Giving my son, Christopher, a hug and a kiss goodbye, tears filled my eyes. ‘I’m going to miss you,’ I sniffed.
It was summer 2014 and, after having him to ourselves for 24 wonderful years, his dad, Scott, then 45, and I were waving our boy off on his new life with his girlfriend, Steffi, 27, in her native Germany. The pair had met at the Edinburgh Fringe festival the year before and had been dating ever since. I adored Steffi, but it still didn’t make saying goodbye any easier.
See, my Christopher was a true mummy’s boy, and he and his little sisters, Rebecca, then 22, and Abby, 11, were inseparable.
We’d spent their childhood going on camping holidays, and when we weren’t out exploring, we were happy snuggled up on the sofa watching Friends re-runs.
Watching Christopher get on the plane was a wrench, and I missed him like crazy. But in September 2015, during a visit home, Christopher proposed to Steffi. Not only that, they were planning to move back to Scotland that Christmas. I was elated.
That November, a month before the move back, they travelled to Amsterdam to visit friends. Only, while they were away, I woke up one morning to a phone call from Steffi.
‘Christopher is missing,’ she said, and those three words sent a chill through me. Panicking, I woke Scott before trying Christopher’s phone.
‘It’s going straight to answerphone,’ I told Scott, my voice wavering with worry. My mother’s instinct was screaming that something was seriously wrong. Back on the phone to Steffi, I couldn’t hold back the tears.
Sleepless night
‘What’s going on? What happened?’ I asked. Steffi told me they’d gone out for a meal before heading back to their friend’s flat.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 30, 2020 من WOMAN'S OWN.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 30, 2020 من WOMAN'S OWN.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
MIND OF MY OWN
The Woman's Own columnist has her say on the gender gap, cats and timed hugs
Check out CHICAGO
With a spectacular skyline, sandy beaches and great food, the Windy City is calling, says Zoe West
LET'S EMBRACE OUR CHRISTMAS TAT!
Becky Dickinson explains why she'll still be rocking around her tinsel-strewn tree this year
BURIED SECRETS
We look at the shocking cases of celebrities posthumously accused of being sexual predators-and how they got away with it
FESTIVE NO-BAKES
Pop on the Christmas tunes and whip up a batch of these easy sweet treats
PROTECT YOUR SMILE
Are you doing enough to look after your teeth and gums?
'TIS THE SEASON TO SHINE!
At last, Hayley McCrossan, 39, feels fit and healthy
FOR THE LOVE OF TOM
When Deborah Mitchell, 57, lost her son, she vowed to help other families facing the same heartbreak
THE NURSE WHO LEFT MY GRANDAD FOR DEAD belict
Rachael Fealey, 31, had one question for the woman who killed her beloved Grampa - how could you?
Coleen's MONEY WORRIES
What are the reasons behind her financial and marriage fears?