So, after I told my wife her daughter wasnt really my responsibility, the truth about our family finally came to light.
You know, Jack has always been the perennial bachelor in our family. Even his little brothers got a wife and a couple of kids running riot at home, while Jack was just drifting from one date to the next, never finding the right woman. Every family do, hed be grilledSo, whens your turn to walk down the aisle? And honestly, he was totally ready, just hadnt met anyone who really knocked his socks off. But once he hit 34, he thought, Right, time to stop waiting around. Enough single life, Im ready for a change.
One Saturday, he was out at this bar with mates and saw Tom, a work colleague, having drinks with a really lovely woman. Jack wandered over, they started chatting, pretty casual banter.
Hey mate, fancy seeing you here! What brings you out tonight?
Evening Jack. My friend popped down to London for the weekend, so we thought we’d paint the town red.
Come on then, introduce us!
Of course! This is Alice.
Welcome to London, Alice. Im Jack.
Lovely to meet new faces! Shall we be mates?
Absolutely!
She was effortlessly charming, a bit reserved but you could tell she was switched on. Long story shortJack was smitten. He just knew she was something special. After a while, he found out Alice had a daughter, who went off to school most days. At first, it threw him a little, but after mulling it over, he realised there was nothing wrong with it. So they moved in together and things were pretty idyllic. Alice’s daughter was in and outschool, clubs, piano lessons. During school holidays, shed always stay with her nan.
Now, Alice wasnt fussed about finding a job. Jacks salary was enough to cover everything comfortably, and she took full advantage. But as time passed, Alices expectations started to get out of hand. And it wasnt just the usual weekly shop or paying the bills. She wanted her daughter signed up for as many extra classes and private tutoring as possible.
Jack, I need some cash for extra lessons, she said. Think you can help out a bit more this month?
Sure, Im all for helping her get ahead, he replied.
But it started feeling like every week, he was handing over more and more, and prices just kept rising. Eventually, Jack couldnt hold it in and laid it all out for Alice.
Alice, her teacher rang yesterday. There’s some school trip coming up, apparently, she told him.
So what?
Well, I want my daughter to go along. But its expensive. Everyone else has agreed to pay, and now theyre waiting for us.
Jack groaned, Alice, Im worn out with all these endless costs for activities and extras. Why isnt her dad contributing?
Alice snapped, You knew I had a child when we got together. If youre going to be tight and cold-hearted now, maybe we shouldnt be together! Im speechless!
With that, she burst into tears and locked herself in the bedroom. Jack felt terrible and decided to apologise, handing over the money she neededthough he was left feeling pretty uneasy about the whole thing. He couldnt wrap his head around why her daughter’s own father wasnt stepping up. So he brought it up again.
Alice, please dont get upset. I really dont want a row, but why doesnt your ex pay for any of this?
She was blunt, I dont want his handouts. End of.
Jack thought, Well, that doesnt seem fair. Here he was, paying for everything when her real dad was nowhere to be seen. So, Im the one expected to cover another mans child, while her father doesnt even care. Does that seem right?
She shot back, You call yourself a stranger? I thought my daughter meant something to you. I thought you were one of the good ones.
Jack responded, Dont start pointing fingers. I can say plenty too.
Thats up to you. I still wont ask him for money. If youre done helping, fine! Ill earn the money myself. But I wont beg anyone for anything. If youre tired of the responsibility, maybe its best we split up.
Why are you so angry? Cant we just talk through this and figure it out?
“I dont need a heart-to-heart. Im going to bed. Do what you like, but Im not talking about it any more.
Jack ended up sleeping on the sofa, restless all night, going over everything in his head. Clearly, Alice had a stubborn streak, and hed ended up in a complicated spot with her daughter. He could see the challenges and expenses were only going to get worse as she grew upand her dad just carried on living his life, not bothered one bit. One day, Jack flicked through Alices laptop and saw a photo of her ex, posing with a fancy car and dressed to the nines. So, the bloke definitely wasnt short of money, he could easily help out if Alice would just let him. But her pride was keeping her from asking.
Jack then decided he needed to have a chat with him face to face.
