Id just left the gym and saw seven missed calls from Mum, says Amanda. Then I read her text: Call me back! Although it was nearly eleven at night, I decided to ring her. Shes a bit anxious and often stays up all night worrying.
When Amanda got home, her mum had tears in her eyes. She beckoned her inside and quietly explained something serious had happenedthere might be a chance that Lauras wedding would be cancelled.
Laura, Amandas sister, is twenty-three and building a promising career as a designer. She graduated about a year ago, landed a job quickly, and had been working part-time during her studies. After finishing university, she was immediately hired by the company where she interned. Lauras personal life had been held up as a shining exampleuntil today.
Laura had been seeing Frank for just over a year. He was three years older, lived on his own, worked hard, and was saving up for a home. People found him polite and decent. A few weeks ago, Laura and Frank officially announced their wedding date at the local registry office. The big day was only a few weeks away.
Someone messaged Laura on social media! Amanda writes. She said, We dont know each other, but I know Frank well, and I think you should hear this before the wedding… Laura checked out the womans profileshe seemed to be around forty, so what could she possibly have to say?
Suddenly, this stranger began to bombard Laura with messages from different accounts, insisting they meet up. Eventually they arranged to meet at a café near Lauras office. Laura sat waiting at a table, and then saw a pregnant woman enter. At first, Laura didnt think it was her, but the woman approached, surprising Laura.
Are you Laura? My names Ellen. Ive been seeing Frank for more than a year, and were expecting a little boy in four months.
Naturally, Laura couldnt believe what she was hearing. Surely this couldnt be true. She and Frank had been dating for over a year and were about to get married! The woman wasnt confrontational, and simply said Laura had her number if she had any questions. She even offered to talk to Frank if Laura wished.
So, what did Frank have to say for himself? This is where everything started unraveling. Laura decided she and Frank would wait until they were married before moving forward physically. They would walk together, kiss and hugit was innocent. Laura had little dating experience.
Frank, meanwhile, was more experienceda young man who wasn’t exactly patient. He decided to have a casual relationship on the side to satisfy himself. He met Ellen somewhere, but made it clear from the beginning that it couldnt be anything serious and he wasnt looking for commitment. Ellen herself had recently split from her husband, had a child and received decent child support, alongside her job. The arrangement suited her; she understood there was a significant age gap.
Frank said that, once the baby was born, hed do a paternity test, and if he turned out to be the father, he would help out. He also told Laura bluntly it was her fault, saying he was a healthy young man, and that her old-fashioned values led to this.
Now Frank is begging Laura not to leave him, claiming he loves her, and saying Ellen was only for physical contact. If Laura had been more modern, Ellen wouldnt have happened in his life.
Frank says hell help Ellen if the child is his, but doesnt want to be in touch otherwise. Ellen decided to keep the baby, and Frank offered her money for a procedure, but she refused. Now its her problem, he says.
What do you thinkis Frank to blame for whats happened? Was he just acting on instinct, and, as a young man without intimacy, was it unreasonable for him to stay faithful? Or should Laura run far from someone like Frankafter all, lack of intimacy is hardly an excuse for infidelity, is it?
