Mum, can you believe it? Dads new wife is illthey say its something serious.
Let me tell you a story from ten years ago. My husband and I raised two daughters, both now at university. Id looked forward to this time, thinking wed start a new chapter together. But he made another choicehe betrayed me with his secretary.
*»Im sorry, I never meant to hurt you,»* he said, *»but I love her.»*
That evening, he packed his things and left for a woman half his age. Our girls were furious with him and refused to speak to him. It shattered me, especially when our youngest tried to mend things between us. I wish I could erase that year from memory. Time didnt heal the woundsI just learned to live with them. I threw myself into my hobby, cultivating rare plants and selling them. It kept the darkness at bay.
Eventually, my daughters reconciled with their father. Theyd mention his new life now and thenhow happy he was with her, how shed given him a son.
*»Mum, can you believe it? Shes sickthey say its serious.»*
*»Girls, stop talking about them. I dont like it,»* Id say, because deep down, I still loved him. The thought of him with another woman twisted inside me. Years had passed, yet in my heart, he was still my husband.
Then, one Saturday morning, I woke to a shadow looming over me. I thought I was dreaminguntil I heard his trembling voice. *»Sorry, I know its early but I dont know what to do with the boy.»* He looked older, his hair streaked with grey. Behind him stood a little ladtheir son.
*»My wife passed last night,»* he choked out. *»Theres the funeral to arrange, the girls are workingI cant take him. Hes too young.»*
The boy was barely school-aged. Disoriented, I stared at himuntil he piped up, *»Are you my auntie?»*
*»No,»* I snapped, ready to shut the door on this madness.
*»Mum said we didnt have anyone.»*
*»I never even knew your mother.»*
But he was so sweetinnocent in all this. So I relented. *»Do you like porridge? Come to the kitchen. Youll have breakfast, then your dad can fetch you.»*
I made coffee for myself, porridge for him. Watching him, I saw echoes of my daughters in his face. We spent the morning watching cartoons, flipping through their old storybooks. He was bright, kind.
After that, my ex started bringing him round often. We grew closehe became the grandchild I didnt yet have. Two years since his wife died, and now my ex has asked if we might live together. Part of me wants it desperatelyimagining us as a family again. But the betrayal lingers. Can I trust him?
If we try and fail, its the boy wholl suffer. I love them both but the fear of being fooled again wont let go.
