– That's all he needed! – He thought aloud and sighed heavily.

At work, the guys made him set up a small table with alcoholic beverages.

They rebuked him for the wedding, and now he had to splurge. And when the guy arrived home, he was already a little tipsy, though he tried not to show it. Nadezhda had decorated the house with balloons and flowers, starting at the gate. He walked in, not expecting anything special, but immediately there was clapping and streamers sprinkled. The housemates and some of the other invited neighbors began congratulating him loudly on his birthday in one voice. He was dumbfounded. This had never happened before in his life. The dark winter evening was lit up with colorful lights and music. The hostesses had also done their best with the food; the table was full. Spartacus even broke into a little sweat of embarrassment. And Nadezhda, dressed in a beautiful, but simple dress with loose black hair on his shoulders, after a general greeting came up to him and touched his cheek with her lips. At that moment he ducked down and put his arm around her waist, pulling her to him. And instead of giving the girl his cheek, he covered her lips with his own. A little alcohol gave him courage and he finally did what he'd been dreaming of doing for the past few months. After a short but heated kiss, Nadezhda opened her eyes at him in amazement. The guy, unconcerned, continued to hold her in his arms, and kept his gaze fixed on her. He stubbornly expected some reaction from her, maybe she would slap him now, or send him away. But at that moment, those around her clapped and demanded to continue, like at a wedding, shouting their «bitterness. Nadia was embarrassed and smiled and turned away, without trying to push him away. Her behavior acted as a call to him and he ducked down again and took her by the chin, lifting her slightly, and kissed her. Just as briefly and gently.

And then… the taste of her soft lips and the scent of her body completely, deprived him of all peace until the night they were alone.

At the table after a long celebration, Uncle Pasha began a very painful topic, turning to the young people with a question about children. He was blurted out and his tongue was almost slurred, but he waited for an answer.

– We are not in a hurry yet, Uncle Pasha, – Spartacus hesitated. He drank little, fearing that the smell of alcohol to night might turn Nadezhda away from him. If he wasn't lucky enough to continue what they started before, at least he wouldn't have to sleep on the floor again.

– It's your thirtieth birthday, son, – the stepfather said in a serious tone, turning up his index finger. – If you have him next year, he'll only be ten at forty-one, – he said. Then he tapped his forehead, – he said, – use your head. The child should be raised on its feet, to teach some craft. Though, what's the use! – He pointed to his sleeping native son on the sofa and poured himself a hundred grams of vodka again.

Spartacus was sitting near his stepfather and patted him on the shoulder. – Stepan is still young, all in due time. And it's too early for me and the child … – he looked at his wife, who was looking at them both with fright, – we have to get our own house, we won't squeeze you! – he said and blinked at her. She sighed and nodded her head.

– We'll set you up here, – said the stepfather, waving a hand toward the yard, – you don't have to go anywhere.

He got up and staggered out into the street. Spartacus scratched the back of his head. Things were taking a serious turn. No one but the two of them and Nadia, didn't suspect that the marriage was a complete sham. And worst of all, he didn't want to believe it himself. Now he knew for sure that Nadezhda was the girl he wanted to have by side for the rest of his life.

The feast was over. Her mother emphatically sent her daughter-in-law to her husband's house and paired off with roommate to clean up.

Nadezhda entered the bedroom, feeling very uncomfortable, as if it were her first wedding night. Spartacus was lying on the bed and waiting for her. When she appeared in the doorway, he immediately got up and walked right up to her. Silently he drew her to him and began to kiss her. But already insistently and passionately. She let out a soft moan as his lips descended to her neck and he ducked down, picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. A veil of passion covered his eyes. Without asking, he began to kiss her skin as he went down, at the same time quickly undressing her and undressing himself.

Nadezhda in embarrassment moved away from him a little, as if she tried to escape. But he immediately pulled her back. He wrapped arms around her hips and covered her with his body. He began stroking her hair and gently kissing her lips, moving imperceptibly to her neck, whispering sweet words into her ears and kissing them. And when he felt that she had a little calmed down, he looked into her eyes and said softly, – be my wife. A real wife, Nadia. I love you.

In the morning, he put a wedding ring on her finger and flaunted his. Nadia smiled be surprised. She was still lying on the bed in one sheet; he was already in his home pants. Spartacus lay down again and reached for her with kisses.

– I thought you'd had boyfriends before, – he said with a warm smile, right on her lips. – I'm so glad I was wrong.

– It was impossible to do that with my father.

– I'll thank him from the bottom of my heart on occasion, – he said and began kissing her again, slowly moving over her body.

Henceforth they no longer concealed their sincere happiness. Spartacus never missed a moment when he was alone with his wife to avoid kissing her, or at least touching or stroking her unnoticed by the others. Nadezhda's cheeks hurt from the constant smiling. Katerina Aleksandrovna, in turn, gave her daughter-in-law another expensive gift. It was their ancestral jewel, bequeathed to her mother by her grandmother and so several steps up.

– The only time I almost sold it, – the woman confessed, – was when there was a fire, Spartacus was ten years old, we were left homeless and without a breadwinner. – She sighed heavily. She and Nadia were sitting on the couch, and the girl looked at her with understanding, taking her hand.

– Thank God I didn't, – Spartacus' mother continued with a smile, stroking her daughter-in-law on the cheek. – The brooch will remain in the right hands.

– Thank you for the honor, – Nadezhda spoke back to her with a smile and accepted the expensive gift.

– It's an emerald with diamonds, – the woman explained. – It is worth a great deal of money, but I would only want you to sell it as a last resort.

– Don't worry, Mother, we won't sell it and it will go to our children, – Nadezhda promised, which made her mother-in-law very happy. They hugged each other.

The New Year was also celebrated noisily and over the vacations, Spartacus and Nadia decided to buy a car. The trip to distant countries had lost its relevance, and the money was quite enough for a normal car. They went to Krasnodar and on the way back were already driving their car. Spartacus looked good driving a Kia Optima. And with the remaining money they bought some clothes for themselves and the rest of the household as a gift. Nadezhda was sitting in the front seat with an ironic expression on her face. Spartacus took her by the arm and made her pay attention. She looked at him and he, kissing the inner side of her palm, asked, – what are you thinking about, my love?

– I remembered our first trip to Krasnodar that night, – she answered. Spartacus tilted his head back and laughed.

– A fateful encounter, – he said.

– Yeah… Then when I saw your stepfather, I realized who sent you to me.

– Yes, he did. But it didn't matter. We really wanted to help you.