The atmosphere in the room crackled with tension as Alex stared disapprovingly at his stepson.
“Why on earth are you eating with your phone in hand? Put it down or leave the table!” he shouted once more at the ten-year-old named Ethan.
“I want to eat and use my phone! What’s it to you? You’re nobody to me!” Ethan shot back defiantly.
“What did you just say?! I’m the one running this house, and you will respect me and listen! I never dared to talk back to my parents at your age!” Alex’s voice boomed like thunder, causing Ethan to spring up from his seat and slam the door to his room behind him.
“What’s the row about this time? I can’t even have a peaceful bath without being dragged into your arguments! I’m utterly exhausted!” Natalia, Ethan’s mother, huffed as she emerged from the bathroom, a towel thrown hastily around her shoulders.
“Your son has become insufferable! No discipline whatsoever! This is your fault, you know!” Alex lashed out at his wife, frustration boiling over.
Taking a seat at the kitchen table, Natalia removed the towel from her hair and wiped her face with it, glancing at her husband. With a weary breath, she lowered her gaze.
At eighteen, Natalia had found herself pregnant with a classmate. There was no great romance; they had simply dated. When she confided in him about the pregnancy, he told his parents, who quickly whisked him off to a university far away, leaving Natalia a small sum of money for an abortion.
But the thought of terminating the pregnancy never crossed her mind. Determined to embrace motherhood, she resolved to raise her child as a single parent.
“Oh, Nat! I feel so sorry for you! It’s all my fault for not watching over you. I should have prepared you. I know firsthand how tough it is to raise a child alone, and now you’re following the same path… repeating my fate,” lamented Svetlana, Natalia’s mother, at the time.
“Come on, Mum. You raised me just fine, and I can manage. I’ll take a year off university and then switch to part-time classes. Millions of women do it, and I can do it too! We’ll manage!” Natalia replied with determination.
“Oh, you’ll manage, but it won’t be the easiest life… Men don’t really fancy stepping into the role of a stepfather. And you’re already so young with a child!” her mother warned.
“Stop with the clichés, Mum. I believe there’s a man out there who will love both me and my child,” Natalia defended herself, her voice filled with conviction.
“God willing, dear…” Svetlana responded meaningfully.
Months later, a baby boy was born, and Natalia named him Ethan. Life began to whirl around her at breakneck speed. She started her academic leave, then switched to part-time uni, juggling work, assignments, exams, illnesses, and birthday parties for her young son. It was unrelenting work for Natalia as a single mother, but she was grateful to her own mother for stepping in during those challenging moments.
With Ethan in first grade and Natalia having earned her degree, she landed a steady job. However, her personal life remained stagnant. Her mother’s insights about men had proven to be somewhat accurate. Suitors stepped forward, but Natalia often felt no spark with them. The moment they learned she had a son, they vanished under various excuses. Life continued for Natalia and her son, just the two of them.
“Nat, have you seen the new manager in construction? What a looker!” her colleague, Lorraine, teased playfully.
“Really? Is he made of gold or something?” Natalia replied nonchalantly.
“Well, not gold, but he’s not bad! You’ll see him at the staff meeting today. You’ll understand then.”
That afternoon, as all the staff gathered, Natalia met Alex, the new construction manager. He was indeed an attractive man, fit and with a sharp sense of humor. He quickly blended into the team and favored Natalia more than the others. It seemed she had caught his eye from the very first day.
To start, Alex offered to share a coffee with her during lunch. Then came the first date. Natalia agreed but was determined to mention Ethan before things could go further.
As they spoke, Alex revealed that at thirty-three, he had never married and had recently moved out of his mother’s home into his own flat. Now he was ready to settle down.
Natalia shared her own story, making it clear she was raising Ethan alone. Alex responded calmly, saying he had always dreamed of having a son. Feeling at ease, Natalia let the romance flourish at a rapid pace. She introduced Alex to Ethan. The three of them spent time together in parks and cinemas, everything seeming to click—at least on the surface. Alex and Ethan were both somewhat reserved, yet Natalia was hopeful they would bond, eventually becoming like a father and son.
“Nat, what do you think about moving in with me?” Alex broached one evening.
“I’m not sure, Alex. I wouldn’t be opposed, but what about Ethan? He would have to change schools, and I don’t think he’d like that,” Natalia expressed her concerns.
“Well, let’s face it. You’ve spoiled him, love. We’ll simply tell him we’re moving, and he can start in a new school—no fuss. It’s just a fact of life,” Alex asserted a bit too confidently.
“Not sure about that…”
Deep down, Natalia wanted to make the leap to be with the man she cared for, but something kept holding her back from making that significant decision.
Months passed, and Alex revived the topic of their move and official wedding.
“Alright, Alex. I’ll talk to Ethan. Perhaps we could move over the summer so he can start at a new school in your neighborhood when the school year begins.”
“Nat, we’ve already discussed this. Why do you keep bringing Ethan up? Let’s make plans between us adults and then let him know. He’s just a child; it isn’t his place to decide where we live,” Alex insisted.
“But Alex, I can’t just ignore him. He has friends at this school, and activities! I still have to talk to him.”
For a long time, Natalia prepared for the tough discussion with her son. One Saturday, she finally approached the topic.
“Ethan, how would you feel about us moving in with Uncle Alex?”
“Why would we do that?” Ethan asked, bewildered.
“Because we love each other and want to get married, to become a family,” she explained gently.
“Maybe I’d rather move in with Grandma instead?” Ethan suggested, confusion written across his face.
A tense silence filled the air.
“Absolutely not. I want to see you every day. Plus, Grandma is getting older and she can’t help you with your homework. We’re not going there.”
Natalia sensed Ethan wasn’t keen on the idea of moving. Anguish roiled within her; on one hand, she loved Alex and yearned for their life together, while on the other, her love for Ethan kept her anchored to their loving relationship.
“Nat, we’ve submitted our application for the registry office, let’s nail down a date for the move. The sooner we do this, the better it will be for us all.”
“Alex, I talked to Ethan. I feel like he’s not taking this well…” Natalia began, but Alex cut her off.
“Let me take him home from school and have a proper talk with him. You’ve spoiled him too much. He’s acting like a child over it. We’re moving, that’s that! And if he continues like this, I’ll whip him into shape!” he declared.
“Good luck with that…” Natalia said cautiously.
That evening, Alex was meant to bring Ethan back home. Natalia felt sick with anxiety. Deep down, she hoped everything would go smoothly and that Alex could convince their son about the move. She prepared a delicious dinner, but by the time Alex and Ethan arrived, she could tell from their demeanor that the discussion hadn’t gone well.
“Nat, your son is utterly undisciplined!” Alex announced as soon as he entered.
“On what grounds?” Natalia asked sharply, watching Ethan rush to his room without a word.
“On what grounds? You’re asking? He had a complete meltdown! He’s a boy but reacted worse than any girl! We’re moving, that’s it! Or he’ll tie you in knots! But I’ll make him a proper lad!” Alex insisted.
“Let’s eat,” Natalia suggested quietly.
Alex had already taken his seat at the table, awaiting only Ethan, who still hadn’t emerged from his room.
“Ethan, love, time for dinner,” Natalia called out, concern deepening.
“I’m not hungry,” he replied sulkily.
“Come on, spare me the tears! Honestly, you’re behaving like such a baby! You’re ten now, and you’re still sulking like a toddler. You play the piano! There’s a boxing gym near my place; you’ll go there instead of your music lessons,” Alex concluded harshly.
“I’d rather live with Grandma than with you!” Ethan screamed, and Natalia could tell he was crying.
“No Grandma for you. We’re all living together, end of discussion.”
And so began their new life under Alex’s roof. The once peaceful existence Natalia had known was shattered as arguments erupted in their small flat every single day.
“Why do you keep eating with your phone in hand? Put it away or leave the table!”
“I want to eat and play on my phone! Why do you care?! You’re nobody!” Ethan snapped back, defiance shining in his eyes.
“What did you say?! I’m the boss here, so you’d better show some respect!”
“Here we go again! I can’t even wash in peace without you two bickering! I’m drained from all this!” Natalia exclaimed.
“Your son has become unbearable!” Alex shouted in frustration, and Ethan stormed off, leaving his meal unfinished.
“Should we send him off to your mother’s?” Alex suggested.
“No, Alex. I want my son here with us.”
“In that case, I’ll be cancelling his tickets for our holiday tomorrow. I won’t tolerate his rudeness during this trip. If he wants to act up, he can’t come!” Alex declared.
“Don’t be ridiculous! I’m not going anywhere without my son!” Natalia protested.
“He’ll be fine with your mum; it’ll give him time to think,” Alex replied dismissively.
“Alex, would you treat your own child this way? You can’t just shove him off,” Natalia challenged.
“This isn’t about our future kids; this is about Ethan.”
“No, Alex. I won’t leave my son behind.”
And with that, Natalia resolved not to go on holiday without Ethan. Alex sulked and spent a few nights at his mother’s house.
One evening, Natalia’s phone rang. The screen displayed her mother-in-law’s number.
“Hello, Irina.”
“Nat, what’s going on? You’re about to marry my son and you’re already clashing with him?” she began without preamble.
“What happened?” Natalia questioned, bemused.
“Alex has been staying with me for days; he can’t even go back to his flat!”
“If it’s that bad, we can move out. Why hasn’t he called?”
“Cut the innocent act, Nat! You should be grateful a man is taking you on with a child, not pushing your weight around!” Irina exploded.
“Goodbye. Alex can come back to the flat tomorrow. We won’t be there by evening.” Natalia hung up with finality.
That conversation spurred her to gather their things. By evening, they were back in their flat. Alex later called, trying to mend things between them, but Natalia ended their relationship for good. She withdrew the application from the registry office.
“Live your life with your son then!” Alex spat as they parted ways.
“And I will,” Natalia responded, erasing his number and even changing jobs to leave the past behind her.
Thus, a rather tumultuous family story unfolded, leaving one to wonder who truly came out ahead in the end.
