“The weather changes, you get low pressure, humidity intensifies, the granules swell, so the water won’t filter properly. The coffee will come out bitter and burnt,” she said, twisting the dial another millimetre to the left. “A little more space between the blades and it should be fine.”

Andrei shrugged.

“The pressure has dropped, true enough. My leg’s playing up.”

The noise of the grinder drowned out his voice. Once she was done with the grinding, Maria washed the cups.

“He’s got different handwriting.”

“Hmm?”

“Definitely not my ex. He has completely different handwriting.”

“You what? We can call the military enlistment office, let them pay him a visit.”

“You don’t need to call anybody.”

“Okay, whatever you say. And don’t leave the water running. The metre’s spinning.”

Maria turned off the tap and smiled: “Fusspot.”

“Space cadet,” he answered. “Money’s going to be tight this month. They’ve not sorted out payments for the soldiers. They still haven’t compiled the reports from the fighting we did this spring, the money won’t arrive until they do. You wouldn’t know there was a war going on, would you?”

“This is worrying.” Maria watched the sink emptying slowly. “The drain must be blocked.”

“And what’s that got to do with what I just said?”

“Money. We have no money for plumbing.”

“How many times have I asked you not to pour the grinds into the sink? That’s what the toilet is for.”

“The coffee? Down the toilet?”

“Wherever.”

“I’ll pour it into your cat’s bowl.”

The cat kept rubbing at Maria’s feet. She frowned and shoved him away.

“Shoo! What else do you want? You just ate.”

“Hey, what the hell?”

“This cat won’t eat anything other than his fancy food, it costs more than our ham. When you go to the gym in the morning, he sneaks up and jumps onto my face and wakes me up. And he keeps missing the litter box. You know how I feel about smells in the flat.”

“I think he’s picked up on it. Maybe that’s why he’s doing it.”

“Ha. Ha. Very funny. Just make sure you don’t end up having to choose between me and this vandal. Have you seen what he did to the table legs and the new sofa?”

“They’re just things, they can always be repaired.”

“With what money?! I’m the one working. They must just be things for you—not for me. I have spent so much of my money on this stuff, every scratch hurts.”

Andrei shook his head, leaned forward, and drew his eyebrows together. His pupils contracted with irritation.

“God, is that really what you think? You’re an intelligent woman. You should have a broader view on things!”

Maria rolled her eyes.

“I don’t owe anyone anything.”