My Husband’s Father Gave Me a Pillow

My father-in-law sent me a pillow – He was shocked when I discovered his true intentions

Josh had just taken our daughter, Emilia, for a walk in the garden when the doorbell rang. A clear sign that a new day was beginning.

— I have a package for you, the courier said when I opened the door.

I signed and took the box to the kitchen. We had just celebrated our third wedding anniversary that week, and Josh always used to buy things to surprise me.

— I just want to make you a surprise, Caterina, he had told me one day while we were relaxing on the couch. — The little things matter, you know?

So, naturally, when I brought the package into the kitchen, I assumed it was from him.

I took a pair of scissors and cut through the thick tape. Inside, I found a beautifully embroidered pillow, under which was a card. It matched perfectly with the decor of our living room.

Happy Anniversary, Josh and Caterina! – Teodor.

For a moment, I enjoyed that thoughtful gesture. But then I remembered that Josh would never accept a gift from his father under any circumstances.

— What is this? Josh asked, walking into the kitchen with Emilia perched on his shoulders.

— It’s a gift, I replied cautiously. — From your father.

Josh took the card from my hands, reading it silently.

I wondered what he would do. The relationship between Josh and his father had always been complicated. When Josh was a child, Teodor had abandoned him and his mother.

He had started a relationship with another woman, and when it came time to choose, he chose her and left his family behind.

Josh was seven at the time and had never gotten over that abandonment. He told me one evening while we were having dinner.

— A father should choose you, Caterina. But he didn’t. He left us to start a new life with his mistress. That’s not how things work.

I understood his point of view. He just wanted his father to have been there for him and his mother.

But Teodor had other plans.

— He said he wanted to be happy and that mom was too rigid with him. He had a job, but he was always involved in illegal things. So he packed his things and left.

— What do you mean?, I asked, surprised that Josh had been exposed to such things from a young age.

— Money, scams. Gambling, all that, my husband said, taking a sip of whisky.

And that was it. Josh hadn’t spoken to him until a year before our wedding.

Teodor had learned about the wedding from other family members and thought it was the perfect time to try to repair the relationship.

But Josh refused.

— I don’t want him around us on our special day, Caterina. He brings nothing good. In fact, if I see him, he would ruin everything.

— And don’t you think you’ll regret it?, I asked as I folded the invitations.

— Not a chance, he replied, putting an invitation in an envelope. — Who knows, maybe someone will show up to stop the ceremony because he owes them money.

And that was it. Subject closed.

I didn’t want to insist. He knew it was his responsibility to come to terms with the decision if he would regret it. I supported him, but I didn’t want to get involved, especially since Teodor was hard to handle.

When Emilia was born, Teodor tried again to intervene in our lives. He wanted to convince me to help him repair his relationship with Josh, to be a grandfather.

— I don’t want him near us. I don’t want him near our daughter. Please, Caterina, don’t insist. He’s a dangerous man, my husband said, holding Emilia in his arms.

And that brings us to the present.

Josh took the pillow and started to feel it, lifting it and letting it drop. He even brought it close to his ear, his eyes wide open.

— My dear, we can’t keep this pillow!

Without saying anything else, he ran and threw it out the back door.

— Josh, what are you doing?!, I shouted, putting Emilia in her chair with pieces of fruit.

— There’s something inside, Caterina! I can hear something. It’s a trap.

— What do you mean?, I asked him. — What’s happening?

We both went outside into the garden.

We approached the pillow, which sat innocently among the flowers. I hesitated and bent down to listen.

Sure enough, there was a faint sound.

— Ah, I whispered, surprised. I was convinced that Josh was imagining things.

Why would Teodor want to harm us?

— Get your phone and film everything, Josh said as he leaned toward the pillow. — Just in case there’s something illegal in there.

Josh took a deep breath and opened the pillow, revealing a small, mysterious box with a timer.

— What the hell is this?, I murmured, feeling a chill of fear.

— We’ll find out, Josh said, dazed. — Call him.

I dialed Teodor’s number with trembling hands.

— Hello, Caterina, he answered cheerfully. — Did you receive the package? I didn’t know what to buy you, but I really wanted to give you something.

— There’s something in the pillow, Josh said. — A box. It makes sounds. What is it?

— Please, tell us the truth, I pleaded.

— It’s a gift, Caterina. For your anniversary, Teodor’s voice said, calm, almost soothing.

— It’s probably just the timer. It should make a sound and open today, he explained. — There’s something inside.

My husband snatched the phone from my hand.

— Do you really think we want anything from you? What’s in the box, dad? Is it something it shouldn’t be? Is it illegal?

— Please, Josh, he said. — It’s just a gesture. I don’t intend to harm you.

— If you’re serious, then stay away from our lives.

— Wait, Caterina, Teodor said. — Open the box, okay?

Teodor sighed deeply, and Josh hung up the phone.

I looked at him. He seemed troubled by everything that was happening. I knew he was curious to see what was in the box, but at the same time traumatized by everything he had experienced because of his father.

— What do you want us to do?, I asked him.

— I don’t know, he said, putting his hands on his head.

— Let’s open it, I said. — If he wanted us to open it, it can’t be something bad, right? Okay?

Josh nodded slowly, finally agreeing. His father just wanted to get closer and offer a gift. Maybe it was that simple.

— But film it, okay?, Josh said.

I took the phone again and started recording.

My husband opened the box, revealing its contents: a check for $100,000.

Josh looked at the check, emotions crossing his face as he tried to understand.

— Are you kidding, Caterina?, he asked, stunned. — It can’t be clean money. It must be hiding something.

But before we could process any further, Teodor called again.

I answered, hesitantly.

— We found the check, I said. — Why did you do this?

— Because I’m dying, Caterina, he confessed calmly. — I’ve made enough mistakes, and I know Josh hates me. But this money is for you. If my son doesn’t want it, keep it for Emilia. For school. No one needs to know it’s from me.

I went inside, realizing I had left Emilia alone for too long. Not that it mattered — she was sitting quietly, eating her fruit.

Josh was right behind me.

— Dad, he said, taking the phone from my hands. — If you’re sincere about your condition, then we need to talk. No more games.

— Thank you, Josh, Teodor’s voice said. — Let me know when.

We met with Teodor in a park that same week. It wasn’t far…