Emily was preparing dinner, knowing her husband James would be home in an hour. Their ten-year-old daughter, Charlotte, was at her ballet class.
Shed be back in half an hourtossing her bag down and settling at the table, chatting about her friends, her progress, her teacher Emily smiled. Charlottes stories were always a joy to listen to.
The doorbell rang. Too early for James, and he had his keys. Charlotte must have forgotten hers again. Emily opened the doorbut instead of her daughter, a young woman stood there.
“Lets not drag this out. Im your husbands mistress. Weve been seeing each other for years. Yes! Dont look so shockedand please dont faint.”
“How many years?”
“Three. It suited me perfectlyliving alone but having a man who visits. No expenses, no responsibilities. I didnt even cook or clean for him. And I dont plan on changing anything now.”
“So why are you here?”
“Because Im pregnant. An accident, but too late to do anything about it.”
Emily remembered how hard it had been for them to conceive. Shed been fine, but James had fertility issues. Theyd turned to IVF. The first attempt failed, but the second brought Charlotte. Twins werent uncommon with IVF, but theyd only had one. And now this.
“You really think nothing will change? Youll have a husband who drops by and now a father who drops by?”
“No. Ill have a husband and a child who drop by.”
“Interesting. How does that work? The father raises the child, but visits you so the baby can see its mother?”
“Exactly. I never wanted a childthis was an accident.”
“James told me he couldnt father children.”
“Well, apparently he can! I need to see the conditions my child will grow up in. Its only fair.”
“Your daughter is yours, and James helps raise her, even if hes not her biological father. Now itll be his child, and youll be stuck raising it.”
“Listen, love, I dont even know your name, and Im not inviting you in. Your man doesnt live here anymorefeel free to collect his things. The rest doesnt concern me.”
Emily moved to shut the door but froze when she saw Charlotte standing there, back from ballet.
“Mum, what was that? What baby? And why isnt Dad my real father?”
“You heard everything? Then its time you knew the truth.”
“Mum, Im not a babyIm almost eleven. I can handle it.”
Emily explained everything.
“Youre my daughter, but Dad loves you. Hes your legal father, and we both wanted you so much.”
“And now hes having another baby, but you wont be its mum. I wont be its sister. Right?”
“Well yes. Youre right. And one more thing youre grown up now. I dont want to live with your dad anymore.”
“Ill help you, Mum. Dont worry. Im big enoughlet him go. I love you, but that woman he can go to her.”
James arrived right on time.
“Whats going on? No welcome hug?”
Usually, Charlotte would greet him with a hug, but now there was silence. She stayed in her room.
“Emily, wheres Charlotte? Late from ballet?”
“Your mistress came by. Shes pregnantwith your child. Care to explain?”
“Emily, you have to understandits my child. I cant abandon it.”
“And you know her plans?”
“Yes. She didnt want it, but we have Charlotte. Now therell be another. My child will live with me.”
“Are you sure its yours? Remember your diagnosis?”
“Exceptions happen!”
“Brilliant. Go to the mother of your exception. Leave nowcollect your things later.”
“No, Emily! You cant do this! They dont want me there. Not like this.”
“They dont want you here either. Go.”
“What about Charlotte? Im her fathernot by blood, but I raised her. Whats wrong with my real child living with us?”
“Her mother already gave me the fairness speech. First, prove its yours. Then well talk. Goodbye.”
Emily divorced James. He had to leavethe flat belonged to her parents. Theyd built a house but never transferred ownership to Emily. Not that it would have mattered in the divorce.
Nowhere to live. A man who “sometimes visited” had suited his mistress just fine, and she had no intention of changing her lifestyleor taking care of a child.
Shed play with the baby, have fun, but nothing more. Sleepless nights, nappies, illnesses? She hadnt signed up for that.
After the birth, she sued for child supportand lost. Whether she stepped up as a mother, no one knew. Jamess diagnosis hadnt changedpaternity was never confirmed.
Legally, he had one daughter. But she refused to speak to him. He paid child support, begged for reconciliation, but Emily wanted nothing to do with him.
“Turns out, you cant comfortably sit on two chairs at once.”
What would you do in their place? Share your thoughts below.
