I never imagined opening our home would mean risking my marriage. When Rick’s relatives asked to stay briefly, I welcomed aunt Mary and her stepdaughter Lauren with open arms. Lauren was recovering from divorce, and I wanted to help. I pushed aside the nagging memory that Rick and Lauren had history – after all, that was fifteen years ago.
Their week-long visit became a month, then two. Odd things started happening – my belongings damaged, meals ruined, appliances mysteriously left on. Worse were the subtle comments to Rick about how much better Lauren understood him, how much more they had in common. I felt like a stranger in my own home.
The turning point came when I accidentally overheard their real plan. “Just keep reminding him of what they had,” Mary whispered to Lauren. “He’ll leave her eventually.” My stomach churned. When I told Rick, he accused me of paranoia. That’s when I decided to fight fire with fire.
With a little technological help, I captured Lauren confessing their scheme. Playing that recording at dinner was one of the most satisfying moments of my life. The look on Rick’s face – shock, then anger, then remorse – told me everything. The would-be homewreckers left immediately. Our marriage emerged stronger, but I’ll always wonder – how many other families have they tried this with?
