Mia, a single mom, finally felt a flicker of hope with her new boyfriend, Jake. Their weekend getaway to his childhood beach house seemed idyllic. But when her son Luke stumbles upon a hidden box filled with bones, their picture-perfect escape takes a horrifying turn.
Hi, I’m Mia, and I work as a fourth-grade teacher. It’s a job I love, not just because I get to mold young minds, but also because it gives me the flexibility to spend time with my son, Luke.
Being a single mother isn’t easy, but for five years now, I’ve managed to raise Luke mostly on my own. His dad, well, let’s just say “present” isn’t a word I’d use. Weekends with Dad were more like a distant memory for him than a regular occurrence.
Things finally started to feel a little lighter four months ago. That’s when I met Jake. He was a fellow teacher, kind-hearted and with a laugh that crinkled the corners of his eyes.
And best of all, Jake loved kids.
However, I wasn’t sure about how Luke would react upon knowing I had another man in my life.
Luke had always been so attached to me, and I believed the thought of sharing me with someone else would affect him.
So, despite the butterflies fluttering in my stomach, I knew it was time to introduce Luke to Jake.
The thought gnawed at me for days, but finally, I decided to take the plunge.
“Hey, Luke-a-doodle,” I chirped one sunny afternoon, finding him engrossed in a particularly intricate Lego creation. “What would you say to meeting someone special for lunch this weekend?”
Luke looked up with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Special, huh? Like superhero special or birthday cake special?”
“More like friend special,” I explained nervously. “His name is Jake, and he’s a teacher too, just like me.”
Luke’s brow furrowed. “Another teacher? Does he have a beard like Mr. Henderson?”
Mr. Henderson, our ever-patient custodian, was practically a legend amongst the students, thanks to his impressive salt-and-pepper beard.
I chuckled. “No beard, but he does have a really cool laugh.”
The following Saturday arrived, and with a knot of anticipation in my stomach, I introduced Luke to Jake at a local pizzeria.
Initially, Luke hesitated and clung to my leg. But Jake quickly put my little boy at ease.
“Hey there, Luke!” Jake boomed, crouching down to his level and extending a hand. “I’m Jake. Your mom tells me you’re a Lego master?”
Luke peeked at me, then back at Jake, a flicker of curiosity sparking in his eyes. He hesitantly took Jake’s hand, his grip surprisingly firm.
“Yeah, I can build spaceships and T-Rexes!”
“Awesome!” Jake exclaimed. “Maybe you can teach me a thing or two sometime? I’m pretty terrible at anything more complicated than a simple tower.”
