Marina stood by the window of her countryside house, watching as the morning sun painted golden hues on the apple trees in the garden. Half a year ago, she could hardly have imagined waking up to birdsong instead of the city’s clamor. The divorce had been a difficult ordeal, yet it unexpectedly granted her a newfound freedom. After selling her apartment and dividing the assets, she purchased this cozy suburban cottage and transitioned to remote work.
Her twenty-year-old daughter, Alina, initially disapproved of her mother’s choice.
“Mom, are you turning into a recluse?” her daughter protested. “Live a normal life, stay in the city, meet new people…”
However, Marina felt more at peace here than ever before. Her job as a programmer allowed her to work from anywhere, and the cottage became her sanctuary. She cultivated a vegetable garden, planted flowers, and built a summer kitchen. For the first time in many years, her life belonged solely to her.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by a ringing phone.
“Marinka!” came a familiar voice. “It’s Sveta! Your cousin, remember?”
Indeed, she remembered. Svetlana was three years younger but had always been the center of attention. After school, their interactions had been infrequent, limited mostly to family celebrations.
“Hi, Sveta. How are you?”
“Alina told me you bought a country house! Good for you! I’m so happy! Can I come visit? I really want to see your little nest.”
Marina tensed slightly. She wasn’t prepared for guests, and her relationship with Sveta had often been strained. Yet, refusing family felt awkward.
“Of course, come by. Just give me a heads-up; I’ll be here to welcome you.”
A week later, Svetlana appeared at the doorstep accompanied by an unfamiliar man. As usual, she was brightly made-up, dressed in a fashionable gown and high heels—far from practical for a countryside visit.
“Marina, this is Igor, my new boyfriend,” she introduced. “He drove me here.”
Igor seemed pleasant but reserved. Meanwhile, Svetlana marveled at the cottage.
“It’s so beautiful here!” she exclaimed, moving from room to room. “And look at the well-kept garden, the summer kitchen! Marina, you live like in a fairy tale!”
Marina offered tea and homemade pie. Svetlana chattered incessantly about her job at a beauty salon, new acquaintances, and future plans.
“By the way,” Svetlana suddenly said, “my birthday is coming up—thirty-eight. I want to celebrate somehow special. Marina, what if we host it here? It’s so lovely, surrounded by nature! I’ll invite a few friends, you bring yours… It’ll be fun!”
Feeling uncomfortable, Marina hesitated. She was unaccustomed to noisy gatherings, and the cottage was her place of solitude, not entertainment.
“Sveta, I don’t know… It’s quite modest here, and I’m not used to hosting many guests…”
“Oh, come on!” Svetlana waved her hands dismissively. “No big deal! Just a casual outdoors get-together. Please, Marina! I really want to celebrate here, in this beautiful spot!”
Marina wavered but found it hard to refuse. After all, Svetlana was her only cousin, albeit a distant one.
“Alright,” she agreed. “Just not too many people, and let’s keep it civil.”
“Absolutely, absolutely!” Svetlana beamed. “Thank you, dear! I’m so happy!”
They settled on a Saturday two weeks later. Svetlana left in high spirits, leaving Marina puzzled. Something about her cousin’s behavior unsettled her, though she couldn’t pinpoint what.
In the following days, Marina prepared thoroughly. She bought new garden furniture and cleaned the house and yard meticulously. Svetlana called twice to clarify details but evasively answered questions about the guest list.
“Oh, it’ll be just a few of us,” she said. “Five or six people, no more.”
On the morning of the party, Marina made final preparations: salads, baked meats, and a cake—all ready by noon. She awaited her guests anxiously.
The first to arrive was Svetlana, not alone but with a group. Seven people stepped out: the birthday girl, Igor, two friends with their husbands, and another man.
“Hi, Marina!” Svetlana called cheerfully. “Here we are! Meet Tanya and Oleg, Lyuda and Vitia, and Seryozha—my closest friends!”
Marina greeted them hesitantly. The number exceeded her expectations—but there was more. Thirty minutes later, another car pulled up with four colleagues.
“And these are my coworkers!” Svetlana announced. “They also wanted to congratulate me in this beautiful setting!”
Marina’s unease grew. Eleven guests invaded the veranda and garden, chatting loudly and laughing.
“Sveta,” she quietly addressed her cousin, “you said five or six people…”
“Oh, right!” Svetlana laughed. “You know how it goes—one invites another, who brings a third… But it’s not a problem, right? Your place is big!”
Marina remained silent inside, tightening with anxiety. Calculating the food, she feared it might be insufficient.
“Please, take a seat,” she said, forcing hospitality. “I’ll bring everything out soon.”
Yet another surprise awaited. As she started bringing dishes, a guest asked, “Where’s the cake? And the champagne? It’s a birthday, after all!”
Marina froze. The single cake she had purchased was modest, and she hadn’t bought alcohol since she scarcely drank.
“I… I didn’t expect so many people,” she stammered. “There’s a small cake, but alcohol…”
“Marina,” Svetlana called loudly, silencing conversations. “This is your cottage; you offer the treats!”
A heavy silence hung over the table. Marina blushed, realizing she had been trapped. Svetlana had planned to celebrate at her expense without revealing the true number of attendees.
“I understand,” Marina said slowly, “but I prepared only for a small group. Could someone perhaps go to the store?”
“Why bother?” one of Svetlana’s friends protested. “The host should have everything! We’re guests, after all!”
“Exactly!” her husband agreed. “What’s the point of visiting if we have to bring our own?”
Marina sensed the situation slipping away from her control. The guests clearly expected her to provide everything. None even thought to bring flowers for the birthday girl.
“Alright,” she said, pulling out her phone. “I’ll order some food and drinks.”
Finding the nearest restaurant, she began arranging additional supplies. The bill was steep, but she had no choice.
As she spoke on the phone, the sound of the gate opening caught her attention. Looking up, she saw her daughter Alina arriving.
“Hi, Mom!” the young woman called out. “Aunt Sveta phoned, invited me for the birthday. I thought I’d surprise you!”
Though glad, Marina also felt an increased embarrassment. Now Alina would witness the unfolding chaos.
“Mom, what’s going on?” Alina asked, approaching. “Why are you ordering food? Didn’t the guests bring anything?”
“Not now, Alin,” Marina said softly, ending the call.
But Alina had grasped the situation. Her eyes swept over the table crowded with guests, and her expression darkened.
“Aunt Sveta,” she spoke sharply to the birthday girl, “this is your birthday, right?”
“Yes, darling,” Svetlana smiled. “Thank you for coming to congratulate me!”
“So where’s your treat?” Alina demanded. “Where’s the cake and drinks you brought?”
Svetlana looked flustered.
“Alina, dear, we are guests here…”
“Guests?” Alina retorted. “You came to celebrate your birthday at my mother’s home and expect her to host? Seriously?”
The guests fell silent. Marina felt her daughter’s protective stance warmly but also with some embarrassment.
“Alina, don’t,” Marina pleaded.
“No, Mom, I have to!” Alina insisted. “Aunt Sveta, you are an adult. If you want to throw a birthday party, you should provide the provisions yourself. Using my mother as a free restaurant is unseemly!”
“But she agreed herself…” Svetlana began.
“She agreed to provide the venue, not to feed your whole company!” Alina interrupted forcefully. “Mom, cancel the order. Let Aunt Sveta handle all the purchases for her birthday.”
“Alina, what are you saying?” Svetlana protested. “We are family!”
“Exactly why you should be ashamed of treating my mother like this!” Alina responded. “Mom, don’t pay for it!”
Marina glanced at her daughter, then at Svetlana and the quiet guests. Alina was right. She canceled the order and put away the phone.
“Sveta,” she said firmly, “if you want to celebrate your birthday, you must take care of the food. I will provide the space and dishes, but I won’t feed the entire group.”
“How can you!” Svetlana exclaimed. “We had an agreement!”
“Our agreement was for a small gathering,” Marina replied calmly. “You brought eleven people. None of them even brought flowers.”
An awkward silence settled. Guests exchanged glances unsure of how to respond. Finally, Igor stood up.
“Sveta, the ladies are right. Let me go to the store and buy what’s needed.”
“I’ll come with you,” another man added. “It’s embarrassing otherwise.”
Svetlana sat red-faced with anger and shame, clearly surprised by the turn of events.
“Fine,” she muttered. “But I won’t forget this.”
“There’s no need to remember,” Alina answered calmly. “Learn this for the future: if you want to celebrate your birthday, prepare yourself and don’t use others to pay.”
Some guests left to shop, the rest stayed trying to improve the mood. The party went on but Svetlana’s irritation was palpable. She stopped chatting and gave brief replies, eager to leave soon.
After the guests departed, Marina and Alina remained to clean up.
“Thank you,” Marina said to her daughter. “Without you, I would have spent a fortune on someone else’s birthday.”
“Mom, you’re too kind,” Alina shook her head. “Aunt Sveta has always taken advantage of that—since childhood, I remember.”
“You’re probably right. I just didn’t want to spoil family relations.”
“Mom, relatives who exploit your kindness aren’t worth keeping. True loved ones never put you in uncomfortable situations.”
Marina hugged her daughter, grateful for her support and strength. It seemed she had raised her well.
“You know,” she said, “I doubt Sveta will ask to visit again.”
“Good!” Alina laughed. “Now you know how to handle such people.”
They finished tidying as the sun set. Marina brewed tea, and they sat on the veranda enjoying the calm.
“Mom,” Alina suddenly said, “can I come visit you on weekends sometimes? It’s so peaceful here.”
“Of course, dear. You’re always welcome.”
“Unlike some other relatives,” her daughter smiled.
Marina laughed. The lesson was learned. Going forward, she understood kindness needs boundaries, and hospitality should never come at personal sacrifice.
Svetlana never called again. Apparently, she realized her plan to use her sister as a free caterer had failed. Marina was not upset. She recognized that genuine loved ones cherish kindness instead of abusing it.
And the cottage once more became her quiet refuge—a place to savor peace and invite only those truly dear.
“True family values are proven not by presence alone but by respect and consideration each shows to the other.”
Key Insight: This story highlights the importance of setting personal boundaries and recognizing the difference between genuine support and exploitation, especially within family relationships.
In summary, Marina’s journey from city turmoil to countryside tranquility taught her invaluable lessons about self-respect, family dynamics, and the true meaning of hospitality.