalia poured the remaining wine into her glass and downed it.

“Well, who’s visiting us?” said Romain as he entered the kitchen, wrapping an arm around Liza’s waist.

Natalia smiled — then froze.

“You?!” she breathed.

“What are you doing here?” Romain asked, stunned.

“You know each other?” Liza looked between them.

“So Liza is your wife?” Natalia pointed her empty glass at Liza.

“Yes. I’m his wife. The fat, stupid chicken. Right, darling?” Liza said sweetly, shaking off his arm.

“Liza, let me explain—”

“Don’t touch me. Is this your dream woman? You… bastard. Get out — both of you!”

“Liza, please—”

“No! You cheated for six months. Six! Came home from her, pretended to be tired, ate my dinner, slept in my bed… Get out!”

Romain left. Liza collapsed into a chair and burst into tears.

“Mom?” Lika appeared in the doorway.

“You heard?”

“You were shouting… Mom, don’t cry.”

“I didn’t know… I never thought he could… be so cruel…”

Later, after washing her face, she glanced out the window. His car was still by the entrance. “Walked away on foot? Or sitting down there?” It shouldn’t have mattered — yet it did.

He came back in the morning.

“What do you want?” Liza asked coldly.

“To change clothes. Can you make coffee?”

“No. Didn’t your dream woman brew you any?”

“I slept in the car.”

“Not my problem. Change and leave.”

“Liza, I’m sorry. She—”

“Don’t tell me she dragged you into bed by force. I don’t want to know. Leave!”

He came every day afterward, calling, apologizing. Yes, he’d cheated. Yes, he got tangled up. But he didn’t want a divorce. Never…

“Mom, forgive him,” Lika begged. “Just try. He’s staying at Uncle Slava’s.”

“You pity him? What about me? He lied, betrayed—”

“But he regrets it… Mom, please…”

Before New Year, they went to the movies together, then walked through a decorated shopping mall.

“Dad, come! I’ll show you what I want to get Mom for New Year,” Lika said. Liza turned away, pretending to study ornaments.

They disappeared. Liza wandered through the aisle — then met Natalia’s eyes.

Her breath caught. Natalia, linked arm-in-arm with another man, whispered something to him, and they walked out. Liza sucked in air, steadying herself.

“Mom, we’re here,” Lika said, running back.

“Let’s get something to eat,” Romain suggested.

“Let’s,” Lika said, taking both her parents by the arm. The three of them went downstairs to the café.

At the table, Liza kept glancing around, but Natalia was gone. She relaxed a little. They ate pizza, talked about New Year plans.

“Maybe we can go to Aunt Sveta’s dacha?” Lika suggested.

“Dimka would be thrilled,” Romain said, winking at Liza.

“Oh Dad! I told you that in secret!” Lika blushed.

“Oh please. Not much of a secret — everyone knows you like each other. I’m fine with it,” Liza smiled.

“Then it’s settled — we’re going to Sveta’s dacha,” said Romain.

“Yay!” Lika exclaimed.