Alright, so heres the story, but all English-fied for younames, places, everything.
Emily was cooking dinner, her husband, James, was due back in an hour. Their ten-year-old daughter, Sophie, was at her dance class. Shed be home in half an hour, toss her bag down, and sit at the table, chatting away about her friends, her teacher, how well shed done Emily smiled. She always loved listening to Sophies stories.
Then the doorbell rang. Too early for Jameshe had his keys. Must be Sophie forgetting hers again. Emily opened the door, but instead of her daughter, there stood a young woman.
“Lets not drag this out. Im your husbands mistress. Weve been seeing each other for years. Yes! No need to look so shocked or faint on me.”
“Years? How many?”
“Three. It suited me just fineliving alone but having a man who visits. No expenses, no chores. I never cooked, cleaned, or did his laundry. And Im not about to start now.”
“I wouldnt even be here, but Im pregnant. An accident, but too late to do anything about it.”
Emily remembered how hard it had been for them to have Sophie. Shed been fine, but James had issues. Theyd needed IVF. First round failed, but the second worked. Shed even hoped for twinshappens often with IVFbut Sophie was their one miracle. And now this.
“So youre not changing anything? Youll keep your visiting man and expect a visiting father?”
“No, not quite. Ill have a visiting man and a visiting child.”
“Interesting. Hows that supposed to work? He raises the kid, then pops round to yours so they can see their mum?”
“Exactly. I never wanted a childthis was an accident.”
“James told me he couldnt have kids.”
“Well, clearly he can! I just wanted to see what kind of home my child would have. Fairs fair.”
“Your daughterSophiehes raised her, even if hes not her father. Now itll be his child, and youll be stuck raising it.”
“Love, Im not even inviting you in. Dont even know your name. Your man doesnt live here anymoretake his things. The rest? Not my problem.”
Emily moved to shut the door but spotted Sophie coming home from dance.
“Mum, what was that about? What baby? And Dads not my dad?”
“You heard all that? Guess its time you knew.”
“Mum, Im not a kidIm nearly eleven. Ill understand.”
So Emily told her everything.
“Youre my daughter, but Dad loves youhes your legal father. We waited so long for you.”
“And now hes waiting for another baby, but you wont be its mum. I wont be its sister. Right?”
“Well yes. And youre grown up now. I dont want to live with Dad anymore.”
“Ill help you, Mum. Dont worry. Im big nowlet him go. I love you, but that woman He can go to her.”
James came home right on time, as always.
“Whats going on? No welcome hugs?”
Usually, Sophie would run to him, but tonightsilence. She stayed in her room.
“Emily, wheres Sophie? Late at dance?”
“Your mistress came by. Shes pregnant. Yours! Care to explain?”
“Emily, listenits my child. I cant just walk away.”
“Do you know what shes planning?”
“Yeah. She never wanted it, but We have Sophie, now therell be another. My child! Itll live with me.”
“Oh really? Yours? Remember your diagnosis?”
“Exceptions happen!”
“Brilliant. Go live with the mother and your exception. Right now. Get your things later.”
“No, Emily! Dont do this! They dont want me therenot like that.”
“Well, no one wants you here either. Go.”
“What about Sophie? Im her dadnot biologically, but I raised her. Whats wrong with my real child living with us?”
“Her mother already gave me the fair speech. First, prove its yours. Then well talk. Goodbye.”
Emily divorced James. He had to leavethe flat was in her parents name anyway. Theyd built a house but never transferred the flat to her. Not that it wouldve mattered in the divorce.
Now James had nowhere to go. The part-time man was fine for his mistressshe didnt want to change her lifestyle. And she had no intention of raising the baby. Shed play with it, have fun, but sleepless nights, nappies, illnesses? No thanks.
After the baby was born, she filed for child supportand lost. No one knows how shes raising the kid now. Jamess diagnosis didnt changepaternity wasnt confirmed.
On paper, hes got one daughter, but Sophie wont speak to him. He pays child support, tries to win his family back, but Emilys done with him.
Turns out, trying to have your cake and eat it? Not so simple.
So what do you reckon? Drop your thoughts belowlets hear it.
