All the money earned over 10 years, mom and dad changed into hundred-dollar bills and put them in a stash. It was for Valya's apartment. Wise parents decided not to spend money on expanding housing conditions, but to give their daughter, albeit a small, but their own, personal apartment, especially since the daughter, according to her mother, was already marriageable.

That's how Valya lived in the kitchen for all ten years, waiting for a prince on a white horse who would take her to a one-room apartment given by her parents. Valya was afraid to dream about a prince with his own flat. Where can she, with her gray mouse-like appearance, compete with Moscow beauties. There are not enough princes with apartments, there will not be enough for everyone, Valya for sure.

The girls went into the kitchen and sat down on a comfortable Ikea sofa.

– Nina, coffee, tea? Valya asked out of politeness, and herds of wild mustangs were already jumping in her stomach.

– No, thanks.

– Well? – Valentina began to lose patience. – If it's difficult for you to start, start with the main thing!

– Valya, I am pregnant with Ilya's child, – said fourteen-year-old Nina and wept bitterly.

Chapter 4

If Nina, from shock and lack of intelligence, did not yet realize the full scale of the tragedy, then Valya, crushed by the news, like a bag of manure, was terrified of the upcoming consequences.

And while Valya was sitting in a silent stupor, Nina began her story, worthy of the Russian programs "Let them talk" and "Windows".

It all started from the very first day of Ilya and Nina's acquaintance. Natasha brought her new boyfriend home and enthusiastically described her, as it seemed to her, final and only choice to her mother and sister. Mom, Tatiana Sergeevna, reacted calmly to Ilya, she liked Vadim more, she got used to him and called him practically her son-in-law. But she did not hinder or condemn her daughter's decision to separate from him. Ilya on the first evening was cheerful, sparkling, polite and charming.

He was far from Ostap Bender, but it was clear to the naked eye that there was something of a crook in him.

While Natasha and Tatiana Sergeevna were setting a festive dinner in the kitchen in honor of their acquaintance, Ilya went into the small bedroom of the two-room apartment, which served the girls as a bedroom, a nursery, and an office. The room had a comfortable two-story white bed, a desk and a pink sofa. The desk, pathetically forged in walnut, served the girls as a dressing table and a night table at the same time. There was a small make-up mirror on it, several bottles of perfume from popular brands from the famous store, two cosmetic bags (bigger and smaller) and a box with jewelry. Ilya noted with an experienced look that the girls are not spoiled with jewelry, expensive cosmetics and perfumes. Nina was sitting at the table and writing something in a pink notebook.

– Nina, won't I disturb you? – Ilya quietly entered the room.

Nina visibly became nervous and blushed. By the bright blush that appeared on his cheeks, it was clear that the teenager was flattered by the attention of a twenty-five-year-old man. Nina looked up from her notebook and smiled:

– I'm preparing an essay on literature, I need to write my thoughts about Bunin and his "Dark Alleys", although for me it's complete bullshit.

Nina tried to look cool, modern and express herself accordingly.

Ilya came closer and sat down on the edge of the sofa. He looked with interest at the girl, who had already begun to turn into an adult woman. She had beautiful skin and bright blue eyes framed by black eyelashes, her hair was more dark brown than light, but still, in general, her face created the image of a young light girl. The figure, not yet collapsible, but having every chance to turn more than one guy's head, was still being formed, as was the feeling of self-confidence at the sight of a male representative. She and Natasha were very similar in their habits and manner of conversation, both calm, not too talkative, even secretive, they talk about such things on their own minds. And if Nina's appearance was bright, then Natasha, the eldest, turned out to be a faded copy. Although the girls had hair of the same color, Natasha often tinted them in lighter tones, and she got gray eyes from her father, less expressive, with the same gray and expressionless eyelashes. Tatiana Sergeevna's husband and the father of Natasha and Nina's sisters was a very good, gentle and kind person. Konstantin Vladimirovich Zotov worked all his life at an enterprise in the Kapotni district, Konstantin Vladimirovich died when Nina was a year old, and Natasha had just started first grade. Tatiana Sergeevna didn't tell the girls much about her father, tried to translate the topic, but she never got married a second time. She worked as a dentist in a public institution, and then moved to a private clinic because of a higher salary, where she remained on a permanent basis. She spoke little about her late husband, but positively. And if you ask the girls what they remember about dad, none of them will really say anything except the general phrases of their mother.