Carefully packing items into boxes, Anna didn’t notice her mother approaching from behind:
— Well, dear, you’ve left the door open again? Strangers could just walk in.
Shrugging, Anna replied:
— No one’s coming here, Mom! I’ve got nothing to fear. When Steven was alive, every day felt like it could be my last. Now that’s all behind me, so I decided to sort through his things and take them to the countryside house.
Looking at the contents of the boxes, Elizabeth Mary pointed to the tools:
— Keep those, they’ll come in handy. You never know when you might need to fix something, and getting a repairman is such a hassle: either their tools are broken, or they don’t have them at all. These are useful for the house. But the clothes will just take up space, and the fishing gear—take that to the countryside too.
Pausing for a moment, Anna said:
— Maybe I’ll give the fishing stuff to Alex. He’s a fisherman, right? What do you think, Mom, would he say no?
Elizabeth Mary smiled faintly:
— Oh, please, when has your brother ever turned down someone else’s things? He’ll take them, and probably grab some extras too. But tell me, how are you planning to move forward? Money’s not an issue, but what about your personal life?
Anna frowned but found the words to respond calmly:
— Mom, it’s only been two months, and you’re already trying to set me up. Honestly, Steven wasn’t the worst man. Look at Sarah—she’s been struggling with Brian her whole life. They’ve got kids who see it all. Are you saying I wasn’t happy with Steven? No, Mom, even though his job kept me on edge, I was glad to have him by my side.
To be clear, Anna’s late husband had worked in the police force. Naturally, his job sometimes involved tasks that would make anyone’s hair stand on end. But as he always said:
— It’s my sacred duty to protect people.
Until one day, he stepped on the wrong rake…
That day, Steven and his team went to apprehend a gang and didn’t come back alive. Anna remembered that incident because she believed in her husband and thought no bullet could touch him. So her mother’s words about moving on with her personal life felt untimely. Anna decided she’d live for herself—finding a decent man for a serious relationship these days was no easy task. Nodding in agreement, Elizabeth Mary said:
— You might be right, dear. A good man who takes responsibility is hard to find these days.
Loading the boxes into the car, Anna drove her mother home, then headed toward the countryside house. On the way, she called her brother:
— Alex, I’ve got something interesting for you. If you’ve got time, swing by the countryside place—you’ll see what I mean.
Alex was quick and arrived before his sister.
— Anna, you’ve made my day! I love fishing, and with good gear, it’s pure joy. Hang on, what’s with your face? You look like a scolded schoolgirl who’s been chewed out all day.
Anna walked silently into the yard before responding:
— Just a hiccup at work. A new production manager’s starting soon. Word is he’s strict and overly principled. I’d just gotten used to the old management. Now I’m wondering if he’ll start cleaning house.
Alex laughed loud enough for the whole street to hear:
— Sister, you’re killing me! With your track record, anyone would be jealous. Don’t worry, the new boss won’t touch you. And if he gives you trouble, you know who to call.
Anna had no doubts about that—her brother would move mountains and turn the earth upside down if needed. Opening the door to the countryside house, she pointed to the boxes:
— Take these up to the second floor. I’ll make lunch, and when you’re done, come down, and we’ll eat together.
Half an hour later, Alex finished moving the boxes and joined her in the kitchen. Sitting by the window, he said dreamily:
— I’d love to live here, but my Linda won’t budge. She’s used to city life—no amount of convincing will get her to move to a house. Tell me, what do women want?
The question was delicate and deeply personal, so Anna pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and covered her eyes. Alex realized he’d asked the wrong thing:
— Sorry, Anna, I forgot you just lost your husband. Sometimes it feels like women are impossible to please.
Wiping her face, Anna sat next to him:
— Oh, you silly Christmas miracle, you should cherish your Linda, not pick fights with her.
Alex didn’t entirely appreciate his sister’s lecture but took it in stride because he respected her opinion. Besides, Anna was four years older, giving her an edge in life experience. After lunch, the siblings decided to tidy up the countryside house. Their mother rarely came here due to her health, so it was a good chance for them to clear their heads and get some work done. By evening, they prepared to head back.
— Come on, sis, it’ll be fine. He’ll show his tough side at first, then settle down.
Anna looked at her brother quizzically:
— Who are you talking about, Alex?
Waving her off, he said:
— Your new boss, the one starting at your workplace. Don’t be scared of him—he’s not a monster, really!
Anna got into the car and replied:
— True, we’ve never had devils at the factory. I just hope this guy doesn’t have horns growing out of his head, or I’ll lose it.
On the drive, Anna recalled her conversation with her mother and decided to ask Alex’s opinion:
— Hey, do you think Steven and I were a good couple?
Caught off guard, Alex hesitated:
— I’m no expert, but I guess if a wife cooks on time, does the laundry, and doesn’t shy away from intimacy, that’s already the dream.
Realizing his mistake and that the question was too complex for him, Anna shifted gears:
— Alright, let’s stop by your place. I want to see Linda.
While Alex bragged to his friends over the phone about the fishing gear he’d scored, Anna talked with his partner. Linda listened attentively to Anna’s thoughts on her personal life and concluded:
— Don’t write yourself off just yet. Give it time. If you feel you need a man’s support, then go for it. But if you’re managing on your own, don’t dwell on it.
Anna wanted to chime in, but Linda cut her off:
— And listen, your mom’s a wise woman. Of course, she wants her daughter to be happy. Don’t forget that, and take care of her so you won’t need advice from strangers later. — At that moment, Anna glanced at Alex, and Linda, reading her thoughts, added: — And don’t count on him. He’s good at breaking down doors with his forehead. Strength aplenty, brains not so much. For physical help, sure, go to him, but don’t expect sage advice.
Linda might’ve been right, but from Anna’s talk with Alex at the countryside house, he didn’t seem dim at all. Maybe he just didn’t want to show off, like: “I know this, I know that, come to me, I’ll fix everything.” No, Alex was humbler than a shy maiden in that regard. But for his sister, he’d take on anyone, no matter their size or status.
After visiting her brother, Anna returned home, overwhelmed by a wave of loneliness so intense it was unbearable. She wanted to howl at the moon like a wolf, but she found the strength to keep her spirits up. A life full of possibilities lay ahead.
In the morning, she was woken by the doorbell. Dragging herself out of bed, she shuffled to the hallway:
— Who’s there so early?
A gruff male voice answered:
— Your downstairs neighbor. You’ve flooded my place.
Anna flung the door open:
— How? I never leave the faucets running. Come see for yourself—everything’s fine in my kitchen and bathroom.
But as they stepped inside, their feet landed in a wet puddle.
— This is what you call fine? It’s a regular Atlantis in here, lady. So, what’s the plan?
Anna suggested calling the emergency service:
— Let them handle it. It’s their job to replace pipes.
Indeed, water had pooled in the kitchen overnight and seeped to the floor below. The culprit was a leaking radiator, spilling its contents onto the floor. Surprisingly, the affected neighbor smiled and said:
— Alright, I can see you’re a responsible homeowner. Your faucets aren’t even dripping, and I’ve just got a small stain on my ceiling. No big deal—I’ll paint over it, and it’ll be good as new. Just make sure the plumbers install a proper radiator to replace the old one.
As it happened, her mother’s advice about keeping tools proved useful. Within an hour, two plumbers arrived, but they didn’t have a second pipe wrench to attach the valve. Luckily, Anna hadn’t taken the tool box to the countryside. Handing over her late husband’s tools, she added:
— Here, get to work, and make sure it’s done right the first time.
The plumbers nodded and set about fixing the flood’s cause. Then her phone rang.
— Anna, darling, hi! How’s it going?
It was her colleague, who also had the day off.
— I’m fine, just dealing with repairs. My morning’s been lively—I flooded my neighbor, and he’s oddly thrilled about it. Wait, why are you calling so early? Got big news?
Her colleague nearly burst out laughing:
— You’re spot on! Yes, it’s about the new production manager. They said his arrival was delayed, but now word is we’ll see him tomorrow. So, Anna, brace yourself for an interesting meeting. We’ll be sizing him up and admiring the view.
Talk about unbeatable female logic. Anna didn’t linger on the call and simply said:
— Alright, we’ll find out tomorrow.
Hanging up, she resumed overseeing the plumbers. The maintenance crew worked hard and fixed everything in two hours. Anna appreciated their effort and paid generously. She went downstairs to confirm her neighbor had no further complaints. He did, but he also tried to ask her out. Anna declined, citing a busy schedule.
She spent the rest of the day at her mother’s, arriving shortly after cleaning up the kitchen. Elizabeth Mary sat her daughter down and placed a slice of apple pie in front of her. Nibbling at it, Anna said ruefully:
— Someone asked me out today, but I turned him down.
Her mother’s curiosity piqued, and she pressed for details about the man who’d taken an interest in her daughter. Calmly but vividly, as if painting a portrait, Anna described her neighbor in full. Listening intently, Elizabeth Mary clapped her hands with joy:
— There you go, dear, a golden chance to start fresh. Don’t tell me you didn’t like him.
Anna tilted her head and replied:
— I knew you’d jump at the chance to marry me off again. Stop it, Mom. I’ll decide how to live my life. If I want to, I’ll find a man myself. For now, I don’t need one.
That night, she stayed at her mother’s, and in the morning, she drove straight to work. Barely past the entrance, she heard a familiar voice:
— Hey, how’s your mood? Ready to check out the new boss?
Anna shushed her colleague to avoid embarrassment. After changing, she entered the workshop and ran into the technician:
— Good morning, Anna. Remember what we discussed last time: stick to the instructions, no bold experiments.
Anna nodded. Moments later, an engineer approached:
— Come to the production manager’s office. He wants to speak with you.
After navigating three corridors, they reached a spacious area lined with doors, behind which engineers worked. Stopping at a door marked “Production Manager,” Anna knocked but got no response. The engineer shrugged and said:
— Maybe he stepped out. Wait here for him.
But Anna was eager to meet this new boss. Opening the door, she stepped inside and nearly fainted when she saw a familiar framed photo on the desk. Her eyes didn’t deceive her—it was a picture of her late husband, Steven. Overwhelmed, her legs buckled. Just then, the office’s occupant appeared:
— What’s wrong? Let me help you.
He guided Anna to a couch and sat beside her on a chair. Once she’d calmed down, he asked:
— Are you having health issues?
Anna waved her hands, nearly shouting across the room:
— You? But… how? This can’t be—you died.
Confused, the manager was about to call an ambulance, but Anna stopped him, pointing to the photo:
— That’s my husband, who I buried.
Raising his eyebrows, he still didn’t understand:
— No, you’re mistaken. That’s my photo.
Anna pulled a notebook from her bag, where she kept a picture of her husband:
— Look, this is Steven, my husband, if you don’t believe me.
Glancing at the photo, the manager paled and stammered:
— Did he really exist? Have I been lied to my whole life?
The question was rhetorical, and he said no answer was needed. Instead, he began to explain:
— My name is Michael Frederick, just Michael to you. My parents—or rather, the people who raised me—never mentioned anything like this. Maybe they kept some secret from me, but it doesn’t matter now. It’s a shame my brother left this world so soon. We could’ve had so much to talk about.
After work, Michael offered to walk Anna home and look at more photos of Steven. He also needed a personal item Steven frequently used to confirm their relation.
A DNA test later confirmed they were brothers, though it was already clear they weren’t strangers. Michael speculated they might’ve been separated at birth, but with their parents gone and Steven leaving no trace, it was impossible to know for sure. Anna only knew from Steven that an aunt had raised him before disappearing.
The link to their past remained elusive, but Anna found someone closer than a friend, if not quite family. After Michael settled into his role at the factory, Anna earned a promotion. Soon, her mother learned about Steven’s brother. Now, they often gather at Elizabeth Mary’s home to maintain some semblance of family ties.
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