When Sara’s mother-in-law calls her mid-honeymoon, claiming something terrible has happened to her son, Sara rushes home in a panic. But what she discovers is far from an emergency; it is a betrayal. Now, Sara must confront her mother-in-law’s shocking lie and protect her family’s peace at all costs.
Let me start by saying that I never thought I’d be telling this kind of story. I’m Sara, 32, and I have a 6-year-old son, James, from my first marriage. That marriage didn’t end well, with Leon wanting to be free, and not tied down to married life.
Recently, I married Albert, who’s wonderful in so many ways. Life was finally starting to feel settled, even a little magical, until it wasn’t.
Let me start by saying that I never thought I’d be telling this kind of story. I’m Sara, 32, and I have a 6-year-old son, James, from my first marriage. That marriage didn’t end well, with Leon wanting to be free, and not tied down to married life.
Recently, I married Albert, who’s wonderful in so many ways. Life was finally starting to feel settled, even a little magical, until it wasn’t.
Let me start by saying that I never thought I’d be telling this kind of story. I’m Sara, 32, and I have a 6-year-old son, James, from my first marriage. That marriage didn’t end well, with Leon wanting to be free, and not tied down to married life.
Recently, I married Albert, who’s wonderful in so many ways. Life was finally starting to feel settled, even a little magical, until it wasn’t.
Albert and I had planned our honeymoon for months. It wasn’t some grand adventure, just a peaceful getaway for us to recharge after the chaos of wedding planning.
“I just want to sit on the beach and drink cocktails,” I said. “And maybe get a pretty good suntan, too. That’s all.”
“I feel you, love,” Albert said. “I want to eat! Everything! Now I don’t have to worry about trying to fit into a suit or anything. It’s going to be great.”
As much as I was looking forward to it, one thing was holding me back.
James.
I’ve never liked being away from my son, especially after everything with Leon. But I couldn’t take my son on our honeymoon, could I?
Everything was planned for the wedding, and we were doing the last minute online car hire for the honeymoon. But the problem was that I had nobody to watch James. My mother lived too far away and she planned on going straight back to her home after the wedding. I couldn’t ask Leon. I was stuck.
So, Albert had an idea.
“My mom adores James, Sara,” he said one evening just before the wedding.
We were eating cold Chinese food and doing last-minute brainstorming about who could watch James
“I know that she’s only been in his life for a little while, but James has gotten close to her, too. And we’re not going to be away for long. It’s the best idea, I promise you.”
I wasn’t thrilled about leaving my son with Carolyn, but what choice did I have?
Carolyn was sweet and all that… but she was also complicated. She’s kind enough on the surface, of course, but she has a habit of being overbearing. The way she swoops in to take charge makes it seem like her way of doing things is the only way to do them.
It can be exhausting. Planning our wedding with her had been a nightmare!
But Albert kept reassuring me. And eventually, I gave in.
“She’ll be fine, Sara. James will be fine,” he said, rubbing my shoulders as I fretted over my packing. “She’s raised kids before. She raised me… And like I’ve said a hundred times, she loves James. Just let yourself relax.”
I wasn’t fully convinced, but I let myself believe he was right.
We were only two days into the trip when my phone rang.
“Sara, you need to come home immediately,” Carolyn’s voice crackled through the line, sharp and trembling. “Something terrible has happened to James. I think… I think it might be too late if you don’t come now.”
It felt like the floor dropped out beneath me. My stomach churned.
“What are you talking about? Carolyn?! What happened? Is James okay?”
“I can’t explain everything over the phone,” she snapped, her voice strained. “Just come home, now.”
Then she hung up.
I froze, clutching the phone like it was a lifeline. My thoughts spiraled.
Was he in an accident? Did he get hurt? Was he in the hospital?
Albert, who had been flipping through the room service menu, saw my face and rushed over.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded.
“It’s James,” I said, my voice trembling. “Something happened. We have to go back now. Now.”
The flight home was a nightmare, and thankfully we hadn’t gone far. Just an hour away, but every second dragged on, and I couldn’t shake the horrible images racing through my mind. What could possibly have happened?
Carolyn’s words echoed relentlessly.
It might be too late.
When we finally arrived at Carolyn’s house, I didn’t even knock. I shoved the door open and bolted inside, expecting chaos. Blood? Crying? Something or someone sitting there trying to explain the panic.
Instead, I found James on the couch, his favorite blanket draped over him, happily munching popcorn and watching cartoons. He looked up and smiled when he saw me.
“Mom! You’re back!” he beamed.
I ran to him, scanning him head to toe for any sign of injury.
“James, are you okay? What happened? Are you hurt?”
He blinked at me, confused.
“What do you mean? I’m fine, Mom!”
I looked around the room, bewildered, until my eyes landed on Carolyn. She was perched in her armchair, sipping tea like this was just another evening.
“What the hell is going on, Carolyn?” My voice shook with fury. “You called me. You said James was in trouble, you made it sound like he was dying! And he’s just sitting here? Watching TV?”
Carolyn’s expression faltered, but only for a moment.
“Well… I thought it would be better if you came home early. You know, so we could talk as a family.”
I stared at her, trying to process what she’d just said.
“Are you kidding me? Are you serious right now?”
She shifted in her seat, avoiding my gaze.
“Okay, fine. Sara, Albert, I wasn’t completely honest.”
