Nina Peterson vividly remembers the day she had to decide the fate of another womans child. It was a Wednesday, and her husband, Victor, came home from work earlier than usual, his face darker than a storm cloud. Without a word, he handed her an envelope.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Veras gone. Without my consent, they cant send Dima to an orphanage.”
Nina had known about Victors son long before their weddinga common enough story. Victor had fallen in love while serving in the military. After his service, he brought the girl back with him, renting a small flat together. But his sweetheart quickly packed her bags and returned home. Later, a telegram arrived: “Congratulations, you have a son.” Whatever had gone wrong between them, Victor never spoke of it, and Nina never pressed. What was the point in dredging up the past?
When Nina was four months pregnant, the ex unexpectedly showed up with one-year-old Dima. She made a scene, demanding to rekindle things. Victor sent her away, choosing to stay with his wife.
Nina didnt blame himhow could she hold the past against him? Vera filed for child support, which Victor paid dutifully, and she never contacted them again. Years later, they learned she had married twice and, after her second divorce, took her own life.
By then, Nina and Victor had two children of their ownJohn, just a little younger than Dima, and little Emily, barely a year old. Theyd decided to have their second child after buying their own homea modest wooden house with four rooms, no modern comforts, but a garden, a shed, and space to breathe. After years in a cramped rented flat, it felt like heaven. John had spent a week running wild through the rooms and around the yard.
Raising another womans child That, of course, Nina hadnt expected. Shed last seen the boy seven years ago and knew nothing about him. What was he like? What had he endured? The thought terrified her. Her own little whirlwind was a handfulhow would two boys the same age get along? Victor worked long hours; the children would be entirely her responsibility. These thoughts flashed through her mind in seconds. Victor sat silently in the hallway, his face ashen.
Her heart clenched as she imagined herself in his place. What would she do if her own John faced such a fate? The answer came instantly:
“Victor, of course well take him in. What else would we do? Hes your sonour childrens brother. If we turn him away, how could we live with ourselves? Well manage. Where theres room for two, theres room for three.”
A month later, Dima arrived. Quiet, shy, obedientnothing like bold, mischievous John. Perhaps that difference saved themthe sudden older brother didnt try to lead but followed instead, and the boys quickly bonded. Little Emily, sweet and cheerful, diffused any tension with her laughter.
In autumn, Dima started school. He did wellhis mother must have prepared him. Money was tight, but Victor worked tirelessly, and eventually Nina found a job too. The children grew, becoming true helpers around the house. They never divided the boys into “ours” and “his.”
When Dima got into university, Nina fell seriously ill. Hospitalized for weeks, she underwent surgery. Fear gnawed at her, but she refused to despairshe had children still finding their footing, and she clung to the belief shed recover for them. She wanted to see them grown, happy, and to hold her grandchildren one day. But the ordeal broke Victor. He began drinking heavily.
At eighteen, Dima became the familys rock. Switching to part-time studies, he took a job and visited Nina nearly every day, reading to her, asking how to cook John and Emilys favourite meals, then bringing her samples. He hid the worst from herJohns brush with the law, his narrow escape from prison.
Nina recovered. Her marriage didnt. She couldnt forgive Victors weakness when she needed him most. Thankfully, the house was big enoughthey lived like strangers under one roof. He tried to quit drinking but kept slipping back.
A year ago, Dima brought home his fiancéea girl hed loved since nursery school. Training to be a psychologist, shes been working to free her father-in-law from the bottles grip. Life moves on. Soon, grandchildren will fill the housethe newlyweds are expecting twins.
Every day, Nina thanks God for her eldest son. She believes shes alive only because she once found room in her heart for a child who wasnt hers.
