In the village, everyone calls her Frodya. Only her late father and her beloved Pavel—whom life separated from her many years ago—ever used her full name, Aphrodite. He grew jealous over a young detective, rushed off to the city in the heat of the moment, and stayed there.

The years went by, youth slipped away, and there wasn’t a single day of happiness in Frodya’s life. And now Pavel has returned, but not alone: he’s brought his three little ones to visit his mother. Frodya’s heart gave a jolt, as if they’d parted only yesterday…