“We really need this,” I told him one evening after a long day. “Just a few days away from everything, just the three of us.”
He hesitated. “But I don’t have a job yet, and—”
“No buts,” I interrupted. “I’ll take care of everything. We’ll figure it out.”
He smiled, relieved. “Thanks for everything. I’m sure Eric will love it too.”
Our son, Eric, a college student, was often preoccupied with his own world—friends, social media, and school. But when I told him about the trip, he seemed genuinely excited.
“Yeah, Mom, I’m in! Can’t wait to spend time with you guys.”
His enthusiasm warmed my heart. However, the next day, Eric called with a request. “Mom, would it be okay if I brought my girlfriend, Jessica?”
His girlfriend? That was news to me.
“Uh, I guess so,” I said, trying to sound supportive. “What’s her name?”
“Jessica. She’s great. You’ll love her.”
I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Our vacations had always been just the three of us, and bringing someone new—someone I hadn’t met—felt different. But Eric was excited, and I didn’t want to dampen his spirits. He told me they had been dating for a few months.
“Alright,” I said, “she’s welcome to join us.”
As the trip approached, I focused on making it perfect.
Jessica arrived at the airport looking stylish and confident. Mark seemed especially friendly toward her, offering to carry her suitcase and complimenting her outfit. I brushed it off as polite behavior—after all, she was our son’s guest.
At first, Jessica seemed nice, but little things felt off. During our first dinner, I tried to bond with her.
“Jessica, have you had a chance to see Eric play basketball yet?” I asked.
Her eyes widened. “Basketball? We’ve never talked about that.”
I blinked. Basketball had been Eric’s passion for years. His social media was full of team photos and game highlights. How could his girlfriend not know?
The next day, Eric suggested we go jet-skiing, but Jessica frowned. “I’m not really into water sports,” she said.
That surprised me. Did Eric not know? He loved water activities. Yet, he brushed off her lack of enthusiasm and focused entirely on making her comfortable.
Later, while relaxing by the pool, I overheard Jessica asking Eric about his major. “Biology, right?” she asked with a giggle. “I always forget.”
I was taken aback. She didn’t seem to know much about him at all. Yet Eric doted on her—getting her drinks, carrying her bag, even giving up his sun lounger when she preferred another.
Halfway through the trip, while looking for sunscreen in Eric’s suitcase, I found a small velvet box. Curious, I opened it to find a beautiful diamond necklace. It seemed far too extravagant for a college student to afford.
That evening, I casually brought it up. “Eric, I found the necklace in your suitcase. It’s beautiful.”
His eyes widened. “Yeah, I’ve been saving for a while. It’s a gift for Jessica. She deserves it.”
I smiled, though something felt off. I doubted Eric could afford something that expensive, but I didn’t press further.
The next morning, while I was in our suite, Eric’s phone buzzed on the counter. I glanced at the screen and felt my stomach drop. The message read: “+$500 to our deal. Thanks for covering with the necklace.”
The sender? Mark.
I hesitated, then unlocked Eric’s phone. What I found left me shaken. Mark and Eric had been hiding something from me. Jessica wasn’t really Eric’s girlfriend—she was someone Mark had been seeing. And the necklace? It wasn’t from Eric. Mark had bought it, using my money.
That evening, I called everyone to dinner. I dressed carefully, wearing the necklace. When I arrived, Jessica’s smile faltered as she noticed it.
Eric frowned. “Mom, why are you wearing that? It’s Jessica’s gift.”
I chuckled. “Oh really? That’s interesting because your father bought it—with my money.”
Mark turned pale. “What are you talking about?”
I sighed. “Stop pretending, Mark.”
Then, I turned to Jessica. “I don’t know what he told you, but he has been unemployed for years. I’ve been supporting everything—including this trip and even the money he promised Eric in exchange for his silence.”
Eric tried to speak, but I held up my hand. “I never thought my son would go along with something like this.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I stood up and left. The next day, I flew home alone. Mark and Eric both tried calling, but I didn’t answer.
A week later, I filed for divorce. Jessica disappeared once she realized the truth, leaving Mark humiliated and alone.
As for Eric, we are working on rebuilding our relationship. He made a mistake, but he’s my son. I hope he learns from this and never repeats his father’s choices.