I never imagined that I would feel such intense emotions during my second pregnancy, especially when it had nothing to do with the baby and instead focused on my husband.
I spent the majority of my second pregnancy hiding away and giving in to my cravings for junk food, but my best friend Ava had other ideas. She wanted me to leave the house and insisted that we do things together. One day, while I was putting my swollen feet up and she was making me a strawberry milkshake, she mentioned a pottery place she had heard about. It seems that they had pottery parties where we could make items for my baby’s nursery.
I didn’t like the notion at first. There were a hundred other things I wanted to do. However, Ava’s excitement was contagious, and she persuaded me to try it. She even made arrangements for my husband, Malcolm, to spend the evening watching Tess, our firstborn. Ava’s desire for me to leave the house was obvious.
An Unbelievable Coincidence
We were shocked to see that 15 other women had reserved the same time slot when we got to the pottery shop. Ava had assured me that the evening would be enjoyable and restful, but we had no idea that it would be quite the adventure.
As we talked and exchanged birth stories, one woman in particular caught our attention. She told us about a date she had with her boyfriend, who abruptly had to leave because his sister-in-law had gone into labor. She was confused as to why he had to go, especially since it was almost midnight and they were both exhausted. It turned out that her boyfriend’s name was Malcolm, and Olivia was in labor. The coincidence sent shivers down my spine. My name was Olivia, and Tess was also born on the same day. Ava and I exchanged worried looks, but the woman went on. Six months later, she gave birth to a son, but Malcolm wasn’t there. He had chosen to attend his niece’s birth instead, saying he couldn’t leave.
A Tragic Truth
Leaning closer, Ava said, “Wait, Malcolm is the name of your boyfriend?” The woman confirmed it when I inquired. I asked her if the picture of Tess, Malcolm, and me on my phone was of him. After gazing at the picture, she said, “Your husband? However, he is also the father of my child.
The room began to spin as my heart fell. It seemed like a dream come true. I came to the realization that my spouse had fathered a child with this woman in addition to cheating on me. Recognizing the seriousness of the issue, the other women in the pottery party exchanged pitying looks.
Feeling overwhelmed, I excused myself and took refuge in the restroom while attempting to collect myself.
The road ahead won’t be easy, but I’m determined to find a path to healing for myself and my children. Malcolm reluctantly admitted to the affair and the child he had fathered, but I’m comforted by doing research on divorce lawyers and eating chocolate. I finally confronted Malcolm today because I couldn’t let this fester, especially since my due date is in five weeks.