Family vacations are supposed to bring everyone closer together—or so I always thought. But this year, what began as a cherished tradition turned into the worst experience of my life.
My hectic work schedule often means I get home after dinner and once the lights are dimmed. My husband, Mark, once had a stable career, but that changed when he was laid off a few years ago. I didn’t mind at first, but recently I’d started noticing cracks in our relationship. I assumed our annual vacation would help us reconnect.
This year, I wanted the trip to be extra special—especially because Mark had struggled to find a steady job. Our 20-year-old son, Eric, who’s now in college, was excited when I called him about the plans. But a day later, he returned my call with an unexpected request.
“Mom, is it okay if I bring my girlfriend along?” he asked.
I was caught off guard—his girlfriend was a complete surprise.
“Uh, sure,” I replied hesitantly. “What’s her name?”
“Jessica,” he said. “She’s great. You’ll love her.”
“Alright then, she’s welcome.”
As the trip approached, I threw myself into planning, wanting everything to be flawless. At the airport, Jessica greeted us looking like she’d stepped out of a magazine. Her stylish dress, perfectly styled hair, and captivating smile immediately drew attention—even Mark couldn’t help but compliment her as he helped with her suitcase, which I chalked up to simple courtesy.
At first, Jessica was very friendly, but soon little inconsistencies began to emerge.
“Jessica, have you had a chance to watch Eric play basketball yet?” I asked one day.
Her eyes widened in surprise as she hesitated, “Basketball? We haven’t talked about that.”
Eric had been passionate about basketball for years—his social media was full of team photos and game highlights. How could his girlfriend of three months not know about it?
The next day, Eric suggested we all try jet skiing. His face lit up at the idea, but Jessica grimaced and said, “I’m not really into water sports.”
Later, while everyone relaxed by the pool, I overheard her mention Eric’s major.
“Biology, right?” she giggled. “I can’t believe I keep forgetting that!”
It became clear this young woman, who claimed to be Eric’s girlfriend, didn’t know his interests, his studies, or seem eager to learn.
Midway through the vacation, while rummaging through Eric’s suitcase for sunscreen, I discovered a small velvet box. Curious, I opened it and found a magnificent diamond necklace. It was extremely expensive, and I couldn’t fathom that my son had bought such a lavish gift for his girlfriend.
Later that evening, I casually brought it up. Eric’s eyes widened as if I had said something outrageous.
On our final morning at the motel, the house was eerily quiet. Mark was downstairs eating breakfast, and Eric and Jessica were lounging by the pool. Suddenly, Eric’s phone beeped with a text notification. I glanced at it and my heart nearly stopped—it read:
“+$500 to our deal. Thanks for covering for me with the necklace.”
Who sent it? Mark—my husband.
It turned out that Mark and Eric had been scheming for weeks, and Jessica wasn’t Eric’s girlfriend at all. She was Mark’s mistress.
I was furious and heartbroken, but I knew I couldn’t let it go.
Later, Joey—my son—noticed I was wearing a necklace that was supposedly Jessica’s gift. “Mom, why are you wearing Jessica’s necklace? That’s her gift,” he asked.
I replied with a bitter chuckle, “Really? That’s odd—because your dad bought it with MY money.”
I continued, “I’ve been covering everything ever since he lost his job: the trip, the necklace, even the money he promised Eric to keep up the charade.”
The next day, I flew home alone. Eric and Mark kept calling, but I wouldn’t answer. A week later, I filed for divorce. When Jessica found out that Mark was broke, she vanished—leaving him humiliated and alone.
Now, Eric and I are working to mend our relationship. He made a mistake, but he’s still my son, and I hope he learns from this and never repeats it.