I was getting ready for the normal small talk with Noah’s new wife Katie as I walked up to his house to pick up our daughter Lexie.
Even though Noah and I were no longer married, we stayed friends for Lexie’s sake. We were able to co-parent well. One week Lexie spent with me, and the next week she spent with Noah and Katie.
I could hear Lexie’s shrill scream as I walked into the house. With my heart pounding, I ran inside, ready for the worst. At that moment, I saw Katie holding a broom over Lexie. At first, I wanted to strike out because I thought the worst would happen.
Then I saw a small pair of feet run into the corner of the room. “It’s a rat!” Katie screamed. The rat ran over Lexie’s shoe, which caused her to trip and fall.
When I realised what was going on, I felt relieved. Katie wasn’t hurting Lexie; she was just watching out for her. The rat was chased out of the house by all of us.
As things slowed down, Katie said she was sorry for the chaos and understood how it must have looked to me. I also said I was sorry for going to conclusions.
We sipped tea and talked about our oldest worries while spending the afternoon together. It became clear to me that Katie wasn’t just Noah’s new wife; she was also Lexie’s loving stepmother who would watch out for her safety when I wasn’t there.
I knew at that moment that everything would be okay. Even if Noah and I broke up, Lexie would still have a safe family life. Katie and I were not close, but we both wanted to love and support Lexie.
I was thankful that Katie was in Lexie’s life as I left Noah’s house that day. She wasn’t taking my place; instead, she was adding love and care to our daughter’s life.
I learnt from that experience to go with my gut and not jump to conclusions. Sometimes, the most upsetting realisations happen when things are at their worst.
