“Why are you sitting out in the cold?” asked Mrs. Galina, wincing from the frigid air.
The girl looked up at her with sad eyes. The woman seemed about forty-five, no older. She appeared graceful and well-groomed, yet there was a hint of sadness about her.
“Sorry, I’ll leave if I’m in the way!” was all she said.
“I’m not chasing you away. I just wondered why you’re sitting here. It’s winter, you know,” the woman inquired more gently.
That day was particularly cold, with the wind howling. It wasn’t fit weather to be sitting on a bench without purpose.
“I have nowhere to go!” the girl replied and started crying.
Her name was Caroline, and she truly had nowhere to turn. A few days ago, her own father had thrown her out. She had come to this city to stay with her mother’s sister for a while.
Caroline’s mother had passed away three years ago. After her death, her father, Alex, started drinking heavily. Things got worse by the day, and after three years, they became unbearable.
Alexei, her father, often brought home strange friends. Sometimes they bothered his daughter, but even after she complained, her father wouldn’t help. She had to fend for herself. After a row with his so-called mates, her father simply kicked her out.
“Get lost! No one needs you here! You’re just a freeloader!” he shouted as she left.
Caroline went to her Aunt Mary’s, hoping she would take her in, but the apartment had no room for another person. Mary already had three children. Plus, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law with a child were also staying. They all squeezed into a three-room flat.
Mary had no choice but to suggest Caroline go back to her father.
“Go back; he’ll take you in. Cry if you must. Ask for forgiveness if needed. You have every right to live there. He’ll come around!” Aunt Mary had said, without even offering tea.
Caroline left. She felt hurt, but going back to her father wasn’t an option. Nothing good awaited her there.
She wandered through the snow-covered streets until she was tired and decided to rest a bit on a bench, when the stranger approached.
“How do you mean nowhere to go? You’re still so young! Aren’t your parents around?”
Caroline was already eighteen. She was a student at a college. It was the holiday season, and she hadn’t thought everything through as she rushed out of her house. Only during her long walk did she realize how tough things would be.
“Not anymore,” the girl softly said, burying her nose in her knees.
She sat on the bench, drawing her legs up to warm herself. Her hands had turned blue from the cold, her nose was running, and snowflakes kept sticking to her eyelashes.
Mrs. Galina felt sorry for the girl. She herself had a son a bit older. You couldn’t just abandon children in trouble, even if they weren’t your own.
“Come along with me. At least I can offer you some tea. Your teeth are chattering!” she suggested.
Caroline agreed. They went up to Galina’s second-floor flat. It was spacious and, most importantly, warm. The girl finally began to feel warmth seep in.
“Fancy some soup?” offered the hostess.
Caroline nodded gratefully. She hadn’t eaten since the previous evening. When a bowl of hot soup was set before her, Caroline devoured it as if she hadn’t eaten in years.
After the meal, she shared her story with her new acquaintance. Mrs. Galina shook her head in disapproval.
“It’s all so sad. You know, stay here with me. We’ve got enough room. My son is in the army, won’t be back for two months. But we have three rooms. Stay until you figure things out.”
“Where’s your husband?” the visitor asked.
“He passed away five years ago. I still miss him. It gets lonely, you know? It’s nicer with company. So you’re welcome here. I’d enjoy the company, and so would Whiskers. Isn’t that right, Whiskers?” she asked the ginger cat grooming himself near the table.
Caroline felt awkward, more like very awkward, but she accepted. She had nowhere else to go, felt unwanted by anyone.
So they started living together. Galina immediately took to the girl who was polite and well-brought-up. Apparently, her mother’s education hadn’t been erased by three years with an alcoholic father.
Caroline was neat and not afraid of housework. She cleaned diligently, washed the dishes, and gladly learned to cook.
Caroline had to leave college, but she decided to apply to another school the following year.
Mrs. Galina helped her find work while she wasn’t studying. Her good friend worked in a local shop and took the young inexperienced girl on as a sales assistant, albeit cautiously, but later even thanked Galina.
“You’ve recommended a good worker! Hardworking, modest, and not foolish.”
Caroline was very grateful to Mrs. Galina for taking her in and often expressed her gratitude. She tried to help out however she could, not wanting to feel like a useless boarder. They had become friends.
Even Whiskers the cat grew attached to the young houseguest, enjoyed sleeping on her bed, and followed her around like a shadow.
After two months, Galina’s son returned from the army. Caroline saw him for the first time when he came home in his uniform, flowers in hand for his mother. Before that, she only saw his photos on the shelf. And those mostly were from his childhood. He was quite striking.
After embracing his mother, Mike finally noticed the guest.
“Hey, who are you?” he asked, surprised, seeing the slender blonde in a house dress.
“Oh, son, this is our guest. Her name’s Caroline. It’s a long story. She’ll be staying with us. I hope you two get along! No teasing, she’s a lovely girl!”
“I didn’t plan to! Thought you might’ve rustled up a sister while I was gone! Had I known, I’d have brought another bouquet!” he joked, smiling at her. “Nice to meet you!”
Caroline couldn’t say anything. She just stood there staring at him. She was so taken with him. After a few moments, she regained her composure and looked away.
Back from the army, Mike had become strong and sturdy. Even his mother was surprised by his transformation into such a robust young man, while Caroline saw him as her ideal. It’s often said the army makes boys into men.
Mike, after about a week of rest, was also on the lookout for work. He planned to enroll in university that autumn, but until then, he didn’t plan to rely on his mother.
So they lived together, mostly meeting up in the mornings and evenings, and otherwise busy with work.
Mike and Caroline quickly found common ground, being close in age with shared interests. They often chatted aimlessly or watched movies together in the evenings. They hardly noticed how attached they grew, yet not as siblings.
Caroline couldn’t make the first move, fearing it might upset Mrs. Galina. Mike also hesitated, unsure if their feelings were mutual. Only the mother noticed everything. She saw that something more than friendship was growing between them, but she didn’t interfere.
One evening, Galina pondered this situation. She tried to determine if she would like Caroline as a daughter-in-law. Yes, Caroline had many qualities she’d appreciate as a future mother-in-law. That’s when Galina decided to give the young couple a nudge.
When summer arrived, she bought two tickets to the seaside. She intended to go with her son but eventually claimed office duties were urgent, preventing her from leaving. Using this pretext, she sent Mike and Caroline on holiday.
“Don’t dilly-dally, or someone might snatch her away!” she cheekily told her son.
Mike got the message. His mom wasn’t wrong. They returned home as a couple in love, and within a month, announced their wish to marry.
Although some might think it a rash decision, Galina didn’t object.
After all, good daughters-in-law didn’t grow on trees. Sometimes, you’d find them on a bench outside your building on a cold day, but that was rare. She knew she was lucky. So was her son.
Of course, neighbors whispered behind her back. Some acquaintances even told Galina she’d made a mistake marrying her son to a penniless girl. They said she erred, but Galina was certain she’d done the right thing.
Even many years later, Galina never regretted taking in the frozen girl, warming her, and inviting her into her home, for Caroline became a kind and faithful wife to her only son. She loved him dearly, made Galina a grandmother to three charming grandchildren, and gave her many warm memories.
