My In-Laws Refused to Come for Thanksgiving but Sent Us a ‘Gift’ – When My Husband Opened It, He Screamed, ‘We Have to Drive to Their Home Now!’

My husband and I had an incredible bond with his parents, to the point of seeing them as close friends. But after we discovered we were pregnant, my in-laws started pulling away before we could share the good news, only for us to find out they had been hiding something shocking!

My husband, Ethan, and I have always had an amazing relationship with his parents, Linda and Rick. But when they started acting distant and weird, we ended up driving unannounced to their home to confront them!

An upset couple driving | Source: Midjourney

An upset couple driving | Source: Midjourney

See, my 45-year-old mother-in-law (MIL) and 47-year-old father-in-law (FIL) are the kind of in-laws everyone dreams about. They’re young enough to be fun and adventurous but still undeniably “parent-y” when it counts. Linda had Ethan when she was just seventeen, and Rick wasn’t much older.

They’re an inspirational couple who have the perfect balance of energy and wisdom and are more like friends than your typical in-laws. Lately, though, they’ve been acting… different.

An older couple | Source: Midjourney

An older couple | Source: Midjourney

It started a few months ago when Ethan’s father began dodging his calls with bizarre excuses, like saying he was busy “working on the attic” when they lived in a single-story house or fixing the porch when they didn’t have one.

The calls were always strained and abruptly cut off from my FIL’s end. Linda, who typically bombarded me with memes and baking recipes, suddenly went silent. When I did reach out, her responses were curt, emoji-laden replies that made no sense.

An older woman texting | Source: Midjourney

An older woman texting | Source: Midjourney

Once, when I asked if they’d watched a particular movie, she replied by sending me a spaghetti emoji! Ethan brushed it off as her being “quirky” though I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

But the first obvious red flag had to do with their guest room, which Rick was quite protective about. We visited them last month and for the first time, the room’s door was locked! When Ethan jokingly threatened to pick the lock, Linda’s sharp “Don’t you dare!” left us both stunned.

An upset older woman shouting | Source: Midjourney

An upset older woman shouting | Source: Midjourney

Awkward is an understatement for how the rest of that visit went! The warmth and humor they usually radiated had been replaced by a tension we didn’t understand.

The second red flag had to do with the Thanksgiving holiday, which we hoped would bring us back together. We’d been planning to host the holiday for weeks and were eager to share some life-changing news with them: we were expecting our first child! We even bought a tiny, adorable onesie that said “Grandma & Grandpa’s Little Turkey” to make the announcement extra special!

A baby's onesie | Source: Midjourney

A baby’s onesie | Source: Midjourney

But a week before the holiday, Linda called and said they wouldn’t make it. “We have something going on,” she said vaguely.

Ethan pressed for details, but all she gave him was a frustrated, “You wouldn’t understand.”

My husband was furious. “Something’s going on with them,” he said, pacing the kitchen that evening. “They’re hiding something. Why can’t they just talk to us?”

He even threatened to drive over and confront them, but I convinced him to let it go. I figured everyone deserved their privacy. But their absence hurt more than I expected.

An upset man | Source: Midjourney

An upset man | Source: Midjourney

Thanksgiving morning came, and instead of a bustling house filled with family, it was just Ethan and me because I wasn’t close with my parents or my side of the family. We made the best of it, but the elephant in the room, his parents’ unexplained absence, was impossible to ignore.

The holiday felt lonely without them there, but around 3 p.m., the doorbell rang. A delivery man presented us with a medium-sized package addressed to Ethan.

A man holding a box | Source: Midjourney

A man holding a box | Source: Midjourney

After signing for the “gift,” we noticed a note taped to the top that read: “We’re so sorry we couldn’t be there. Please open this together. Love, Mom & Dad.”

My husband carried the box inside, and I set up my phone to record our reaction, thinking it might be a heartfelt gesture, like a photo album or one of Linda’s famous quilts.

Ethan tore into the package, pulling out a plain cardboard box. Inside, nestled among layers of tissue paper, was something I couldn’t see. It took him a moment to register what he was looking at. Then his face drained of color, and he let out a guttural scream!

A man screaming | Source: Midjourney

A man screaming | Source: Midjourney

“We have to go. Now!”

“What? What’s wrong?” I asked, my heart racing.

Ethan didn’t answer. He grabbed his keys, slipped on his sneakers, and motioned for me to follow. “Get in the car. We have to drive to my parents’ house now!”

“Ethan, you’re scaring me. What was in the box?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. We need to hear this from my parents,” he muttered as he buckled his seatbelt. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white!

An upset man driving | Source: Midjourney

An upset man driving | Source: Midjourney

The five-hour drive to his parents’ house was agonizing. Ethan wouldn’t say a word, leaving my imagination to run wild! Was someone sick? Hurt? Was this their way of calling for help? Or did they have a fallout they didn’t mention? Or maybe they were in danger?!

By the time we pulled into their driveway, my nerves were shot! I was partially convinced that the FBI would be waiting inside! I was about to knock when Ethan threw the door open! Linda and Rick, startled by our sudden arrival, jumped to their feet!

A shocked older couple | Source: Midjourney

A shocked older couple | Source: Midjourney

Ethan got straight to the point, holding up the box and taking out a pregnancy test. “What. Is. This?”

My FIL’s face turned ashen, and Linda’s cheeks flushed deep red. She looked at me, then back at Ethan, and finally stammered out, “I—I was going to call.”

“Call?!” Ethan’s voice was incredulous with hurt. “You thought sending this was a better idea than just telling us?!”

My MIL wrung her hands nervously. “I didn’t know how to say it.”

“Say what?” I interjected, my voice trembling.

Linda took a deep breath, her eyes welling with tears. “I’m pregnant.”

Silence. Complete, deafening silence.

A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney

A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney

I blinked at her, sure I’d misheard. “You’re…what?”

Rick cleared his throat, his voice thick with emotion.

“It’s true. We didn’t think it was possible. I mean, I had a vasectomy years ago.”

He laughed nervously. “Guess it wasn’t as foolproof as we thought.”

“We were so overwhelmed by this news and trying to figure out how to break it to you that we panicked and chose to avoid you instead,” Rick explained.

An older man | Source: Midjourney

An older man | Source: Midjourney

“We skipped Thanksgiving because we hadn’t mentioned the pregnancy beforehand and didn’t want to suddenly arrive with a pregnant belly! We thought the test was the way to tell you the news,” Linda continued.

The cryptic messages. The avoidance. Suddenly, it all made sense! At their age, a baby wasn’t just unexpected, it was unimaginable!

“You couldn’t have just told us?” Ethan asked, his voice softer now. “We would’ve understood.”

Linda’s face crumpled.

A sad older woman | Source: Midjourney

A sad older woman | Source: Midjourney

“We didn’t know how you’d react. I mean, this is insane, right? We’re about to be new parents again! How could we explain that?”

My husband’s expression softened, and he let out a shaky laugh.

“Yeah, it’s insane that I’m going to be a big brother to someone. But it’s not something you needed to hide.”

Finally, my husband and I looked at each other and started laughing before I reached into my bag, pulling out the onesie we’d planned to give them. Luckily, I hadn’t taken it out of my bag since we bought it, so I handed it to Linda.

“Congratulations, Grandma and Grandpa. You guys are going to be grandparents and parents at the same time!”

A woman handing over a onesie to someone | Source: Midjourney

A woman handing over a onesie to someone | Source: Midjourney

My MIL stared at the onesie for a moment before bursting into tears. “You’re pregnant?”

I nodded, tears springing to my own eyes. “Looks like this family’s about to get a lot bigger!”

Rick enveloped Ethan in a bear hug, while Linda pulled me into hers! The weight of the past few months seemed to lift at that moment, replaced by something lighter: joy, relief, and maybe even a little humor at the absurdity of it all.

Two men hugging | Source: Midjourney

Two men hugging | Source: Midjourney

The rest of the night was a blur of laughter and celebration. Linda showed us the guest room, which they converted into a nursery filled with baby clothes and a crib. That’s why they kept it locked.

Rick pulled out a bottle of sparkling cider, and we toasted to the wildest Thanksgiving any of us had ever had! Ethan and I promised we’d work with them to help navigate this next chapter, and they swore to stop keeping secrets from us. As we sat around the table, pie crumbs scattered across our plates, Linda reached for my hand.

A couple having Thanksgiving dinner | Source: Midjourney

A couple having Thanksgiving dinner | Source: Midjourney

“I’m sorry we’ve been so distant. I was so scared of what you’d think, but I should’ve trusted you,” she said.

I squeezed her hand. “We’re family. That’s what we’re here for.”

Ethan leaned back in his chair, a wide grin on his face. “So, Mom, what do you think about a joint baby shower?”

Linda laughed, wiping away the last of her tears. “Only if you let me bring the spaghetti emoji cake!”

We all erupted into laughter, the kind that leaves your cheeks sore and your heart full. Thanksgiving hadn’t gone as planned, but in its own chaotic way, it had brought us closer than ever.

Two couples enjoying a meal | Source: Midjourney

Two couples enjoying a meal | Source: Midjourney

If you enjoyed that story, then you’ll love this one about a couple who were thrilled when they discovered they were pregnant, only for the woman’s MIL to steal their thunder by announcing the news to the family. Tired of being bullied, the daughter-in-law sought revenge to teach her a lesson.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

A Few Hours before Wedding, Groom Puts on Jacket and Finds a Letter from His Mother in Its Pocket — Story of the Day

Today’s story is about a man who found a note from his mother in his jacket pocket a few hours before the wedding and couldn’t stop crying when he read it.

Kale was restless as he lay on his bed. He’d been trying to sleep for an hour, but sleep seemed to have other plans. What are you doing, Kale? The man sighed and buried his face in the pillow, cursing himself. You need to sleep! What will Camilla think if she sees you groggy on your wedding day?

But after nearly an hour, Kale still hadn’t fallen asleep. He finally sat up, took out the family album from his side drawer, and began flipping through the photos, remembering the old days.

Kale received a letter from his mother on his wedding day | Photo: Shutterstock

Kale received a letter from his mother on his wedding day | Photo: Shutterstock

He was just 5 years old when his father David died in a car accident. David ran a small grocery store, and they didn’t make much money back then. The family was already struggling, and his father’s death devastated his mother, Lillian, but she never showed her pain to her son and did her best to raise him.

When he turned 18, she worked several jobs just to send him to college. The store was still there, but it wasn’t enough to provide for his education.

So the elderly lady worked multiple jobs and saved every penny she could, promising herself that she would help her son fulfill his dream of becoming a software engineer. And Kale, like a good son, did not disappoint his mother.

He worked hard and graduated magna cum laude from New York University. He also had several good offers and a handsome package by the end of his senior year of college.

However, by that time, Lilian’s health wasn’t doing well. She didn’t tell her son about it because she didn’t want him to worry. So when Kale returned to his Florida home one day, he was surprised to discover his mother almost lifeless on the bed.

Kale became a successful software engineer | Photo: Unsplash

Kale became a successful software engineer | Photo: Unsplash

He immediately called a doctor, who delivered the sad news to him that Lilian was suffering from Alzheimer’s. It was still in its early stages, but her condition was rapidly deteriorating because she didn’t take care of herself.

Kale was advised to transfer her to an old-age home where she would be cared for, but he didn’t want to do that. He tried to take care of his mother in the same way she had taken care of him and applied for a leave of absence to do so. However, nothing changed. Lilian’s condition worsened to the point where she could no longer recognize her own son.

When Kale saw his mother in that state, he became terrified and decided to move her to a nursing home. However, he didn’t want to leave her alone, so he brought her to New York and found a home for her over there.

Three years passed like that, and Lilian’s condition thankfully did not deteriorate, but she still had those moments when she forgot everything, including Kale.

Kale moved his mother to a nursing home | Photo: Unsplash

Kale moved his mother to a nursing home | Photo: Unsplash

One day, Kale took his girlfriend, Camilla, to see his mother. They had just recently started dating then and when Lilian met Camilla, her eyes welled up. More surprisingly, she recognized Kale that day. But on their next visit, it was the same story again, where Lilian declared she never had a son.

A few years later, Kale and Camilla were already engaged and they went to visit Lilian to invite her to the wedding. But the poor woman didn’t recognize them both and kept asking how they knew her.

Kale ran out of the nursing home in tears. “What do I do, Camilla? Mom doesn’t even recognize us! And the wedding is just two days away!”

“It’s okay, honey,” Camilla consoled him. “I have an idea if you want your mother to attend our wedding.”

Camilla suggested that they’d hold two weddings. One with all the guests because they’d already sent out the invitations, and the other with intimate family members later at the church close to the nursing home, in the hopes that Lilian would at least recognize them then and give her blessing.

Lilian refused to recognize Kale and Camilla | Photo: Pexels

Lilian refused to recognize Kale and Camilla | Photo: Pexels

It was already 4 in the morning and Kale couldn’t stop thinking about his mother. His wedding was just hours away so he closed the photo album, closed his eyes, and managed to force himself to sleep until the sound of the doorbell woke him.

He got up, rubbed his eyes, and slowly walked towards the door. It was seven in the morning and a delivery boy stood outside with a package from his mother’s nursing home. Kale unwrapped the present quickly and discovered a nice suit inside.

Did mom send this to me? Did she finally remember that it is my wedding day? Kale leaped to his feet in delight and dashed over to the mirror to try on the suit. However, as he was putting on the jacket, he noticed a strange bulge in his pocket. He reached into the coat pocket and found a letter inside. “Please open it before your wedding,” it read on the top. Kale recognized his mother’s handwriting and immediately opened the letter and began reading.

Kale discovered a letter in his suit pocket | Photo: Unsplash

Kale discovered a letter in his suit pocket | Photo: Unsplash

“Dear Kale,” it began. “I’m glad you’ve found someone you love, but let me warn you…Moving forward with the idea of marriage is not going to be easy for you. That’s why I’m writing this letter to you before it’s too late.”

“First of all, have a wonderful wedding, son. I came across your wedding invitation today. Thanks for leaving it with the nurse. I really want to see you get married, irrespective of whether I’ll be able to recognize you or not. The nurse here thinks it’s a miracle that I remembered you when I saw the wedding invite. I wish this miracle could last a little longer so that I could remember everything.

“But in any case, please remember that I’m always there with you. Please love your wife and take good care of her. Marriage is a sacred relationship, but it’s not a bed of roses. There’ll be ups and downs, but in a relationship, the heart for understanding each other is the most important.

“Also, keep in mind, son, that you now hold not just a wife and a beloved woman, but the most valuable treasure. So try and help her; she is a fragile woman who may appear strong from the outside, but just like everyone else, even she needs support. And please, don’t quarrel over petty things such as money. Money is not more important than love and relationships.

“Love your wife, try to understand her, and admire her. When she looks at you with love in her eyes, look at her with the same feeling. Every quarrel, like every hurtful word, has the potential to pierce the heart. Don’t let that come in between you two and destroy your family. Do not pursue other women; you have made a decision to pursue her, so don’t look back and be the man of her dreams. I hope you’d be as wonderful a husband as you are a son. With love, Mom.”

Lilian attended Kale's wedding | Photo: Shutterstock

Lilian attended Kale’s wedding | Photo: Shutterstock

Kale’s eyes welled up as he finished reading the letter. He quickly got ready and went to the nursing home to meet his mother. Unfortunately, Lilian didn’t recognize him, but he decided to bring her to the wedding as she’d desired.

He went out and bought her a lovely gown and asked the nurse to get her ready. Lilian arrived at the wedding venue in a wheelchair, completely unaware of her surroundings, but tears welled up in her eyes when she heard her son say, “I do!” Perhaps, just for a moment, she did recognize her son and his future wife.

What can we learn from this story?

  • Love and respect your parents. Kale loved his mother and never left her alone, despite her condition. All of us should try to be like that.
  • Miracles do happen. Lilian had almost forgotten about his son, but she remembered him one day and wrote him a touching letter.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a store clerk who kicks out a poor little boy who wanted to buy a doll for his dying mom.

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