After three years divorced, I suddenly became father to twin newborn boys. My own fault for not finalising the divorce legally! But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise…
Olivia and I were married ten years. We had two daughters born close together, Katherine and Darla. Life seemed ordinary: work by day, family in the evening. Yet Mother started spending more time elsewhere – visiting a friend, stuck in a shop queue, late at work… Eventually, ‘kindly’ souls informed me Olivia had a lover.
I naturally confronted her. She immediately defended herself, and the best defence, they say, is attack. She claimed I neglected her, made her feel unwomanly, domestic drudgery consumed her time, and even that Katherine and Darla only loved me… She screamed she was leaving for her lover. And she truly left, walked out, leaving the girls with me.
A while passed before Katherine and Darla understood Mummy was gone, but they adjusted. Meanwhile, my job offered me a transfer to head a new branch in another city. I agreed. We packed hurriedly; it happened so fast I never settled the divorce papers.
At the new job, I met a lovely woman, Annabelle. My age, she was raising two daughters alone. Soon, we moved in together, becoming one big family. Our girls were practically the same age. Evenings were noisy chaos – giggling together one moment, squabbling over toys the next. Truly a nursery! Annabelle and I delighted in them, though privately we longed for a boy together. It wasn’t happening.
By the time of that strange call, Annabelle and I had been together two years, despairing of a son… Well, if it wasn’t meant, we’d raise the girls. Now, about that call.
The mobile number showed a landline from my hometown:
“Nicholas?”
“Yes, speaking.”
“I have unfortunate news… Your wife, Olivia, unfortunately never regained consciousness and passed away today. Collect the children; they’re discharged tomorrow. We’ll explain arrangements regarding Olivia tomorrow.”
“Is this a joke? I haven’t seen Olivia for three years. Our children are here with me.”
“Not my concern. You’re listed as the father on the form. Collect the twins!”
The line went dead. Stunned, I checked the number online: it was genuinely the city maternity hospital.
Annabelle watched me, wide-eyed and bewildered, having heard everything. We rushed to pack, dropped the girls with my parents, and headed out to discover the truth about my ex-wife.
At the hospital, we met Chloe, Olivia’s friend. She explained the lover had abandoned Olivia immediately after she told him she was pregnant. The pregnancy was hard, twins after all, and took a terrible turn… The babies were saved, but their mother fell into a coma and died days later. Needing to register the twins and with Olivia incapacitated, hospital records pulled old data from the registry office where I was still listed as her husband – making me the legal father automatically.
Chloe, tearful, told us this, promised help if needed, and left. Annabelle stood beside me, gripping my hand tightly.
“Belle? What is it?”
“Nick… we’re keeping them, aren’t we?”
It was clear Annabelle was fighting back joy, her lips twitching towards a smile.
“Them? The twins?”
“Yes, yes… Please! What if we never manage our own? And here are two, ready-made…”
“Belle, they’re not toys! I don’t know…”
“Nick, I mean it! And think how thrilled the girls will be! Your girls are their half-sisters anyway… Come on…”
Well, I caved. We took the twins home and gave Olivia a proper farewell.
The girls shrieked with joy over their baby brothers, constantly wondering how they missed Mummy Annabelle having a bump! Life’s greatest gifts are often delivered through unexpected turns, proving love blooms anew where roots remain.
Unraveling Secrets: Claiming the Twins from an Unknown Father!
