Margaret, a lonely career woman, eagerly awaits the arrival of Colin, a man she met online. But just hours before he is due, a call from a friend leads her to a nearby cemetery. There, she is horrified to see a photo of Colin on another man’s grave. Is Colin really who he claims to be?
The sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the pristine furniture as Margaret cleaned the house.
She had always kept her home immaculate, a reflection of her orderly and disciplined life. Every corner was spotless, every item in its place. Cleaning was a routine she found both comforting and necessary, a way to fill the void in her life.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
All her life, Margaret had prioritized work and setting up her own life. At nineteen, she was already living alone, working two jobs as a cook to pay for her education.
By twenty-five, she was building a career as a restaurant manager and saving for her own restaurant. Her hard work paid off, and by forty-five, Margaret had everything—a successful restaurant, a beautiful house, and a nice car.
Yet, despite all her achievements, personal happiness had eluded her. She always thought that once she set up her life, a family would come naturally. But when she realized she wanted and needed a family, it was too late.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Margaret had little experience in interacting with men and even less in building a family. At work, the men were intimidated by her position and her success.
She was respected but also seen as unapproachable. Finding a partner at forty-five turned out to be much harder than she had ever imagined.
As Margaret continued cleaning, her phone suddenly chimed with a message. She paused, her heart skipping a beat, and quickly took out her phone. A smile spread across her face when she saw it was a message from Colin.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
She had recently met Colin online, and their communication had developed quickly. Colin understood Margaret; they talked about books, movies, food, and their views on the world.
They had so much in common, but there was a problem. Colin lived in another city, and they hadn’t met yet.
Margaret had been afraid to suggest meeting because she had lied about her age. She told Colin she was thirty, fearing he would reject her if he knew the truth.
She never thought their relationship would progress this far, but now she was ready to meet him in person. She typed out a message: “Colin, we’ve been talking for over a month now, and I really want to meet you.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Fakedetail
Margaret felt anxious, like a teenager waiting for his response. She kept checking her phone repeatedly, getting frustrated and putting it back face down.
Finally, the reply came, “That’s a great idea, Margaret. I really want to meet too, but I have nowhere to stay in the city. I don’t like staying in hotels.”
Without thinking, Margaret replied instantly, “No problem, stay with me!”
Realizing that her offer might be interpreted as an intimate suggestion, she began to write that she didn’t mean it that way. But Colin responded quickly, “Great, I’ll arrive tomorrow evening. I can’t wait to meet you!”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Everything was set; she would meet Colin tomorrow. Margaret was overwhelmed with emotions. She was happy to finally meet him but also scared.
She had lied to him about her age, and she feared that when he found out she was much older, he would leave her.
She paced around the living room, her thoughts racing. She imagined their first meeting, worrying about how he would react. But it was too late to back out now; she had to go through with it.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
The next day, Margaret was a whirlwind of activity, preparing for Colin’s arrival. She meticulously cleaned the house, ensuring every corner was spotless.
She decorated the kitchen with fresh flowers and set the table with her best dishes. The aroma of a delicious dinner filled the house as she cooked Colin’s favorite meals, ready to warm up and serve when he arrived.
Everything was ready. As the evening approached, Margaret’s excitement and nerves grew. She was just about to sit down and relax for a moment when her phone rang. Seeing it was her colleague, Alice, she answered quickly.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Margaret, hi. I hope I’m not disturbing you, but I have a very urgent request,” Alice said, her voice sounding strained.
“I’m listening, Alice. Did something happen at the funeral? Maybe I can help?” Margaret asked, remembering that Alice was supposed to be at a funeral that day. She had requested a day off from work for it.
“I feel so awkward asking this, but my car is stuck nearby,” Alice explained, sounding embarrassed.
“Of course, I’ll help. I’ll be there in ten minutes, don’t worry!” Margaret responded without hesitation.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Margaret wanted to support Alice, understanding that if Alice had called her, it wasn’t just about the car. Most likely, she was struggling to cope with her husband Nathan’s death. So she quickly grabbed her keys and headed out the door.
As she drove, Margaret thought about Alice and how hard it must be to deal with such a loss. She hoped that helping Alice would provide some comfort.
Despite her own nervousness about meeting Colin, she felt a strong sense of responsibility to be there for her friend in need.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Arriving at the scene, Margaret found Alice standing beside her car, looking helpless and distressed. Without wasting any time, she got to work. She attached Alice’s car to hers with a tow rope and quickly pulled it out of the ditch.
The task was surprisingly easy, almost as if Alice could have done it herself. Margaret brushed off her hands and turned to Alice.
“All set,” Margaret said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Thank you so much, Margaret,” Alice replied, her voice trembling. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
As they stood by the side of the road, Alice’s composure crumbled. She broke down in tears, unable to hold back the flood of emotions any longer. Margaret stepped forward, wrapping her arms around her in a comforting hug.
“It’s just so hard,” Alice sobbed. “Ever since Nathan died, everything feels impossible. I thought I could handle today, but I can’t.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Margaret’s heart ached for her friend. She knew how much Alice loved Nathan and how difficult the past few months had been for her. “I’m so sorry, Alice. It’s okay to feel like this. You don’t have to go through it alone.”
Alice wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. “Would you walk with me back to his grave? I can’t bring myself to go alone. The guests have left, and I can’t bear the thought of going home to an empty house without him.”
“Of course,” Margaret said softly. “I’ll be right beside you.”
They walked together through the cemetery, the air heavy with the scent of flowers and freshly turned earth.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Margaret supported Alice by the arm, offering silent comfort as they moved between the rows of headstones.
As Margaret gazed around the cemetery, her eyes were drawn to a photo on one of the nearby graves. Her breath caught in her throat as she recognized the face. It was a picture of Colin.
She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She walked closer, her heart pounding, and compared it to the photo she had seen in Colin’s online profile. It was the same person.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
At that moment, fear and confusion washed over Margaret. What could this mean? Who had she been talking to all this time? She felt a chill run down her spine.
Margaret carefully took out her phone and sent a message to Colin, her hands shaking. “Hi, is everything still on for today?”
The reply came quickly, “Yes, of course, I’ll be there at eight!”
Margaret didn’t know what to think. She was scared, her mind racing with questions and doubts, but she knew she needed to find out the truth.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
There had to be some explanation. Maybe it was a misunderstanding, or perhaps there was another explanation she hadn’t considered.
She turned to Alice, giving her one last supportive squeeze. “Alice, I need to go. But please call me if you need anything. I’m here for you.”
“Thank you, Margaret,” Alice said, her voice weak but grateful. “You’ve done so much for me today.”
Margaret said her goodbyes and drove home, her thoughts a jumble of fear. As she navigated the familiar streets, she tried to calm herself. She needed to be composed and ready for Colin’s arrival, no matter what happened.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Everything was ready: a set table, flowers, and a delicious dinner. Waiting by the door, her mind whirled with thoughts and emotions, especially the mysterious photograph at the cemetery.
As she waited by the door, peeking out the window, her mind was a whirl of thoughts and emotions.
She couldn’t stop thinking about what awaited her, who was coming to her home, and the mysterious photograph she had seen at the cemetery.
Finally, she saw a car park near the house. Her heart raced as she watched a man step out, holding a bouquet of flowers.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
But when Margaret saw his face, she was shocked. He didn’t look like the man in the photos at all. Panic set in, and Margaret quickly hid behind the door, unsure of what to do.
Colin approached the door and rang the bell. Margaret remained silent, her mind racing with fear and confusion. The doorbell rang again, but she didn’t move. Finally, Colin spoke, his voice gentle and apologetic.
“I know you’re inside, Margaret. I can understand why you’re not answering. I don’t look like the man in the photos. I’m really sorry.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Margaret’s heart pounded in her chest. She hesitated, but then she heard Colin placing the bouquet down at the doorstep. “I’ll leave these here and go,” he said. “I’m sorry for the deception. I just wanted to meet you so badly.”
As he turned to leave, Margaret couldn’t take it anymore. She opened the door, her voice trembling. “Wait.”
Colin stopped and turned around, his eyes meeting hers. He looked relieved to see her. “Margaret, I’m so sorry. I can explain.”
They stepped inside, the tension between them palpable. Margaret took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. “Why did you lie about your appearance, Colin?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Colin looked down, his expression filled with regret.
“It’s hard for me to meet someone. I have almost no experience in relationships. I was very anxious and created a profile with a photo of a handsome man because I thought no one would be interested in the real me. I wanted to tell you many times, but I was afraid you would stop talking to me.”
Margaret listened, her heart softening. She could see the sincerity in his eyes. “It doesn’t matter what you look like, Colin. What matters is that you didn’t lie to me about who you are inside.”
Margaret gasped, feeling a pang of guilt. “I lied too. I said I was thirty, but I’m actually older… I’m forty-five. I was worried you wouldn’t want to meet someone so old…”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Colin stepped closer, looking into her eyes. “Age doesn’t matter to me, Margaret. You’re beautiful, and I’ve enjoyed every conversation we’ve had. I’m just glad we’re finally meeting in person.”
A smile spread across Margaret’s face. “It’s funny, isn’t it? We both pretended to be someone else because we were afraid.”
Colin chuckled, nodding in agreement. “Yes, it is. But maybe that’s a sign that we have more in common than we thought.”
Margaret felt a sense of relief wash over her. “Would you like to come inside? We can have dinner and start over, without any lies this time.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Colin smiled warmly. “I’d like that very much.”
They walked inside together, leaving the flowers on the doorstep as a reminder of their fresh start. As they sat down for dinner, they talked and laughed, sharing their true selves with each other.
The fear and uncertainty began to fade, replaced by a growing connection and understanding. They both knew that building a family couldn’t be based on lies, and this honest beginning was the first step toward something real and lasting.
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My In-Laws Refused to Come for Thanksgiving but Sent Us a ‘Gift’ – When My Husband Opened It, He Screamed, ‘We Have to Drive to Their Home Now!’
My husband and I had an incredible bond with his parents, to the point of seeing them as close friends. But after we discovered we were pregnant, my in-laws started pulling away before we could share the good news, only for us to find out they had been hiding something shocking!
My husband, Ethan, and I have always had an amazing relationship with his parents, Linda and Rick. But when they started acting distant and weird, we ended up driving unannounced to their home to confront them!
An upset couple driving | Source: Midjourney
See, my 45-year-old mother-in-law (MIL) and 47-year-old father-in-law (FIL) are the kind of in-laws everyone dreams about. They’re young enough to be fun and adventurous but still undeniably “parent-y” when it counts. Linda had Ethan when she was just seventeen, and Rick wasn’t much older.
They’re an inspirational couple who have the perfect balance of energy and wisdom and are more like friends than your typical in-laws. Lately, though, they’ve been acting… different.
An older couple | Source: Midjourney
It started a few months ago when Ethan’s father began dodging his calls with bizarre excuses, like saying he was busy “working on the attic” when they lived in a single-story house or fixing the porch when they didn’t have one.
The calls were always strained and abruptly cut off from my FIL’s end. Linda, who typically bombarded me with memes and baking recipes, suddenly went silent. When I did reach out, her responses were curt, emoji-laden replies that made no sense.
An older woman texting | Source: Midjourney
Once, when I asked if they’d watched a particular movie, she replied by sending me a spaghetti emoji! Ethan brushed it off as her being “quirky” though I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
But the first obvious red flag had to do with their guest room, which Rick was quite protective about. We visited them last month and for the first time, the room’s door was locked! When Ethan jokingly threatened to pick the lock, Linda’s sharp “Don’t you dare!” left us both stunned.
An upset older woman shouting | Source: Midjourney
Awkward is an understatement for how the rest of that visit went! The warmth and humor they usually radiated had been replaced by a tension we didn’t understand.
The second red flag had to do with the Thanksgiving holiday, which we hoped would bring us back together. We’d been planning to host the holiday for weeks and were eager to share some life-changing news with them: we were expecting our first child! We even bought a tiny, adorable onesie that said “Grandma & Grandpa’s Little Turkey” to make the announcement extra special!
A baby’s onesie | Source: Midjourney
But a week before the holiday, Linda called and said they wouldn’t make it. “We have something going on,” she said vaguely.
Ethan pressed for details, but all she gave him was a frustrated, “You wouldn’t understand.”
My husband was furious. “Something’s going on with them,” he said, pacing the kitchen that evening. “They’re hiding something. Why can’t they just talk to us?”
He even threatened to drive over and confront them, but I convinced him to let it go. I figured everyone deserved their privacy. But their absence hurt more than I expected.
An upset man | Source: Midjourney
Thanksgiving morning came, and instead of a bustling house filled with family, it was just Ethan and me because I wasn’t close with my parents or my side of the family. We made the best of it, but the elephant in the room, his parents’ unexplained absence, was impossible to ignore.
The holiday felt lonely without them there, but around 3 p.m., the doorbell rang. A delivery man presented us with a medium-sized package addressed to Ethan.
A man holding a box | Source: Midjourney
After signing for the “gift,” we noticed a note taped to the top that read: “We’re so sorry we couldn’t be there. Please open this together. Love, Mom & Dad.”
My husband carried the box inside, and I set up my phone to record our reaction, thinking it might be a heartfelt gesture, like a photo album or one of Linda’s famous quilts.
Ethan tore into the package, pulling out a plain cardboard box. Inside, nestled among layers of tissue paper, was something I couldn’t see. It took him a moment to register what he was looking at. Then his face drained of color, and he let out a guttural scream!
A man screaming | Source: Midjourney
“We have to go. Now!”
“What? What’s wrong?” I asked, my heart racing.
Ethan didn’t answer. He grabbed his keys, slipped on his sneakers, and motioned for me to follow. “Get in the car. We have to drive to my parents’ house now!”
“Ethan, you’re scaring me. What was in the box?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. We need to hear this from my parents,” he muttered as he buckled his seatbelt. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white!
An upset man driving | Source: Midjourney
The five-hour drive to his parents’ house was agonizing. Ethan wouldn’t say a word, leaving my imagination to run wild! Was someone sick? Hurt? Was this their way of calling for help? Or did they have a fallout they didn’t mention? Or maybe they were in danger?!
By the time we pulled into their driveway, my nerves were shot! I was partially convinced that the FBI would be waiting inside! I was about to knock when Ethan threw the door open! Linda and Rick, startled by our sudden arrival, jumped to their feet!
A shocked older couple | Source: Midjourney
Ethan got straight to the point, holding up the box and taking out a pregnancy test. “What. Is. This?”
My FIL’s face turned ashen, and Linda’s cheeks flushed deep red. She looked at me, then back at Ethan, and finally stammered out, “I—I was going to call.”
“Call?!” Ethan’s voice was incredulous with hurt. “You thought sending this was a better idea than just telling us?!”
My MIL wrung her hands nervously. “I didn’t know how to say it.”
“Say what?” I interjected, my voice trembling.
Linda took a deep breath, her eyes welling with tears. “I’m pregnant.”
Silence. Complete, deafening silence.
A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney
I blinked at her, sure I’d misheard. “You’re…what?”
Rick cleared his throat, his voice thick with emotion.
“It’s true. We didn’t think it was possible. I mean, I had a vasectomy years ago.”
He laughed nervously. “Guess it wasn’t as foolproof as we thought.”
“We were so overwhelmed by this news and trying to figure out how to break it to you that we panicked and chose to avoid you instead,” Rick explained.
An older man | Source: Midjourney
“We skipped Thanksgiving because we hadn’t mentioned the pregnancy beforehand and didn’t want to suddenly arrive with a pregnant belly! We thought the test was the way to tell you the news,” Linda continued.
The cryptic messages. The avoidance. Suddenly, it all made sense! At their age, a baby wasn’t just unexpected, it was unimaginable!
“You couldn’t have just told us?” Ethan asked, his voice softer now. “We would’ve understood.”
Linda’s face crumpled.
A sad older woman | Source: Midjourney
“We didn’t know how you’d react. I mean, this is insane, right? We’re about to be new parents again! How could we explain that?”
My husband’s expression softened, and he let out a shaky laugh.
“Yeah, it’s insane that I’m going to be a big brother to someone. But it’s not something you needed to hide.”
Finally, my husband and I looked at each other and started laughing before I reached into my bag, pulling out the onesie we’d planned to give them. Luckily, I hadn’t taken it out of my bag since we bought it, so I handed it to Linda.
“Congratulations, Grandma and Grandpa. You guys are going to be grandparents and parents at the same time!”
A woman handing over a onesie to someone | Source: Midjourney
My MIL stared at the onesie for a moment before bursting into tears. “You’re pregnant?”
I nodded, tears springing to my own eyes. “Looks like this family’s about to get a lot bigger!”
Rick enveloped Ethan in a bear hug, while Linda pulled me into hers! The weight of the past few months seemed to lift at that moment, replaced by something lighter: joy, relief, and maybe even a little humor at the absurdity of it all.
Two men hugging | Source: Midjourney
The rest of the night was a blur of laughter and celebration. Linda showed us the guest room, which they converted into a nursery filled with baby clothes and a crib. That’s why they kept it locked.
Rick pulled out a bottle of sparkling cider, and we toasted to the wildest Thanksgiving any of us had ever had! Ethan and I promised we’d work with them to help navigate this next chapter, and they swore to stop keeping secrets from us. As we sat around the table, pie crumbs scattered across our plates, Linda reached for my hand.
A couple having Thanksgiving dinner | Source: Midjourney
“I’m sorry we’ve been so distant. I was so scared of what you’d think, but I should’ve trusted you,” she said.
I squeezed her hand. “We’re family. That’s what we’re here for.”
Ethan leaned back in his chair, a wide grin on his face. “So, Mom, what do you think about a joint baby shower?”
Linda laughed, wiping away the last of her tears. “Only if you let me bring the spaghetti emoji cake!”
We all erupted into laughter, the kind that leaves your cheeks sore and your heart full. Thanksgiving hadn’t gone as planned, but in its own chaotic way, it had brought us closer than ever.
Two couples enjoying a meal | Source: Midjourney
If you enjoyed that story, then you’ll love this one about a couple who were thrilled when they discovered they were pregnant, only for the woman’s MIL to steal their thunder by announcing the news to the family. Tired of being bullied, the daughter-in-law sought revenge to teach her a lesson.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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