My wife abandoned me with seven children to enjoy a luxurious life with my wealthy best friend. I never sought revenge, even when she returned ten years later. But when she screamed at our youngest daughter for standing up to her, I knew it was time to teach her a lesson she’d never forget.
I’m Daniel, 53, and I’ve spent the last ten years raising seven children alone.
I repaired furniture for a living. We weren’t wealthy, but our seven children had everything they needed.
My ex-wife Vanessa wanted more.
“That woman’s handbag costs more than our refrigerator,” she complained.
I’ve spent the last ten years raising seven children.
“Then let’s hope it keeps her groceries cold.”
“Everything’s a joke to you, Daniel.”
“Not everything.”
“Look at Rob. New car, expensive vacations. Why can’t we live like that?”
“Rob doesn’t have seven children.”
My ex-wife Vanessa wanted more.
“There’s always an excuse.”
Rob was my best friend. I’d even given him a spare house key.
I repaired broken furniture for a living, believing almost anything deserved a second chance.
I was wrong about some things.
Ten years ago, a canceled appointment brought me home early.
Rob doesn’t have seven children.
I heard voices upstairs.
When I opened our bedroom door, Vanessa and Rob were together.
“Daniel!” Rob jumped backward.
My ex-wife barely moved.
“How long?” I demanded.
I was wrong about some things.
“Don’t make a scene.”
“With my best friend? In our bedroom?”
“Maybe you should ask why I needed someone else.”
“Daniel, buddy…” Rob began.
“Don’t call me buddy.”
Vanessa and Rob were together.
Vanessa folded her arms. “I deserved a better life, Daniel. Rob understands what I want.
“What about our seven children? Sophie just turned two!”
“I’m tired of changing diapers while you barely pay the bills!”
She’d already traveled to the Maldives with Rob, pretending to visit her sister.
“So you’re leaving?”
I deserved a better life.
“Yes.”
“And the kids?”
“You’ll manage.”
As she packed, I tried once more.
“Sophie still sleeps holding your sweater.”
What about our seven children?
“Then give her another blanket.”
She wasn’t just leaving me. She was abandoning our children.
The first night, Sophie cried until sunrise.
“Daddy, where’s Mommy?”
“She’s not coming home tonight, sweetheart.”
You’ll manage.
“Tomorrow?”
I couldn’t answer.
Our oldest daughter, Rachel, was sixteen then. She found me sitting on the kitchen floor.
“Dad, are we going to be okay?”
“Absolutely.”
She was abandoning our children.
“You don’t sound sure.”
“Then I’ll keep saying it until I do.”
I repaired furniture in the mornings, stocked shelves at night, and made deliveries on weekends.
Rachel helped with breakfast, Nathan with homework, and the younger children looked after Sophie.
One evening, Sophie asked, “Did Mommy leave because I cried too much?”
You don’t sound sure.
“Nothing you did made her leave, sweetheart.”
“Even when I was naughty?”
“Especially then.”
“Did Mom ask about us?” Rachel asked.
“Sometimes. I send her pictures.”
Nothing you did made her leave.
“Does she ever answer?”
“Not anymore.”
“Why don’t you tell her what you think?”
“Because you’ve already been hurt enough.”
“Dad, you need to move on. Find yourself a girlfriend. You deserve to be happy, too.”
I send her pictures.
“With seven kids? I’d need to put up a warning sign.”
“Dad!” Rachel laughed.
“I’m kidding, sweetheart. I’m happy right here with you.”
Still, I tried dating a few times. But once women heard I had seven children, they quickly lost interest.
I never remarried.
You’ve already been hurt enough.
Instead, I focused on my work, and the kids found ways to help.
“Dad, I’ll photograph your furniture,” Rachel offered.
“And I’ll build you a website,” Nathan added.
“Will that bring customers?”
“Only if your chairs stop looking haunted.”
They did. Eventually, I opened my own workshop.
I’m happy right here with you.
For every birthday, I made something special. For Sophie’s twelfth, I restored an old wooden desk she’d wanted for months.
“You’re still worried she won’t like it?” Rachel asked.
“She wanted a tablet, too. I couldn’t afford both.”
