When Sarah, our seven-year-old son Derril, and I moved to a new city due to Sarah’s promising job, we were hopeful about the fresh start. The move was particularly exciting for Derril because he was enrolled in a school with a strong soccer program, his favorite sport.

As the weeks went by, Derril’s enthusiasm seemed to wane. He came home from school visibly upset, his usual energy dampened. Despite our efforts to cheer him up, he remained withdrawn. I worried that adjusting to a new place was taking its toll.

One day, I walked into Derril’s room and found him crying. My heart sank. “Derril, what’s wrong?” I asked, sitting beside him.

“I don’t want Mr. Sanders to be my father!” he sobbed.

Mr. Sanders was Derril’s soccer coach, someone Derril had once admired. Confused and alarmed, I asked, “Why would he become your father?”

Derril explained, “Yesterday, when Mom picked me up from practice, Mr. Sanders hugged her, and she didn’t push him away!”

A cold sweat broke out on my forehead. Sarah had been distant, but I had attributed it to her new job. This was different. I decided to investigate.

The next day, I left work early and drove to the soccer field, parking out of sight. I watched as Sarah arrived to pick up Derril. Mr. Sanders approached her, placed a hand on her shoulder, and leaned in close. Sarah seemed nervous and glanced around, as if sensing someone was watching.

That night, I confronted Sarah. “What’s going on with you and Mr. Sanders?”

Her face went pale. “There’s nothing going on. He’s just been supportive.”

“Supportive how? Derril thinks Mr. Sanders is trying to replace me,” I said, pressing for answers.

Sarah’s eyes widened. “Mr. Sanders recognized a dangerous man from his past who has been stalking me. He’s been trying to keep us safe without alerting the stalker.”

I was stunned. Sarah explained that Mr. Sanders had been monitoring the stalker and advised her not to push him away too obviously to avoid raising suspicion.

We decided to meet with Mr. Sanders. He confirmed Sarah’s story, showing us evidence of the stalker’s criminal activities. He had been working with a detective friend and had been vigilant to protect our family.

Later that night, Derril ran into our room, terrified. “There’s someone outside my window!” he screamed.

I told Sarah to call the police and grabbed a baseball bat. Outside, a shadowy figure lurked near the tree by Derril’s window. The police arrived quickly and apprehended the stalker, who turned out to be the man Mr. Sanders had warned us about.

The next day, Mr. Sanders visited, bringing pastries for Derril. “I’m sorry for the confusion,” he said. “I recognized the stalker from my past. I wanted to protect you all.”

Sarah and Derril seemed relieved, but I still felt uneasy. Despite our gratitude to Mr. Sanders, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The sense of safety in our new home was compromised, and I struggled with the idea of continuing our lives here.

What should I do?