It took a long time for them to even look me in the eye but eventually, they came to accept me. Seeing their mother heal played a big part in that.
Joe and I moved in together after seven years of being a couple, which took a lot of getting used to. I had been living on my own with the children for so long that cohabiting was something of a challenge for both of us.
Still, we worked through it, and now we have plans to build our own house and finally have our forever home. Steph never spoke to me again apart from spitting in my face at the school gates one day as our children looked on.
The friendships between the children ultimately survived and they now jokingly refer to each other as ‘step-siblings’.
Thankfully, Steph has since found happiness with another man and for that I am glad. The divorce was harsh and she and Joe rarely speak beyond the odd text regarding their children, which is probably for the best.
There has been too much hurt on all sides. Is it true love between me and Joe? I believe it is.
We have been through more trauma in 10 years than anyone should face in a lifetime and while we are still ashamed of our actions, and I regret absolutely the hurt that we caused, I still have the innate feeling that we were supposed to be together, corny as it sounds.
Maybe our true love for one another will never be enough, though. Our actions threw so many lives into chaos, and the recovery has been slow and tortuous.
I had a conversation with Joe’s daughter recently and she confided in me that it was only worthwhile if her father and I were in it for the long haul.
The idea of her father destroying their family over a short-lived fling filled her with resentment, but true love – she could handle that.
*Names have been changed
