«How tangled everything is with you! And Karen, who switched us, who is she?» «Also a wife!» — Emily sighed in despair. «The first wife!» They had no children, and dad met mom. You know, he honestly confessed everything, and mom confirmed it.
He wasn’t in love with mom; she was just a young girl, and he wanted children and was ready for anything. In general, mom got pregnant, but by coincidence, he met another woman. And now he fell in love for real.
John had a wife before, Aunt Karen, with whom he lived for many years. But they had no children, and here’s our mom, who became his mistress then, got pregnant, and he left for her, but it wasn’t a choice out of love. Aunt Karen, learning of such betrayal by her husband, cut off all ties with him completely.
And all this time, she quietly went mad from pain and jealousy, although those around her didn’t notice anything for a long time, but with our mom, dad didn’t work out either. Soon he found his true love and left again for Aunt Anna, now from our mom. I tell you, Santa Barbara is just quietly resting.
And here’s Nicky, our brother, born premature to Aunt Anna. Apparently, her nerves couldn’t take it anymore. John tried to be with her in this difficult moment, helped take the child to hospitals, but his attention was torn between several families.
But in the end, he finally left our mom, and we stayed with her alone. And it was then that Aunt Karen, experiencing her own despair, did what forever changed our lives. And yet John always helped us.
Even after all these breakups and scandals, he continued to be there, helping as he could. Probably, it was his form of atonement for everything he had done in life. «And why didn’t mom remarry?» — Jessica asked once.
Emily thought about it but then shrugged. «I think she just loved dad. And continues to love him.»
When the court ruled to return the children to their biological parents, all family members did everything possible so that the story wouldn’t get wide publicity again. They tried to hush up another scandal to avoid extra questions and looks from the side. But none of us could return to our former life anymore.
Since then, Jessica lived in two homes, gradually getting used to having two moms now. And Emily — to having a sister. Val never accepted Emily, but father Gary got along quite well with her.
He even started drinking less, and then quit altogether. Once Jessica found her mother lying on the floor in her own excrement. «Val, what? Drunk again?» — Jessica exclaimed discontentedly.
But her mother didn’t react at all. Jessica got scared and called Aunt Linda, who called the ambulance. When they arrived at the hospital to Val, Emily and Natalie were with her inseparably.
Jessica kept snapping at the doctors and declaring that no one would dare tear her away from her mother. «And who are you to the patient?» — the nurse kept asking Natalie. «I’m nobody.
Just an acquaintance. Just came to visit. And this is her daughter.»
«Another daughter? She already has a daughter!» «Absolutely right. Another one appeared. Wait a minute.
You’re those same ones they wrote about in the newspapers and showed on TV. Is that you? That’s us?» Rolling her eyes, Natalie answered. «Well, then come in!» — the nurse waved her hand and held Natalie by the sleeve, whispering in her ear.
She doesn’t have long left. The liver is practically destroyed. Val lay on the hospital bed, light and stretched out, as if even a bit taller.
Emily thought, remembering how she saw her mother last time. The woman only smiled quietly. Natalie smiled encouragingly in response.
Jessica pulled Natalie by the hand, and they left the ward. «Emily, listen, dear, forgive me, girl!» Emily approached the one who gave her life but never became close. «And forgive me too! What for? You would have just perished with me, with us and Gary, you have no place at all.
We’re no good. Forgive me!» Emily took her mother by the hand, tears glistening in her eyes. At that moment, she forgave the woman who pushed her away and didn’t want to accept her as her own daughter.
«I forgive you, mom!» Tears flowed down her cheeks. After Val’s death, Jessica finally moved in with Natalie and Emily. Gradually got used to Natalie, even started calling her mom, and slowly thawed.
The girls finished school, and there were always two dads nearby. Dad John and Dad Gary, and Mom Natalie. «Dad, listen, you’re coming here too often,» Jessica said, looking into Gary’s blue eyes and showing her fist.
She had never seen such a Gary, called him as in childhood «dad.» Clean-shaven, in a new tracksuit, and smelling nice. «I was just helping with math homework.
You’re my smart one. Hear me, smarty, if you offend mom, you’ll deal with me. And you know me, I won’t owe anyone.
Even you. Well, I just…» — Gary tried to explain. — Okay, suitor, did you give flowers again? At least chose a decent bouquet? — Well, of course, — Gary smiled embarrassedly.
— Oh, I can’t. Invite her to a museum or something. Well, or to the theater.
Or wherever else they invite. She’s a romantic lady, she needs care. All sorts of surprises and women’s treats.
Well, you know yourself, no need to teach you. They decided to live together. To try again.
What if it’s fate? And it worked out for them. And then one fine sunny day, in social media, some unfamiliar Austrian named Waldemar Wilson persistently started requesting to be friends with Jessica. — Who are you? Do we know each other? — Jessica asked in a message.
— Jess, why so aggressive? It’s me, Bobby, your childhood best friend. — Didn’t recognize me? — he wrote back and quickly added. — Have you forgotten me? Bobby, but how can that be? — And why Waldemar, and what’s with Austria? — Jessica was confused.
— Oh, dear, it’s all so complicated and tangled here. I’ll try to tell you briefly. Jessica was very glad to learn that her friend, lost back in the nineties, was doing well now.
Fate here too turned out unpredictable. Bobby’s father, whom Linda always spoke of with mockery, actually existed. And he really turned out to be a real Austrian.
She was silent about him all these years, partly out of pride, and partly out of unwillingness to explain her past. Their connection was fleeting, and Linda thought he had long forgotten about her and that time when they crossed paths, but fate decided otherwise. Somewhere about 10 years after Bobby’s birth, the father completely by chance learned of his existence.
Perhaps through a mutual acquaintance, or maybe through a letter that Linda herself once wrote. He took and came to our country, wanting to personally make sure that the child was really his. For the mother, it was a real shock.
She didn’t know how to accept his sudden appearance, but the father turned out to be very persistent. He wanted to make up for lost time and take on new responsibility. Bobby, who never knew his father, was at first just confused.
But over time, they found common ground, and the offer to move to Austria sounded to him like a chance for a new life. Linda, despite her independence, this time agreed to his help. The father not only took Bobby to himself but also helped Linda get a normal job so she could change her life once and for all.
So Bobby became Waldemar Wilson with a new name and new identity. For Bobby, it was a difficult transition. He missed his usual life, his favorite yard, and especially Jessica.
But gradually got used to the new family, culture, and new opportunities that fate provided him. And now, after years, Jessica and Bobby met again. They hadn’t communicated for a long time; life had taken them to different countries and directions.
Bobby, whose childhood passed in difficult conditions, grew up brave, kind, but reserved man. Jessica, who had gone through so many losses and gains, became a strong and beautiful woman. But deep down, she was still looking for support.
Their meeting happened by chance; someone from mutual acquaintances arranged a party in their hometown, where both ended up. Waldemar was just coming there on business from Austria and didn’t mind seeing old friends and acquaintances. Jessica immediately recognized her old friend in the broad-shouldered man.
And Bobby noted with surprise how that mischievous girl he once spent days with in the yard had changed. They started talking, recalling childhood and joking about the past. But in these conversations, there was something much more than just nostalgia.
Their connection seemed to revive instantly. Shared history, shared memories of Aunt Linda and those times became the basis for their rapprochement. Bobby joked that fate seemed to have deliberately brought them together again, and Jessica just laughed in response.
But her gaze betrayed that she saw truth in this thought. Gradually, their communication became deeper. They started dating, spending more time together.
And Waldemar was no longer in a hurry to leave for his Austria. At some point, Jessica even wondered, what if their feelings are something more than just friendship? She feared judgment, after all, their families were so closely connected. However, Bobby confidently stated that none of these circumstances prevented them from being happy.
When they decided to tell their loved ones about their feelings, Natalie was a bit surprised but didn’t object at all. She saw how Jessica’s eyes shone next to her beloved and understood that she had no right to deprive her daughter of happiness. John, who always respected the guy, just shook his hand firmly, expressing his silent approval.
Their wedding became a symbol of how even the most complex and tragic stories can lead to a new beginning. Jessica and Bobby built their family, free from those dark pages of the past that once separated their families but gave them a chance to find each other.