After my divorce, every boyfriend I brought home kept disappearing after meeting my daughters. When another guy bolted mid-dinner, I dug for answers. What my investigation revealed about my daughters’ hidden motives left me stunned and heartbroken.
I thought my life was over after my tumultuous divorce from Roger two years ago. Roger and I were married for 15 years, and we have two beautiful daughters, Veronica, 14, and Casey, 12. We were happy until things started falling apart. Roger’s late nights, endless arguments, and the silence that followed all led to our divorce. I got custody of the girls, and Roger had weekend visits.
Close-up view of a couple taking off their wedding rings | Source: Pexels
Two years following the split, I decided to move on and find love again. Not just for me but for my daughters, too. They deserved a father figure in their lives.
When I recently brought my boyfriend, David, home for dinner and introduced him to my children, I didn’t understand why he called off our relationship after meeting my daughters.
“David, what’s wrong?” I asked when he suddenly stood up from the dinner table, pale as a ghost. He didn’t answer as he just grabbed his coat and left without a word.
Grayscale silhouette of a man walking away | Source: Pexels
Veronica and Casey sat quietly, looking at their plates.
“What happened, girls?” I asked, my voice shaking. They didn’t respond, and their silence was maddening.
That night, I called David multiple times, but he didn’t pick up. The next morning, he left a text saying, “It’s over, Melinda. I can’t marry you. Goodbye!”
My heart felt like it was breaking all over again. This wasn’t the first time.
Close-up of a teary-eyed woman | Source: Pexels
Shawn, a guy I dated earlier that year, had done the same. Before him, it was Victor. All these men knew about my past and my daughters. So what was going wrong?
I was determined to find out. The next day, I met my colleague and friend Jose at work and poured my heart out.
“Jose, it’s like a pattern. Every time a guy meets my daughters, he just vanishes,” I explained, feeling tears prick my eyes.
Distressed woman covering her face with her hands | Source: Pexels
“Come on, Melinda, it can’t be that bad,” Jose said with a chuckle.
“I’m serious. I need your help,” I insisted.
He agreed to help me. A few weeks later, I brought Jose home for dinner, introducing him as my “new boyfriend.” Veronica and Casey’s smiles vanished immediately.
“Jose, why don’t you talk to the girls and get to know them?” I said, leaving them at the dining table as usual. I waited in the kitchen, my heart pounding.
A couple holding hands | Source: Unsplash
When I returned, Jose’s face was paler than usual. He was gripping his fork nervously and would barely look at me.
After dinner, he left quickly, and I knew something was up. That night, after the girls went to bed, I called Jose.
“Jose, what happened?” I asked, barely able to keep my voice steady.
“Melinda, we need to talk in person,” he said. My heart sank.
A startled man holding his head | Source: Pexels
The next morning, I hurried to the office, finding Jose before our shift started.
“Tell me,” I demanded. “What happened last night? What did the girls say?”
“Melinda, your daughters… they think you and Roger will get back together. They’re scaring off your boyfriends on purpose,” he confessed.
I froze. “What do you mean?”
Close-up of a sad woman with eyes downcast | Source: Pexels
“They told me horrible things about you. That you’re terrible at cooking, taking care of them… cleaning. They said you’re a shopaholic and have sleepwalking issues. They even said you’ve brought home seven guys this week alone,” Jose explained.
Tears streamed down my face. “None of that’s true, Jose.”
“I know. But they’re doing it because they want you and Roger to get back together. You need to talk to them,” he advised gently.
A teary-eyed woman closing her eyes | Source: Pexels
That evening, I stormed home, my heart heavy with hurt. Veronica and Casey were playing in the living room, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me.
“Girls, we need to talk. Now,” I said firmly, gathering them. They exchanged nervous glances but said nothing.
“I know what you’ve been doing. Lying to my boyfriends to scare them away. Why?” I demanded, my voice breaking.
At first, they denied it. But when I threatened to cut off their pocket money and vacations, they finally confessed.
Two young girls sitting on the floor facing each other | Source: Pexels
“Mom, we just want you and Dad to get back together. We need both our parents. We need our old life back,” Veronica said, tears streaming down her face.
I felt like my heart was shattering into a million pieces. “But why didn’t you tell me this before?” I asked, choking on my tears.
“We were scared you’d be mad,” Casey whispered.
Close-up of a young girl looking up | Source: Pexels
I took a deep breath, gathering them in my arms. “I understand, but you can’t do this. It’s not fair to me or to those men. We need to have a real conversation about this.”
We sat together, talking late into the night. I explained that while I understood their feelings, I also needed to move on and find happiness.
“But, Mom, is it really too late to get back together with Dad?” Veronica asked, her voice small and hopeful.
Unhappy teen girl looking up | Source: Pexels
I sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I don’t know, sweetheart. But what I do know is that we need to support each other and be honest. No more lies, okay?”
They nodded, and I tried to lighten the mood. “And just so you know, I’ll remember this when it’s your turn to bring a guy home.”
The girls laughed, but deep inside, a question kept haunting me—was it really too late to put aside those differences and get my life back with Roger for our children’s sake?
A sad woman looking down | Source: Pexels
The next day, I couldn’t focus at work. My mind kept drifting back to the conversation with my daughters. Could it really be possible to rekindle things with Roger? I decided to call him.
“Hey, Roger. Do you have a minute?” I nervously asked when he answered.
“Sure, Melinda. What’s up?” He sounded curious but not unkind.
“I think we need to talk. In person. It’s about the girls,” I said, my voice trembling slightly.
A man talking on the phone | Source: Pexels
“Okay. How about tonight at that coffee shop we used to go to?” he suggested.
“That works. See you at seven,” I agreed, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in my stomach.
At seven sharp, I walked into the bustling coffee shop, spotting Roger at a corner table. He looked up, giving me a small smile.
“Hey, Melinda,” he greeted me as I sat down.
“Hi, Roger. Thanks for meeting me,” I said, fidgeting with my coffee cup.
A bustling coffee shop | Source: Unsplash
“So, what’s on your mind?” he asked, leaning forward.
“The girls. They’ve been… sabotaging my relationships because they still hope we’ll get back together,” I blurted out.
Roger looked shocked. “What? Why didn’t they say anything?”
“They were scared. They thought I’d be mad. But it’s more than that, Roger. They miss our family. They want us to be together again,” I explained.
Close-up of a man looking to his side | Source: Pexels
Roger sighed, rubbing his temples. “I had no idea. I thought they were handling the divorce well.”
“I did too. But it’s clear they’re not. I know we had our differences, but maybe… for their sake, we should try to work things out,” I suggested hesitantly.
He looked at me, a storm of emotions crossing his face. “It’s not that simple, Melinda. We had real issues. That’s why I decided to remain single after the divorce.”
“I know. But maybe we can try counseling. See if there’s anything left worth saving. For the girls,” I pleaded.
Distressed woman holding tissue paper | Source: Pexels
Roger sighed again, looking out the window. “Alright. Let’s give it a shot. For the girls.”
The next few weeks were a whirlwind of emotions. Roger and I started going to counseling, trying to rebuild the trust and communication we had lost.
It wasn’t easy. There were days I felt hopeful, and on some days, I wanted to give up. But the thought of our daughters kept me going.
A couple sitting from across each other | Source: Pexels
One evening, after a particularly tough session, Roger and I sat in the car in silence.
“Do you think this is working?” I asked quietly.
“I don’t know. But we owe it to the girls to try,” he replied, reaching over to squeeze my hand.
A month into counseling, we decided to tell our daughters about our efforts.
“Girls, your Dad and I have been talking. We’re trying to work things out,” I said cautiously, watching their faces light up.
“Really? Does that mean you’re getting back together?!” Casey chirped eagerly.
Close-up of a smiling girl looking up | Source: Pexels
“We’re not making any promises, but we’re trying,” Roger confirmed.
The girls hugged us tightly, and I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, we could make this work.
As the weeks went by, things started to improve. Roger and I were communicating better, and the girls seemed happier. One evening, as we all sat down to dinner, I felt a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in years.
Close-up of a family dinner | Source: Pexels
“Mom, Dad, this is really nice,” Veronica said, smiling at us.
“It is, isn’t it?” I agreed, feeling Roger’s hand squeeze mine under the table.
We still had a long way to go, but for the first time in a long time, I felt like we were on the right path. My daughters were so happy, but deep inside, I felt a question haunting me. Could these shared smiles blossom into a lasting reunion, or were they fleeting flowers blooming from the ashes of a broken marriage?
A distressed woman huddled on the chair and looking to her side | Source: Pexels
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