“Enjoy. I’m heading home.”
“Why not stay the night?” Seva asked hopefully. He was counting on his mother-in-law to keep the grandkids occupied “after hours” so he could relax with his friends.
“No. My husband’s hungry—he’s called ten times already.”
“Well, then the kids will get the smartphone and the laptop—anything so they don’t get in the way,” he muttered.
Viktoriya dragged herself home. Nikolai was already sitting in the kitchen, spoon in hand. She fed him the blini she’d brought—she had no strength left to cook again.