I should have trusted my instincts when Melissa suddenly volunteered to plan our entire family reunion.
My daughter-in-law had never cared much about family events before. She usually complained about attending them. But suddenly, she was calling me every week with updates.
“Mom Janet, I found the perfect venue. Everyone is going to love it.”
She had never called me that before. Usually, it was just “Janet” in her distant voice.
Still, I was happy. After five years married to my son Derek, Melissa had always kept her distance. She was polite, but never truly part of the family.
The reunion was supposed to honor my late husband Frank’s 70th birthday. He had passed away three years earlier, but we wanted to celebrate the life he never got to finish.
The whole family was coming — Derek and Melissa, my daughter Sarah, my grandchildren, my brother Tom, and relatives from out of state. Twenty-two people in total.
“Don’t worry about the cost, Mom,” Derek told me. “Melissa and I will handle everything.”
But I knew they were struggling financially. Derek’s construction business was slow, and Melissa’s part-time job barely covered their expenses.
Then Melissa called.
“I need around $3,000 for the deposits,” she said. “The venue, catering, decorations… it’s going to be perfect.”
Without hesitation, I went to the bank and got her a cashier’s check.
I thought I was helping bring the family together.
I had no idea what she was really planning.