The Time I Nearly Locked My Son’s Fiancée in the Basement
The need to protect your child never fades. I’m Antoinette, in my 50s, living a quiet life with my husband, Russell. We’ve been married over 25 years, and our son, Zander, 22, is the center of our world. Even though he moved out years ago, we stayed close—until a few weeks ago, when a shocking phone call shook everything.
It was a typical Tuesday evening. Russell and I were half-watching TV, half-dozing, when Zander’s voice boomed through the phone:
“Mom, Dad, big news! I met someone—her name’s Nova. We’ve been together three months, and I proposed… and she said yes!”
I froze. A woman? Three months? Engaged? I looked at Russell, whose mouth was hanging open.
“Can we come for dinner this weekend?” Zander asked.
“Of course!” I said, trying to mask my worry with a smile.
Zander had never mentioned a girlfriend in four years of college. Now he was engaged after just three months! My mind raced.
The next day, I tried to learn more. Zander was vague. “She’s amazing. Just wait till you meet her!” he said.
Russell tried to calm me. “Maybe he’s just head over heels. Young love is like that,” he said, grinning.
When the weekend arrived, I went all out—roasted chicken, apple pie, the best table setting. Russell even splurged on steaks. “First impressions count,” he said.
When the doorbell rang, I nearly jumped for joy. Zander appeared, nervously introducing us to Nova. She was petite, dark-haired, and beautiful. But my stomach dropped.
Months ago, my friend Clarice had shown me a photo of a woman who scammed her son—taking thousands and disappearing. And now… Nova’s face was hauntingly familiar. Darker hair, maybe contacts, but unmistakable.
We sat down, ate dinner, and chatted, but my eyes never left Nova. I tried to find the photo Clarice had sent, but I couldn’t locate it. I had to call her later.
Russell noticed my distraction. “What’s wrong?” he whispered.
“It’s her,” I said urgently. “The scammer. She’s here, and I can’t let her hurt Zander.”
Russell frowned. “Are you sure? She could just look like her.”
“I know it’s her,” I insisted. “I have to act.”
After dinner, I led Nova to the basement under the pretense of picking a wine. The moment she stepped in, I locked the door.
“Russell, call the police!” I shouted upstairs.
Zander panicked. “Mom, what are you doing?!”
“That woman isn’t who she says she is. She’s scammed people before!” I said firmly.
Zander protested. “Mom, Nova’s kind and honest! She’s my fiancée!”
I ignored him, called Clarice, and within seconds, the proof came through—the photo. My heart pounded as I showed it to Zander and Russell.
The police arrived. After questioning Nova, it became clear: she wasn’t the scammer. She laughed, explaining that she had been mistaken for that woman before, and the real scammer had been caught months ago.
I was mortified—but relieved.
“Wow, that was a wild way to meet my future in-laws,” Nova joked. And just like that, the tension broke. Zander hugged her, relieved.
Over time, I got to know Nova and saw her love for Zander. She was warm, funny, and even baked their wedding cake herself.
As for me, I learned a valuable lesson: protect your children, yes—but trust them, too. And now, we have a family story we’ll never forget—though I doubt Nova will ever let me live it down.