I didn’t think much the first time I noticed my daughter-in-law sneaking into the forest. But as days turned into weeks, her evening disappearances became more frequent. She’d tell us she was going to forage for mushrooms, only to return empty-handed every time. Something wasn’t adding up. I’ve spent forty years in the corporate world, working my way up from junior analyst to senior management consultant. One thing that I learned during those years was to trust my gut about people and situations.
But following Kate into those woods that evening? That decision weighs on me more heavily than any business deal I’ve ever made. Let me share a bit about my life before I tell you what happened that day. So, my wife Fiona and I met in college, got married young, and built our life together brick by brick. Like any marriage, we’ve had our share of storms. The worst hit in 1989 when I was pulling seventy-hour weeks at work, barely seeing her or our son. The distance between us grew until it felt like we were strangers sharing a bed. “I can’t do this anymore, Misael,” she cried. “I’m raising our son alone while you chase promotions.”
But instead of walking out, she suggested marriage counseling. Her patience and wisdom saved us that year. I can never forget how Dr. Williams helped us rebuild our foundation and taught me that success meant nothing without family to share it with. But that’s a story for another day. Our son Leonard was always the kind of kid who made parenting look easy. Straight As, varsity baseball captain… you name it. The teachers and coaches loved him, and we couldn’t have been prouder when he got accepted into one of the best universities. However, graduating during the recession wasn’t kind to him.
Despite his valuable business degree, he ended up at a mediocre firm that paid him peanuts. He could barely cover his student loans. That’s where he met Kate. I remember the Sunday morning he told us about wanting to marry her. The memory is crystal clear. Fiona was making her famous blueberry pancakes while the aroma of coffee filled the air. “Mom, Dad,” Leonard said, fidgeting with his napkin. “I need to tell you something important.”
“What is it, honey?” Fiona asked. “I’m going to ask Kate to marry me.” Fiona nearly dropped the spatula she was holding. We’d only met Kate twice, and something about her felt off. Leonard’s sudden decision didn’t make sense. “Son,” I began carefully, “eight months isn’t very long to know someone.” “Dad, please,” Leonard interrupted. “I love her. When you know, you know.”
“But sweetheart,” Fiona chimed in, “remember what happened with Jamie from accounting? You thought she was ‘the one’ too. “Leonard’s eyebrows furrowed. “This is different. Kate’s different.” “Different how?” I pressed. “She barely talks about her family, dodges questions about her past—” “Because her past was difficult!” Leonard slammed his fist on the table, making the coffee cups rattle. “Not everyone has the perfect marriage yo
