Id just finished my regular gym session when I noticed seven missed calls from my mum on my phone, I recounted. Then there was a text: Ring me! Even though it was nearly eleven at night, I thought I ought to call her back. Mum can be a bit dramatic sometimes, worrying herself silly over little things. When I rang, she urged me to come over, tearfully telling me something had happened, and that the wedding might need to be cancelled.
I have a sister, Sophie, whos just twenty-three. Sophie is an up-and-coming designer, quite talented. She graduated last year and landed a job straight away. Shed studied design, working part-time while at uni, and when she finished, the company shed interned at snapped her up. Sophies life has always felt like a bit of a blueprintshe seemed to have it all sorted, until that night.
For a little over a year, Sophie had been seeing Oliver. He was three years older. Oliver lived on his own, working and saving hard to buy his own flat. My mum was fond of her future son-in-law, always saying how polite and well-spoken he was.
Sophie and Oliver had already booked the register office. The big day was only a few weeks off.
A woman messaged Sophie on Facebook! I explained. We havent met, but I know youtheres something you should know before your wedding Sophie checked the profilemiddle-aged, fortieswhat sort of earth-shattering news would she have?
But this mysterious woman didnt let up. She kept messaging from different accounts. Eventually, they decided to meet in a café near Sophies work.
Mum was furious and told Sophie never to agree to such meetings again! I continued. Sophie sat at a table, waiting, when a pregnant woman walked in. At first, Sophie didnt think it was her, but the surprise on her face when she realised said it all.
Are you Sophie? the pregnant woman asked like shed known my sister forever. Im Emily, Ive been seeing Oliver for over a year, and were having a baby boy in about four months.
Of course, my sister was incredulous. It sounded completely mad. She and Oliver had been together for more than a year and were on the verge of marriage! Emily didnt protest or argue, simply left her number and said Sophie could ring her, adding that Sophie might want to speak with Oliver.
So, what did Oliver say? Thats where things unravelled. Sophie had decided ages ago to wait until after the wedding for anything intimate. They were affectionatekissing, cuddlingbut that was it. Sophie had little real-life experienceMum raised her alone, always quoting from books. Can you believe that still happens? Honestly, I was stunned. Sophies always been outgoing, finished school and uni, had mates and social life. How did she end up so naive? But, there we are.
Turns out, Oliver was a young man with a reasonable bit of experience. Hed been patient, going along with Sophies wishes, but in the meantime, struck up a no-strings thing with Emily to satisfy his needs. He met her somewhere, told her up front it wasnt anything serious, just companionship. Emily was fine with that in the beginning.
Emily had recently separated from her husband, had a child, got decent child support, and worked. At first, she wasnt looking for a relationship with Oliver, knowing there was a significant age gap.
Oliver said when the baby is born, hed take a paternity test, and if its his, hed provide support. He told Sophie it was her own faulthe was a healthy young man, and her stuck-in-the-past views had pushed him to seek intimacy elsewhere.
Nobody imagined Emily would end up pregnant. Nobody knows what shell do now.
Oliver is begging Sophie not to end thingsclaiming he loves her, and only needed Emily for physical reasonsinsisting if Sophie had been more understanding, Emily wouldnt have happened.
Oliver says if the childs his, hell support financially, but doesnt want ongoing contact. Emily decided to keep the baby, and Oliver offered money for a termination right away, but she declined. Now, thats up to her.
Do you reckon Oliver is to blame? Was it just his youthful urges getting the better of himits tough for young lads not being intimate, after allor should Sophie steer well clear, as cheating isnt justified by lack of intimacy?
