Every Time I Introduced a New Boyfriend to My Daughters, He Would Break Up With Me — I Finally Investigated to Find Out Why
Every partner I brought home after my divorce started vanishing after getting to know my girls. I looked for solutions when another guy left in the middle of dinner. I was shocked and devastated by what my investigation turned up concerning my girls’ ulterior intentions.
After my turbulent divorce from Roger two years ago, I felt like my life was gone. After 15 years of marriage, Roger and I have two lovely daughters, Casey, 12, and Veronica, 14. Before things began to fall apart, we were content. Our divorce was caused by Roger’s late nights, incessant disagreements, and the ensuing silence. Roger had weekend visits, and I was granted custody of the girls.
I made the decision to move on and find love again two years after the breakup. Not only for myself, but also for my girls. They were entitled to a father figure.
I recently had my boyfriend David over for dinner and showed him my kids, so I didn’t understand why he broke up with me after getting to know them.
“David, what’s wrong?” When he abruptly got up from the dinner table, looking as pale as a ghost, I inquired. Without responding, he simply picked up his coat and walked away.
Sitting quietly, Veronica and Casey examined their plates.
“What happened, girls?” My voice trembled as I asked. Their silence was frustrating, and they didn’t answer.
I contacted David several times that evening, but he didn’t answer. “It’s over, Melinda,” he texted the following morning. I am unable to wed you. “Goodbye!”
It seemed like my heart was breaking again. It was not the first instance.
I had dated Shawn earlier that year, and he had followed suit. Victor had done it before him. These men were all familiar with my background and my daughters. What, then, was wrong?
And I was going to find out. I opened out to my friend and coworker Jose at work the following day.
“There seems to be a pattern, Jose. With tears in my eyes, I added, “Every time a guy sees my daughters, he just disappears.”
Jose laughed and added, “Come on, Melinda, it can’t be that bad,”
“I mean it. “Please help me,” I demanded.
He agreed to assist me. I invited Jose home for supper a few weeks later and introduced him as my “new boyfriend.” The smiles on Casey’s and Veronica’s faces instantly disappeared.
“Jose, why don’t you talk to the girls and get to know them?” As usual, I left them at the dining table and said that. My heart was racing as I waited in the kitchen.
Jose’s face seemed paler than usual when I got back. He would hardly glance at me and was nervously clutching his fork.
He hurried off after supper, and I sensed something was wrong. I gave Jose a call that evening after the girls had gone to bed.
“Jose, what happened?” I asked, struggling to maintain a steady voice.
“Melinda, we need to talk in person,” he stated. My heart fell.
Jose was there before our shift began when I rushed to the workplace the following morning.
“Tell me,” I insisted. “What took place last night? What were the females saying?
“Your daughters, Melinda, believe that you and Roger will reconcile. “They’re intentionally scaring off your boyfriends,” he admitted.
I went cold. “What do you mean?”
“I heard terrible things about you from them. that you’re awful at cleaning, cooking, and caring for them. They said that you have sleepwalking problems and are a shopaholic. Jose said, “They even said you brought home seven guys this week alone.”
My face started to well up with tears. “None of that’s true, Jose.”
“I understand. However, they’re acting in this way because they want you and Roger to reconcile. “You should speak with them,” he suggested gently.
I hurried home that night, my heart heaving with pain. Ignorant of the storm building inside of me, Veronica and Casey were playing in the living room.
“We need to discuss, girls. Now,” I gathered them up and stated forcefully. They looked at each other anxiously but remained silent.
“I am aware of your actions. To frighten my guys away, I lie to them. “Why?” With a broken voice, I demanded.
They initially disputed it. However, they eventually admitted when I threatened to stop paying for their trips and pocket money.
“All we want is for you and Dad to reconcile, Mom. We require both of our parents. With tears in her eyes, Veronica murmured, “We need our old life back.”
My heart seemed to be breaking into a million fragments. “But why didn’t you tell me this before?” Choking on my tears, I asked.
Casey muttered, “We were afraid you’d be angry.”
I gathered them in my arms and inhaled deeply. “You can’t do this, even though I understand. Neither those men nor I are treated fairly. We must have a serious discussion about this.
Late into the night, we sat and chatted. I clarified that although I sympathized with their emotions, I also needed to find happiness and move on.
“But, Mom, is it really too late to get back together with Dad?” With a tiny, hopeful voice, Veronica inquired.
With a sigh, I brushed a lock of hair away from her face. “My dear, I’m not sure. However, I am aware that we must be honest with one another and support one another. “Will you please stop lying?”
I tried to lighten the mood as they nodded. “And just so you know, I’ll remember this when it’s your turn to bring a guy home.”
The ladies chuckled, but I couldn’t help but wonder if it was truly too late to set aside our disagreements and reunite with Roger for the sake of our kids.
I had trouble concentrating at work the following day. My thoughts kept returning to the discussion I had with my daughters. Is it feasible to get back in touch with Roger? I chose to give him a call.
“Hi, Roger. Have you got a moment?” I questioned anxiously, and he replied.
Yes, Melinda. What’s going on?” He sounded inquisitive but not rude.
“I believe we should speak. in person. My voice trembled a little as I said, “It’s about the girls.”
“All right. “How about at that coffee shop we used to frequent tonight?” he proposed.
“That’s effective. A knot of apprehension tightened in my stomach as I said, “See you at seven.”
Roger was seated at a corner table when I entered the busy coffee shop at precisely seven o’clock. He gave me a little smile as he looked up.
He said, “Hey, Melinda,” as I took a seat.
“Hello, Roger. While fumbling with my coffee cup, I said, “Thanks for meeting me.”
Then he leaned closer and said, “So, what’s on your mind?”
“The females. I shouted out, “They’ve been… undermining my relationships because they still have hope that we’ll reconcile.”
Roger had a startled expression. “What? Why did they remain silent?
“They were afraid. They expected me to be angry. Roger, it’s more than that. Our family is missed. “They want us to get back together,” I clarified.
Roger rubbed his temples and moaned. “I didn’t know. I believed they were managing the divorce effectively.
“I also did. But they’re obviously not. I hesitantly proposed, “I know we had our differences, but maybe… for their sake, we should try to work things out.”
His face was displaying a range of emotions as he gazed at me. “Melinda, it’s not that easy. We had serious problems. I chose to be alone following the divorce for that reason.
“I understand. However, we might try counseling. Check to see if anything is still worth keeping. On behalf of the girls,” I begged.
Roger looked out the window and sighed once again. “All right. Let’s try it out. For the gals.
The weeks that followed were a roller coaster of feelings. In an effort to regain the communication and trust that had been lost, Roger and I began attending counseling.
It wasn’t simple. On some days, I wanted to give up, while on other days, I felt hopeful. But my motivation came from thinking about our girls.
Roger and I sat in silence in the car one evening after a particularly trying session.
“Do you think this is working?” Quietly, I asked.
“I’m not sure. He reached out to grasp my hand and said, “But we owe it to the girls to try.”
After a month of therapy, we made the decision to share our progress with our girls.
“I’ve been talking to your dad, girls. As I watched their cheeks brighten, I responded carefully, “We’re trying to work things out.”
“Really? Does that imply that you two are reconciling? Eagerly, Casey chirped.
“We’re not making any promises, but we’re trying,” Roger affirmed.
I felt a ray of hope when the girls gave us a firm hug. We might be able to make this work.
Things began to get better as the weeks passed. The girls appeared happier, and Roger and I were talking more effectively. We all sat down to eat one evening, and I experienced a calmness I hadn’t experienced in years.
Saying, “Mom, Dad, this is really nice,” Veronica grinned at us.
“It is, isn’t it?” Roger’s hand squeezing mine beneath the table, I nodded.
Although we still had a long way to go, I felt like we were headed in the right direction for the first time in a long time. Despite my daughters’ joy, I had a question that was bothering me deep inside. Were these smiles only transient blossoms emerging from the ashes of a failed marriage, or could they develop into a permanent reunion?
