My son brought his girlfriend home for the first time to meet me. My husband was on a business trip that day.
It was just the three of us having dinner. Everything was going great… until she glanced over at a framed photo on the shelf. A photo of my husband.
Her face completely changed. I could tell something was very wrong, but before I could even ask, she took a deep breath. What she said next left me speechless!
“I’m so sorry… but I need to tell you something. The man is actually a convict. He was involved in a fraud case ten years ago, and I… I saw him in the news.”
For a second, I thought she was joking. I laughed nervously, hoping to break the tension. “Honey, that’s impossible. He’s never even had a parking ticket.”
But her face was pale, and her hands were trembling. “No, I’m serious. I wouldn’t say this if I wasn’t sure. He went by another name back then, but it’s definitely him. I remember because my mom warned me about him. He… he almost ruined people’s lives.”
My stomach dropped. I didn’t want to believe her, but my mind started racing. I thought back to some of the odd things my husband had done over the years—small lies, little inconsistencies that I’d always brushed off. Could it be possible?
I excused myself to the kitchen, my hands shaking. I needed to call him, to hear his voice, to hear any reassurance that this was all a mistake. I dialed his number, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Hello?” His voice was casual, normal, like nothing was wrong.
“Honey… I need you home,” I said, trying not to sound hysterical. “Now.”
“Why? What’s going on?”
I paused, wondering how much to tell him over the phone. “It’s… it’s serious. I’ll explain when you get back.”
He hesitated. “Alright. I’ll book the next flight.”
I hung up and returned to the living room. My son’s girlfriend was sitting quietly, looking like she wanted to disappear. My son was staring at me, confused and worried.