Julia was preparing dinner, her husband Alex would be home in an hour. Their ten-year-old daughter, Emily, was at her dance class.
Soon, Emily would burst through the door, toss her bag aside, and settle at the table, chattering about her friends, her progress, her teacher Julia smiled. Listening to her daughter had always been a joy.
The doorbell rang. Too early for Alexhe had his keys. Emily must have forgotten hers again. Julia opened the door, but instead of her daughter, a young woman stood there.
“I wont drag this out. Im your husbands mistress. Weve been seeing each other for years. Yes! Dont give me that shocked look, and dont you dare faint.”
Julias breath caught. “Years? How many?”
“Three. It suited me fine. Far simpler to live alone and have a man who comes and goes.”
“No expensesfinancial or domestic. I never cooked, cleaned, or washed his clothes. And Im not about to start now.”
“I wouldnt have come at all, but Im pregnant. An accident, but theres nothing to be done. Too late.”
Julia remembered the strugglehow long theyd tried for a child. Shed been fine, but Alex Theyd resorted to IVF.
The first attempt failed. The second brought them Emily. Julia had even hoped for twinscommon with fertility treatment. And now this.
“You think nothing has to change? Youll have a husband who drops in and a father who visits?”
“No, not quite. Ill have a husband and child who visit.”
“Interesting. How does that work? He raises the child, then pops round so they can see their mother?”
“Yes. I never wanted children. This was an accident.”
“Alex told me he couldnt father children.”
“Then he was wrong! I need to see the conditions my child will grow up in. Its only fair.”
“Your daughterthough hes not her fatherhe helped raise her. Now youll raise his child alone?”
“Miss, I dont even know your name, but your man doesnt live here anymore. Take his things. The rest is none of my concern!”
Julia moved to shut the doorthen froze. Emily stood there, back from class.
“Mum, what was that? What child? And why isnt Dad my father?”
“You heard everything? Then its time you knew.”
“Im not a little girl, Mum. Im nearly eleven. I can handle it.”
So Julia told her.
“Youre my daughter, but Dad loves you. On paper, hes your father. We waited for you together.”
“And now hes waiting for another babyone you wont be mum to. I wont be its sister. Right?”
“Well yes. Youre right. And youre old enough now. I dont want to live with Dad anymore.”
“Ill help you, Mum. Dont worry. Im grown. Let him go. I love you, but that woman Let him go to her.”
Alex arrived right on schedule.
“Whats happened? No welcome? No hug?”
Usually, Emily rushed to greet him. Tonight, silence. She stayed in her room.
“Julia, wheres Emily? Late from dance, or is she ill?”
“Your mistress came. Shes pregnant. With your child. Care to explain why she was here?”
“Julia, listenits my baby. I cant turn my back on it.”
“Do you know what shes proposing?”
“Yes. She didnt want it, but We have Emily. Now therell be another. Its my child! Itll live with me.”
“Are you sure? Yours? Remember your diagnosis?”
“Exceptions happen!”
“Wonderful. Go to her, then. Take your exception with you. Leave now. Collect your things later.”
“No, Julia! You cant do this! They dont want me there. Not like that.”
“They dont want you here either. Go!”
“What about Emily? Im her fathernot biologically, but I raised her. Whats wrong with my real child living with us?”
“Fairness? Your mistress already lectured me on that. First, prove its yours. Then talk. Goodbye.”
Julia divorced Alex. He had to leavethe flat was in her parents name. Theyd built a house but never transferred it. Not that it mattered legally.
Nowhere to go. The man who “sometimes visited” was ideal for his mistress. She wouldnt change her life. And she wouldnt raise the child.
A mother-to-be with no intention of motherhood. Shed play, have funbut sleepless nights, nappies, illnesses? No.
After the birth, she sued for child supportand lost. Alexs diagnosis hadnt changed. Paternity was never proven.
On paper, he had one daughter. But Emily refused to see him. He paid maintenance, begged for reconciliation, but Julia wanted nothing to do with him.
Turns out, sitting on two chairs with one backside isnt so simple after all
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