So, Ive got two kids and, funny enough, they each have a different dad. My eldest is a girlher names Emily, she just turned sixteen. Emilys dad pays child support and keeps in touch with her all the time. Even though my ex-husband has remarried and now has two children with his new wife, he never forgets about Emily.
My son, on the other hand, hasnt been as lucky. Two years ago, my second husband got really ill and within three days, he passed away in the hospital. Even now, I still find it hard to accept hes gone. Sometimes I imagine the front door swinging open and him walking in, smiling and wishing me a good day. I usually end up in tears for a while after that.
Throughout it all, Ive had a lot of support from my late husbands mum, Margaret. Its been just as tough for her, reallyafter all, he was her only son. Weve stuck together and helped each other through, chatting on the phone and visiting regularly. Most of our conversations tend to circle back to my husband.
At one point, we even thought about moving in together, but Margaret changed her mind. Seven years have just flown by. Honestly, Margaret and I have always got on brilliantly. You could easily say we were friends.
I remember when I was pregnant, Margaret brought up paternity testing, for reasons I couldnt quite understand. Turns out shed seen a show on telly about some bloke who raised a child for years only to find out the kid wasnt his. I told her straightaway that it was ridiculous.
If a man doubts his own child, hell never really be there for him, only be a Sunday dad, I said.
Margaret insisted she was sure I was pregnant with her sons child, but I always figured shed insist on a paternity test once the baby was born. Instead, she never mentioned it again.
This summer, Margaret got very ill and her health declined rapidly. I decided she should move closer to me and started working with an estate agent to find her a flat.
Then, Margaret ended up in hospital. We needed my husbands death certificate for the estate agent, but Margaret couldnt get it, so I went over to her flat to hunt for it myself. While rummaging through her paperwork, I stumbled upon something unexpecteda paternity test for my son. Apparently, Margaret had it done when my boy was only two months old, proving he was indeed her sons child.
Honestly, I was shocked. All those years, Margaret never really believed me! I confronted her right away. She apologised and said she was deeply ashamed of what shed done, but I still cant seem to shake it. I feel betrayed, as though shed kept this secret from me for so long.
Now, I just dont feel the same wanting to help Margaret. But at the same time, I know she really doesnt have anyone else to rely on.
I dont want to take my sons grandmother away from him, so Im going to keep supporting Margaret. But that warmth and trust we once sharedits definitely not coming back.
