Mia, a single mother, experienced a glimmer of hope with her new lover, Jake. Their weekend escape to his boyhood beach cottage appeared ideal. But when her son Luke discovers a hidden box full of bones, their idyllic retreat takes a terrifying turn.
Hello, my name is Mia, and I am a fourth-grade teacher. It’s a profession I enjoy not only because I get to mold young minds, but also because it allows me to spend quality time with my son, Luke.
Being a single mother is difficult, but for the past five years, I’ve managed to raise Luke primarily on my own. His father, well, let’s just say “present” is not a term I’d use. Weekends with Dad felt more like a distant memory to him than a daily event.
Things began to feel a little lighter four months ago. That’s when I met Jake. He was a fellow teacher with a loving heart and a chuckle that crinkled the corners of his eyes.
And, most importantly, Jake enjoyed spending time with children.
However, I was unsure how Luke would respond to learning I had another man in my life.
Luke had always been quite close to me, and I expected the prospect of sharing me with someone else to affect him.
So, despite the butterflies in my stomach, I knew it was time to introduce Luke and Jake.
The concept gnawed at me for days, but I eventually decided to take the plunge.
“Hey, Luke-a-doodle,” I called out one beautiful afternoon, discovering him immersed in a particularly elaborate Lego masterpiece. “What would you say to meeting someone special for lunch this weekend?”
Luke looked up with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “Special, huh? Like superhero special or birthday cake special?”
“More like friend special,” I explained nervously. “His name is Jake, and he’s a teacher too, just like me.”
Luke’s brow furrowed. “Another teacher? Does he have a beard like Mr. Henderson?”
Mr. Henderson, our ever-patient janitor, was nearly a celebrity among the children due to his remarkable salt-and-pepper beard.
I chuckled. “No beard, but he does have a really cool laugh.”
The following Saturday, with butterflies in my gut, I introduced Luke to Jake at a nearby pizzeria.
Luke initially hesitated and clutched to my leg. But Jake soon put my small kid at ease.
“Hey there, Luke!” Jake boomed, crouching down to his level and extending a hand. “I’m Jake. Your mom tells me you’re a Lego master?”
Luke looked at me and then back at Jake, a spark of intrigue in his eyes. He reluctantly accepted Jake’s hand, his grip surprisingly solid.
“Yeah, I can build spaceships and T-Rexes!”
“Awesome!” Jake exclaimed. “Maybe you can teach me a thing or two sometime? I’m pretty terrible at anything more complicated than a simple tower.”
That did the trick. Luke puffed out his chest with pride.
The rest of the afternoon was spent learning about dinosaurs, learning how to construct Legos, and Jake’s (albeit awful) attempts to replicate Luke’s masterpieces.
By the time we left the pizzeria, Luke was talking nonstop about Jake’s “funny laugh.”
The original lunch was only the beginning. Over the next few weeks, we spent several weekends on adventures. Picnics in the park, visits to the zoo, and even a failed (but amusing) try at bowling.
After a few shared weekends and a developing sense of “rightness” between us, Jake and I decided to take things further.
Jake just invited us to his parents’ property near the coast. He figured it would be a good getaway for all of us.
Honestly, the notion of a peaceful weekend by the sea appealed to me. Luke was also thrilled.
When we arrived, Jake’s parents, Martha and William, greeted us with a loving hug. Their house exuded a charm reminiscent of childhood summers.
“Come on, let me show you guys my old stomping ground!” Jake announced, leading us up a creaky wooden staircase.
At the top of the steps, he led us into a room.
“This is it,” he declared proudly, pushing open the door. “My haven, unchanged since the great escape. I mean, since I moved out for college.”
The room was a snapshot of Jake’s adolescence. Faded posters of rock bands hung on the walls, their edges curving slightly with age.
“Wow,” I exclaimed, a nostalgic pang pulling at my heartstrings.
Meanwhile, Luke rushed across the room, his eyes bright and curious.
He knelt alongside a dusty box full of plastic figures and miniature race vehicles.
“Cool toys, Jake!” he exclaimed.
Jake chuckled, scooping up a handful of the toys. “These bad boys are veterans of countless battles,” he said, kneeling to Luke’s level. “Want to see if they can still hold their own?”
Luke’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “Can I play with them here?”
“Sure thing, buddy,” Jake winked.
Jake grabbed my hand and drew me closer as Luke started playing with his toys.
“Let’s go downstairs,” he said softly into my ear before kissing my cheek.
Leaving Luke behind, we went downstairs. I sat on the couch in the living room, admiring the lovely home, while Jake talked with his family in the kitchen.
Suddenly, Luke dashed downstairs. He appeared absolutely afraid. He grabbed my hand and dragged me frantically towards the door.
“What’s wrong, Luke?” I asked, my heart pounding.
“Mom, we need to leave now because Jake…” Luke’s voice quivered, and his eyes darted around.
“Calm down, sweetie. What’s wrong?” I knelt beside him, trying to soothe him.
“I found a strange box with bones in his room. We need to go!” he blurted out.
“What do you mean, bones?”
“In a box, under his bed. Real bones, Mom!”
I looked at him, my thoughts racing with possibilities. Did I put my trust in Jake too quickly? Jake had always appeared to be quite gentle and compassionate.
Could he truly be concealing anything so sinister?
“Wait here,” I instructed Luke firmly, my voice shaking with terror. I hurriedly returned to Jake’s room.
As soon as I walked in, my attention was pulled to the box under the bed. With shaky hands, I reached down and took it out. Lifting the lid, I felt a flash of sh0ck.
There they were, the bones. My mind raced, and I grabbed Luke’s hand and hurried out of the home.
My heart was racing as I struggled with the car keys.
We sped down the driveway, leaving Jake’s parents’ house behind.
My phone soon became inundated with calls from Jake, but I couldn’t force myself to respond. I was too afraid and bewildered.
After driving aimlessly for a few minutes, I pulled over on the side of the road. I needed to think clearly.
Soon, the reality of what had transpired set me, and I decided to call the cops. I dialed 911 with shaking fingers and conveyed the scenario to the operator.
Within an hour, I had a call back from the cops. My heart hammered as I responded.
“Mia, the bones are fake,” the officer said, his voice calm and reassuring. “They’re replicas used for teaching purposes. There’s nothing to worry about.”
I felt relieved, but it was quickly replaced by remorse. How could I have jumped to such extreme conclusions? I felt embarrassed and shameful.
I realized I’d let my fears get the better of me. I had overreacted in the worst manner.
At that time, I realized I needed to call Jake. I took a deep breath and dialed his number. He picked up on the first ring.
“Jake, I’m so sorry,” I began. “I was scared, not just for myself, but for Luke. I know I jumped to conclusions, and I’ll understand if you can’t forgive me.”
“Mia, I understand your feelings,” Jake replied. “You were protecting your son, and that’s natural. I forgive you. Come back here. Let this be our funny story, not a reason to break up.”
I smiled through my tears and let out a sigh of relief. Jake’s understanding meant the world to me. I turned to Luke, who was looking at me with wide eyes.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” I said, pulling him into a hug. “Everything’s going to be okay. The bones weren’t real. They’re just for teaching. Jake isn’t a bad guy.”
We drove back to Jake’s parents’ home. They seemed apprehensive, but I immediately explained everything and apologized for departing so abruptly.
We spent the remainder of the day lounging by the ocean, the strain gradually easing. That incident marked the start of a stronger relationship between us, and we often remember it with a grin.
Jake even chuckles about how I ran out of the house with Luke that day.
