I didn’t think much of it when I first noticed my sister-in-law sneaking off into the woods. But as days turned into weeks, her evening disappearances became more frequent. She told us she was going mushroom picking, but she always came back empty-handed. Something didn’t add up.
I spent forty years in the corporate world, working my way up from junior analyst to senior management consultant. Over the years, I learned to trust my instincts about people and situations.
But following Kate into the woods that evening? That decision weighed on me more heavily than any business deal I had ever made.
Before I tell you what happened that day, let me tell you a little about my life.
My wife Fiona and I met in college, married young, and built our life together brick by brick. Like any marriage, we weathered many storms.
The worst was in 1989, when I was working seventy hours a week and hardly saw her or our son. The distance between us grew until it felt like we were strangers in the same bed.
I didn’t think about it until that night when Fiona was packing her things.
‘I can’t do this anymore, Misael,’ she cried. ‘I’m raising our son alone while you chase promotions.’
But instead of leaving, she suggested we see a marriage counsellor. Her patience and wisdom saved us that year.
I will never forget how Dr Williams helped us rebuild our foundation and taught me that success means nothing without a family to share it with. But that’s a story for another day.
Our son Leonard was always one of those children who seemed to be a breeze to raise. Straight-A student, captain of the baseball team… you name it.
Teachers and coaches loved him, and we were overjoyed when he got into one of the top universities. However, graduating during an economic downturn did not bode well for him.
Despite his valuable business degree, he ended up at a mediocre firm where he was paid peanuts. He could barely cover his student loans.
That’s where he met Kate. I remember that Sunday morning when he told us he wanted to marry her.
The memory is crystal clear. Fiona was making her famous blueberry pancakes, and the smell of coffee was in the air.
‘Mum, Dad,’ Leonard said, fiddling with his napkin. ‘I have something important to tell you.’
‘What is it, dear?’ Fiona asked.
‘I’m going to ask Kate to marry me.’
Fiona nearly dropped the spatula she was holding. We had only met Kate twice, but something about her wasn’t right. Leonard’s sudden decision didn’t make sense.
‘Son,’ I began cautiously, ‘eight months isn’t really enough time to get to know someone.’
‘Dad, please,’ Leonard interrupted. ‘I love her. When you know, you know.’
‘But, darling,’ Fiona interjected, ‘remember what happened with Jamie from accounting? You thought she was “the one” too.’
Leonard frowned. ‘That’s different. Kate is different.’
‘How is she different?’ I asked. ‘She hardly ever talks about her family, avoids questions about her past…’
‘Because her past was difficult!’ Leonard slammed his fist on the table, causing the coffee cups to rattle. ‘Not everyone has a perfect marriage like you do. Not everyone grew up in a happy home. You don’t know what she’s been through!’
‘We’re just asking you to slow down,’ Fiona pleaded.
‘No, you’re judging her without knowing her. I thought you’d be happy for me.’
What could we do? We gave our blessing, even though my gut was screaming the opposite. They got married last spring and, to save money, moved in with us.
At first, Kate was the best daughter-in-law we could have hoped for. She helped wash the dishes, brought flowers for Fiona, and even tidied up our messy garage.
But then things started to change.
It started with little outbursts.
She would scold Leonard for leaving wet towels on the bathroom floor and slam the door when Fiona offered recipes.
We chalked it up to stress because she had recently been laid off from her job and was having a hard time with interviews.
‘I think she’s just upset,’ Leonard would say. ‘The job market is tough right now.’
But then the mysterious disappearances began. She would rush out the door at odd hours and come up with different excuses each time.
‘I’m going to meet my Miley!’ she would shout.
‘Jenny needs help with her dog!’
‘I have to go to book club!’
When Leonard mentioned that he wanted to meet up with friends, Kate always had an excuse.
‘Oh, Miley is going through a difficult breakup. She’s not in the mood for company.’
Or, ‘Jenny is so shy around new people.’
I watched this happen for several weeks. My son didn’t seem to notice anything, but I noticed how Kate constantly checked her phone and disappeared into another room to answer calls.
Then came the visits to the woods.
It happened after I had just returned from dinner with an old colleague. I found Fiona pacing around our kitchen.