During a family vacation, I experienced one of the scariest moments of my life. After a mix-up with our hotel reservation, we ended up staying with a couple, Martha and Gary, at their old, creaky Victorian home. From the start, something felt off about them, especially how they fawned over my son, Tyler.
One morning, Tyler went missing. Despite searching the house and Martha’s dismissive attitude, I called the police. When the officers arrived, I saw Martha’s German Shepherd, Max, carrying Tyler’s baseball cap, leading them to the backyard kennel where Tyler was asleep.
I was flooded with relief but also guilt for assuming the worst about Martha and Gary. Over dinner later, I learned that Max was a therapy dog and the couple’s quiet nature wasn’t sinister. That day reminded me that first impressions can be misleading, and trust can lead to unexpected friendships.