Mum, can you believe itDads new wife is ill, and theyre saying its something serious.
Let me tell you a story from ten years ago. I raised two daughters with my husband, and theyve both gone off to uni now. I was looking forward to this time in my life, thinking my husband and I would start fresh, just the two of us. But he made a different choicehe had an affair with his secretary.
“Sorry, I never meant to hurt you,” he said, “but Im in love with her.”
That evening, he packed his things and left for a woman half his age. The girls were furious with him and stopped speaking to him. It was so hard for me, especially when my youngest kept trying to patch things up between us. I wish I could wipe that year from my memorytime didnt heal the wounds, I just learned to live with it. I threw myself into my hobbies, growing rare plants and selling them. It kept me from sinking into depression.
Eventually, the girls made peace with their dad, and theyd sometimes tell me about his new life. He was happy with her, and later, she gave him a son.
“Mum, can you believe itshes sick, theyre saying its serious.”
“Girls, stop talking about themI dont like it,” Id say, because deep down, I still loved my husband, and the thought of him with someone else put me in a foul mood. Years had passed, but in my heart, he was still my husband.
Then, one Saturday morning, I woke up to a figure standing over me. I thought I was dreaming, but then I heard his shaky voice: “Sorry, I know its early. But II dont know what to do with my son.” He looked older, his hair streaked with grey, and behind him stood a little boytheir son.
“My wife passed last night,” he went on. “Ive got the funeral to arrange, the girls are workingI just cant take him. Hes too young.”
The boy was just a toddler. I didnt understand at first, but when I looked at him, he piped up: “Are you my auntie?”
“No,” I snapped, ready to shut the whole thing down.
“Mummy said we didnt have anyone.”
“I never even knew your mum.”
But he was so sweetI realised he wasnt to blame, so I decided to help my ex.
“Do you like porridge? Come to the kitchenIll make you breakfast, and your dad can fetch you later.”
I made myself a coffee and him a bowl of porridge. Watching him, I saw how much he looked like my girls when they were little. We spent the morning watching cartoons and reading their old storybooks. He was gentle and bright.
After that, my ex started bringing his son round more. We became good friends. My daughters arent thinking about kids yet, so this little boy became like a grandchild to me.
Its been two years since his wife died, and recently, my ex asked if we could move in together. Part of me wants toI can picture us as a proper family. But the hurt hasnt gone away. I dont know if I can trust him again.
If we try and fail, itll only hurt the boy. So I dont know what to do. I love them both, but the fear of being let down again wont leave me.
