I lost the will to help my mother-in-law when I found out what shed done. But I cant bring myself to abandon her either.
I have two children. They have different fathers. My eldest is my daughter, Charlotte, who is now sixteen. Charlottes father pays child support and stays in regular contact with her. Even though my first husband is now remarried and has two more children in that marriage, he always remembers our daughter.
My son, on the other hand, has been less fortunate. Two years ago, my second husband became seriously ill and, just three days later, passed away in hospital. Time has passed, but I still cant quite believe hes gone. I sometimes catch myself expecting to hear the door open, and to see him walk in with his familiar grin, wishing me a lovely day. On those days, I find myself in tears for hours.
Throughout all of this, my late husbands mother, Margaret, was a rock for me. Though it was just as painful for herafter all, he was her only sonwe leaned on each other, sharing our grief and supporting one another through the darkest times. We called and visited each other often, always remembering my husband together.
At one point, we even considered living together to help each other cope. But Margaret changed her mind in the end. And, just like that, seven years went by. We always had a wonderful relationshipone could even say we were friends.
I still remember that when I was pregnant, Margaret suddenly brought up the idea of a paternity test. Shed apparently seen some programme on the telly about a man whod raised another mans child for years, only to find out the truth much later. I told her that was absolute nonsense.
If a man doubts the child is his, he probably wont bother much at alljust turn up on Sundays and call it parenting, Id said.
Margaret stated she believed I was carrying her sons child. Id half expected her to push for a test after the baby was born, but she said nothing.
This summer, Margaret fell very ill. Her condition worsened quickly. We decided she should move closer to me, so we found an estate agent and started looking for a flat for her.
Then, while she was in hospital, we needed her late husbands death certificate for some paperwork. Margaret couldnt go, so I went to her flat to search for it. As I rummaged through her folder for the right document, I stumbled upon something that made me stop. It was a paternity test report, dated for when my son was only two months oldproof shed done the test without telling me, confirming my husband was indeed his father.
I was furious. Clearly, Margaret had never truly trusted me! I couldnt keep it to myself, so I told her what Id found. She apologised over and over, saying she deeply regretted such foolishness. Still, I cant shake the sense of betrayal. To thinkshe kept silent for all those years!
Part of me no longer wants to help Margaret. Yet, I know she has no one else to turn to.
I cant take away my sons grandmother, so Ill continue to support her. Life, however, has lost the warmth and trust it once held for us. Sadly, some wounds take longer to heal than others. But I have learnt that forgiveness, even when difficult, is often what keeps a family togetherand sometimes, being there for someone despite the hurt is what truly defines kindness.
