I’m not sure if he did it on purpose, but that was the impression: it seemed totally intentional.
We were in Bar Harbor with my parents for the weekend. They’d always been… polite to Daniil. Never overtly rude, but the tension was palpable. Dad was trying too hard, laughing at all his jokes. Mom avoided saying his name, as if even mentioning it would start a storm.
I thought things had calmed down, though. We’d been married for almost a year, and it was the first time we’d been invited on a trip together. Progress, right?
We were walking along a path overlooking the ocean when Mom wanted to take a picture. I stood next to Daniil, smiling as always. But just before the camera clicked, he put his arm around my waist and—very deliberately—placed his hand on my belly.
Not below, like an accidental brush.
Not above, like in a regular hug.
Right in the middle. On the belly.
Mom put down the phone. Dad blinked. No one said anything, and I froze, trying to figure out if they’d noticed. But of course they had. It was impossible not to notice.
I glanced at Daniil, but he was still smiling as if nothing had happened.
And yet, we hadn’t told anyone anything. We weren’t even close to it. In fact, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to tell anyone anytime soon.
Later that night, Mom took me aside in the hotel hallway. She didn’t ask me a direct question—she just stood there, pretending to arrange a lace tablecloth, though her eyes never left mine.
„What’s wrong?” she asked quietly. At that moment, I felt like a sixteen-year-old coming home late. Only this time it wasn’t because of the time… but because of a possible pregnancy.
I swallowed and tried to change the subject.
„Nothing, Mom. It’s just… Daniil is very affectionate, sometimes.”
She gave a stifled laugh, more nervous than amused.
„It can be affectionate, yes. But that was something else. I wasn’t born yesterday, darling. You’d tell me, right?”
I wanted to say „yes.” I wanted to open my mouth and tell her everything—that Daniil and I had only recently discovered, that I was scared, that I didn’t feel ready for questions or comments, especially from them. But I couldn’t. Something caught in my throat, an invisible barrier stopping all words.
She gave a faint smile.
„If there’s ever something you want to tell us… we’re here.”
I nodded, forcing a weak smile as tears began to well up. She gently touched my arm, and for a moment I felt she was genuinely trying to be kind. Then she sighed, almost resigned, as if she no longer knew how to treat me.
That night, my parents went to bed early, and Daniil and I stayed in the hotel lounge by the fireplace. Everything was silent, except for a few kitchen noises and the clinking of dishes. I was sitting in an armchair, playing with a seam in my sleeve.
Daniil noticed my nervousness and sat on the armrest next to me.
„Are you okay?” he asked softly, placing a hand on my shoulder. „Sorry. I didn’t mean for it to be so awkward.”
I sighed and rested my head on his arm.
„Did you do it on purpose?”
He was silent for a moment.
„Maybe so,” he admitted. „It wasn’t planned. But how much longer were we going to hide it? Sooner or later they were going to find out.”
„I know,” I said, „but… it’s not that simple.”
He nodded and kissed my head.
„Whatever you decide, I’m with you.”
We sat in silence, listening to the crackling of the fire. Outside, the wind blew, and thunder rumbled in the distance.
The next day, we decided to have breakfast at a local cafe and then head to the beach. Dad, as always, tried to liven up the day by sharing fun facts about Bar Harbor. Mom trailed behind, occasionally throwing me those worried glances. Daniil tried to appear relaxed, but he was tense. I felt suspended between two worlds.
We grabbed coffee to go and walked toward the rocky shoreline. The salty air was refreshing, and the wind caressed our faces. Dad wandered off on a work call. Mom stayed behind. Daniil and I walked toward the water, listening to the waves crash.
We were standing there, looking out at the Atlantic, and I was about to speak when Mom approached.
She cleared her throat:
„Look… if something happens, I’d rather know. I can handle the truth, trust me.”
Daniil gave me an encouraging nod. The butterflies in my stomach started to flutter. I approached Mom, suddenly wanting to hug her and apologize for all those months of silence.
„Mom… we… we’re expecting a baby. I’m pregnant.”
She didn’t open her eyes wide, didn’t burst into tears right away. She just looked at me, as if she already knew, and nodded. Then a tear appeared in the corner of her eye.
„Why didn’t you tell us sooner? Is it because of…” She looked at Daniil, hesitantly. „Because of me? Did you think I’d be angry?”
I nodded, biting my lip.
„We didn’t know how you were going toreact.