When I hear the expression ‘the wife always knows,’ I can’t help but think of Mama. I wonder if she knew.

Vlada was the one who broke the news of the affair. It was the Sunday before Thanksgiving, our second one in America, and I was sitting in the living room, playing Stewart the fox. I heard a loud knock on the door and went to open it.

“Is your mother at home?” It was Vlada. She was out of breath. Her face was grim. Without waiting for an answer, she rushed into the house. She didn’t bother taking off her shoes or her jacket.

“Lydia!” Vlada screamed, opening the kitchen door.

“What happened?” I heard Mama’s voice.

“It’s Philip.”

“Philip?”

“Yes. Sit down.”

“What is it?” Mama yelped. I hit ‘pause’ and perked my ears.

“We were at Ikea, Boris and I.” Vlada’s voice cracked. “I wanted a new china cabinet, you remember, Lydia. So we were over there, that place is a maze. And I heard someone speaking Russian. So I told Boris to be quiet, and I saw them!”

“Who?” Mama’s voice was faint.

“Philip and that woman. From the birthday.”

“What? That can’t be. Philip is at the gym. Swimming.”

“No, Lydia, he’s with her. They were acting like a real couple. They didn’t see me. So I rushed out of there, with Boris, and we drove straight back. So I can tell you in person.”

“Philip is with Marina? But that’s his cousin.”

“No, Lydia, she’s his mistress. I’ve called Zhanna to come over. She’s on her way now.”

”Zhanna?”

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At this point I’d stopped the game completely and was standing by the kitchen door, listening, but hearing that Zhanna was about to come over, I ran back to my spot in the living room. And just in time. A minute later there was a knock on the front door and Zhanna waltzed in.

“Lydia! I am so sorry!” She rushed to the kitchen, paying me no mind. I crouched in the corner, listening.

“It all makes sense now, doesn’t it?” Vlada’s low voice said.

“So it’s true? Philip…oh, how could I have been so stupid!” I wanted to tell Mama it was a bad word.

“I think Lydia needs to hire a lawyer.” Vlada said. “I have a friend, she filed for divorce, and she got alimony. Lots of money. Do you know how much Philip makes?”

“I don’t know anything.” Mama wailed. “I can’t believe this. Oh! God!”

“Lydia, calm down. Better you know the truth.”

Mama started crying.

“What do you expect? He’s just a man!” Vlada jumped to Papa’s defense. “You didn’t think he’d spend five years alone, did you?”

“I did!” Mama said through the tears.

“You poor thing. You were busy raising his kid all on your own, waiting!” That was Zhanna. She was speaking about me and I wondered why raising me was such a big deal. I was practically raising myself. I frowned and turned the game back on.

“But now you gotta plan. You can’t leave the guy until you get your papers. You have your green card, and now you gotta get your citizenship.” Zhanna continued.

“That’s another two years.” More tears.

“So just wait the two years. Whatever it takes. And then you file for divorce.”

“So I just pretend like nothing happened? Like I don’t know he’s been cheating?”

“I say, sleep on it. Wait until a few days have passed. Don’t do anything rash.” Vlada boomed.

“But I don’t think I can control myself.”

“Here, have a drink. Calm your nerves. Your blood pressure is probably sky-high.” I could hear the sound of a liquid being poured, Mama drinking, then coughing, then drinking again.

“That’s my girl. Relax, it’s just life. You’re in America, you’re the one who’s married to the guy. He brought you and the two kids over here. He chose you. You get it?”

“Yes.” Mama’s voice was calmer now. “He did.” I could just imagine her staring at a distance.

“Think of the children.” Zhanna noted, pleased that she’d managed to calm Mama down. “Little Ryder will thank you later.”

“His mother is a real piece of work.” Mama said.

“That she is. That she is. But they all are. Never met a mother-in-law who wasn’t a total disaster.” Zhanna said. “The stories my clients tell me!”

“But this one, she brought the mistress to her grandson’s birthday party! What kind of monster does that?” Vlada chimed in.

After that I tuned them out and focused on the game entirely. There was more drinking, crying, toasting, talking. I was fully into Stewart and paid them no mind. It wasn’t until an hour later, just when Papa was due to come home, that Vlada and Zhanna shuffled out of the kitchen. Mama followed her girlfriends out.

“I’m so lucky to have you by my side.” I heard her say.