13 Confessions

I inhale the pleasant scent of blooming plum trees growing near my building with a full breath. I adore spring for its brightness, those incredible smells, and the unusual feelings inside, promising the beginning of something new and thrilling. Everything comes to life, and it fills you with a good mood and an exaggerated sense of optimism.

On the fifth floor of our apartment building, someone has already started washing their windows ahead of time, while Uncle Vanya from the second floor has only now bothered to throw out his Christmas tree. The neighbor from the first floor is fussing in our flowerbed, loosening the soil where bright little flowers will soon sprout. The particularly active residents of the yard are painting the trees and the curbs with white lime. Everything is being renewed and pleases the eye.

The end of April this year is delighting us with unusually warm days. I’d even say hot, but it’s very deceptive. It’s enough to take off your clothes, and a cool breeze will blow over you—and a sick leave is guaranteed. And I don’t need that, so I’m walking in a light jacket, looking disapprovingly at the carefree youth almost dressed down to T-shirts.

Today my mother came to visit me and happily offered to stay with my little monsters while Danil invited me to our favorite café. My mother met him once, and she really liked him. So my parent gladly shoved me out the door to this meeting, hoping I would sort out my personal life and wrap this handsome brunette around my finger.

Truth be told, getting him wrapped around my finger wouldn’t take much effort, because I can see he still likes me. Despite everything, he remained in my life. After my refusal, we didn’t stop communicating; later he even had other girlfriends, but he always found time for me.

It’s shameful to admit, but several times he even ran around fulfilling my cravings during my pregnancy. It was enough to casually mention in our chat that I was craving hot ketchup like crazy, and within an hour, a jar of that delicious stuff was waiting in the hands of a smirking guy. He’s a good one, and I’m glad we met that evening.

“Hi, beautiful,” Dani greets me, giving me a side hug.

“Hi,” I smile back.

“And where are the little ones? I thought you’d bring them,” the guy said in surprise as we sit down on the café couches.

“They decided to stay home. They said: ‘Mom, take a break from us,’” I laugh, opening the menu.

“I see. They’re so clever, those two,” the brunette plays along, examining me with interest. “I even kind of miss them already. You’re raising some good men.”

I’d love to blurt out “just like their father,” but I barely know their father—and actually, don’t know him at all. A shadow of sadness passed through my heart, and Danil clearly noticed.

A waitress approached us, and we made our order. Dani chose an americano with a Napoleon cake, and I ordered a latte with a honey cake.

I’m allowed! I’m a breastfeeding mother of two, after all! They’re already sucking all my strength out along with the milk. Although… maybe it’s time to wean them already…

A little more than a month is left until the boys’ first birthday. It happened so that they were born early—like most twins, actually—and they managed to come into the world on the last day of spring, the thirty-first of May.

“Listen, I wanted to tell you something,” the brunette suddenly got shy and smiled sweetly. “My father sent me an invitation to an event. He really wants me to merge into his business and is trying to pull me into it in every possible way. I turned him down last time, and this time I really need to go so I don’t escalate our relationship even more. How about going with me?”