“I shant mince words. Im your husbands mistress! All these years, weve been meeting. Yes! Dont look so shockedspare me the theatrics.”
Emily was preparing supper, her husband Henry due home within the hour. Their ten-year-old daughter, Beatrice, was at her dance lessons. Shed return in half an hour, toss her bag aside, and settle at the table, chattering about her friends, her progress, her instructor Emily smiled. Beatrices stories were always a delight.
Then, the doorbell rang. Too early for Henryhe had his keys. Beatrice must have forgotten hers again. Emily opened the door, but instead of her daughter, a young woman stood there.
“I shant mince words. Im your husbands mistress. All these years, weve been meeting. Yes! Dont look so shockedspare me the theatrics.”
“All these yearshow many?”
“Three. It suited me perfectlyliving alone, with a man who comes and goes.”
“No expenses, financial or domestic. I never laundered, cooked, or cleaned for him. And Ive no intention of changing that now.”
“I wouldnt have come at all, but Im with child. An accident, but its too late to do anything about it.”
Emily remembered how desperately shed longed for a child. Shed been finebut Henry? Thered been complications. Theyd resorted to artificial insemination.
The first attempt failed, but the second brought luck. Emily had even hoped for twinshardly uncommon in such cases. Beatrice arrived. And now, this news.
“You expect nothing to change? A man who visits will now be a father who visits?”
“No, not quite. Ill have a husband who visitsand a child who does the same.”
“Is that so? And how do you imagine that working? Will he raise the child, then visit you so they might know their mother?”
“Precisely. I never wanted childrenthis was an accident.”
“Henry claimed he couldnt father children.”
“Seems he can! I merely wish to see the conditions my child will grow up in. Thats only fair.”
“Your daughter is his in every way but blood. And now his child will be yours in name alone, with all the burden falling on you.”
“Miss, I wont even invite you inI dont even know your namebut your man no longer lives here. Fetch his things when you like. The rest doesnt concern me!”
Emily moved to shut the doorthen saw Beatrice returning from her lessons.
“Mum, what was that? What child? And why isnt Dad my father?”
“You heard everything? Then its time you knew.”
“Mum, Im nearly elevennot a child. Ill understand.”
Emily told her the truth.
“Youre my daughter, but Henry loves you. Hes your father in every way that matters. We waited for you together.”
“And now hes waiting for another childbut you wont be its mother. I wont be its sister. Is that right?”
“Well yes. Youre right. And one more thing Youre old enough nowI wont stay with him.”
“Ill help you, Mum. Dont worry. Im grown. Let him go. I love you, but that woman Let him be with her.”
Henry arrived precisely on time.
“Whats happened? No welcome, no embrace?”
Usually, Beatrice greeted him with a hug. Now, silence. She stayed in her room.
“Emily, wheres Beatrice? Late at dancing, or taken ill?”
“Your mistress came. Shes expecting your child. Explain why she was here.”
“Emily, you must understandits my child. I cant abandon it.”
“Do you know what she proposes?”
“I do. She never wanted it, but We have Beatricenow therell be another. My child! Itll live with me.”
“Are you certain its yours? Do you recall your diagnosis?”
“Exceptions happen!”
“Splendid. Go to its mother with your exception. Leave nowfetch your things later.”
“No, Emily! You cant do this! They dont want me there. Not like this.”
“Youre not wanted here either. Go.”
“What of Beatrice? Im her father in every way but blood. Ive raised your daughterwhat harm if my own child lives with us? My true child. Its only fair.”
“Your mistress already lectured me on fairness. Confirm the child is yours firstthen speak. Goodbye.”
Emily divorced Henry. He had to leavethe flat belonged to her parents. Theyd built a house but never transferred the deed. Not that it wouldve mattered in court.
Now, Henry had nowhere to go. His mistress preferred her lover as an occasional visitor, unwilling to change her ways. Nor did she intend to raise the child.
Shed play with it, amuse herselfbut no more. Sleepless nights, nappies, illness? She hadnt signed up for that.
After the birth, she filed for child supportand lost. How she raises the child now, no one knows. Henrys diagnosis stoodpaternity was never proven.
Legally, he has one daughter. But Beatrice refuses to speak to him. He pays support, begs for reconciliationyet Emily wants nothing to do with him.
So it goes. Turns out, sitting on two chairs with one backside isnt so simple after all.
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