I Was Upset That My Grandfather Only Left Me an Old Apiary until I Looked into the Beehives — Story of the Day

My Grandpa, the man who spun tales of buried treasure and promised me the millions. But when his time came, lawyer called me.

“Your grandfather wanted to divide evenly his money between your siblings. But he wanted you to know – he loved you the most, Robyn. That’s why you’ll get his apiary”. – he said.

That was the biggest letdown: a dusty, old apiary. Who leaves their grandchild an insect-infested shack? This cruel joke of an inheritance was a slap in the face until the day I peered into the beehives.

It all started with a regular morning. Aunt Daphne peered over her glasses at the mess on my bed. “Robyn, have you packed your bag yet?”

“I’m texting Chloe,” I groaned, hiding my phone.

“It’s almost bus time! Get ready!” Aunt Daphne said, stuffing books into my bag.

I saw the time. 7:58 A.M. “Ugh, fine,” I sighed, getting up from the bed.

She held out a shirt for me, ironed and ready. “This isn’t what your Grandpa hoped for you, you know. He believed you’d be strong, independent. And those beehives he left? They’re not going to tend to themselves.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images

I recalled the times with Grandpa, the honey, the bees. But now, my mind was on the upcoming school dance and my crush, Scott.

“I’ll check them, maybe tomorrow,” I said, fixing my hair.

“Tomorrow never comes for you. Grandpa believed in you, Robyn. He wanted you to take care of the apiary,” she insisted.

“Look, Aunt Daphne,” I said sharply. “I’ve got better things to do than take care of Grandpa’s bees!”

I saw Aunt Daphne’s face fall and tears spring in her eyes. But the school bus honked right then, and I rushed out, ignoring her sad expression.

On the bus, my thoughts were focused on Scott, not the apiary I inherited from Grandpa Archie. “Who wants an apiary?” I thought, annoyed at the responsibility.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

But the next day, Aunt Daphne brought it up again. She scolded me for neglecting chores and spending too much time on my phone.

“You’re grounded, young lady!” she declared suddenly, and it was then I finally looked up from my phone.

“Grounded? For what?” I protested.

“For shirking responsibility,” she replied, mentioning the neglected apiary.

“The apiary? That useless bee farm?” I scoffed.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“It’s about responsibility, Robyn. It’s what Grandpa wanted for you,” Aunt Daphne said, her voice strained with emotion.

“Look, Aunt Daphne,” I protested, “I’m scared of getting stung!”

“You’ll be wearing protective gear,” she countered. “A little fear is normal, but you can’t let it stop you.”

Reluctantly, I headed to the apiary. As I approached the hive, I was both scared and curious. Donning heavy gloves, I opened the hive and began harvesting honey, my heart pounding.

Suddenly, a bee stung my glove. I nearly gave up, but a surge of determination hit me. I had to finish this. I had to prove to Aunt Daphne that I wasn’t the reckless, irresponsible 14-year-old she thought I was.

While harvesting honey, I discovered a weather-beaten plastic bag inside the hive containing a faded map with strange markings. It seemed like a treasure map left by Grandpa Archie.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Excited, I tucked the map into my pocket and pedaled home. Leaving the half-filled jar of honey on the kitchen counter, I sneaked out and followed the map into the woods.

Navigating the familiar woods, I remembered Grandpa’s stories and laughed about his encounters.

As I stepped into a clearing that seemed to leap straight out of Grandpa’s stories, I couldn’t help but shiver. This was the exact place he’d talk about the legendary White Walker of the forest, making my imagination run wild as a kid.

And there it was, just like in his tales – the old gamekeeper’s house, looking forgotten by time with its chipped paint and sagging porch. “Grandpa used to sit us down here, munching on sandwiches and pie after collecting honey, and weave his incredible stories,” I thought, a bittersweet nostalgia washing over me.

Touching the ancient dwarf tree near the porch, I could almost hear Grandpa’s playful warning, “Watch out, kiddo. Let’s not disturb the grouchy little gnomes,” as if we were back in those carefree afternoons.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

I found the hidden old key and unlocked the cabin, stepping into a world that time had forgotten. The air was heavy with a musty smell, and specks of dust glimmered in the stray beams of sunlight.

There, catching my eye, was a beautifully carved metal box on a dusty table. Inside was a note from Grandpa, just for me:

“To my dear Robyn, inside this box is a special treasure for you, but it’s not to be opened until your journey’s true end. You’ll know when the time is right. All my love, Grandpa.”

I was dying to see what was inside, but Grandpa’s last instruction echoed in my head, “Only at the end of your journey.”

I couldn’t just ignore his last wish.

I continued my journey through the forest, but after a while, I felt like I was lost.

“This map is no good,” I realized, not being able to spot a way out of the woods. I didn’t know when I started crying.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

But then, I remembered something important. “Grandpa always said to stay calm,” I told myself. “I can’t give up.”

Then, I heard a sound like a small branch breaking far off, and it made me think of scary stories from when I was little. “Maybe Aunt Daphne was right to warn me,” I thought, looking around at the huge forest. But thinking of Grandpa’s advice made me brave enough to keep going, guiding me through the enveloping wilderness.

I took a big, nervous breath and tried to think clearly. Going back seemed like a good idea, but it would be hard to see clearly in the forest when it got dark. There was a bridge, the one Grandpa always talked about… that might help, I thought.

Wiping away a tear, I straightened my backpack. “Okay, Robyn,” I whispered to myself. “Let’s find that bridge.”

But that confidence didn’t last long. The sun was setting, making the woods menacing. Exhausted, I slumped under a tree, longing for Aunt Daphne’s cozy kitchen.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

My backpack offered no comfort, just reminders of my unpreparedness. Desperately searching for food, I found nothing but stale cracker crumbs. “Focus, Robyn. Find the bridge. Find water,” I urged myself, ignoring the hunger.

Then, remembering Grandpa’s advice again, I used heal-all leaves for my wounds and pushed on, driven by the sound of rushing water. But the river wasn’t the gentle stream I remembered; it was a dangerous, fast-moving torrent.

Ignoring the treacherous path, I scrambled down the rocky bank, driven by a desperate thirst. Reaching the water’s edge, I knelt, cupping my hands to scoop up the cool liquid. It tasted faintly metallic, but it was life-giving nectar at that moment.

As I rose, the precarious footing betrayed me. Slipping, I tumbled into the icy current, screaming for help. My backpack dragged me down. “Grandpa,” I whispered helplessly. Thinking of him, a sliver of clarity cut through the panic. He wouldn’t have wanted me to give up. He’d taught me to fight, to be brave.

I decided to ditch the backpack but kept Grandpa’s metal box. Fighting the current, I struggled towards the shore, refusing to give up.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

My fingers brushed a solid log, a lifeline in the churning chaos. I clung to it with every ounce of strength, the current tossing me like a ragdoll. Then, with a final shove, it deposited me, sputtering and bruised, onto the muddy bank.

I peeled off my soaking clothes and hung them up on a tree to dry. My eyes then fell on a metal box that might help me find my way back.

Grandpa had told me to wait until the end of my journey to open it, but I just couldn’t wait any longer. Inside, I found no treasure, just a jar of honey and a photo of us together. It hit me then—this journey and the real treasure was about the value of hard work, just like Grandpa always said.

Tears welled up as I thought about how I’d ignored all the wisdom Grandpa had shared with me. I’d been chasing adventures, forgetting the important things he’d tried to teach me.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

Wiping my snotty nose, I told myself it was time to get moving, to make Grandpa proud. I started building a shelter from branches and leaves under a big oak tree. It was rough, but it was enough for the night.

The next morning, the bright sun woke me up. I pushed through the woods, holding onto that metal box like a lifeline, thinking about Grandpa.

Remembering the times we went fishing together warmed me up a bit. “Slow and steady,” I could almost hear him say. I even started humming one of his favorite tunes, feeling like he was right there with me.

When I saw a bridge in the distance, hope bubbled up inside me. With Grandpa’s lessons in my heart, I wasn’t alone. But then, the forest turned into a confusing maze, and I started to panic. Just when I thought I couldn’t go on, I stumbled into a clearing and collapsed, totally exhausted.

That’s when a dog found me, and I heard a chorus of muffled voices: “There she is!”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

Waking up in a hospital bed, I saw Aunt Daphne by my side. “I’m sorry,” I managed, overwhelmed by regret. “I’m so sorry, Aunt Daphne.”

“Hush, dear. You’re safe now,” she said softly.

“I messed up,” I cried out. “Grandpa was right about everything!”

Aunt Daphne held my hand and smiled. “He always loved you, sweetie. Even when you were mad at him, even when you didn’t get why. Remember how upset you were about not getting that smartwatch just weeks before he passed?”

“I never appreciated him or anything he did for me. He was always there for me. Grandpa was both my Mom and Dad after their passing. But I—”

“He knew you’d come around, sweetie. He always believed in you, even when you didn’t believe in yourself.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images

At that point, she reached into a bag beside her chair, pulling out a brightly colored box. My breath hitched as I recognized the familiar blue wrapping paper: the same kind Grandpa always used for gifts.

“This is for you,” Aunt Daphne said gently, placing the box on my lap. The Xbox I wanted.

“Grandpa wanted you to have this,” Aunt Daphne continued. “He said when you learned the value of hard work and understood the importance of patience and perseverance, it would be yours.”

“I’ll be good, Aunt Daphne,” I promised. “I don’t need this anymore. I have learned my lesson.”

Aunt Daphne’s smile, this time brighter and filled with genuine joy, was all the reassurance I needed. Reaching to the bedside, I pulled out the small honey jar.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“Would you like some honey, Aunt Daphne?” I asked, offering the sticky jar.

Taking the jar, she dipped a finger in and tasted the honey. “It’s sweet,” she said, her voice soft. “Just like you, Robyn. Just like you!”

Years have flown by since then. Now, at 28, a million miles from that grumbling teenager to a bee boss with two little terrors of my own (who thankfully love honey!), I learned a thing or two about responsibility.

Thanks, Grandpa! Thank you for everything you taught me! I whisper every single time I see the happiness on my kids’ faces when they enjoy honey.

That delicious honey is a reminder of the beautiful bond Grandpa and I shared.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images

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This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.

I Discovered My MIL Living in Our Attic — What She Was Hiding Shocked Me

When Ella hears strange noises coming from her attic while her husband, Aaron, is away, she fears the worst. But nothing could prepare her for the shocking discovery of her mother-in-law, Diane, hiding upstairs… What is going on?

It all started about a month ago, right after my husband, Aaron, left for a weeklong work trip. I’d never minded being alone in our cozy suburban house before, until the noises started.

A man walking out of a house | Source: Midjourney

A man walking out of a house | Source: Midjourney

At first, it was just the occasional soft thud from above. I brushed it off, telling myself the house was just settling. And if I’m being honest, our attic wasn’t really an attic.

It was a room on the third floor that had large windows that Aaron and I had boarded up when we moved in, and there was a thin balcony with a staircase leading to the ground floor.

We assumed that it was a sunroom or an art studio before we moved in.

An empty room | Source: Midjourney

An empty room | Source: Midjourney

I always planned on turning the space into something for myself, but the opportunity just never presented itself.

I heard another sound, and my breath caught. Old houses creak, right? Maybe a squirrel or two had found their way into the attic. But then, the sounds became more frequent, and more… human.

Whispering, faint but unmistakable.

A squirrell in an attic | Source: Midjourney

A squirrell in an attic | Source: Midjourney

One night, lying in bed scrolling through my phone, I heard it.

There it was, a low, guttural moan. My stomach twisted, my breath catching in my throat.

This wasn’t a squirrel. No way.

I grabbed my phone and texted Aaron immediately.

A woman using her phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman using her phone | Source: Midjourney

I think something, or someone, is in the attic!

His reply was just as immediate:

Ella, it’s probably nothing. I’ll check when I get back.

His casual response annoyed me. How could he be so dismissive?

I resolved to ignore the noises, telling myself I was overreacting.

A concerned woman | Source: Midjourney

A concerned woman | Source: Midjourney

But a few days later, when I was getting ready for bed, I heard footsteps. Like real, heavy footsteps above me.

That was the breaking point. Suddenly, I couldn’t wait for Aaron to come home anymore. What was the point? There could have been someone sleeping under the same roof as me the entire time! I no longer felt safe.

Grabbing the baseball bat we kept in the garage for emergencies, I texted him again, letting him know I was going up to investigate.

A baseball bat in a garage | Source: Midjourney

A baseball bat in a garage | Source: Midjourney

His response chilled me to the bone.

Ella, please, love. Wait for me to check the attic. It’s really important that I do it.

Why wouldn’t he want me to go up there? What did he know? My mind spun with questions. Was he hiding something? Was I in danger?

Was someone squatting in our home?

A woman looking concerned | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking concerned | Source: Midjourney

Despite the knot tightening in my stomach, I couldn’t stop myself. I needed to know for myself.

With every creaky step up the narrow staircase, my heart pounded harder. I gripped the bat like it was my lifeline and pushed open the door to the attic.

The sight in front of me made me freeze.

There she was. My mother-in-law, Diane!

A narrow staircase | Source: Midjourney

A narrow staircase | Source: Midjourney

She was standing in the middle of the attic, dressed in a nightgown and robe, holding a paintbrush like a deer caught in headlights.

“What on earth are you doing here?” I shrieked, almost falling over my own feet. “Why did you moan? Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

What was going on? Seriously.

An older woman holding paintbrushes | Source: Midjourney

An older woman holding paintbrushes | Source: Midjourney

Diane’s face flushed with embarrassment as she dropped the brush and held up her hands.

“Ella! Calm down! It’s not what you think!”

“Not what I think? I don’t even know what I think, Diane! You’re living in my attic?”

She sighed and rubbed her temples, muttering under her breath.

A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney

A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney

“I knew this was going to happen, but Aaron just doesn’t listen. Just… just sit down for a second. I’ll explain everything.”

I didn’t move, still gripping the bat, as if for moral support.

My mother-in-law was an assertive woman who rarely seemed fazed by anything. Seeing her look this sheepish was unsettling. After a beat, I slowly lowered myself onto a dusty box, keeping my eyes on her.

A dusty wooden box | Source: Midjourney

A dusty wooden box | Source: Midjourney

“Okay, look,” she began, her voice tinged with guilt. “Your husband is going to kill me for ruining the surprise. But you deserve to know, Ella. Aaron’s been working on something special for you!”

I raised my eyebrow.

“What kind of special involves you squatting in my attic? Are you the new resident ghost?”

She winced.

A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney

A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney

“I’m not squatting! Aaron wanted to create a space for you. Like… a space where you could finally turn your baking hobby into something more. He decided to renovate the attic into a studio.”

That caught me off guard.

“What? A studio?”

A woman in the kitchen | Source: Midjourney

A woman in the kitchen | Source: Midjourney

“For your dream, Ella,” she said, gesturing around the room. “Look, this is an attic where we would be able to cook or bake up here. There’s enough room. Aaron wanted to surprise you with a space where you could bake, experiment, and maybe even start selling your creations. But he’s been terrible with design! So he asked me to come over and help. Every day, after you leave for work, I come in and oversee the contractors.”

“Contractors?” I asked.

I felt stupid. Diane was saying things, but my brain just wasn’t processing any of it.

Contractors working in a room | Source: Midjourney

Contractors working in a room | Source: Midjourney

“Yes, contractors. We’ve sorted out the plumbing so that you’ll have a fully functional kitchen. The electricians are coming in next week to sort out the plugs. And I’ve been coming in to decorate and paint and all those cute things…”

Aaron and Diane had been hiding this? Also, how had I not noticed any of it? Was I seriously that aloof?

“But why stay here?” I asked, still suspicious. “In the attic?”

An electrician working | Source: Midjourney

An electrician working | Source: Midjourney

“In the studio, you mean?” she said. “I wasn’t actually staying here full-time. I just kept coming and going through the balcony and the staircase on the side. I didn’t want to keep dropping by and risk you catching on.”

“And the moaning and groaning?” I asked.

Diane bit her lip, looking truly mortified.

An older woman with her hand on her head | Source: Midjourney

An older woman with her hand on her head | Source: Midjourney

“I completely underestimated how tough this would be on my back. The moans were me… stretching, darling.”

I stared at her, trying to reconcile the bizarre reality in front of me. Slowly, I took in the space. The attic, though still a work in progress, was beautiful.

The huge windows were cleaned, all the dust and grime removed, and I could imagine the light streaming in during the day. It would be perfect.

A surprised woman | Source: Midjourney

A surprised woman | Source: Midjourney

I took in the half-painted walls which bore whimsical murals of cupcakes and rolling pins. Sketches were pinned everywhere, showing shelves for ingredients, a central island for prep work, and a cozy sitting area by the windows.

Pinned on one board was a blueprint with a title in Aaron’s handwriting:

Ella’s Baking Studio

Sketches on a wall | Source: Midjourney

Sketches on a wall | Source: Midjourney

My throat tightened.

“This is really for me?” I asked.

Diane nodded, her face softening.

“He wanted you to have a space where you could do what you love. He’s been feeling guilty about how busy he’s been with work. He thought this would show how much he appreciates everything you do.”

A smiling man | Source: Midjourney

A smiling man | Source: Midjourney

I sat there in stunned silence as tears pricked my eyes.

Days of paranoia, thinking there was some dark secret lurking in our attic… only to find this?

A gift born from love and thoughtfulness?

Later that evening, Aaron called. I could hear the tension in his voice when he spoke.

A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

“Ella, please tell me that you didn’t go up there. I’ll ask Kevin from next door to check.”

“I did,” I admitted. “Aaron… I don’t even know what to say.”

There was a beat of silence, followed by a soft laugh.

“Well, there goes the surprise.”

A smiling man | Source: Midjourney

A smiling man | Source: Midjourney

“I don’t deserve this,” I admitted.

“According to whom?” he asked. “You’re the glue that holds our family together, Ella. This is just my way of showing you how much I love you. And that you don’t have to stay at your job if you don’t want to. This can be your new start.”

When Aaron came home a few days later, we all worked together to finish the studio. Diane proved invaluable; her eye for décor was something else.

A mural painted onto a wall | Source: Midjourney

A mural painted onto a wall | Source: Midjourney

The space turned out better than I could have imagined. Every time I step into that sun-kissed studio, surrounded by shelves lined with jars of baking delights, I’m reminded of the love that went into it.

Diane and I have grown closer since that day, though I still tease her about the “attic residency” moment in our lives.

Sometimes, life’s twists aren’t about shocking betrayals or sinister secrets; they’re about uncovering the quiet, unexpected ways the people around us show their love.

A beautiful baking studio | Source: Midjourney

A beautiful baking studio | Source: Midjourney

Brenda thought her marriage to a widower would be her chance to build a loving, blended family. But when her young stepson insists his “real mom” is still living in their house, strange occurrences and hidden secrets force Brenda to question everything she thought she knew about her new family.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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