Zoe, a hardworking nurse, often counted on her mother-in-law, Denise, to look after her son, Leo. Denise was a woman who had a powerful presence. She could make people feel small without even trying. After her husband had died, she went back to being the head librarian at the local library. There, she found comfort in her job and the book club meetings she led.
Even though Denise could be a bit bossy at times, Zoe appreciated her help. With her husband, Andrew, working long and unpredictable hours at his law firm, Denise was often the one who watched Leo when Zoe had late shifts. Denise would always say, “It’s a grandmother’s duty to help,” and although she could be moody, she was always reliable and never complained.
But recently, Leo had been acting differently whenever Denise was around. He would cling to Zoe when she tried to leave or hide when he heard Denise’s car pull up. At first, Zoe thought it might just be a phase or some sort of separation anxiety, which is common for kids his age.
But one evening, just before Zoe was about to head out for her night shift, Leo started crying. He grabbed onto her and begged, “Mom, please don’t leave me with Grandma!”
Zoe’s heart sank. She knelt beside him, trying to calm him down. “Leo, what’s wrong?” she asked gently. “Grandma always brings you treats, right?” But Leo’s eyes were wide with fear as he glanced toward the door.
“She’s been acting weird, Mom,” he whispered. Zoe felt a chill run down her spine.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
Leo hesitated for a moment before saying, “She tries to put something in my mouth. She chases me with it.” Zoe’s heart pounded in her chest. “What is she trying to put in your mouth?” she asked, worried.
Leo explained that it was a cotton swab and that Denise kept insisting she needed his saliva for a “test.” Zoe felt a surge of anger. Why would Denise be doing a test, and why hadn’t she mentioned it to her?
She stormed down the hall to the guest room where Denise was staying. “What on earth are you doing with Leo?” Zoe demanded.
Denise looked up, startled. She paused for a moment before saying, “I’ve been curious about Leo’s blonde hair. It doesn’t look like anyone else in the family. I needed to know if he was really Andrew’s son.”
Zoe stared at her, stunned. “You were trying to do a DNA test on my son without telling me?” she shouted, her voice shaking with both anger and disbelief. Denise admitted she had been trying to figure it out on her own. Zoe, feeling betrayed and furious, told Denise to leave immediately. She needed time to think about what had just happened and to comfort her son, who was clearly scared and confused.
Over the next few days, things were tense between Zoe and Andrew. Denise had already called Andrew, planting seeds of doubt in his mind. After many heated discussions, Andrew finally suggested, “Maybe we should just do the DNA test and put this whole thing to rest.”
Zoe, feeling frustrated and betrayed, agreed—but only on one condition. “Fine,” she said firmly, “but you have to take a DNA test, too. If your mom is questioning Leo, then we should question everything.” Andrew was shocked by Zoe’s demand but, after thinking it over, agreed.
A few days later, the test results arrived. They confirmed that Leo was indeed Andrew’s son. But there was a shocking twist—Andrew’s test revealed that his biological father was not who he thought it was.
Andrew felt like his world had been turned upside down. Meanwhile, Zoe kept her distance from Denise, feeling unable to forgive her for what she had done.
Eventually, Andrew confronted his mother. “Is it true?” he asked, his voice a mix of confusion and hurt. Denise sighed deeply and admitted, “Yes, I had an affair when I was young.”
Andrew was crushed. He decided he needed time away from his mother to focus on his own family, with Zoe and Leo.
Denise’s guilt, which she had buried for so long, had led her to doubt Zoe and Leo. But Zoe and Andrew decided they needed to move forward. They would focus on their family and leave Denise’s drama behind them.
