The Family BBQ Turned Mysterious When the Host’s Seat Was Empty — And Only a Letter Remained

Man Gathered the Whole Family for a Barbecue, but When the Guests Arrived, His Seat Was Empty With a Letter on It — Story of the Day

All of the invited relatives were taken aback by the unexpected letter, but they felt obliged to go this time. When Paul’s daughter Susy arrived at the family home, she noticed that it was full and joyful for the first time in years. For her father, it was like a dream come true, but he wasn’t present to witness it.

Susy’s mind was racing with options as she started to thread her way through the crowd. Perhaps her father was just inside, tinkering with the finishing touches to the dinner.

Or maybe, as he had been known to do in recent years, he had taken a minute to step back and reflect.

However, she started to feel uneasy as she got closer to the house’s back door.

When she entered the house, which had before been lively with laughter and discussion, it seemed strangely silent.

There was no evidence of her father, but the smell of his cologne was still there. As if he hadn’t been there at all, the kitchen was vacant and the counters were spotless. Susy’s concern grew.

Her footsteps echoed on the wooden floor as she strolled down the corridor.

The family pictures hanging on the walls, pictures of holidays, birthdays, and just regular days spent together, appeared to be silently worried about her.

She stopped in front of an old photo of herself and her father, the two of them grinning with happiness, her as a small child perched on his shoulders.

A bittersweet smile lit up her face as she remembered it, but it was soon eclipsed by her mounting fear.

“Daddy?” As she pushed open the door to her father’s bedroom, Susy shouted out, her voice faltering a little.

The bed was expertly made, the room tidy, but Paul was nowhere to be found.

He was never in the small study where he usually withdrew to read, nor was he in the living room or bathroom, where she had searched.

Anxiety began to well up within her. Susy went back to the backyard and tried not to lose her cool as she joined the group there.

While her relatives continued their conversation beside the grill, more people became aware of Paul’s absence, which raised concerns.

Susy told Joe, “I’m really starting to get worried,” and Joe now had a concerned expression on his face.

Dad isn’t answering his phone and isn’t inside. He’s not like this at all.

Joe cast a furrowed gaze and surveyed the yard.

“Perhaps he just took a brief break.” He might be outside or in the garden. Let’s investigate.

Calling Paul’s name, the two of them and a few other relatives started scouring the outside of the home.

Paul’s favorite place to be, the garden, was deserted, the flowers softly waving in the wind.

There were no hints in the front yard either. Susy’s fear had changed into something heavier and more oppressive as they reunited.

“Where might he be?” With a hint of anxiety in her voice, Aunt Linda questioned. “He had a lot of excitement for today. It’s not as though he would suddenly vanish.

Susy attempted to maintain her composure by shaking her head. It doesn’t feel right, I’m not sure why. Let us examine the backyard once more. Perhaps he is seated in his preferred location.

They circled back to the big oak tree at the far end of the yard, which was Paul’s favorite spot to sit when the family got together.

His favorite area was where he could see everything and everyone. He would frequently sit there and observe his family with a pleased smile on his face.

But Susy’s heart fell as they got closer. There was nothing in the chair. Paul was nowhere to be found.

She looked at nothing but a solitary neatly placed letter on the seat. She grabbed for it, her hands shaking, a knot of frigid fear tightening in her gut.

“Susy, what’s going on?” Observing the pale expression on her face, Joe inquired.

Susy took a while to respond. She took her time unfolding the paper and saw that her father had written on the envelope.

The statement, “If you are reading this, I am already dead,” was staring back at her, and as the gravity of the situation hit, a tear started to fall down her cheek.

They had received a letter from her father. She was afraid of what she was going to read based on the tone of it.

Susy took a deep breath and started reading aloud, her hands shaking and her heart tumultuous with fear and love. She hoped her voice would not reveal the turbulence she was experiencing.

As Susy read the letter, her voice faltered, her heart heaving with every word. She was rendered speechless by the reality that her father had actually passed away, which hit her like an icy wave.

The words in front of her were unquestionable, even yet she was having difficulty believing what she was reading.

Her father was no longer among them; he had always been the cornerstone of their family.

The family members surrounding her stood in astonished silence, tears welling up in their eyes. While others comforted one another by putting their arms around each other, others covered their mouths in amazement.

There was a solemn silence in place of the happy banter that had been in the air seconds before. The formerly joyous ambiance was now laden with sorrow.

She found it difficult to continue as her throat constricted. It was nearly unbearable to consider her father dying by himself, without any of them by his side.

She pictured him writing this letter with shaking hands while seated in his beloved recliner, knowing it would be the final thing he said to his family.

“My family being together is all I ever wanted,” Susy read, her voice breaking. She recalled all the occasions her father had gathered them for summer cookouts, holidays, and birthdays.

Despite their hectic lives, he had always been the family’s glue, keeping them in constant communication with one another.

Susy started crying uncontrollably as she read more. There was no hint of resentment or remorse in her father’s writings, despite the fact that he had written about his fatal disease with such clarity and acceptance.

Rather, all that was present was love—love for his family and a strong wish for them to be connected even after he passed away.

The letter read, “I knew that if I invited you all here, you would come.” He had been correct.

Just as he had anticipated, they were all together in this place. But now they were grieving his passing rather than joining him in celebration.

Susy’s father’s words had become a burdensome blanket of grief by the time she had finished reading the letter.

At last, the truth of his death had set in, and not a single one of them was indifferent. Nobody said anything for a short while.

They were all engrossed in their own thoughts, trying to process how painful it was to lose someone they had loved so much.

However, there was also a sense of solidarity amidst the loss. Susy understood her father’s request had been fulfilled as she turned to face her family.

By being together during this time of loss, they were paying tribute to his memory.

Susy tenderly folded the letter and cherished it in her heart.

Despite her father’s physical absence, his spirit continued to be very much a part of their relationship and the love they shared.

And she understood that he will always be a part of their lives as long as they were able to get together as a family.

Greed and frustration soon overtook the family’s mourning, causing the formerly tranquil atmosphere to descend into chaos. Tension was high in the air, and the voices that had been sorrowful in the past were now tinged with bitterness and wrath.

“How about the home?” The initial spark in what would turn into a fiery debate was cousin Mark’s query, which hovered in the air.

Susy had just finished reading her father’s letter when he spoke, but his tone cut right through the tenuous calm that had fallen.

Did he leave a testament? Who is awarded what?

Everyone seemed to be triggered by the question. Aunt Linda, who had usually maintained her composure, became agitated.

“We ought to divide the proceeds from the house sale. It’s only fair,” she uttered in an atypically stern tone.

“Just?” Joe retaliated with a glare on his face.

“My dad would have preferred for me to own the home. For years, I’ve been the one taking care of it. You can’t just go in and take what’s rightfully yours!

The debates became increasingly intense and audible. Claims erupted around the garden, transforming what had been a heartfelt reunion into a conflicting interests battlefield.

As each person attempted to present their point, their anguish and annoyance overflowed into acrimonious remarks and sarcastic looks.

Susy felt completely helpless as she stood in the middle of everything.

Only a short while before, they had all expressed their affection for Paul, commiserated over his passing, and promised to keep his memory alive. Now, she could see the togetherness disintegrating in front of her, giving way to selfishness and greed.

Seeing her family, the people her father had loved so dearly, fight over his belongings made her heart hurt.

Susy’s eyes filled with tears, but they weren’t only for her father this time.

They were for the family that he had loved and that now broke under the pressure of their own wants.

Paul looked to be losing the love and unity he had worked so hard to maintain in favor of resentment and separation.

Susy felt a surge of determination growing within her as the argument got more heated.

Not here, not now, and definitely not after everything her father had done to try to unite them, could she allow this to happen.

She needed to figure out a way to jog their memories of Paul and his desire for them to remain together, to remind them of what really important and why they had all come together in the first place.

Susy inhaled deeply as she got ready to talk, praying that her voice would be loud enough to be heard above the din and remind her family of what really mattered.

“Cease!” Susy’s powerful voice startled even herself as it rang out. Everyone turned to stare at her, and the arguments stopped.

Her voice quivered with passion as she questioned, “Is this what Dad would have wanted?” He gathered us together in order for us to cherish the memories of our family. not to quarrel over who should get what.

The family members uncomfortably shifted as the weight of her words hung in the air and they realized the truth of what she had spoken. Susy inhaled deeply, bracing herself for the revelation that was ahead.

“Yes, dad did leave a will,” she muttered. “I inherit the house from him.”

Everyone gasped in unison, and she saw the surprise and, sometimes, the contempt on their faces. But Susy went on before anyone could protest.

“But the house isn’t mine,” she said, her voice becoming more steady.

“This was Dad’s house, and there was always family, love, and fun here. I wish to preserve it that way in remembrance of him.

As she spoke, she noticed the softening expressions on her relatives’ faces. You are all welcome to come here at any time.

Like today, we can get together here for holidays and cookouts to honor Dad and make sure we never get apart.

Though there was a newfound sense of serenity within the group, tears still fell freely. By honoring Paul’s last request, Susy had served as a reminder to her family of what was really important.

Susy had warmth in her heart as they all gave one other comforting hugs and embraces, knowing that Paul’s legacy would endure not just in the house he left behind but also in the family that would continue to assemble there for many years to come.

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