Chapter 2
“If you ever decide you want children, just tell me. We’ll talk about it, come to a decision together.”
Baillie agreed.⠀
Seven years ago, Baillie’s dad had suddenly stopped being upset, and his mom stopped pressuring us. They even brought up the idea of retiring to another lively city, somewhere with good food and plenty to do. Baillie would visit from time to time to check in on them. I thought they’d finally made peace with our choices. Then one day, scrolling through my mother–in–law’s social media, I saw a photo of Baillie, another woman, and a little boy–smiling together, looking for all the world like a happy family.
Only then did I realize for seven years, Baillie’s constant trips between two cities weren’t just about his parents–he was torn between two families
All those snapshots of blissful family moments” his mother posted felt like a knife twisting in my chest, leaving me breathless with pain.
I opened my y mouth to speak, only to find my voice so hoarse it barely sounded like my own.
“So what about me, Baillie? Don’t you think it’s cruel and heartless to do this to me?”
Guilt flashed across Baillie’s face, and even his voice softened.
I’m sorry, Veronica I just didn’t want you to go through the hardship of pregnancy and childbirth. But if you want, I can bring them here–we could all live together…”
The laugh that escaped me was bitter and hollow.!!
“So let me get this straight. My husband cheats on me, and not only am I supposed to forgive him, I’m expected to accept his child with another woman–and now you want me to share a roof with your mistress, bumping into her every time I turn around?”
Baillie fell silent, no longer trying to defend himself. When he left, he thoughtfully gathered up all the relatives and took them out of the house.
“Veronica, I know this is a lot to take in. It’s fine, take your time. But my mind’s made up–Jenifer and the child, I won’t abandon either of them
I sat awake all right, numb. As dawn broke, I called the company’s attorney.
“Do you know how to draft a divorce agreement? I need one. I want a divorce.”
Just as he’d promised, Buillie spent the entire next week with his other family. He didn’t come home once.!!
When the private investigator I’d hired finally sent over the stack of photos and videos I’d paid dearly for, my hands shook so badly I could barely bring myself to open them.
After everything blew up, Baillie’s mother didn’t bother hiding anything anymore. She stopped pretending to be the doting mother–in–law and started flooding her feed with videos–hundreds of them–documenting every “precious moment of Baillie’s new family.
Baillie playing with his son. Baillie teaching the boy to write his name. Baillie supporting the pregnant woman on their daily walks. Even the captions oozed happiness: “Daddy and son off on another adventure!” “My sweet grandson started first grade and still begs Daddy to help with his writing!” “My son and daughter–in–law“)
The content matched the investigator’s photos–just ordinary, happy family scenes, but to nie, each one felt like salt in an open wound After staring at the screen for what felt like forever, I finally left a comment beneath one of her postal
“if she’s your daughter–in–law, then what a I–just a nome on your son’s marriage certificate?”il
The comment was deleted almost instantly.
Seconds later, my mother–in–law sent me a sixty second voice message li
“What are you doing, leaving comments like that on my videos? Do you want people thinking my sweet grandson is some illegitimate child? He’s just a little boy–how could you be so vicious? And don’t think I’ve forgotten everything you’ve done! You refused to have a child with my son, and you pushed him to get a vasectomy
More voice messages followed, each angrier than the lai
I thought I’d cried myself dry over these past days, but hearing her spit i tears to my eyes
out her accusations, so smug and self–righteous, brought fresh
