AS I ACCEPTED TO GO ON VACATION WITH MY FIANCE AND HIS TWIN DAUGHTERS, I BELIEVED WE WERE CELEBRATING A NEW BEGINNING. INSTEAD, I CAME BACK FROM THE POOL TO A MYSTERIOUS NOTE THAT MADE ME CONFUSED MORE THAN EVER. WHEN WE GOT HOME, A SH.O.CKING SURPRISE AWAITED ME.
Three years ago, I met Matt at a charity event. He was charming and self-assured, and he had a soft spot for his daughters that melted my heart instantly. Ella and Sophie, his five-year-old twins, were the sweetest girls.
They had lost their mother as they were just one year old, and Matt had done an amazing job raising them to be well-behaved, intelligent girls.
I had little experience with children, but those two made it easy. Every time I was around, they would share stories from school, and before I knew it, they had wormed their way into my heart.
One night, after a particularly long day at work, Matt showed up at my apartment with the girls in tow. They were carrying handmade cards decorated with stickers and glitter.
“We wanted to surprise you,” Ella smiled, handing me the card. Inside it said, “Thank you for being part of our family.”
I was at a loss for words. Before Matt, I had a long history of dating men who were terrified of commitment—I seemed to attract them. I’d been on so many disappointing dates, most of them blurred together. But in that moment, as I looked into the bright eyes of my fiancé and his daughters, all I felt was love and warmth. I truly cared for all three of them.
So, when Matt proposed a week later after a special dinner the girls had helped prepare, there was only one possible answer. It finally felt like my life was falling into place, and I couldn’t wait to start our future together. I moved in with Matt as soon as I could.
From there, I dove into wedding planning. I had clear visions for everything—the flowers, my dress, the girls’ outfits, the venue. I’m naturally a type-A planner, so I was totally in my element. But after a few months, Matt started to feel overwhelmed.
“Let’s take a break before all the chaos begins,” Matt suggested one night in our bed. “A little family vacation, just the four of us. It’ll be our getaway before the big day.”
I wasn’t too keen on going when there was so much to do, including work, but I agreed. I needed it badly. We booked a trip to a cozy resort on an island.
The first two days were magical. Ella and Sophie couldn’t stop laughing as they splashed around in the pool, and I loved watching them build sandcastles with Matt on the beach.
“Dorothy, look!” Sophie shouted, pointing at a sandcastle she had decorated with seashells. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
“It’s gorgeous,” I said, taking a photo with my phone.
Matt walked over, brushing sand off his hands. “Ready for some ice cream, girls?”
“Yes!” they shouted in unison, running ahead.
Matt put his arm around my shoulders. “This was a good idea. We needed this.”
I leaned against him. “Yeah, we really did.”
I was soaking in the moment, grateful for the kind of perfect family memories most people rarely get. But everything shifted on the third afternoon at the resort.
That morning, Matt had said he was too tired to go out and wanted to rest in the hotel room. The girls were eager to swim, so I took them to the pool myself.
By noon, Matt still hadn’t shown up, and he wasn’t answering his phone. Feeling uneasy, I gathered the girls and we headed back to our room.
The girls were bubbling with excitement, chatting about the new friends they’d made. I wasn’t really listening—I was distracted as I unlocked the door. But the second I pushed it open, I stopped cold.
At first glance, everything looked normal. But something didn’t sit right. I stepped inside, scanning the room—and then I saw it. Matt’s suitcase was gone.
The room was perfectly tidy, and the beds were made, meaning housekeeping had been through. I went to the bathroom, and I only saw my things along with the girls’ things.
His clothes, his toiletries, even his phone charger were gone.
“Dorothy, where’s dad?” Ella asked, pulling on my hand.
My heart started racing, and I shook my head. Then, finally, I saw it—a note on the nightstand. “I have to disappear. You’ll understand soon.”
I sat heavily on the bed, the heavy paper shaking in my hands. Disappear? What did that mean? Was he in danger? Were we?
“Dorothy, are you okay?” Sophie whispered, her big eyes filled with concern.
I forced a smile, trying to think quickly. What would any guardian do in this situation? Distract the girls
“I’m fine, sweetie,” I said. “Let’s get cleaned up and go downstairs for some ice cream. I’m sure dad is downstairs too.”
The girls perked up and went to the bathroom together, which was a relief. They hadn’t noticed my panic—and I had to keep it that way, at least until I knew what was really going on.
But it became clear Matt was truly gone. A kind bellboy mentioned seeing him earlier, suitcase in hand, getting into a cab. I tried to reach him, keeping my voice low so the girls wouldn’t hear, but he still wouldn’t pick up.
Later that night, I finally got the girls to sleep. I told them their dad had to leave early, a lie that felt sour the moment I said it. Sitting alone on the balcony, I stared at my phone, hoping for a message.
Nothing.
I found myself biting my nails—something I hadn’t done in years—as my thoughts spiraled. Did he get cold feet? Was there something he’d been hiding? Just to be sure, I called the front desk to ask if they’d heard from him. They hadn’t. I left more voicemails, hoping for any response.
By morning, with no word and no other choice, I packed our bags and took the girls home.
