Unforeseen Disclosures: The Visit, The Quiet, And A Broken Family
When I returned home after my mother-in-law’s visit, my daughter told me something that completely upended our family.
Following their visit with their grandmother, Kristen’s four-year-old daughter shares a secret with her mother. Kristen has to decide whether Katie’s innocence taints the story or whether it’s the brutal reality.
I used to tell myself that if my children asked me where they were from, I would know how to respond. Something simultaneously smart, trendy, and unique.
I remember cringing when my parents told my younger brother about it, and knowing that I wanted to do things differently.
But my four-year-old daughter, Katie, looked up at me with a child’s unrestrained curiosity as we sat outside toasting smores.
She spoke slowly, as if she was trying to choose her words wisely, “Mommy.”
“Yes, Katie?” I asked, already perplexed since I knew that when my child called me this, it would make me laugh.
She nibbled on her Smore, letting the chocolate run down her small fingers, a smile on her face.
“Mommy, how did I appear?” she asked in an astonished voice.
“Appears?” I asked, hoping that I wouldn’t immediately need a cunning reply.
As she picked up another marshmallow, she questioned, “Where did I go?
I hesitated. I wasn’t sure how to explain the creation question to a four-year-old because I had always imagined that it came about later.
So I stole from my mother’s side.
“Well, my sweetie, when we fell in love, Dad and I sowed a seed.” And you were born not too long after,” I informed her, trying not to laugh.
Like a tree, perhaps? She asked, her innocent inquiry shattering my heart, “A seed for a tree?”
“Just like a tree,” I agreed.
Would you mind sowing one more seed, Mom? Katie said, “I wish I had a little brother.”
My daughter had a contagious smile of hope, and I laughed heartily.
Maybe, honey. I assured her, stroking her hair, “We’ll see.” “We need to discuss it with Dad.”
“Will Dad be home soon?” she asked.
I was relieved that Katie didn’t seem to be upset by sweets when I put her to bed shortly after.
I was thinking about having a second child; the perfect age gap would be between Katie and the next child, as I was doing the dishes.
Noticing that the kitchen was silent, I said, “But I don’t think Sam wants another baby.” “He’s hardly home anymore.”
I didn’t give the conversation much more thought until Sam’s mother visited me a week or so after Gloria, while I was out running errands. Living close by, Gloria would often drop by to see Katie, pick her up from school, or just take her home to spoil her.
But that afternoon, Katie’s innocence about life broke my universe into sharp fragments that could pierce flesh.
My beautiful kid came up to me and begged to play dolls.
The instant we walked into her room, she called us “Mommy.”
“Mommy, what’s upsetting Granny about the new seed you planted?” said she.
My youngster was talking about things I had absolutely no idea about. No, I didn’t anticipate!
“Why do you think that, honey?” I asked in a strained voice.
She brushed a doll as she toyed with it.
“I heard my mom yell at my dad!” “Sam, how could you?” she exclaimed.
“What were you doing?” I asked, hoping Katie hadn’t been exposed to anything.
“I was watching TV,” she responded, before rambling on about what she had been seeing.
“Why were they shouting, sweetheart?” I asked.
Granny said that Dad ought to have exercised greater caution while planting a seed in that woman. And the child will ruin the family,” she said, her voice filled with horror.
Katie glanced up into my eyes, searching for answers in the confusion she perceived to be mirrored back in them.
“Are you certain that’s what your grandmother said?” I asked.
“Yes, Mommy,” he sighed heavily. And the wife will tell everyone about it. Furthermore, Granny brought pie.
The room dubbed “Reality slipping away from me”
Sam.
We had broken our vows and betrayed our family by having my spouse and business partner work in the living room while I played with our child. And in an unimaginable way.
I watched Sam that evening while I made dinner because he was unaware that Katie had overheard him and Gloria conversing. Katie adored Sam even though she wasn’t as honest with him as she was with me.
She was accustomed to him being away from us because of how much work he did.
Now I wondered how many late nights I could blame on work.
“Baby?” Sam called, startling me out of my daydream.
“Yes,” Trying not to lose my cool, I called out.
Muttering, “There’s pie in the fridge, Mom saved you some,” he turned back to his laptop.
How did he manage to do that? I thought about it. He has a baby on the way, so how in the world is he going to sit there and act like nothing?
After eating her entire dinner, Katie conned her way into getting ice cream for dessert. Sam was distracted as usual, constantly checking his phone, as if he was waiting for an important call or message.
I was hankering after his phone.
Later that night, when Katie had fallen asleep, I walked up to Sam.
My accusations against him sparked a resurgence of hostility between us.
Sam sat with his hands on his head.
“How were you able to?” Breaking, I said.
Sam winced, a deep line of remorse visible on his face.
“Kristen, I made a mistake. To put it plainly, that was a bad decision. And it meant absolutely nothing, I assure you.
Sam, it’s a mistake to forget to get milk. Not after you choose to spend your entire life with someone you had an affair with!” I spat, my mouth full of bitter residue.
He held out his hand, but I pulled away.
He begged, “Please, tell me, honey.” “Anything will do to make this right!”
Sam, how are you doing? How may you possibly fix this?
My cheeks were wet with tears.
“Were you aware that I intended to discuss with you the possibility of having another child?” I asked.
I wanted to hurt him. I wanted him to feel the same amount of hurt, loss, and betrayal as I had.
When I mentioned considering having another child, Sam did not respond, so the following day I took Katie to my mother-in-law’s house in the hopes that she would provide additional details.
“How did you discover this?” Gloria enquired. “Did he tell you at last?”
I said, “Katie did.”
Katie raced into the living room and switched on the TV, which was wonderful for me. I had some questions for Gloria.
“Katie heard you and Sam talking yesterday,” I said. But I had no idea that he was even coping with anything. He continuously conveyed the idea that his work came first.
“I only recently found out,” Gloria said. I told him he had to tell you the truth. Furthermore, I promised to give him the opportunity to do so; if not, I would personally let you know.
“Do you know who she is?” I asked.
Gloria shook her head and filled the kettle.
“I don’t know the details. He told me recently that she was expecting, and he didn’t know what to do.
“What do you think we should do?” I asked.
“Honey, following his affair, I divorced Sam’s father. I’m not saying you should do the same. But I am saying that some betrayals are just too deep. He is my son, that much is clear. and that I should be supporting him. But when he informed me, all I could think about was the moment I witnessed my husband with his mistress and her huge belly.
I wondered what Gloria was trying to tell me, and whether there was more to her comments than met the eye.
“How about Katie?” I asked, desperate for advice. She doesn’t know some information. She is aware that the child is mine to carry.
“Kristen, please prioritize your child.” However, remember that you will also have to cope with the consequences.
We traveled in silence, Katie gazing out the window at the lowering sun.
When we got home, I was at a loss for words and didn’t know what to do. At the kitchen table I sat.
My love for Sam vanished the moment he revealed the truth to me. Would it really be so bad if our marriage fell apart too? It appeared to be completed. He had searched outside of our union for solace.
Katie climbed into my lap and wrapped her tiny arms around me.
“Mommy, don’t be depressed,” she said. “A hundred, thousand, million, I love you.”
I groaned and held her close.
Katie’s innocence had shown me the brutal reality, but her dedication had also made me realize how resilient I was. I knew that Sam and I could handle the future together, with her at my side.
Katie and I needed to start afresh.
