The need to protect your child never fades. I’m Antoinette, in my 50s, living in a quiet suburb with my husband, Russell. We’ve been married for over 25 years, and our son, Zander, 22, is the center of our world. He’s nearly done with college, and though he moved out years ago, we stayed close. At least, I thought so until a few weeks ago when Zander shocked us with a phone call.
It was a regular Tuesday evening. Russell and I were in the living room, half-watching TV, half-dozing, when the phone rang.
“Mom, Dad, big news!” Zander’s voice boomed. “I met someone. Her name’s Nova, and she’s amazing. We’ve been together three months, and—” He paused for effect. “I proposed, and she said yes!”
I froze, trying to process it. A woman? Three months? Engaged? “Wait, you’re getting married?” I asked, glancing at Russell, whose mouth was hanging open.
“Yeah! I wanted to tell you sooner, but Nova’s shy. She wasn’t ready to meet you until now, but I convinced her. Can we come for dinner this weekend?”
“Of course!” I said, though my mind raced with worry and a bit of excitement.
Zander hadn’t mentioned a girlfriend in his four years at college. No stories, no photos, nothing. Now he was engaged after just a few months! It felt wild.
After we hung up, I turned to Russell as we cleaned the house for the weekend. “What do we know about her?” I asked. “Where’s she from? What does she do?”
“Sweetheart, you heard what I heard,” Russell said with a grin. “Maybe he’s just head over heels. You know how young love is.”
That didn’t calm my nerves. I called Zander the next day for more details, but he was vague. “She’s from around here,” he said, smiling through the phone. “She’s incredible, Mom. Just wait till you meet her. You’ll see!”
I decided to push my worries aside and focus on the future. Russell reminded me of the perks of Zander getting married: grandkids!
So when the big day came, I went all out. I roasted a chicken, baked an apple pie, and set the table with our best dishes.
Russell splurged on fancy steaks, too. “Just in case she prefers beef. First impressions count, right?”
“Absolutely!” I said. “Wait, should I make another dessert in case she doesn’t like apple pie?”
We spent the morning like that. Russell even mowed the lawn, though I wasn’t sure why. It got us even more excited.
When the doorbell rang, we were grinning like fools. Zander stepped back when we opened the door, probably startled by our enthusiasm.
“Welcome!” I said, almost shouting.
Zander smiled nervously and introduced us to Nova, who stood shyly beside him, shoulders hunched, with a small smile.
She was petite, with dark hair and big eyes. Beautiful, and she looked good next to my son. But her face… it took only a second for me to recognize her.
I kept smiling as I welcomed them inside, but my heart was pounding for a good reason.
A few months ago, my friend Clarice showed me a photo of a woman who had scammed her son. He’d fallen for her, buying an expensive engagement ring and giving her thousands for “wedding costs.”
Then, she vanished. Clarice was heartbroken and shared the photo with everyone, hoping someone would spot the scammer. And now, here she was, in my living room.
Her hair was darker, and she might’ve been wearing colored contacts, but I knew that face. What happened next was a blur.
Somehow, we sat down. I served dinner, and everyone chatted lively. I nodded along when I could. But I kept staring at Nova. I checked my phone quietly, trying to find the photo Clarice sent. I must’ve deleted it.
I’d have to call her later. Suddenly, Russell coughed. He’d noticed my distraction and asked me to help in the kitchen.
“What’s wrong, Antoinette?” he whispered once we were alone.
“It’s her,” I said urgently. “The scammer Clarice told us about. I’m sure.”
“What? The one who broke her son’s heart and stole everything?” Russell frowned, hands on his hips. “Are you certain? It could just be someone who looks like her.”
“I’m telling you, Russell, it’s her,” I insisted. “Clarice shared that photo for months after she disappeared. I have to do something before she hurts Zander.”
Russell sighed but didn’t argue. “Just… be careful. Don’t accuse her without proof.”
After dinner, I had a plan and acted on it. “Nova, can you help me pick a wine from the basement?” I asked, keeping my voice steady.
She hesitated but nodded. “Sure,” she said, standing.
I led her downstairs, acting casual. Her shyness made small talk easy to avoid. But the moment she stepped into the dim basement, I turned and locked the door behind her.
My hands shook as I rushed upstairs. “Russell, call the police. Now!”
Zander jumped up, confused. “Mom, what are you doing?!” he demanded.
“That woman isn’t who she says she is,” I said firmly. “She’s scammed people before. I’m protecting you.”
Zander looked like I’d hit him. “What? No! You’re wrong! Nova’s not a scammer. She’s kind, honest, and my fiancée!”
I ignored him, called Clarice, and explained. “Send me that photo of the scammer,” I pleaded, then hung up. Seconds later, my phone pinged with the image. It was her. No doubt.
I showed my phone to Zander and Russell. “See? I’m not crazy!”
The police arrived soon after and confirmed I wasn’t crazy. I was just wrong.
Zander went to let Nova out of the basement. Oddly, she wasn’t scared. She was frustrated but… amused.
She turned to us with a sigh. “This isn’t the first time someone’s mistaken me for that woman,” she said. “I know who you mean. She’s caused me so much trouble. I’ve been questioned by police before, and I’ve seen her picture. She’s blonde with brown eyes; my dark hair and blue eyes are natural. I’m not her.”
An officer nodded. “I know this case. The real scammer used the name Nova and dodged police for a while. She scammed someone else before getting caught. She’s been in prison for months now. I can confirm this lady isn’t her.”
My jaw dropped. I was relieved but so embarrassed. Why didn’t Clarice know this? “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,” I stammered.
To my surprise, Nova smiled and laughed. “Well, that was a wild way to meet my future in-laws,” she joked. “At least I picked a good wine.” And she had great taste—the bottle she chose was one of our priciest.
Her words made me laugh, easing the tension.
Zander hugged her, clearly relieved and so in love. “I told you she wasn’t like that,” he said, giving me a sharp look.
That night ended with apologies and a fresh start. Over time, I got to know Nova and saw how much she loved Zander. She was warm, funny, and a talented baker who even made their wedding cake.
As for me, I learned not to jump to conclusions. I’m still protective of Zander, but I’m learning to trust his choices. And now, we have a family story we’ll never forget—though I doubt Nova will let me live it down anytime soon.