Patrawipa, a young Thai woman at her 25 years of age, met James, a 51-year old American man, soon after her graduation. She and James got married without telling anyone, neither her family nor friends. During his first trip to Thailand, James was not too happy (perhaps cultural shocked!) with such a "warm" welcome from the Thais, especially with questions like when, where, and how they met. To quickly end the conversation James answered, "It's none of your business." However, he did a little bit better on his second trip to Thailand – on their wedding ceremony.

I've got a chance to talk to Patrawipa and sensed something “not right”. However, it has never been clear to anyone regarding James’ background and I was “always & still” hesitated to ask. Patrawipa is from a wealthy Chinese-Thai family and got all supports from her family. A 62-year old aunt was sent to America to baby-sit Patrawipa's children – Chucky (2 yrs) and Susie (5 mos) at the time. Patrawipa and James had recently bought a house in Ft. Lauderdale (and once again with a kind support from her family on a down payment).

When we went to the Disney World in Orlando, Florida some years ago, we also took a trip to visit Patrawipa and her family. We really had a good time to chat, party, and for the kids to play. However, I began to sense something “strange” including the relationship among the housing members and the couple. James had been laid off; and therefore, staying at home during the past months. He and the aunt did not get along, and he did not want the aunt to come close to their children as well.

There was a coincidence that Chucky wanted to play with his Thai grandma, and therefore, she gently touched his head. However, James did not like it at all, and suddenly hit her on one hand. Patrawipa screamed and the couple later had a fight that night.

After we returned home from Florida, I got a call from the aunt telling me that Patrawipa told her to go back to Thailand early next month. I understood that the aunt – a single 62-year old woman, was not really ready to go home. She wanted to hang in there (somewhere) to watch over another niece who firstly came to Florida to baby-sit Susie. However, that niece moved to live elsewhere and worked at a Thai restaurant, instead. I honestly suggested the aunt to go back to Thailand with a reason that "there was no place like home". She told me, however, her desire to live and work for a little while. I felt sad to know that she actually had no “home” in Thailand. As a single older woman, she lived with family members and their children, whoever invited her.

.... I began to realize a true loneliness when someone is all alone! ....

I offered to help her by talking to another friend if she could find a place for her to live and perhaps work. The aunt called me the next night to follow up with the situation. At one point she asked me if I wanted to know how James truly was.

She went downstairs while the phone was still on and called the little boy Chucky. I heard James taking away Chucky from her and said, “ei bad, ei bad” while beating up the little boy from talking to the old Grandma (“ei” is a short version of aa-ei, a Chinese word for aunt). I heard Chucky crying and the aunt saying that she would call the police to put James in jail because he hit his kid. I heard James saying, “bad, bad, bad.” The aunt did not speak English and James did not speak Thai. They both used their own languages when argued. Absolutely, I understood what one was saying to the other.

Unexpectedly, I heard James on the phone, “hello, hello.” I began to get nervous, my heart was pounding so loudly, and I was speechless. James finally left the phone and dragged the boy into his bedroom. The aunt challenged, “If you dare, come on outside!” James finally came out with his hands up and he was ready to punch. The aunt (told me that she) did the same way too. I was terrified and more than afraid that something worse might have happened. While James was insisting that the aunt was bad; the aunt was convincing that she would call the police.

A moment later, the aunt got back to me on the phone and I asked if James did not listen. She told me that James already went into his bedroom. Suddenly, James said, “Who’s on the phone?…. Who’s that?…. Ei is a very bad woman, she’s a real bad woman!!!” My heart was pounding, this time so loud that I was so scared that James could hear my heartbeating. Somehow, I felt I was in a murder movie scene to witness something and I was frightened if one could have found me. The aunt told me not to say a word and the phone was then completely hung up (by James).

I told my husband and asked him what to do. He suggested me to call Patrawipa to make her aware of the situation. As a matter of fact, Patrawipa was away from home to reunite with her mother and brother in Chicago and New York, and they would all come back to Florida the following week. I began to call Patrawipa’s mobile phone but it was turned off. My husband suggested that I should leave a message. Therefore, I tried again, but this time it was James who answered the phone. I was more than terrified and did not truly understand why he answered Patrawipa's cell phone. I was speechless and decided to hang up the phone. I then decided to call a Thai friend in Florida to help rescue the aunt. While I was still on the phone, there was a call waiting showing a caller ID of Patrawipa’s cell phone. I chose not to switch to talk to him and remained on the phone with the Thai woman until he gave up his call.

It became one of the most frightening experiences in my life. If I could turn back time, I wish I neither met the aunt nor witnessed the problem. I wish I had not known Patrawipa and her family either, although I pretty much valued her friendship. I could neither get involved in her personal life nor completely ignore it. It was sympathetic -- and I wondered whether she saw things the way we looked at them at all?

What should I do?