After laying her husband to rest, Anya made up her mind to tackle the clutter in the shed—a place her husband always kept off-limits. She let out a SHRIEK when she laid eyes on IT

Strong build, stocky with a small beard. Or have you seen him around? Didn’t recognize her? The man smiled. I’m Robert, remember, came to see you.

Anna gasped. Exactly the same Robert who was searching for his family’s treasure. She was so afraid he’d ask her for compensation for the jewelry.

Well no, it’s a good thing we parted ways, Robert. So you’re an archaeologist now. I used to be an archaeologist.

I teach at the institute. And then we got word that they found a burial mound. So I decided to check it out with my colleagues.

Then maybe I’ll bring my students here for an internship. Do you mind? How could I mind? Anna smiled. Who’s going to ask me much? It will probably be a shame that you had to stop working.

There is a little, but nothing, we’ll get over it. You sit down and have tea with us. We were talking like this.

Anna joined the group of archaeologists. Robert and his colleagues turned out to be sociable guys. They chatted.

They laughed. Anna left the field in a good mood. So much for the field.

Let the historians work. Soon it turned out that this mound was actually valuable. In it were found objects of everyday life of people, of their tribes.

Robert began to see Anna more and more often. Sometimes he came to visit her. They spent a long time in the gazebo.

Jack would hang around. What a wonderful son you have. Robert once said and sighed sadly for some reason.

Do you have children? Careful. Anna asked. No, my wife didn’t want to.

She kept saying she had to live for herself. Now it’s over. That everyone’s separated.

My wife, Robert, and I told her he’d been married for almost 10 years. His wife, Nancy, worked with him at the same institute. Everything was fine between them.

And then his wife confessed that she’d met her first love. And it’s been six months since they divorced? That’s sad. But I’m sure you’ll meet your love again, Anna said.

You’re a very good man and decent. I’m still so grateful to you. You didn’t make a fuss about those jewels.

You could have. I didn’t do the right thing back then. I should have turned in the jewelry instead of selling it to a third party.

You were saving a child. Robert answered her firmly. I had no moral right to demand anything from you.

Yes. But I confess to you, I have now spent some of the money on the development of my farm. Perhaps I should reimburse you for that amount.

We’ll harvest in the fall. Then I’ll be able to pay you back. You don’t have to pay anything back.

You invested the money in the development of the land, which means additional jobs. Life in the countryside. I see how hard you work.

I hear what people in the neighborhood are saying about you. What do they say? Anna smiled. That you are a very good leader and not a bad person.

Only that only happiness is not smiling at you. So one old lady in the store said my happiness is my son. Anna nodded her head confidently.

Robert smiled back and winked at Jack, who was already clearly mocking sitting next to his mom. Anna noticed it, and she wanted to take the boy in her arms. But Robert volunteered to help.

He brought Jack into the house. Anna laid her son down. Then they stood in the yard looking at the stars for a long time.

Anna, can I ask you another question? Robert asked, breaking the silence of the night. Anna shrugged her shoulders and nodded in response. Did you love your husband much? Anna only sighed.

Answered nothing and only nodded her head again. She raised her head and looked up at the sky. Once Michael was standing next to her.

And there was happiness. And then what had happened had happened. Her husband’s betrayal of him and his infidelity and his remorse.

And then Jack’s child, essentially a stranger, who had become his wife’s closest family. Anna looked at Robert and said, yes, I loved Michael. But it’s all in the past.

And they looked at each other carefully. Then, as if remembering, they both became embarrassed and began to say goodbye. In the fall, Robert left for the city.

So soon the school year would begin. He said goodbye to Anna on the way to the district center. The woman was just standing by the field and was looking carefully into the distance.

Thinking about something, Robert saw her from the car. And asked the cab driver to slow down. Anna turned around.

Hearing the noise of the car, Robert was already rushing towards her. Anna, I already thought that I would not see you for goodbye. Was there a shadow on the woman’s face? Yes, the lectures at the institute start in a week.

I have to be there. Although, to be honest, I don’t really want to go back. I like the field conditions.

Yes, I am accustomed to such conditions. Since student in archaeological trips was, I really like this way of life. But this time it’s for a different reason, which is I don’t want to leave you.

Robert looked into her eyes. Anna was confused and did not know what to answer. She too was sad that Robert was leaving.

She was used to their meetings, their conversations, their walks. But to say it was beyond her. I’m sorry, what confused you? Robert said quietly.

You reminding your own business, I was here. No, it’s fine. I was just planning to plant a garden on this spot years ago, but Michael never got around to it.

And now the ideas come to life. You think I can do it? You’ll do fine, Robert smiled. He suddenly took her hand and kissed it.

Then abruptly stepped aside. See you later. And walked with a quick step to the car.

See you later, Anna’s lips whispered. And then it was again winter-long cold. In the late evenings, Anna put her son to bed and sat in an armchair, covered with a blanket and remembered the events of the past years.

Yes, a lot of things had happened in her life. But somehow it all turned out to be just a dream. What would happen next in her life? Again work, home worries about her son.

All that’s fine and all that’s right. But her heart wanted something more. Anna realized that she was chasing these thoughts away, and she just wanted love.

And not just some phantom love, but real love. And there was someone she thought of all the time, Robert. But the man left, so she never called her.

She did not call him. And she out of pride. Yes, sometimes she wanted to dial his phone number.

But Anna restrained herself. What will she say to him, how are you? That’s all. She remembered their goodbye and her heart clenched sweetly.

It seemed to her that she could still feel the touch of his lips on her palm. He never called. Then one day, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door.

Anna and Jack were just decorating the tree. Anna thought it was Kate, a frequent visitor to their house. Kate, come in.

Anna shouted. The door opened and a man in a thick down coat and a hat appeared on the doorstep. She didn’t immediately realize who it was.

Finally, she recognized him. Oh, Robert. Uncle Robert joyfully shouted Jack and rushed to hug the guest.

Jack, I’m from Frost. Robert laughed joyfully and at the same time looked hesitantly at the babysitter. She stared, confused as not knowing what to say.

Presently, Uncle Robert took off his jacket and hugged her. Then you’re welcome. She finally realized she didn’t have to beg Robert twice.

He took off his jacket, hugged Jack tightly, and then handed him some kind of package. Here, I met Santa Claus on the street. He told me to tell you he winked at the boy.

Oh, Uncle Robert, I’m not a little kid anymore. You bought this, didn’t you? Jack laughed and pulled a big red remote control car out of the bags. Wow, it’s so cool.

The boy went to play in the room. Anna took the guest to the kitchen and poured tea. She was able to cope with her emotions and looked quite calm.

It’s a surprise. I hope you enjoyed it, Robert said. He paused and added, I’m sorry.

For what? For not calling. I couldn’t. And Robert told me what had happened to him.

When he arrived in the city in mid-September, Robert had a retake with third-year students. Among the students was a certain Maria, a girl who was stupid but had rich parents. She predictably failed the exam.

After Maria came to Robert at the department and begged him to give her at least a C. Robert only advised her to study the subject and prepare for the exam with the committee. Robert, be a man, give her a C, Maria insisted. Maria, you are wasting my time and yours, Robert told her.

He started filling out the report card. Robert, and I can be grateful. He looked at her in surprise and only shook his head.

Everyone knew that Robert was incorruptible and a teacher. But Maria had no intention of backing down. While Robert was filling out the report card, she stood next to him.

He didn’t even look at her, and then he looked up and went numb. Maria had unbuttoned her blouse and was staring at him intently. Don’t you want to? Quietly, she said.

Maria, fix your clothes. Only he said, you’ll be sorry, she whispered. And then the unimaginable happened.

Maria suddenly screamed loudly. Then she jumped out of the department and ran crying through the Institute. She made it look as if Robert had molested her.

She was against it. Then Maria told the dean that Robert had repeatedly molested her, and that’s why he fired her during the exams. And Maria believed all Maria believed, largely due to the intervention of her influential father, who had roared so much indignation.

Robert tried in vain to prove that it was all nonsense. He was suspended from his job, criminal charges were filed. It is not known how it would have ended, but helped his ex-wife Nancy, although she left him for another, was still a decent person.

Her current husband was a lawyer, and it was he who confused the case, insisted on a polygraph. It was only then that Maria was found to be lying. She was expelled from the university.

Even her father didn’t help. Before Robert, the management of the Institute apologized and invited her back to work. But after everything Robert could not imagine how he would work with students, communicate with colleagues who yesterday were ready to throw stones at him.

Robert quit. What to do next? He didn’t know. Yes, all this time he had been thinking about Anna, wanting to call her, to hear her voice, but he didn’t dare.

But just before Christmas, he suddenly realized he couldn’t do that. If you love someone, you have to tell them. And there he is at Anna’s.

They look into each other’s eyes. They I love you, Robert said quietly. I just want you to know that.

Except now I’m not a college professor, I’m just an unemployed guy. And I guess you don’t want that, do you? Yes, Anna whispered back. The three of them spent Christmas together, and it was the beginning of a new life.

And in the spring, Robert started to work actively. The former historian turned out to be a capable worker. He was especially good at gardening.

Having studied over the winter all the records and books of Anna’s ex-husband, he began to organize the garden. Apple trees, cherry trees, raspberries, currants. Robert started with simple plantings.

He was in the garden all day long. Sometimes he’d spend the night on the allotment. But he practically banished her from the garden when she tried to help.

You got enough work to do. Go to the office, Robert used to say. Of course, he didn’t work alone, he had five hired help.

And it was very hard work, the fruits of which are not immediately visible. And so five years passed. On the site of the former field were colorful young trees.

Apple trees bent from the branches of white cherries. Rows of raspberries and currants stretched in smooth rows, studded with large berries. Robert also planted in his garden plum pear.

There were apricot and apricot trees. There was a grapevine. Here for fruits and berries went not only residents of the district, but also from the region, as on excursions several times brought important officials.

In short, the glory of orchard rattled far beyond. A small village. Robert was very tired, but the orchard became his brainchild, the meaning of life.

Although he had other things in mind. His family. They themselves signed just after that first Christmas they spent together.

At first, Anna was all business too, but gradually she got sidetracked. The woman realized she just wanted to be a woman, an angel and a horse. Anna stayed at home more and more, occupied with her son, created a cozy field, and the farm was now managed by James’ son Timothy.

He had learned all the skills from his father and was doing quite well. Sometimes Anna, looking at the ears and the orchards in the field, the cow on the rise, thought. Could Michael have imagined that his business would turn out like this? He probably would have been happy.

But she remembered her first husband with a slight sadness, of course. And now she loved only Robert. And two years after the second marriage Anna suddenly felt bad.

She felt dizzy and nauseous. Anna had some doubts, but it was unbelievable. She went to see a doctor, and the doctor at the district polyclinic rejoiced her.

She’s pregnant. How could that be? I was told before that there was no chance. She asked the doctor.

There is always a chance, smiled the doctor. And your case is proof of that. When Robert found out about his wife’s pregnancy, he was the happiest man in the world.

There would soon be four of them. But he was a little wrong. In the fourth month, an ultrasound revealed that Anna was expecting twins.

And it was a total delight. Anna gave birth to a boy and a girl on her due date. Jack was especially happy.

Because now he has a little brother and a little sister. And he’s the big brother, their protector. The only thing that bothered the grown-up boy was whether he would be loved as before.

One day he asked his mom about it. My little one. Anna smiled.

Our love is not going anywhere. You will forever be our eldest and favorite boy and kin. Of course I will.

Why do you ask? Jack was silent for a moment, then confessed that Grandma Tanya, Anna’s mom had recently told him to say suratin. Jack knew that Papa Roma wasn’t his own. But his grandmother’s mom only sighed…