Dasha and Egor had married a few years earlier.
The relationship had progressed rapidly, but even Egor’s mother had approved of Dasha from the beginning. With her energy and optimism, Dasha brought color and liveliness into their lives.
Egor had a habit of deflecting conversations about children. Dasha noticed but didn’t press him.
She gave him space, gently hinting at her hopes without pushing too hard. But the thought of becoming a mother never left her mind.
What made things easier for her was the surprisingly warm relationship she had formed with her mother-in-law.
Dasha often turned to Anna Vasilyevna for advice and companionship. They’d spend afternoons chatting over tea, laughing, and cooking together. Their bond was genuine.
This weekend, the couple was visiting the dacha. Dasha adored the place — lush gardens, blooming flowers, and fruit trees made it a little haven.
She especially loved foraging for mushrooms and cooking meals fresh from the garden alongside Anna Vasilyevna.
That day, they had planned to make borscht using homegrown beets and cabbage.
But just as they were about to eat, Dasha realized they were out of sour cream and eagerly offered to ride to the village store to get some.
“Don’t touch the borscht until I’m back!” she yelled as she rode off.
“Come on, son. I’ll grate some salo for the borscht,” Anna Vasilyevna said. “The neighbor gave me some — it melts in your mouth.”
As they returned to the kitchen, Egor suddenly blurted, “Mom, I need to talk.”
“There’s something I’ve kept from Dasha. It’s been weighing on me for a long time.”
“What is it? Does she know?”
“No. No one does. But I can’t keep hiding it. She keeps asking why we haven’t bought a place yet.”
“I’ve wondered about that too,” his mother said. “You’ve been renting for years, and I even offered financial help.”
“She’s also been talking more and more about children.”
“Well, of course. Isn’t it about time you two had a baby? You’d make such wonderful parents.”
“I already have a child,” Egor said quietly.
“What?” Anna Vasilyevna froze.
“A little girl. She’s almost three.”
“Why haven’t you ever mentioned her?”
“It was an accident, from a business trip. I went out one evening, met someone at a bar… and things happened. We were never in a relationship, just a one-night mistake. But a few weeks later, she called and said she was pregnant. She didn’t want anything from me, just asked that I help support the child.”
“You were already married to Dasha when this happened?” Anna Vasilyevna gasped.
“Yes. It was after the wedding.” Egor dropped his head into his hands.
“And you’ve kept this secret all this time?”
“Dasha doesn’t know. I send money from my salary every month, and she’s never seen my full pay. I’ve kept it all hidden.”
Unbeknownst to them, Dasha had returned early. She had forgotten her phone and her bank card.
As she stepped into the hallway, she overheard her name and paused, and then she heard everything.
She stood frozen, her heart pounding. Anger, betrayal, sorrow — all emotions rushed at once.
She wanted to storm in and slap Egor, but she held herself back. What would a scene fix?
His one mistake had stolen their future. They had no children. No home. All their plans — delayed, tied to a responsibility he’d hidden.
She was devastated not just by the betrayal, but by the timing. If it had happened before they were married, she could have understood. But after?
She took a deep breath, walked back outside, and waited for her tears to subside.
Moments later, she returned on her bicycle, carrying a bag of groceries.
“I grabbed two jars of sour cream and a loaf of bread,” she said, handing it to her mother-in-law.
Anna Vasilyevna looked her in the eyes. “You heard everything, didn’t you?”
Dasha’s face lost its cheer. Her lips trembled. “Yes. I know.”
“What will you do now?” her mother-in-law asked gently.
“I… I don’t know.” Dasha broke down and leaned on Anna Vasilyevna’s shoulder.
“Shh… don’t say anything yet. He doesn’t need to know right now.”
At that moment, Egor walked onto the porch.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“She just overspent and didn’t have change for bread,” his mother said quickly, shielding the truth.
But Dasha stepped forward, her voice calm but resolute.
“No, I did hear everything, Egor. I know about your daughter.”
Egor was speechless.
“I’ve thought about it. You need to be there for your child and work on that relationship. This isn’t about a pet — you brought a life into the world, and you owe her stability.”
Anna Vasilyevna watched in silence, quietly proud of Dasha’s maturity.
“As for us,” Dasha continued, “we no longer have anything to build on. I’m leaving you. And the rest — that’s your decision.”
“Dasha, wait…” Egor tried to stop her.
“I’ve made up my mind,” she said. “Anna Vasilyevna, can I stay with you for a while?”
“Of course, my dear. Stay as long as you need.”
Six months later, Egor began building a life with his child’s mother. While it wasn’t romantic, they co-parented well, and eventually mutual respect — and even some warmth — grew between them.
Meanwhile, Dasha, still living with Anna Vasilyevna, met a kind young man in the building — a programmer with a stable income and a gentle nature. They grew close, and she soon moved in with him, happy to stay nearby.
Anna Vasilyevna, watching her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter settle into new lives, finally felt peace. All her loved ones were safe — and that was more than enough.
