- This is a very generous reward.

- But you didn't even look at how many there are.

- And it doesn't matter. - The fortune teller winked at me and looked expectantly at Galya. - So you won't ask anything?

The friend suddenly became embarrassed and said quietly:

- I can’t get pregnant ... We have been trying for half a year, and we are healthy ...

I froze. What kind of friend am I!? The fact that fortune-telling is necessary not only for me, but also for Galya, I somehow did not think, although I had known about her feelings about the child for a long time.

- And then you came late for advice. You are already carrying a child under your heart. And not one.

Galya froze like a pillar, compressed her lips, and her eyes sparkled suspiciously. Now it will burst. If the old woman lied to her or made a mistake, I will return and personally strangle her. Then I’ll pump it out, of course, well, in vain did I take emergency courses?

I fussed, thanked Grandma again, and pulled my friend toward the exit. We left the house in silence. Only on the street Galya asked:

- And what do you think about your divination?

And she has such a trembling voice.

- I think we can't figure it out without wine. And now we urgently need to buy pregnancy tests in this pharmacy. What if you can’t even drink anymore, why buy wine in vain?

Galya sniffled, I hugged her and said:

- So, Uvarova, do not become limp at all, you must at least get to the house. Let me buy the tests myself, then quickly to me.

Gleb was already approaching such a familiar house on Kosmonavtov Street, when he suddenly froze. From the entrance in which Zinaida Gavrilovna lived, two girls came out. One he saw for the first time, but the second was definitely familiar. Nastya Kostoprav. It was her without a doubt. That's just how they skidded to the fortune teller? And he was sure that the girls were definitely from Zinaida, and not from someone else. Years of experience have taught me that such accidents are rarely accidental.

Gleb followed the girls to the pharmacy. Nastya bought a pregnancy test. The man frowned; for some reason, the thought that she might be pregnant by her ex-husband hurt her. Although, it would seem, what does it matter to him.

- Good afternoon, Zinaida Gavrilovna. How are you doing?

- Come on in, son, tea is in the kitchen. And here you go, eat. - She pushed the bowl of bagels to the man, slyly looking at him from under lowered eyelids. Yes, fifty years ago, this woman, apparently, was still that heartbreaker.

Gleb knew Zinaida Gavrilovna since childhood. He and her son Andrei were best friends until he died in a stupid fight at a club. Young werewolves are very impulsive. And under the influence of alcohol it is generally difficult to control. After that, to this day, Gleb looked after the woman, becoming her like a second son. And the fortune-teller sometimes provided invaluable services to their clan in the field of her professional activity, reporting to Gleb information about clients, which could be useful for the wolves.

- Thank you very much. Zinaida, tell me, please, - Gleb began insinuatingly, - I met two young and beautiful persons near your house, they are not from you by any chance?

"From me," Granny nodded.

- Is there anything I should know? - Gleb tried his best not to show his true interest.

- No, - Zinaida Gavrilovna, with angelic innocence, took a small sip of tea.

- That is, the fate of at least one of them has nothing to do with werewolves?

- Oh, connected, how!

- Then, Zinaida Gavrilovna, it looks like I should remind you of the clause of our agreement that you do not have the right to tell clients about werewolves or events related to them. And vice versa, to provide me with information that can influence the fate of the clan.

- Well, what are you! I have never broken a contract.

“Then it won’t hurt you to explain yourself.

- Oh, it's easy. Remember, I told you that the less people know about a possible future, the more chances it has to come true. And if its main characters become aware of it, then even the strongest version can be distorted. Sometimes, the future just needs to be allowed to happen.

Of all this enlightening speech, for some reason Gleb caught only one, so exciting for himself:

- That is, I am in her future?

The old woman nodded.

- Did you doubt it? But is it good? Gleb, be careful with this girl. I didn’t say much to Nastya, but I didn’t lie that her future was not predetermined. Still very foggy. To be honest, I'm confused myself ... Well, enough about that. You better tell me old woman who you're going to the annual ball with.

- Her name is Ket, one very pretty fox, - Gleb answered, but his thoughts hovered around another girl. Blondes, not redheads. And yet, for whom is that test: for Nastya or her friend? But Zinaida knows, as she knows that he is interested in it. But he won't say it's harmful.

When the door closed behind the man, Zinaida Gavrilovna poured the rest of the tea into her cup and sat thoughtfully by the window. A fine spring rain began and passers-by, so small from the height of her apartment, began to fuss even faster. On the day when she first saw Nastya, twenty-three years ago, it was also the beginning of spring and it was also raining. Then the newborn girl was brought to the fortune teller by her father. Nastya's father. With a request to reveal the secret of her future.

A little over an hour later, we were already sitting at a table in my apartment, holding our breath. Of course, I asked if Galina wanted to take the test with her husband, but he was away until Monday, and she was not able to wait another whole day in ignorance. Which is understandable.

I myself have only once passed a detailed test. It was a year after the wedding, I was twenty, Max and I were not sure at the time if we wanted a child. However, when the test showed a negative result, I felt disappointment and an incomprehensible emptiness inside, as if longing for the failed. I'm even afraid to imagine how difficult it will be for Galya if the pregnancy is not confirmed now.

A minute has passed. One wand appeared. Our hearts have stopped. But then the second one slowly began to appear.

- Two sticks!? Tell me exactly two!? - Galya clutched at my sleeve with a death grip. - Nastya, check the instructions again, please. Is that really positive?

Galya pressed her hands to her face, tears rolled from her eyes and she was shaking a little.

- Galya, the result is accurate. You are pregnant!

I hugged my friend and we sobbed together, buried in each other's shoulders.