Something was wrong
Anna’s sharp eyes seemed to watch her a little too closely, and Andrew’s easy smile had started to feel forced, as if it were hiding something.
Rebecca’s instincts told her that something was wrong, but she couldn’t bring herself to voice her suspicions. Then, one evening, it all came crashing down. They were gathered around the table, the room softly lit by the warm glow of the chandelier above.
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Rebecca watched as Anna and Andrew exchanged a glance that made her stomach twist. Their hands found each other’s, fingers entwining in a way that was oddly intimate for a mother and son. They turned toward her, their expressions unreadable.
“We’ve been planning something very special,” Andrew said, his voice bright with excitement, but there was something underneath that tone—a flicker of something she couldn’t place. “We’re going on a hike!”
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A hike
Rebecca blinked, her mind racing to catch up. A hike? That was all? For a moment, she felt a wave of relief. Maybe she had been worrying over nothing. But as she sat there, nodding along as Andrew talked about the trail they’d chosen, the pit in her stomach refused to go away.
Why hadn’t Andrew mentioned this before? Why had they kept it a secret, only to spring it on her now? The timing felt off, and the secrecy made her uneasy.
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Preparations
The following week passed in a blur of preparations. Rebecca had been caught off guard and had a lot on her plate. Rebecca found herself swept up in the plans, buying new hiking gear and packing snacks, all the while trying to ignore the nagging sense of dread that gnawed at her.
She told herself it would be fine, that this hike was just a chance to bond with Andrew’s family. Maybe she’d even get to know Anna better, find some common ground with the woman who would soon be her mother-in-law.
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The day arrived
But as the days passed, that hope felt more and more like a flimsy shield against the growing fear that something wasn’t right.
Finally, the day of the hike arrived. It was a bright, crisp Saturday morning, the sky a brilliant blue overhead. The air was filled with the scent of pine and earth as they piled into Andrew’s car and set off for the trailhead.