When my husband filed for divorce, I took my children and moved back in with my parents. There was no way I could manage aloneI had to work and look after the children by myself. At that point, my eldest was three years old, and my youngest was only two.
I took out a mortgage and started life afresh. In the beginning, I only exchanged polite greetings with the neighbours, without knowing anyone properly.
Over time, I crossed paths with a man from the building. He had a son. Sometimes I saw him around with a woman, so I assumed he was married. Still, I found myself attracted to him physically, but I had no intention of starting anything with a married man.
One day, he kindly helped me fix a leaky tap and I offered him a cup of tea. During the chat, I discovered that the woman Id seen was actually his sons nanny. He struggled to find a decent childminderluck never seemed to be on his side. His wife had sadly passed away the year before, and he had no family left. Thats when I thought that perhaps there could possibly be something more between us.
We started chatting, ringing each other, and sometimes wed take the children to the park together. One day, he turned up at mine while my parents were visiting.
How are things? Would you mind keeping an eye on my boy? The nurserys shut for quarantine. I need to rush off to work and the nanny is poorly.
Of course, thats fine, I said.
He handed me a huge bag packed with clothes, food, and detailed instructions on how to look after his son. He said hed ring, but I hadnt expected him to call every thirty minutes, demanding updates about what his son had eaten, what he was wearing, how many walks wed been on
When he came to collect his son, he was annoyed that the boy was wearing a red shirt instead of the blue one hed specified. I didnt get a word of thanksjust endless complaints. Before leaving, he said:
Ill drop him off again tomorrow, alright?
Even when I was snowed under with my own work, I never refused. But one day I ended up in hospital. He rang, shouting down the phone, furious I hadnt answered the door. I explained Id been admitted to hospital and he promptly hung up.
Later, he offered to watch my child, but I refused as I needed to get to work myself. After that, the phone calls and meetings stopped. When we saw each other in the hallway, we simply nodded hello. I thought he might be the one for me, but it turned out hed only wanted to take advantage. I still hope that one day Ill meet a man wholl mean the world to me.
