A Package With My Son’s Name Exposed the Secret We’d Hidden for Three Years
Three years ago, my husband and I moved away after a fire destroyed our home. We told everyone faulty Halloween lights had caused it, hoping to protect our five-year-old son, Odin, who had accidentally started the fire.
We thought we’d left the past behind.
Then, the morning after decorating our porch for Halloween, I found a package addressed to Odin. Inside was a piece of burned spiderweb, a photograph of our old house, and a threatening note demanding $20,000.
“I know you lied about the fire. You have three days.”
The sender was Susan, the woman who had sold us the decorations. Our false story had ruined her business, and now she wanted revenge.
I met her secretly, hoping to negotiate. But when I returned home, my husband discovered what I’d done, and we began arguing.
Then Odin appeared in the doorway, holding the photograph.
“Why are you talking about the fire?” he asked. “I remember the pumpkin.”
My heart stopped.
For three years, I’d believed he had forgotten everything. Now my son was asking questions I’d spent years trying to avoid.
And his next words changed everything.