I was holding a picture of my late wife and our daughters at the beach when a tear fell from my eye. I said, “I miss you, Ed,” as my fingertips ran over Edith’s face in the photo. “The girls are maturing so quickly. I hope you can see them right now.” Her eyes sparkled with a vitality that cancer had taken far too soon, and she was beaming brightly as she smiled up at me in the picture.
A gentle tap stopped me in my tracks. With concern in her eyes, my mother stuck her head in.
Charlie, my dear, you have to let go of the past. Three years have passed. You must go on. A mother figure is needed for those girls.”
I let out a sigh and put the picture frame down. “We’re doing great, Mom. The females are — “
“Getting older!” She interrupted me and sat down on the couch next to me. “You’re not getting any younger, even though I know you’re trying. And that sweet woman at your office? Gabriela?
I massaged my temples, sensing the beginning of a headache. “Gaby? She’s simply a coworker, Mom.”
And, similar to you, a single father, a single mother. Charlie, give it some thought. For the benefit of the girls.”
I kept thinking about her comments as she walked away. Perhaps she was correct. Perhaps it was time to give it a go.
A year later, I was watching Gaby with my girls in our backyard. She entered our lives abruptly, and before I realized it, we had tied the knot.
Though not exactly the same as with Edith, it was nonetheless pleasant.
“Daddy! My youngster said, doing a cartwheel, “Watch this!”
I forced a smile as I clapped. “Great job, sweetie!”
Gaby approached me and put her arm through mine. “Charlie, those females are amazing. You did a fantastic job.
I nodded, swallowing the twinge of guilt that came every time she said something kind about my parenting. “Many thanks, Gaby. I’m making an effort.”
“You’re an amazing mom. Your children are really fortunate.
I couldn’t get rid of the uneasy feeling I felt after hearing Gaby’s statement as we made our way inside. However, I ignored it because I was committed to making this new family work.
Gaby caught me off guard in the kitchen at that moment, her eyes shining with a radiance I had never seen before.
“Charlie, we must discuss the girls’ trust fund,” she remarked in a lovely, sugary voice.
With my coffee mug halfway to my lips, I froze. “What trust fund?”
Gaby gave up on the charade, rolling her eyes. “Avoid acting foolish. I overheard you talking to your financial advisor on the phone. Did Edith leave the girls with quite the nest egg?
My stomach turned over. I had never told her about the fund. I never imagined I’d have to.
“Gabby, that’s for their future. college, beginning a new life—”
“Exactly!” she interrupted. What about my girls, then? Do they not merit the same chances?”
I put my coffee down and tried not to raise my voice too much. “Of course they do, but that money… it’s Edith’s legacy to her children.”
Gaby’s gaze went narrow. “Her offspring? Charlie, we’re meant to be a single family now. Or was all of that just chatter?”
“It’s unfair,” I objected. “I’ve treated your daughters like my own since day one.”
“Asked them if they were your own? Please. You wouldn’t be saving that money simply for your biological children if that were the case.”
I stared at Gaby, her words echoing in my ears, and the place felt like a pressure cooker about to explode.
I forced myself to be calm and took a big breath. “We are not allowed to touch that fund, Gabby. It’s for the future of my daughters.”
“That’s it, then? What matters more to your departed wife than to your surviving family?
You have no right to talk about Edith in that manner. This concludes our conversation. There is no disputing that money. Exactly.”
Anger colored Gaby’s face. “You’re not attainable! How come you’re so obstinate?”
My muscles twitched and my jaw tightened as I struggled to keep my composure. The woman in front of me looked so different from the one I believed I had married that I could hardly recognize her.
I had a plan in my head.
“All right! You’re accurate. Okay, I’ll take care of this tomorrow.
Gaby seemed very happy, obviously believing she had won. “Are you serious? Do you really mean it?
I gave a nod.
A smug smirk twisted Gaby’s lips. “All right. It’s high time you embraced logic.”
Marching out of the room, she pivoted on her heel. Her outburst was punctuated by the sound of the door slamming, echoing throughout the home.
I leaned back in a chair and wiped my face with my hands. Now that Gaby had exposed her true self, it was necessary to teach her a harsh lesson about respect and the perils of entitlement.
I pretended to phone my financial advisor the following morning, making sure Gaby could hear me.
I answered loudly, “Yes, I would like to create a new account.” For my stepdaughters, that is. From now on, we’ll finance it out of our combined income.”
Gaby was standing in the doorway, her face contorted with astonishment and rage, when I heard a loud intake of air behind me.
She growled, “What are you doing?” as I hung up.
“As you desired, setting up a fund for your daughters. Together, we will contribute to it with our earnings.”
Her gaze grew strained. “And Edith’s money?”
“Is unaltered. That cannot be negotiated.”
You believe there is a solution here? A slap in the face, that is!”
“No, Gaby. I’m establishing boundaries with this. Together, we construct our family’s future rather than stealing what isn’t rightfully ours.”
Her finger pricked my chest. “You’re side with your daughters instead of us. Give it up!”
“I’ve decided to respect Edith’s desires. And we have a big issue if you are unable to appreciate that.”
Gaby started crying, but I wasn’t sure if she was sincere or just trying to trick me. “Charlie, I believed that we were partners. What was yours, I believed to be mine.”
“Gaby, we are partners. However, that does not imply ignoring Edith’s legacy or the past.”
She shrugged her shoulders and turned away. “You’re being so unfair.”
“Unfair or not?” I called after her as she exited the room. Know this, though: I stand by my decision.”
The next few weeks were a blur of clipped chats and cold silences. Gaby took turns giving me the cold shoulder and trying to guilt-trip me. But I remained steadfast and wouldn’t move.
“Daddy, is everything okay with you and Gaby?” said my oldest daughter one evening as I was putting her daughters to bed.
I hesitated, thinking carefully before I said. “My love, we’re dealing with some mature issues. But please, don’t worry.”
She gave a nod, but concern was in her eyes. “We don’t want you to be sad again, Daddy.”
My heart tightened. I took her in my arms and gave her a head kiss. “Hey, I’m not depressed. I swear. What matters most to me is that you are happy.”
Gaby was waiting for me in the corridor, her eyes furrowed and her arms folded, as I emerged from their room.
“Charlie, those are good kids. However, my girls are equally deserving.”
She was still standing there, and I let out a sigh. “Those are decent young people. Every single one of them. And we ought to help them all.”
She shook her head and scoffed. “Assist? The trust fund really would have helped. But didn’t you just have to step up and save your darling Edith?
Playing the hero isn’t the point here. Respect is at issue. Honoring Edith’s desires and planning for our daughters’ futures.”
What about the future of my daughters? Or do you not find that significant?”
Taking a deep breath, I prepared myself. “We’ve also established a fund for them. Remember that we’re developing it together? That’s how we proceed.”
With a harsh laugh, she laughed. “Oh, kindly. That’s just your ploy to appease me. You can tell that something has changed.
When our gazes locked, I could see the storm in her eyes and I knew she saw mine. I understood that there was yet much to be won. I also knew that I would never give up.
Months went by, and although there weren’t as many arguments, the underlying animosity persisted. Gaby came up to me one evening while I was watching the four girls play in the backyard.
They appear content, she remarked.
I gave a nod, keeping my gaze fixed on the kids. “They do.”
With a grim expression, she turned to face me. “But it could’ve been better for all of them if you’d just listened to me.”
I fixed a steady stare on her. “No, Gaby. It was not going to be better. It would have been inconsiderate and unjust.
She started to object, but I waved my hand. “We’ve finished our conversation. It has been for some months now.”
I felt both relieved and saddened as she stormed off. I knew I’d made the correct decision, even though it hurt to watch my marriage in disarray because Gaby had shown her true nature.
She had rapidly come to realize that I was no pushover. She was in for another surprise if she believed she could effortlessly enter our lives and change the rules to suit her interests.
As severe as it was, this was the wake-up call she needed.
I had been very clear in what I stood for: Edith left an unbreakable legacy for our kids. Never, ever, not today, not tomorrow.
And watching Gaby accept that she couldn’t control me or intimidate me into doing anything? Every second was worthwhile!
Observing my girls play and laugh filled my heart with a resolve to be the greatest father I could be. What was most important to me was safeguarding their future and their mother’s memories. I knew that, as I had done from the beginning, I would take on whatever obstacles that awaited me with Gaby.
