We\u2019d been married for less than a year when my husband suggested we visit his hometown for the weekend.
His parents were THRILLED. They greeted us with happy faces in front of the house and offered us the guest room. I thought it was sweet\u2014a chance to bond as a new family.
On the second night, the house was quiet, everyone asleep. I wanted some water and headed to the kitchen, but froze halfway because of what I heard.
From the kitchen came my mother-in-law, Betty\u2019s, voice. Through the silence of the night, I heard her words clearly, and I stood rooted to the spot in the hallway:
\u201cYes, the marriage went through just like we planned. Don\u2019t worry\u2026 she won\u2019t be around for long. I\u2019ll handle it.\u201d
She put the phone down and started doing something else. I had no idea what I could possibly say to her, so I forced myself to enter the kitchen just to get some water\u2014and froze in the doorway at what I saw.
I never could have imagined that this sweet woman, who had served me pie with a smile only hours earlier, was capable of something like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kitchen supplies<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Family games<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The invitation came on a Tuesday while Liam and I were doing dishes. \u201cMom wants us to come to Sage Hill this weekend,\u201d he said, already having agreed. Betty and Arnold greeted us like royalty\u2014or at least, they greeted Liam that way. She hugged me lightly, like stamping a letter she didn\u2019t want to send. Dinner was all about Liam, every story circling back to him. Later, she showed photos: Liam as a boy, Liam at prom with Alice\u2014her voice soft and warm when she said Alice\u2019s name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That night, I caught Betty in the kitchen, burning our wedding photos by candlelight, whispering words I didn\u2019t understand. When I dragged Liam down, the evidence was gone. He chalked it up to a dream. The next day I searched her room. Dolls with pins, my photo taped to their heads, burned pictures, a notebook of spells. I took photos. At dinner, I confronted her. Liam saw the drawer himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kitchen supplies<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou were supposed to marry Alice,\u201d she said calmly. \u201cI was protecting you.\u201d We locked our door that night. At dawn, I uploaded everything to her church and neighbors. By evening, Betty\u2019s phone wouldn\u2019t stop buzzing. Liam carried our bags out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the car, he took my hand. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. Thank you for fighting.\u201d Sometimes the only spell you need is daylight.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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