1 00:00:10,888 --> 00:00:15,528 Speaker 1: You're listening to Amma Mer podcast. Muma Mer acknowledges the 2 00:00:15,568 --> 00:00:17,808 Speaker 1: traditional owners of the land and waters. 3 00:00:17,848 --> 00:00:19,528 Speaker 2: This podcast is recorded on. 4 00:00:26,248 --> 00:00:29,648 Speaker 1: The relationship Guy, an elusive rare breed in this day 5 00:00:29,688 --> 00:00:32,848 Speaker 1: and age. The guy who loves being someone's person, who 6 00:00:32,888 --> 00:00:35,928 Speaker 1: wants and enjoys the simplicity and comfort of being with 7 00:00:36,007 --> 00:00:39,048 Speaker 1: a partner, no questioning if he likes you, no wondering 8 00:00:39,128 --> 00:00:42,168 Speaker 1: how long you should wait to text, no drama. 9 00:00:42,168 --> 00:00:44,488 Speaker 3: Do things like go to the markets on the weekend 10 00:00:44,648 --> 00:00:46,928 Speaker 3: and go into the beach. And I had a couple 11 00:00:47,008 --> 00:00:48,928 Speaker 3: of dogs, being able to take them to the park 12 00:00:49,008 --> 00:00:50,808 Speaker 3: and kind of just do things. 13 00:00:50,608 --> 00:00:51,848 Speaker 2: That were adult. 14 00:00:52,088 --> 00:00:56,968 Speaker 3: I felt happy, and I also felt secure. I just 15 00:00:57,048 --> 00:00:58,768 Speaker 3: felt like it was easy. 16 00:00:58,688 --> 00:01:01,048 Speaker 1: And once you're at this level of comfort, it's all 17 00:01:01,088 --> 00:01:05,008 Speaker 1: smooth sailing. Here's the relationship guy, after all, commitment and 18 00:01:05,048 --> 00:01:06,728 Speaker 1: stability is his whole thing. 19 00:01:07,208 --> 00:01:13,248 Speaker 3: I got this scream saying Sarah, and I ran down 20 00:01:13,288 --> 00:01:16,448 Speaker 3: to her office and the look that she had on 21 00:01:16,488 --> 00:01:20,248 Speaker 3: her face was just this look of someone who just 22 00:01:20,288 --> 00:01:23,008 Speaker 3: felt super sorry for me, And I was like, what 23 00:01:23,128 --> 00:01:36,368 Speaker 3: is it? And she just said, I'm so sorry, I'm Georgia. 24 00:01:36,048 --> 00:01:38,648 Speaker 1: Love and this is everyone has an eggs come with 25 00:01:38,688 --> 00:01:42,087 Speaker 1: me as we dive into a collection of unconventional stories 26 00:01:42,128 --> 00:01:45,648 Speaker 1: about relationships past through the eyes and the hearts of 27 00:01:45,688 --> 00:01:49,328 Speaker 1: the very people who lived them. Meet Sarah at thirty two. 28 00:01:49,408 --> 00:01:52,368 Speaker 1: She was living a great life. She had a few relationships, 29 00:01:52,408 --> 00:01:55,047 Speaker 1: a couple of job changes, had moved to a new city, 30 00:01:55,168 --> 00:01:56,568 Speaker 1: and was really finding her feet. 31 00:01:56,888 --> 00:01:59,848 Speaker 3: I was actually a bit of a transformative period of 32 00:01:59,968 --> 00:02:00,448 Speaker 3: my life. 33 00:02:00,568 --> 00:02:01,528 Speaker 2: I was early thirties. 34 00:02:01,768 --> 00:02:04,968 Speaker 3: I had just been kicking some career goals, buying into 35 00:02:05,088 --> 00:02:07,888 Speaker 3: the business that I worked for, just bought my first property, 36 00:02:08,368 --> 00:02:11,608 Speaker 3: had my dogs, great group of friends, and one thing 37 00:02:11,648 --> 00:02:13,648 Speaker 3: that was missing was having someone. 38 00:02:13,408 --> 00:02:14,008 Speaker 2: To share it with. 39 00:02:14,368 --> 00:02:17,127 Speaker 3: I was a bit past the partying days and the 40 00:02:17,208 --> 00:02:19,648 Speaker 3: days of meeting the boy at the pub, and I 41 00:02:19,808 --> 00:02:21,447 Speaker 3: did turn to online dating. 42 00:02:21,288 --> 00:02:22,727 Speaker 1: And that's where she met Jeff. 43 00:02:23,008 --> 00:02:25,808 Speaker 3: He was probably not someone I necessarily would have swiped 44 00:02:25,848 --> 00:02:28,648 Speaker 3: on five years earlier, but he didn't have the typical 45 00:02:28,808 --> 00:02:32,208 Speaker 3: fish photos and things on his profile. He was a 46 00:02:32,248 --> 00:02:36,768 Speaker 3: teacher and he played sport, and you know, he kind 47 00:02:36,808 --> 00:02:39,368 Speaker 3: of seemed to do things that I liked to do 48 00:02:39,448 --> 00:02:42,008 Speaker 3: in his profile. So it did catch my attention for 49 00:02:42,088 --> 00:02:44,928 Speaker 3: different reasons of just the kind of physical appearance. And 50 00:02:45,407 --> 00:02:47,407 Speaker 3: that's what I was looking for was something a bit 51 00:02:47,407 --> 00:02:50,648 Speaker 3: more long term rather than just you know, someone that 52 00:02:50,688 --> 00:02:52,448 Speaker 3: you go on a couple of dates with and he 53 00:02:52,528 --> 00:02:55,928 Speaker 3: looks like hot candy. Yeah, And the conversation was just 54 00:02:56,008 --> 00:02:59,248 Speaker 3: quite free flowing. On my bio at the time. It 55 00:02:59,328 --> 00:03:02,168 Speaker 3: was someone who likes to eat my food, play with 56 00:03:02,168 --> 00:03:04,288 Speaker 3: my dogs, and make me laugh. And he said I 57 00:03:04,288 --> 00:03:07,328 Speaker 3: can tickle those three boxes. First face to face was 58 00:03:07,368 --> 00:03:09,688 Speaker 3: probably a week afterwards, so I think we started to 59 00:03:09,808 --> 00:03:12,567 Speaker 3: talking on the Sunday, and then the following Sunday he 60 00:03:12,848 --> 00:03:15,167 Speaker 3: asked if I would like to go on a date. 61 00:03:15,648 --> 00:03:18,368 Speaker 3: Just said we're something casual and he would pick me up. 62 00:03:18,688 --> 00:03:21,608 Speaker 3: He picked me up and we went down to watch 63 00:03:21,648 --> 00:03:25,127 Speaker 3: the sunset. He made a picnic cheese board and got 64 00:03:25,168 --> 00:03:26,928 Speaker 3: a bottle of wine and we sat there and watched 65 00:03:26,928 --> 00:03:29,127 Speaker 3: the sunset and talked and got to know each other. 66 00:03:29,488 --> 00:03:31,728 Speaker 3: Then he dropped me home, gave me a kiss good night, 67 00:03:31,848 --> 00:03:33,848 Speaker 3: and I kind of put it up there as one 68 00:03:33,928 --> 00:03:36,568 Speaker 3: of those perfect first dates, you know, knocking on the 69 00:03:36,568 --> 00:03:39,448 Speaker 3: door and then coming and opening car door, taking it 70 00:03:39,528 --> 00:03:43,008 Speaker 3: down there, me not having to worry about anything. Also, 71 00:03:43,088 --> 00:03:46,568 Speaker 3: I guess in terms of when we were talking there 72 00:03:46,648 --> 00:03:50,408 Speaker 3: was actually free following conversation. It wasn't trying to you know, 73 00:03:50,448 --> 00:03:52,568 Speaker 3: you don't know someone, but he took points of what 74 00:03:52,648 --> 00:03:55,808 Speaker 3: we had talked about the week before and kind of 75 00:03:55,848 --> 00:03:58,488 Speaker 3: made it into conversations so that we we had comedy 76 00:03:58,488 --> 00:04:01,688 Speaker 3: interest and it wasn't just that awkward first date. So 77 00:04:01,848 --> 00:04:05,368 Speaker 3: for me, I thought that, you know, that's it was 78 00:04:05,408 --> 00:04:07,528 Speaker 3: a bit more, you know, a bit more substance to it. 79 00:04:07,768 --> 00:04:11,208 Speaker 1: Substance was exactly what Sarah at this stage of her life, 80 00:04:11,488 --> 00:04:14,607 Speaker 1: especially having just come out of a pretty recent big heartbreak. 81 00:04:15,008 --> 00:04:17,928 Speaker 3: I did have a partner up here for a couple 82 00:04:18,008 --> 00:04:20,848 Speaker 3: of years, and you know, we lived together and I 83 00:04:20,888 --> 00:04:23,608 Speaker 3: thought that we would be going on to get married 84 00:04:23,648 --> 00:04:26,967 Speaker 3: and have kids. And we broke up quite suddenly, and 85 00:04:27,327 --> 00:04:29,527 Speaker 3: he said he'd fallen out of love, and you can't 86 00:04:29,648 --> 00:04:32,928 Speaker 3: change fit someone's mind on that, unfortunately. So after that 87 00:04:32,967 --> 00:04:35,968 Speaker 3: all happened, that's when some other things I really put 88 00:04:36,008 --> 00:04:38,608 Speaker 3: my mind to with in terms of work and buying 89 00:04:38,607 --> 00:04:41,408 Speaker 3: my first property and whatnot. So I you know, going, okay, 90 00:04:41,448 --> 00:04:43,687 Speaker 3: well I'm going to get those things done. And it 91 00:04:43,768 --> 00:04:46,568 Speaker 3: was probably you know, a year or so after that. Definitely, 92 00:04:46,568 --> 00:04:48,207 Speaker 3: you know, had a bit of dating in between, but 93 00:04:48,288 --> 00:04:51,207 Speaker 3: nothing of any substance. So I kind of got myself 94 00:04:51,248 --> 00:04:53,128 Speaker 3: to the point where I was feeling really good, and 95 00:04:53,168 --> 00:04:56,248 Speaker 3: then I could attract something good as well, just at 96 00:04:56,288 --> 00:04:58,528 Speaker 3: that stage of your life where you're a bit over 97 00:04:58,648 --> 00:05:01,288 Speaker 3: mucking around and you know, you don't know if you're 98 00:05:01,568 --> 00:05:03,928 Speaker 3: deciding to have kids or not deciding to have kids, 99 00:05:03,928 --> 00:05:06,208 Speaker 3: but those things you're looking for probably more of a 100 00:05:06,207 --> 00:05:08,848 Speaker 3: future partner than than just of mate for a. 101 00:05:08,768 --> 00:05:11,728 Speaker 1: While, and the the very first day, Jeff seemed like 102 00:05:12,008 --> 00:05:13,048 Speaker 1: just that kind of guy. 103 00:05:13,568 --> 00:05:16,288 Speaker 3: As soon as he dropped me home, we were talking 104 00:05:16,528 --> 00:05:20,008 Speaker 3: more again. He asked if he could cook me dinner 105 00:05:20,048 --> 00:05:23,527 Speaker 3: on the Tuesday at his house. He owned a property 106 00:05:23,688 --> 00:05:26,128 Speaker 3: about ten minutes from my house. His was a bit 107 00:05:26,128 --> 00:05:28,888 Speaker 3: of a different situation. He did have housemtes, but it 108 00:05:28,928 --> 00:05:31,128 Speaker 3: was an elevated house, so he had the downstairs and 109 00:05:31,168 --> 00:05:35,008 Speaker 3: he had housemates upstairs, so we still had privacy. So yeah, 110 00:05:35,048 --> 00:05:39,008 Speaker 3: I went out to his again. He listened to what 111 00:05:39,048 --> 00:05:41,608 Speaker 3: we talked about, and he cooked me a steak and 112 00:05:42,128 --> 00:05:44,168 Speaker 3: we had a steak and a bottle of wine. I 113 00:05:44,248 --> 00:05:47,328 Speaker 3: ended up staying there that night, and you know, we 114 00:05:47,528 --> 00:05:49,688 Speaker 3: just got along and talked and it was just like 115 00:05:49,808 --> 00:05:53,808 Speaker 3: we almost to a degree fell into a relationship before 116 00:05:53,808 --> 00:05:58,008 Speaker 3: it even started. So the next I guess month after that, 117 00:05:58,128 --> 00:06:00,488 Speaker 3: it was we were doing things with friends, and we 118 00:06:00,648 --> 00:06:04,728 Speaker 3: essentially were a couple basically straight away, so spending three 119 00:06:04,808 --> 00:06:07,648 Speaker 3: or four nights a week together. But also I think 120 00:06:07,688 --> 00:06:09,488 Speaker 3: it could have been six or seven, but I was 121 00:06:09,488 --> 00:06:13,327 Speaker 3: trying to maintain independence and you know, not getting into 122 00:06:13,368 --> 00:06:15,888 Speaker 3: something too quickly. But it was quite easy to kind 123 00:06:15,888 --> 00:06:17,207 Speaker 3: of fall into that bubble. 124 00:06:17,568 --> 00:06:20,248 Speaker 1: It made sense from Jeff's side too. He was very 125 00:06:20,327 --> 00:06:21,728 Speaker 1: much the relationship guy. 126 00:06:22,128 --> 00:06:25,128 Speaker 3: He had a partner from high school, ten year relationship 127 00:06:25,568 --> 00:06:28,848 Speaker 3: and they had only separated about a year before. She 128 00:06:28,888 --> 00:06:32,208 Speaker 3: obviously lived there with him, and so there was a 129 00:06:32,248 --> 00:06:34,808 Speaker 3: couple of photos of them still up in the wall, 130 00:06:34,847 --> 00:06:37,007 Speaker 3: and I did ask him and I went, I actually 131 00:06:37,048 --> 00:06:38,728 Speaker 3: had a look at it, and he goes, yeah, we're 132 00:06:38,727 --> 00:06:40,968 Speaker 3: still friendly, and he's like, I do need to take 133 00:06:40,967 --> 00:06:44,048 Speaker 3: them down. The second bedroom had some boxes and stuff 134 00:06:44,087 --> 00:06:46,568 Speaker 3: in it, and he said that he was planning on 135 00:06:46,808 --> 00:06:50,208 Speaker 3: the main school holidays to take that stuff back down 136 00:06:50,248 --> 00:06:52,767 Speaker 3: south to her, And I thought, you know, what a 137 00:06:52,808 --> 00:06:56,328 Speaker 3: green flag that he can actually still have a positive 138 00:06:56,327 --> 00:06:59,047 Speaker 3: relationship with his ex in the fact that you know, 139 00:06:59,087 --> 00:07:02,128 Speaker 3: he's willing to take her stuff to her and they 140 00:07:02,168 --> 00:07:05,328 Speaker 3: don't have this. I hate my ex partner situation, so 141 00:07:05,368 --> 00:07:08,008 Speaker 3: I thought it was showing maturity, because ten years of 142 00:07:08,048 --> 00:07:10,088 Speaker 3: your life with someone is a long time to turn 143 00:07:10,128 --> 00:07:12,927 Speaker 3: around and hate them. So in the past I have 144 00:07:13,328 --> 00:07:16,448 Speaker 3: had some people cheat on me before, and normally I 145 00:07:16,528 --> 00:07:19,288 Speaker 3: have that kind of bit of a jealousy streak to me. 146 00:07:19,888 --> 00:07:23,728 Speaker 3: But this didn't even need to worry because he was 147 00:07:23,808 --> 00:07:26,328 Speaker 3: open and upfront about the whole thing. So I was 148 00:07:26,328 --> 00:07:28,168 Speaker 3: actually quite calmed by it, and I thought it was 149 00:07:28,248 --> 00:07:31,288 Speaker 3: quite mature. I didn't know too much about her. I'd 150 00:07:31,648 --> 00:07:35,008 Speaker 3: seen photos from her. I know that they used to 151 00:07:35,088 --> 00:07:39,048 Speaker 3: work together, so that was the only really bit of information. 152 00:07:39,128 --> 00:07:43,288 Speaker 3: He never bagged her out, so I never really went 153 00:07:43,328 --> 00:07:45,768 Speaker 3: into it. I appreciated the fact he didn't talk down 154 00:07:45,928 --> 00:07:48,528 Speaker 3: about her, but the only things I knew was really 155 00:07:48,528 --> 00:07:49,288 Speaker 3: basic facts. 156 00:07:49,648 --> 00:07:52,448 Speaker 1: Another green flag he didn't use social media. 157 00:07:52,488 --> 00:07:54,928 Speaker 3: He was a teacher and he was sick of students 158 00:07:54,968 --> 00:07:57,608 Speaker 3: trying to get onto social media and whatnot, and it 159 00:07:57,727 --> 00:08:00,568 Speaker 3: was just a waste of his time that he could 160 00:08:00,568 --> 00:08:03,128 Speaker 3: be spending with friends or doing other things. So he 161 00:08:03,248 --> 00:08:06,288 Speaker 3: used to have it and then he deactivated it. He 162 00:08:06,368 --> 00:08:10,167 Speaker 3: did have an Instagram that didn't have any photos from 163 00:08:10,168 --> 00:08:13,208 Speaker 3: like the last five years, and he actually did follow 164 00:08:13,328 --> 00:08:15,608 Speaker 3: me on his Instagram, but there was nothing on his 165 00:08:15,768 --> 00:08:18,728 Speaker 3: so you know, it was like basically a page that 166 00:08:18,888 --> 00:08:21,768 Speaker 3: was defunct. But yeah, again, I was like, oh, look 167 00:08:21,808 --> 00:08:24,127 Speaker 3: there's someone that doesn't, you know, need to post selfies 168 00:08:24,168 --> 00:08:27,127 Speaker 3: every day or tell me everything that they're doing. Again, 169 00:08:27,528 --> 00:08:30,167 Speaker 3: even with messages and things like that. I'm very busy 170 00:08:30,328 --> 00:08:32,648 Speaker 3: at my job and I don't have the time to 171 00:08:32,688 --> 00:08:35,688 Speaker 3: be texting all day and he was the same. So 172 00:08:35,808 --> 00:08:38,208 Speaker 3: it was kind of mature in that sense that you 173 00:08:38,208 --> 00:08:40,968 Speaker 3: were not sitting around holding your breath. When you could talk, 174 00:08:41,008 --> 00:08:43,368 Speaker 3: you could talk, and when you couldn't, you knew someone 175 00:08:43,408 --> 00:08:44,128 Speaker 3: would get back to you. 176 00:08:44,368 --> 00:08:47,568 Speaker 1: The P word is strong, but Sarah really felt this 177 00:08:47,648 --> 00:08:50,648 Speaker 1: guy and their first few months together, we're pretty close 178 00:08:50,728 --> 00:08:51,328 Speaker 1: to perfect. 179 00:08:53,328 --> 00:08:56,968 Speaker 3: So well Bliss, I was thinking, I don't understand how 180 00:08:57,048 --> 00:09:02,368 Speaker 3: everything can be so easy. I really was waiting for 181 00:09:02,528 --> 00:09:05,688 Speaker 3: something to happen, but it just wasn't. And every time 182 00:09:05,848 --> 00:09:09,727 Speaker 3: that we were getting closer and like it just seemed 183 00:09:09,928 --> 00:09:12,008 Speaker 3: like it was going to go further on. He wanted 184 00:09:12,048 --> 00:09:14,968 Speaker 3: me to you know, I met his assistant principal. He 185 00:09:15,128 --> 00:09:17,168 Speaker 3: said his family was coming up and they wanted to 186 00:09:17,168 --> 00:09:20,888 Speaker 3: meet me, and then he dropped the love bomb. We 187 00:09:20,888 --> 00:09:24,008 Speaker 3: were lying in bed one night and we were just 188 00:09:24,088 --> 00:09:26,608 Speaker 3: talking and he goes, you know, I know this is early, 189 00:09:26,728 --> 00:09:29,568 Speaker 3: but I've absolutely fallen head over heels in love with you. 190 00:09:29,768 --> 00:09:33,248 Speaker 3: And although I promised myself I wouldn't say that for 191 00:09:33,288 --> 00:09:36,528 Speaker 3: a very long time, I reciprocated. I felt good. It 192 00:09:36,688 --> 00:09:38,248 Speaker 3: was one of those things where I was like, Oh, 193 00:09:38,408 --> 00:09:41,288 Speaker 3: what's going to go wrong? But then I reminded myself 194 00:09:41,328 --> 00:09:43,328 Speaker 3: that you don't have to think of the worst things 195 00:09:43,368 --> 00:09:45,288 Speaker 3: every time, and you can just go with it. And 196 00:09:45,328 --> 00:09:47,248 Speaker 3: I remember talking to friends with it and they're like, oh, 197 00:09:47,288 --> 00:09:50,448 Speaker 3: this is awesome. You deserve this. Most of my friends 198 00:09:50,488 --> 00:09:52,648 Speaker 3: at the time were all in quite healthy long term 199 00:09:52,688 --> 00:09:57,368 Speaker 3: relationships as well, so although he didn't hang out with 200 00:09:57,408 --> 00:09:59,448 Speaker 3: them all the time because he did play sport on 201 00:09:59,488 --> 00:10:01,648 Speaker 3: the weekend, so a lot of the time when we 202 00:10:01,648 --> 00:10:03,848 Speaker 3: were doing social things, he would only just pop in 203 00:10:03,888 --> 00:10:06,088 Speaker 3: at the end because he was at the clubrooms and 204 00:10:06,128 --> 00:10:09,048 Speaker 3: things like that, which to me was fine because I 205 00:10:09,168 --> 00:10:11,768 Speaker 3: like my girls, so it doesn't need to fit, you know, 206 00:10:11,808 --> 00:10:14,368 Speaker 3: a couple things in my life, so that didn't worry 207 00:10:14,368 --> 00:10:17,008 Speaker 3: me whatsoever. We were and played tennis and stuff with 208 00:10:17,048 --> 00:10:19,808 Speaker 3: his friends. I went to the races with his colleagues 209 00:10:19,848 --> 00:10:23,768 Speaker 3: and whatnot. So yeah, we definitely integrated into the friends 210 00:10:23,808 --> 00:10:27,048 Speaker 3: as quickly as possible. Would go do things like go 211 00:10:27,088 --> 00:10:29,968 Speaker 3: to the markets on the weekend and go into the beach. 212 00:10:30,008 --> 00:10:32,968 Speaker 3: And he loved my dogs, and that was something that 213 00:10:33,048 --> 00:10:34,768 Speaker 3: was really important to me, you know, being able to 214 00:10:34,808 --> 00:10:37,128 Speaker 3: take them to the park and kind of just do 215 00:10:37,248 --> 00:10:41,208 Speaker 3: things that were adult. I guess I felt happy, and 216 00:10:41,408 --> 00:10:45,408 Speaker 3: I also felt secure. I just felt like it was easy. 217 00:10:45,608 --> 00:10:49,487 Speaker 3: I didn't have to try or put anything on. It 218 00:10:49,528 --> 00:10:51,328 Speaker 3: was just, you know, you could be yourself. You could 219 00:10:51,328 --> 00:10:54,368 Speaker 3: be in your tracks with no makeup on, and everything 220 00:10:54,448 --> 00:10:56,968 Speaker 3: was good. So it was just nice to feel comfortable 221 00:10:57,328 --> 00:11:00,128 Speaker 3: without having to kind of go through that bit of 222 00:11:00,128 --> 00:11:02,688 Speaker 3: the dating stage where you're just really trying to impress everyone. 223 00:11:03,088 --> 00:11:06,568 Speaker 3: We'd be spending i'd say four or five nights together 224 00:11:06,688 --> 00:11:10,368 Speaker 3: a week at the beginning, and yeah, look was kind 225 00:11:10,368 --> 00:11:13,688 Speaker 3: of between. I liked him to come to my house 226 00:11:13,728 --> 00:11:16,128 Speaker 3: mainly because I had the puppies there, but there would 227 00:11:16,128 --> 00:11:17,768 Speaker 3: be some nights that I would go out there when 228 00:11:17,808 --> 00:11:19,808 Speaker 3: he wanted to cook, so it would be a rain 229 00:11:20,008 --> 00:11:22,408 Speaker 3: like around four nights a week, which to me, I 230 00:11:22,448 --> 00:11:24,928 Speaker 3: needed some time to do other things as well. And 231 00:11:25,528 --> 00:11:27,088 Speaker 3: he used to hop up and go for a run 232 00:11:27,128 --> 00:11:29,128 Speaker 3: every morning at five, so if I didn't want to 233 00:11:29,368 --> 00:11:31,208 Speaker 3: wake up at five, he could stay at home. 234 00:11:32,328 --> 00:11:35,248 Speaker 1: The relationship went on like this for around seven months, 235 00:11:35,328 --> 00:11:38,048 Speaker 1: Sarah and Jeff integrating into each other's lives more and 236 00:11:38,088 --> 00:11:41,128 Speaker 1: more and growing happier by the day. The first time 237 00:11:41,168 --> 00:11:42,528 Speaker 1: they were going to spend more than a couple of 238 00:11:42,648 --> 00:11:45,448 Speaker 1: nights apart was when the summer holidays rolled around and 239 00:11:45,528 --> 00:11:47,848 Speaker 1: Jeff was doing a big drive down south to where 240 00:11:47,848 --> 00:11:50,648 Speaker 1: he used to live with his family and his ex girlfriend. 241 00:11:50,968 --> 00:11:52,328 Speaker 3: He was going to be gone for a couple of 242 00:11:52,328 --> 00:11:54,968 Speaker 3: weeks because the drive takes quite some time, and then 243 00:11:55,328 --> 00:11:57,368 Speaker 3: he needed to catch up with everyone, and then he 244 00:11:57,448 --> 00:11:59,888 Speaker 3: was going to come back up, so that was fine. 245 00:11:59,968 --> 00:12:02,288 Speaker 3: He even said to me, did you want to come? 246 00:12:02,328 --> 00:12:05,528 Speaker 3: But I had work commitments, which I know he knew 247 00:12:05,528 --> 00:12:08,088 Speaker 3: that I had, and so you know, it was a 248 00:12:08,248 --> 00:12:10,448 Speaker 3: no go and do thing, and I was when you're back, 249 00:12:11,048 --> 00:12:13,768 Speaker 3: So that two weeks was normal. We spoke on the 250 00:12:13,768 --> 00:12:16,968 Speaker 3: phone every day. Again, we didn't text all that much, 251 00:12:17,008 --> 00:12:19,608 Speaker 3: but we never did, so that was just normal. I 252 00:12:19,608 --> 00:12:21,648 Speaker 3: would have a good morning message from him and a 253 00:12:21,688 --> 00:12:24,248 Speaker 3: call at night, just in between his plans. He was 254 00:12:24,288 --> 00:12:26,328 Speaker 3: the one that was down doing family stuff, so I 255 00:12:26,888 --> 00:12:29,568 Speaker 3: left that be. I did know the day that he 256 00:12:29,648 --> 00:12:31,768 Speaker 3: was going to see his ex, and he did tell 257 00:12:31,808 --> 00:12:33,688 Speaker 3: me that, and I didn't hear from him much that day, 258 00:12:33,728 --> 00:12:36,968 Speaker 3: but I kind of resonated on the fact that, you know, 259 00:12:37,088 --> 00:12:39,168 Speaker 3: might have been a bit of an emotive day, and 260 00:12:39,488 --> 00:12:41,607 Speaker 3: I'd hear from him when he could. I did hear 261 00:12:41,608 --> 00:12:43,328 Speaker 3: from him that night, and if thick near text and 262 00:12:43,368 --> 00:12:46,048 Speaker 3: said I'll talk to you tomorrow. Then he was due 263 00:12:46,088 --> 00:12:49,528 Speaker 3: to come back home, so he had a few days 264 00:12:49,528 --> 00:12:53,808 Speaker 3: of travel, and when he was getting close, it was 265 00:12:53,848 --> 00:12:57,448 Speaker 3: falling on a weekend, which was great because I was like, Okay, well, 266 00:12:57,448 --> 00:13:00,208 Speaker 3: I'll get to see you that night. Then I got 267 00:13:00,248 --> 00:13:05,448 Speaker 3: closer to getting there and he said that he had 268 00:13:05,528 --> 00:13:07,368 Speaker 3: someone on the side of the road that had just 269 00:13:07,488 --> 00:13:12,248 Speaker 3: had a car accident and that they flipped over their 270 00:13:12,248 --> 00:13:14,608 Speaker 3: car and he was going to have to put them 271 00:13:14,888 --> 00:13:17,408 Speaker 3: in his car and get them back. I was like 272 00:13:18,048 --> 00:13:20,848 Speaker 3: worried for him, and obviously worry for whoever this was, 273 00:13:20,888 --> 00:13:22,568 Speaker 3: but it was like, yeah, do what you need to do. 274 00:13:22,928 --> 00:13:25,448 Speaker 3: He told me, go and catch up with your friends 275 00:13:25,728 --> 00:13:28,488 Speaker 3: and i'll let you know how I'm traveling later. But 276 00:13:28,728 --> 00:13:31,368 Speaker 3: it's been a big day and I might just. 277 00:13:31,328 --> 00:13:31,848 Speaker 2: Go to bed. 278 00:13:32,688 --> 00:13:36,848 Speaker 3: I was really disappointed because it was like, well, we 279 00:13:36,888 --> 00:13:37,928 Speaker 3: don't need to do anything. 280 00:13:37,928 --> 00:13:38,968 Speaker 2: I'll just come over. 281 00:13:39,448 --> 00:13:41,488 Speaker 3: He'd normally be keen to see me, so it was 282 00:13:41,648 --> 00:13:44,328 Speaker 3: unusual and it felt like a bit of a sting. 283 00:13:44,928 --> 00:13:47,248 Speaker 3: But I spoke to friends about it at the time, 284 00:13:47,328 --> 00:13:50,328 Speaker 3: and whilst pouring me margaritas, said, don't worry about it, 285 00:13:50,368 --> 00:13:52,968 Speaker 3: he's just tired. You wouldn't even have a good time anyway. 286 00:13:53,168 --> 00:13:57,368 Speaker 3: Just seemed tomorrow, and so that's what happened. I went 287 00:13:57,408 --> 00:13:59,408 Speaker 3: and spent the night with the girls. He told me 288 00:13:59,448 --> 00:14:02,048 Speaker 3: when he got home, and then he said he would 289 00:14:02,128 --> 00:14:05,408 Speaker 3: come over in the morning and bring me breakfast. The 290 00:14:05,448 --> 00:14:08,768 Speaker 3: next morning, he came over to my house with breakfast 291 00:14:08,808 --> 00:14:11,528 Speaker 3: from the markets and we sat and had a chat. 292 00:14:11,808 --> 00:14:17,088 Speaker 3: He was a bit stand offish, it wasn't his usual self, 293 00:14:17,608 --> 00:14:20,928 Speaker 3: but didn't really have too much to say. He said 294 00:14:20,968 --> 00:14:24,248 Speaker 3: his troop was fine. I didn't pry about him seeing 295 00:14:24,248 --> 00:14:27,128 Speaker 3: his ex girlfriend. I thought he can do that in time, 296 00:14:27,808 --> 00:14:31,048 Speaker 3: and we had breakfast, took the dogs for a walk, 297 00:14:31,088 --> 00:14:33,048 Speaker 3: and then he said that he needed to go and 298 00:14:33,088 --> 00:14:35,768 Speaker 3: get some school work done because school went back the 299 00:14:35,808 --> 00:14:38,568 Speaker 3: next day and he needed to make sure everything was 300 00:14:38,648 --> 00:14:41,368 Speaker 3: done from terms of lesson plans and school clothes and 301 00:14:41,408 --> 00:14:44,288 Speaker 3: things like that. So he went back Horome and I 302 00:14:44,328 --> 00:14:46,888 Speaker 3: said that we would catch up the next night. So 303 00:14:47,168 --> 00:14:50,688 Speaker 3: Monday night comes around after school and he come over. 304 00:14:51,288 --> 00:14:54,008 Speaker 3: I was cooking up dinner in the kitchen and again 305 00:14:54,168 --> 00:14:57,168 Speaker 3: he was just sitting on the couch and he was 306 00:14:57,248 --> 00:15:00,208 Speaker 3: just really somber, and I turned around and said to him, 307 00:15:00,248 --> 00:15:02,568 Speaker 3: what's wrong. He was like, oh, I do need to 308 00:15:02,608 --> 00:15:08,648 Speaker 3: talk to you about something. My heart kind of stopped 309 00:15:08,648 --> 00:15:10,408 Speaker 3: for a second, and I went into a bit of 310 00:15:10,448 --> 00:15:13,168 Speaker 3: a what's going on? Because I could feel it the 311 00:15:13,248 --> 00:15:16,728 Speaker 3: day before, but he left the situation before it was 312 00:15:16,768 --> 00:15:19,368 Speaker 3: pressed any further. So, and even when he come in, 313 00:15:19,408 --> 00:15:21,448 Speaker 3: I could just feel the energy switch like it was 314 00:15:21,768 --> 00:15:24,968 Speaker 3: gone from electric to quite stand offish, so it didn't 315 00:15:25,008 --> 00:15:26,648 Speaker 3: take a mind rate, and I said, well, I knew 316 00:15:26,648 --> 00:15:29,848 Speaker 3: what something's going on, Like, tell me what's going on? Anyway, 317 00:15:29,928 --> 00:15:32,688 Speaker 3: he sat there for about five minutes of literally not 318 00:15:32,848 --> 00:15:37,408 Speaker 3: saying a word, and I was like, just come out 319 00:15:37,408 --> 00:15:39,928 Speaker 3: with it, and then he kind of started welling up 320 00:15:39,968 --> 00:15:46,408 Speaker 3: with tears and then said, I went to see my 321 00:15:46,528 --> 00:15:51,688 Speaker 3: ex girlfriend and when I went into the property, she 322 00:15:52,288 --> 00:15:54,928 Speaker 3: was there and she had a baby, and she said 323 00:15:54,928 --> 00:16:02,848 Speaker 3: it was mine. I don't know what I said, actually, 324 00:16:02,928 --> 00:16:04,568 Speaker 3: I kind of lost a little bit of a train 325 00:16:04,608 --> 00:16:07,168 Speaker 3: of thought in that moment and just said, you know, 326 00:16:07,208 --> 00:16:10,168 Speaker 3: what do you mean? And he goes, it's not it's 327 00:16:10,208 --> 00:16:14,448 Speaker 3: not mine, but she's saying it is, and now I'm 328 00:16:14,448 --> 00:16:15,048 Speaker 3: going to have to. 329 00:16:15,008 --> 00:16:15,488 Speaker 2: Deal with it. 330 00:16:16,328 --> 00:16:18,088 Speaker 3: He said that she was going to be coming up 331 00:16:18,448 --> 00:16:22,248 Speaker 3: and she needed assistance with the baby, and she was 332 00:16:22,288 --> 00:16:25,088 Speaker 3: going to be coming up just to till they sorted 333 00:16:25,088 --> 00:16:27,728 Speaker 3: things out. And he also said that she was going 334 00:16:27,768 --> 00:16:31,688 Speaker 3: to be staying in the property in the second room there, 335 00:16:31,808 --> 00:16:35,168 Speaker 3: so just until they kind of knew how things were 336 00:16:35,168 --> 00:16:43,248 Speaker 3: going to unfold. I was scattered, and I was also protective, 337 00:16:43,328 --> 00:16:45,728 Speaker 3: so I was angry for him because he was in 338 00:16:45,808 --> 00:16:49,328 Speaker 3: tears and he's saying it's not his to me. I 339 00:16:49,368 --> 00:16:52,528 Speaker 3: couldn't work it out how it could be his, because 340 00:16:52,528 --> 00:16:54,608 Speaker 3: I'd been seeing him for a certain amount of time 341 00:16:54,648 --> 00:16:58,088 Speaker 3: and the numbers didn't number, so I was just trying 342 00:16:58,088 --> 00:17:01,088 Speaker 3: to figure it out. And he told me that the 343 00:17:01,168 --> 00:17:05,048 Speaker 3: baby looked like it was like three months, and so 344 00:17:05,328 --> 00:17:08,088 Speaker 3: it just wasn't really making too much sense to me. 345 00:17:08,167 --> 00:17:10,247 Speaker 3: But at the time, I just like, Okay, well we 346 00:17:10,328 --> 00:17:13,328 Speaker 3: need to tackle this, and with my friends kind of 347 00:17:13,368 --> 00:17:15,488 Speaker 3: known as the person that you go to to solve 348 00:17:15,488 --> 00:17:18,568 Speaker 3: a problem and get things done. And so then I 349 00:17:18,688 --> 00:17:23,088 Speaker 3: kind of turned from being shocked and sad about how 350 00:17:23,128 --> 00:17:26,088 Speaker 3: it made me feel, too, let's fix this for you. 351 00:17:26,768 --> 00:17:27,768 Speaker 2: My appetite went. 352 00:17:27,848 --> 00:17:29,568 Speaker 3: I'm pretty sure I checked that dinner in the bin 353 00:17:29,968 --> 00:17:32,888 Speaker 3: and told him to go home and get some rest. 354 00:17:32,888 --> 00:17:34,608 Speaker 3: And I just needed a bit of time to think 355 00:17:34,648 --> 00:17:36,048 Speaker 3: and plan, and so did he. 356 00:17:36,608 --> 00:17:39,728 Speaker 1: In one conversation, Sarah's world had flipped on its head. 357 00:17:40,008 --> 00:17:42,568 Speaker 1: She had no idea what to think or what to do, 358 00:17:43,088 --> 00:17:45,168 Speaker 1: but she realized if it felt this big for her, 359 00:17:45,688 --> 00:17:47,048 Speaker 1: imagine what it was doing to Jet. 360 00:17:47,648 --> 00:17:52,207 Speaker 3: Looking at him, he felt scared and overwhelmed. And also 361 00:17:52,728 --> 00:17:55,207 Speaker 3: he was this good guy, right, so of course he 362 00:17:55,288 --> 00:17:56,848 Speaker 3: was going to let someone in with a baby that 363 00:17:56,888 --> 00:17:59,248 Speaker 3: he spent ten years with being his kid or not, 364 00:17:59,728 --> 00:18:01,648 Speaker 3: he was going to do the right thing until he knew. 365 00:18:02,208 --> 00:18:07,728 Speaker 3: And so I thought, it's actually probably best. It's all there. 366 00:18:07,928 --> 00:18:10,528 Speaker 3: I didn't want him going back down homeither like I 367 00:18:10,568 --> 00:18:13,888 Speaker 3: would rather him deal with it here where we could 368 00:18:14,008 --> 00:18:16,328 Speaker 3: kind of try to work through it together. But also 369 00:18:16,608 --> 00:18:19,927 Speaker 3: I felt like I've become like an instant stepmom to 370 00:18:19,968 --> 00:18:22,488 Speaker 3: a child that I didn't know, didn't know existed, and 371 00:18:23,248 --> 00:18:25,728 Speaker 3: you know, not necessarily kind of wanted to be a 372 00:18:25,768 --> 00:18:27,888 Speaker 3: part of. But it's not what I signed up for. 373 00:18:28,008 --> 00:18:30,248 Speaker 3: But obviously by this time I loved the man, so 374 00:18:30,728 --> 00:18:32,768 Speaker 3: I was also going to be a team player. The 375 00:18:32,848 --> 00:18:36,288 Speaker 3: next day I kind of debunked it with a colleague 376 00:18:36,728 --> 00:18:41,328 Speaker 3: of mine. Shinelly fell to the floor and goes, Okay, well, 377 00:18:41,528 --> 00:18:44,968 Speaker 3: there is situations where people will stitch people up like this, 378 00:18:45,088 --> 00:18:47,568 Speaker 3: and we need to get him into someone for a lawyer. 379 00:18:47,648 --> 00:18:51,608 Speaker 3: He wants a paternity test. Let's get that underway. Thankfully, 380 00:18:51,648 --> 00:18:55,848 Speaker 3: she's a local and had connections to push him up 381 00:18:55,928 --> 00:18:58,528 Speaker 3: the list in terms of getting into appointments and things 382 00:18:58,608 --> 00:19:01,407 Speaker 3: like that, and by the end of that week we 383 00:19:01,528 --> 00:19:06,568 Speaker 3: had an appointment with a lawyer, and so he was 384 00:19:06,608 --> 00:19:08,288 Speaker 3: going to go to the appointment. I wanted him to 385 00:19:08,328 --> 00:19:11,448 Speaker 3: do that by himself because it was something for him, 386 00:19:11,448 --> 00:19:14,048 Speaker 3: but I did lend him the money to do that 387 00:19:14,248 --> 00:19:18,528 Speaker 3: and get the paternity test because he was paying for 388 00:19:18,688 --> 00:19:24,447 Speaker 3: things like strollers and diapers. She arrived on that Wednesday 389 00:19:24,808 --> 00:19:28,048 Speaker 3: on a flight hold up. She what so he told 390 00:19:28,088 --> 00:19:29,608 Speaker 3: me that she was going to be coming back up 391 00:19:29,608 --> 00:19:33,407 Speaker 3: to where we lived, and that not only was she 392 00:19:33,488 --> 00:19:35,488 Speaker 3: going to be coming up with the baby, but she 393 00:19:35,608 --> 00:19:37,368 Speaker 3: was going to be coming in a couple of days. 394 00:19:37,528 --> 00:19:39,208 Speaker 2: So everything was about to change. 395 00:19:39,368 --> 00:19:42,968 Speaker 1: Things had escalated fast from her boyfriend going to spend 396 00:19:42,968 --> 00:19:45,328 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks with his family and just dropping 397 00:19:45,368 --> 00:19:47,728 Speaker 1: a box of belongings off to his ex girlfriend. All 398 00:19:47,728 --> 00:19:50,848 Speaker 1: of a sudden, the ex girlfriend was there in Sarah's town, 399 00:19:51,048 --> 00:19:54,848 Speaker 1: living at her boyfriend's house with a baby. But Jeff 400 00:19:54,928 --> 00:19:57,688 Speaker 1: knew the baby wasn't his, and he reassured Sarah he 401 00:19:57,728 --> 00:20:01,008 Speaker 1: would get it all sorted out, starting with the paternity test. 402 00:20:01,168 --> 00:20:02,128 Speaker 2: He had the appointment. 403 00:20:02,248 --> 00:20:04,608 Speaker 3: He come back from the appointment and come over to 404 00:20:04,648 --> 00:20:07,808 Speaker 3: my house that night and said that it all went 405 00:20:07,848 --> 00:20:11,407 Speaker 3: really well. He had a a letter drafted for the 406 00:20:11,608 --> 00:20:15,927 Speaker 3: ex girlfriend asking for the paternity test and he was 407 00:20:15,968 --> 00:20:19,208 Speaker 3: going to give that to her at the property, So 408 00:20:19,248 --> 00:20:21,088 Speaker 3: he was going to go home that night and do that. 409 00:20:21,448 --> 00:20:23,848 Speaker 3: So I just said, yep, you need to continue hanging 410 00:20:23,928 --> 00:20:26,688 Speaker 3: out there as much as possible. At the moment whilst 411 00:20:26,848 --> 00:20:27,368 Speaker 3: you don't. 412 00:20:27,208 --> 00:20:27,967 Speaker 2: Know what's going on. 413 00:20:28,048 --> 00:20:30,968 Speaker 3: If this is your child, you need to be providing 414 00:20:31,248 --> 00:20:33,648 Speaker 3: as well. So you know, as far as kind of 415 00:20:33,728 --> 00:20:36,328 Speaker 3: staying over here with me, it's off the cards for 416 00:20:36,328 --> 00:20:40,128 Speaker 3: a little bit until we find out the answers. We 417 00:20:40,208 --> 00:20:43,128 Speaker 3: didn't really go into semantics, to be honest, because he 418 00:20:43,248 --> 00:20:45,848 Speaker 3: just said it's not mine. The numbers don't number. The 419 00:20:45,888 --> 00:20:48,488 Speaker 3: baby was three months old, he'd been with me for 420 00:20:48,808 --> 00:20:50,928 Speaker 3: the period of time before that, and they hadn't been 421 00:20:50,928 --> 00:20:53,968 Speaker 3: together for over a year, so it just couldn't have worked, 422 00:20:54,008 --> 00:20:55,888 Speaker 3: and so I just didn't press that. I thought, we 423 00:20:55,968 --> 00:20:58,008 Speaker 3: just need to get over this hurdle first and then 424 00:20:58,368 --> 00:21:01,288 Speaker 3: we can deal with the other things afterwards. So apparently 425 00:21:01,328 --> 00:21:04,447 Speaker 3: that night they had a huge barney with regards to 426 00:21:04,488 --> 00:21:07,808 Speaker 3: the paternity test, but she did agree to do it, 427 00:21:08,528 --> 00:21:11,408 Speaker 3: and it would have been i would say, a couple 428 00:21:11,488 --> 00:21:14,687 Speaker 3: of weeks until it come back. He was turning up 429 00:21:14,728 --> 00:21:17,608 Speaker 3: with bunches of flowers every couple of days and he 430 00:21:17,608 --> 00:21:20,288 Speaker 3: would bring over dinner, and in the time we did 431 00:21:20,288 --> 00:21:23,207 Speaker 3: spend together, it was very affectionate. I was probably the 432 00:21:23,248 --> 00:21:26,048 Speaker 3: one pulling away a little bit more, but what girl 433 00:21:26,048 --> 00:21:28,608 Speaker 3: doesn't like to get flowers and told that they loved 434 00:21:28,688 --> 00:21:31,368 Speaker 3: So I was very pragmatic about it, but at the 435 00:21:31,408 --> 00:21:35,168 Speaker 3: same time still wanted to be kind of there for him. 436 00:21:35,248 --> 00:21:38,168 Speaker 3: So I was pulling back the emotion a little bit 437 00:21:38,288 --> 00:21:41,888 Speaker 3: from him, but he was probably more overly emotional towards me. 438 00:21:42,368 --> 00:21:44,368 Speaker 1: And then the test results came back. 439 00:21:44,528 --> 00:21:47,488 Speaker 3: He did give me a call. He didn't actually even 440 00:21:47,528 --> 00:21:49,128 Speaker 3: come and tell me a person. He gave me a 441 00:21:49,128 --> 00:21:54,768 Speaker 3: call to say that the baby was his and we 442 00:21:54,808 --> 00:21:58,728 Speaker 3: needed to talk. It was a mix of emotions. I 443 00:21:58,768 --> 00:22:03,288 Speaker 3: think that I was so positive that it wasn't that. 444 00:22:03,448 --> 00:22:06,448 Speaker 3: When I found out that it was, it was kind 445 00:22:06,448 --> 00:22:09,808 Speaker 3: of like, Okay, well, this is the new reality. And 446 00:22:10,488 --> 00:22:12,688 Speaker 3: there was also a part of me that goes, okay, well, 447 00:22:13,168 --> 00:22:15,808 Speaker 3: we're only seven months into this. What direction do I 448 00:22:15,848 --> 00:22:18,528 Speaker 3: want to go? Do I want to change I guess 449 00:22:18,568 --> 00:22:22,248 Speaker 3: the direction of our whole existence? Or am I going 450 00:22:22,288 --> 00:22:24,248 Speaker 3: to stick by this person that I think is a 451 00:22:24,248 --> 00:22:29,288 Speaker 3: great partner and curve off the main path and do 452 00:22:29,368 --> 00:22:31,688 Speaker 3: it a different way? So I think I was more 453 00:22:31,728 --> 00:22:34,967 Speaker 3: just confused, and it was such a crazy story. It 454 00:22:35,048 --> 00:22:37,568 Speaker 3: was not something I was really sharing openly with a 455 00:22:37,568 --> 00:22:40,168 Speaker 3: lot of people, because it was just something that it's 456 00:22:40,208 --> 00:22:42,728 Speaker 3: not general chitchat when you're having a glass of wine 457 00:22:42,848 --> 00:22:46,248 Speaker 3: that your partner has a baby that you didn't know about. 458 00:22:46,648 --> 00:22:49,368 Speaker 3: I was pushing down the fact, you know, potentially it's 459 00:22:49,448 --> 00:22:52,608 Speaker 3: cheated as well, but yeah, that was not the priority 460 00:22:52,648 --> 00:22:54,808 Speaker 3: at the time. It was kind of figuring out what 461 00:22:54,968 --> 00:22:58,128 Speaker 3: to do at the next moment. That night, I actually 462 00:22:58,168 --> 00:23:00,488 Speaker 3: said I wanted some space, and he said I needed 463 00:23:00,568 --> 00:23:03,328 Speaker 3: to have a think about what I wanted to do. 464 00:23:03,608 --> 00:23:06,768 Speaker 3: The ex girlfriend was going to stay at the property 465 00:23:06,928 --> 00:23:10,408 Speaker 3: until she sorted out another place to live or he 466 00:23:10,408 --> 00:23:13,208 Speaker 3: could find another place to live, but she was going 467 00:23:13,248 --> 00:23:16,248 Speaker 3: to stay in the town. He also wanted that. He 468 00:23:16,368 --> 00:23:19,648 Speaker 3: turned quite quickly into that kind of wanting to be 469 00:23:19,688 --> 00:23:24,848 Speaker 3: a doting father and wanted to be involved, which I 470 00:23:24,888 --> 00:23:27,128 Speaker 3: could never want to take away from him anyway. If 471 00:23:27,128 --> 00:23:28,927 Speaker 3: it's his child, of course you're going to want to 472 00:23:28,968 --> 00:23:31,528 Speaker 3: do that. So and I did appreciate that he was 473 00:23:31,528 --> 00:23:34,488 Speaker 3: helping with the I guess the family load as well, 474 00:23:34,528 --> 00:23:37,048 Speaker 3: because you know, it can be quite taxing for one 475 00:23:37,088 --> 00:23:39,208 Speaker 3: person to do that by themselves, and you know, there 476 00:23:39,248 --> 00:23:42,768 Speaker 3: are situations where people can co parent brilliantly, So I 477 00:23:42,808 --> 00:23:44,648 Speaker 3: was hoping that that could be one of those and 478 00:23:45,088 --> 00:23:48,207 Speaker 3: down the track, potentially we could all be civil and 479 00:23:48,648 --> 00:23:51,648 Speaker 3: do it the modern family way. I had a bit 480 00:23:51,648 --> 00:23:54,288 Speaker 3: of time to process, I guess, and I did speak 481 00:23:54,328 --> 00:23:57,968 Speaker 3: to a couple of friends, very close friends, about it, 482 00:23:58,048 --> 00:24:02,207 Speaker 3: and decided that I would stick it out. And I 483 00:24:02,288 --> 00:24:05,288 Speaker 3: told him that, and he just, you know, essentially reassured 484 00:24:05,288 --> 00:24:08,407 Speaker 3: me that nothing would change. It would be different, but 485 00:24:08,768 --> 00:24:11,088 Speaker 3: we would figure it out, and once he was able 486 00:24:11,128 --> 00:24:14,888 Speaker 3: to get into either his own place or get her 487 00:24:14,968 --> 00:24:18,488 Speaker 3: another place, whichever way it would work, then things could 488 00:24:18,488 --> 00:24:21,288 Speaker 3: go back to a little bit more normal. I was 489 00:24:21,448 --> 00:24:24,368 Speaker 3: kind of a bit more forward thinking about how differently 490 00:24:24,408 --> 00:24:28,648 Speaker 3: this changes, even things like finances and whatnot as well. 491 00:24:28,888 --> 00:24:31,967 Speaker 3: We're gone from I lent him money for that kind 492 00:24:32,008 --> 00:24:34,407 Speaker 3: of stuff, but you know, when does it change to 493 00:24:34,808 --> 00:24:37,768 Speaker 3: you're not going on holidays anymore or things like that. 494 00:24:38,168 --> 00:24:40,727 Speaker 3: It was a whole new reality. There was one night 495 00:24:40,768 --> 00:24:43,088 Speaker 3: he come and stayed at my house and then I 496 00:24:43,168 --> 00:24:46,368 Speaker 3: woke up with a note saying, I've had to take 497 00:24:46,488 --> 00:24:50,328 Speaker 3: baby to hospital. I'll give you a call soon, and 498 00:24:50,408 --> 00:24:52,848 Speaker 3: I just like, he didn't wake me up to do that, 499 00:24:52,928 --> 00:24:55,608 Speaker 3: but he just left. But obviously my first thought when 500 00:24:55,648 --> 00:24:59,128 Speaker 3: I'm waking up is baby okay? So yeah, it was 501 00:24:59,208 --> 00:25:02,248 Speaker 3: just things like that. But even when he did stay 502 00:25:02,288 --> 00:25:04,768 Speaker 3: over again, he would come over and we would go 503 00:25:05,528 --> 00:25:08,008 Speaker 3: to sleep, but then he would hop up at like 504 00:25:08,048 --> 00:25:10,008 Speaker 3: one or two o'clock in the morning and go home 505 00:25:09,768 --> 00:25:11,768 Speaker 3: home because he said that, you know, he was going 506 00:25:11,808 --> 00:25:15,248 Speaker 3: to take a feed time or whatnot. So he was 507 00:25:15,328 --> 00:25:18,167 Speaker 3: kind of trying to balance being at my house but 508 00:25:18,248 --> 00:25:21,368 Speaker 3: also being at home. So and I understood that because 509 00:25:21,448 --> 00:25:23,608 Speaker 3: you know, if the ex girlfriend has just turned up 510 00:25:23,608 --> 00:25:25,808 Speaker 3: with a baby and he's going and spending time at 511 00:25:25,808 --> 00:25:28,648 Speaker 3: another girl's house, it wouldn't be hard for her just 512 00:25:28,808 --> 00:25:31,288 Speaker 3: after giving birth. So I didn't have a problem with 513 00:25:31,368 --> 00:25:33,608 Speaker 3: him spending more time at his house. And I certainly 514 00:25:33,648 --> 00:25:35,728 Speaker 3: wasn't going to be going there and flaunting it in 515 00:25:35,768 --> 00:25:39,048 Speaker 3: her face. So at the time, it was what it was. 516 00:25:39,808 --> 00:25:41,648 Speaker 3: I decided to stick it out because of how I 517 00:25:41,688 --> 00:25:43,848 Speaker 3: felt at the time, and I just thought, you know, life, 518 00:25:44,168 --> 00:25:48,167 Speaker 3: unfortunately isn't you know your your linear family anymore, And 519 00:25:48,568 --> 00:25:50,008 Speaker 3: if this is the way that we're going to have 520 00:25:50,048 --> 00:25:52,088 Speaker 3: a child, then great, I don't have to get pregnant. 521 00:25:52,488 --> 00:25:56,248 Speaker 3: It wasn't the ideal situation, but we could make it work. 522 00:25:57,808 --> 00:26:01,008 Speaker 1: So they pushed forward. Jeff was prioritizing the baby as 523 00:26:01,088 --> 00:26:03,808 Speaker 1: much as he could, while giving Sarah space and time 524 00:26:03,848 --> 00:26:06,128 Speaker 1: to come to terms with it, but very much being 525 00:26:06,168 --> 00:26:09,088 Speaker 1: there for her too, And after about three weeks, they 526 00:26:09,128 --> 00:26:11,248 Speaker 1: decided it was time for her to meet the tiny 527 00:26:11,248 --> 00:26:13,088 Speaker 1: little human who was now going to be in her 528 00:26:13,128 --> 00:26:13,608 Speaker 1: life too. 529 00:26:13,928 --> 00:26:15,608 Speaker 3: He actually called me in the morning and said, did 530 00:26:15,608 --> 00:26:17,688 Speaker 3: you want to go to the market and I said, yeah, yeah, 531 00:26:17,688 --> 00:26:20,128 Speaker 3: I'll meet you there, and then he said, I'm going 532 00:26:20,128 --> 00:26:24,208 Speaker 3: to bring baby down. I'll just walk him down there 533 00:26:24,288 --> 00:26:27,407 Speaker 3: and you can meet him. I was nervous. It was 534 00:26:27,448 --> 00:26:30,207 Speaker 3: a public place, so it was weird. But then I 535 00:26:30,248 --> 00:26:32,768 Speaker 3: can't really tell you how many times I've held a baby. 536 00:26:32,848 --> 00:26:36,328 Speaker 3: It's not many, so you know, to then hold one 537 00:26:36,488 --> 00:26:41,368 Speaker 3: that is my partner's baby, he definitely had his eyes 538 00:26:41,408 --> 00:26:43,008 Speaker 3: and I was like, how did you not know this 539 00:26:43,128 --> 00:26:43,768 Speaker 3: was your child? 540 00:26:44,288 --> 00:26:45,968 Speaker 2: But you know, I didn't bring that up. 541 00:26:46,208 --> 00:26:48,488 Speaker 3: Once it started crying, I put it in the prem 542 00:26:48,528 --> 00:26:51,728 Speaker 3: and he walked home and I went home and that 543 00:26:51,848 --> 00:26:54,408 Speaker 3: was enough for that day. So there was a few 544 00:26:54,408 --> 00:26:57,808 Speaker 3: more times that we went down to the beach one 545 00:26:57,928 --> 00:27:00,368 Speaker 3: night and had his first little splash in the water. 546 00:27:00,768 --> 00:27:02,688 Speaker 3: But there was a few times, but I certainly wasn't 547 00:27:02,968 --> 00:27:06,808 Speaker 3: an active part of this child's life. It was just 548 00:27:06,888 --> 00:27:08,168 Speaker 3: a couple of meat and greets. 549 00:27:08,488 --> 00:27:10,927 Speaker 1: It was all a massive us meant. But Sarah was 550 00:27:10,968 --> 00:27:13,528 Speaker 1: as supportive as she could be because she knew a 551 00:27:13,608 --> 00:27:16,687 Speaker 1: new life was the most important thing to prioritize. The 552 00:27:16,808 --> 00:27:18,528 Speaker 1: question she had for Jeff Goodwait. 553 00:27:19,008 --> 00:27:22,048 Speaker 3: When I first met the baby, I thought, it's very 554 00:27:22,088 --> 00:27:26,688 Speaker 3: big for a newborn. I've seen obviously photos, and I've 555 00:27:26,728 --> 00:27:28,488 Speaker 3: had a few friends that have had children, but this 556 00:27:28,888 --> 00:27:31,048 Speaker 3: baby was quite chubby and you know, had a bit 557 00:27:31,088 --> 00:27:33,407 Speaker 3: of weight in him when I held him. So the 558 00:27:33,488 --> 00:27:35,168 Speaker 3: three months I was like, oh, this is a big 559 00:27:35,288 --> 00:27:37,768 Speaker 3: kid for three months, but you know, I'm not a 560 00:27:37,808 --> 00:27:41,048 Speaker 3: baby expert, so I just didn't say anything further. I 561 00:27:41,088 --> 00:27:43,368 Speaker 3: was just like, oh, these things grow quite quickly nowadays, 562 00:27:43,408 --> 00:27:46,128 Speaker 3: and left it at that. We've been together for around 563 00:27:46,168 --> 00:27:49,648 Speaker 3: seven months. He said the baby was about three months old, 564 00:27:50,208 --> 00:27:52,168 Speaker 3: and I guess, you know, I kind of thought, well, 565 00:27:52,248 --> 00:27:54,968 Speaker 3: it was either out of the dates of us being 566 00:27:54,968 --> 00:27:57,967 Speaker 3: together or very close to the start of dating, and 567 00:27:58,008 --> 00:28:00,407 Speaker 3: I just didn't push the question too much more. He 568 00:28:00,448 --> 00:28:02,687 Speaker 3: had enough stresses going on on the other side, and 569 00:28:02,728 --> 00:28:04,848 Speaker 3: I just wanted to kind of just be there and 570 00:28:05,008 --> 00:28:09,167 Speaker 3: be supportive. I had obviously, as I said, mentioned this 571 00:28:09,248 --> 00:28:11,648 Speaker 3: to a couple of girlfriends, one of them being a 572 00:28:11,648 --> 00:28:16,408 Speaker 3: work colleague of mine, Emily, and she just couldn't put 573 00:28:16,448 --> 00:28:18,447 Speaker 3: it all together and she was really worried about me. 574 00:28:18,728 --> 00:28:20,968 Speaker 3: It was starting to, I guess, have a bit of 575 00:28:21,008 --> 00:28:25,088 Speaker 3: an effect on my work, not in my performance, but 576 00:28:25,208 --> 00:28:28,048 Speaker 3: just in the attitude in terms of I was just 577 00:28:28,408 --> 00:28:31,128 Speaker 3: I was stressed out about other things, and she's just like, 578 00:28:31,168 --> 00:28:33,168 Speaker 3: it just doesn't seem like this is a lot, and 579 00:28:33,768 --> 00:28:35,007 Speaker 3: are you sure that you want this? 580 00:28:35,128 --> 00:28:38,128 Speaker 2: And what do we know about her? Like, how was 581 00:28:38,128 --> 00:28:39,728 Speaker 2: she doing? What is going on? 582 00:28:40,248 --> 00:28:45,048 Speaker 3: And so then we sat in her office and she goes, 583 00:28:45,048 --> 00:28:47,888 Speaker 3: what do you know about this girl? And I said, 584 00:28:48,008 --> 00:28:51,328 Speaker 3: basically what I told you before, that her name is Kathy. 585 00:28:52,088 --> 00:28:54,648 Speaker 3: They were high school sweethearts, they went to the same 586 00:28:54,728 --> 00:28:58,248 Speaker 3: school and they worked together. I said to her, also, 587 00:28:58,328 --> 00:29:00,608 Speaker 3: he doesn't have social media, so you won't find anything. 588 00:29:01,088 --> 00:29:04,648 Speaker 3: And she goes, okay, And then I went back down 589 00:29:04,728 --> 00:29:07,608 Speaker 3: to my office and started doing some stuff. What have 590 00:29:07,688 --> 00:29:14,728 Speaker 3: been about ten minutes, got this screen saying Sarah. I 591 00:29:14,808 --> 00:29:18,408 Speaker 3: ran down to her office and the look that she 592 00:29:18,488 --> 00:29:22,408 Speaker 3: had on her face was just this look of someone 593 00:29:22,488 --> 00:29:25,528 Speaker 3: who just felt super sorry for me. And I was like, 594 00:29:25,528 --> 00:29:30,328 Speaker 3: what is it, and she just said, I'm so sorry. 595 00:29:30,568 --> 00:29:33,728 Speaker 3: She turned around a computer screen. There was a photo 596 00:29:34,248 --> 00:29:38,408 Speaker 3: of a girl and a guy, a pregnant girl and 597 00:29:38,488 --> 00:29:40,408 Speaker 3: a guy, and it was him. 598 00:29:41,248 --> 00:29:46,528 Speaker 2: He was holding the paternity shoot. And then I. 599 00:29:46,488 --> 00:29:49,648 Speaker 3: Looked at her name and they had the same last name. 600 00:29:52,568 --> 00:29:55,328 Speaker 3: It was her Facebook and that was her profile picture. 601 00:29:55,528 --> 00:29:58,128 Speaker 3: It was the eternity shoot. She did have it on 602 00:29:58,208 --> 00:30:00,808 Speaker 3: quite private, but you could see what her profile pictures 603 00:30:00,808 --> 00:30:04,048 Speaker 3: were back in the day, and there was their wedding photos. 604 00:30:04,528 --> 00:30:09,368 Speaker 3: There was also a photo of them with the pregnancy thing. 605 00:30:09,808 --> 00:30:14,048 Speaker 3: And they actually did IVF for this baby. So not 606 00:30:14,128 --> 00:30:19,368 Speaker 3: only did he lie about an ex girlfriend, lie about 607 00:30:19,528 --> 00:30:23,368 Speaker 3: them being broken up, he lied about a child, and 608 00:30:23,448 --> 00:30:26,088 Speaker 3: he lied that he actually paid money to have this child. 609 00:30:26,848 --> 00:30:28,648 Speaker 3: And he lied to me and paid me pay for 610 00:30:28,688 --> 00:30:31,608 Speaker 3: a paternity test, and very much knew about it. It 611 00:30:31,688 --> 00:30:34,368 Speaker 3: was actually such a mix of emotions. I was laughing 612 00:30:34,808 --> 00:30:37,048 Speaker 3: and crying and I was so angry. 613 00:30:37,568 --> 00:30:38,368 Speaker 2: I was raging. 614 00:30:39,008 --> 00:30:41,728 Speaker 3: I went home and saw my girlfriend at lunchtime. I 615 00:30:41,768 --> 00:30:44,088 Speaker 3: had a friend staying with me. She was up on holidays, 616 00:30:44,408 --> 00:30:46,248 Speaker 3: and I went and poured myself a glass of wine 617 00:30:46,728 --> 00:30:50,128 Speaker 3: and we sat and She's just like, this can't be happening, 618 00:30:50,168 --> 00:30:53,848 Speaker 3: and I was like, this is happening. I wanted to scream, cry, 619 00:30:54,008 --> 00:30:58,808 Speaker 3: But also I felt really betrayed, and that is what hurt. 620 00:30:58,968 --> 00:31:02,408 Speaker 3: It was the feeling of betrayal and even the fact 621 00:31:02,488 --> 00:31:05,568 Speaker 3: that I just trusted someone so much and it was 622 00:31:05,848 --> 00:31:08,728 Speaker 3: such latant lies. It was not white lives. This was 623 00:31:09,128 --> 00:31:11,888 Speaker 3: black and white. You were married, you had a child. 624 00:31:12,408 --> 00:31:15,128 Speaker 3: It was a bit of an emotive day, that's for sure. 625 00:31:15,928 --> 00:31:18,528 Speaker 3: So much of me wanted to hold out and actually 626 00:31:18,568 --> 00:31:21,688 Speaker 3: confront him in person, but then so much a part 627 00:31:21,688 --> 00:31:23,848 Speaker 3: of me never wanted to see this person ever again 628 00:31:24,008 --> 00:31:28,168 Speaker 3: in my life. So I took a photo of these things, 629 00:31:28,208 --> 00:31:31,408 Speaker 3: I obviously hopped on her thing on my phone, screenshot 630 00:31:31,448 --> 00:31:34,208 Speaker 3: at it and sent it to him and I said, 631 00:31:34,248 --> 00:31:35,488 Speaker 3: I know everything. 632 00:31:35,648 --> 00:31:36,408 Speaker 2: How dare you? 633 00:31:37,168 --> 00:31:39,688 Speaker 3: And never talked to me again, And that was in 634 00:31:39,768 --> 00:31:43,368 Speaker 3: my rage part. Anyway, I sat there and it was 635 00:31:43,408 --> 00:31:45,328 Speaker 3: about twenty minutes later. I didn't think he'd get it 636 00:31:45,368 --> 00:31:47,168 Speaker 3: for a while because, as I said, we didn't text 637 00:31:47,208 --> 00:31:49,368 Speaker 3: during the day. He was a teacher. But I'm sure 638 00:31:49,408 --> 00:31:53,448 Speaker 3: when he got a message with a photo like that, 639 00:31:53,728 --> 00:31:56,688 Speaker 3: he would have probably walked out of the classroom anyway. 640 00:31:56,848 --> 00:31:59,528 Speaker 3: So we text back and he goes, you don't deserve this. 641 00:32:00,128 --> 00:32:02,768 Speaker 3: I'm so sorry. I was sorting it all out, but 642 00:32:03,368 --> 00:32:05,608 Speaker 3: this must be too much for you. I'll leave you 643 00:32:05,648 --> 00:32:09,368 Speaker 3: alone now. That even made me more enraged, if anything, 644 00:32:09,408 --> 00:32:12,088 Speaker 3: because he didn't even have an explanation for me. He 645 00:32:12,288 --> 00:32:14,528 Speaker 3: just wanted to walk away from it, being like, oh, okay, 646 00:32:14,568 --> 00:32:18,128 Speaker 3: I've been caught see later, And so that made me mad. 647 00:32:18,648 --> 00:32:20,248 Speaker 3: I went from sad to mad. 648 00:32:20,688 --> 00:32:23,768 Speaker 1: And what do we do when we're mad, We get even. 649 00:32:24,088 --> 00:32:27,968 Speaker 3: I messaged her, Hi, Kathy, you probably don't know me, 650 00:32:28,288 --> 00:32:31,648 Speaker 3: but my name is Sarah and I have been dating 651 00:32:32,408 --> 00:32:36,808 Speaker 3: your husband for the last seven months. I only found 652 00:32:36,848 --> 00:32:40,728 Speaker 3: out about you being his ex girlfriend and the situation 653 00:32:40,928 --> 00:32:46,768 Speaker 3: going on with the baby recently, and I. 654 00:32:45,808 --> 00:32:48,328 Speaker 2: Was told that this child was not his. 655 00:32:49,248 --> 00:32:55,328 Speaker 3: I have now found your Facebook profile today and confirmed 656 00:32:55,528 --> 00:32:58,768 Speaker 3: everything is a lie. And I just want you to 657 00:32:58,848 --> 00:33:01,568 Speaker 3: be known what's going on on this side, because you 658 00:33:01,608 --> 00:33:04,848 Speaker 3: did not deserve this man that can treat both of 659 00:33:04,928 --> 00:33:09,928 Speaker 3: us like this. And it was only minutes before she 660 00:33:09,928 --> 00:33:14,328 Speaker 3: wrote back, and she wrote back, I knew it. I 661 00:33:14,448 --> 00:33:16,648 Speaker 3: knew he was cheating on me. I knew something was 662 00:33:16,688 --> 00:33:20,808 Speaker 3: going on. He's been withdrawn with me. I found an 663 00:33:20,848 --> 00:33:25,488 Speaker 3: earring in our bed and he gas lip me to 664 00:33:25,568 --> 00:33:28,528 Speaker 3: the fact that he said that I planted it in 665 00:33:28,568 --> 00:33:31,488 Speaker 3: there to try and make him look like he was 666 00:33:31,528 --> 00:33:35,128 Speaker 3: a cheater. They were not separated. They were one hundred 667 00:33:35,128 --> 00:33:37,728 Speaker 3: percent sleeping in the same bed and still sleeping together 668 00:33:37,888 --> 00:33:41,568 Speaker 3: at the time that we were together. And the reason 669 00:33:41,608 --> 00:33:43,968 Speaker 3: that she was down south is because she had some 670 00:33:44,008 --> 00:33:47,808 Speaker 3: complications with her birth, being an IVF baby, and was 671 00:33:47,848 --> 00:33:51,488 Speaker 3: spending time with family for the first six months getting 672 00:33:51,528 --> 00:33:54,848 Speaker 3: adjusted to life, And so she'd actually been down there 673 00:33:54,888 --> 00:33:57,568 Speaker 3: for a longer than that. She spent a year almost 674 00:33:57,608 --> 00:33:59,768 Speaker 3: down there, and he had been going down there more 675 00:33:59,808 --> 00:34:02,888 Speaker 3: times than what I knew. So they were very much 676 00:34:03,128 --> 00:34:06,408 Speaker 3: still together. They might not have been having the best 677 00:34:06,688 --> 00:34:10,047 Speaker 3: part of their life, but they were married and they 678 00:34:10,087 --> 00:34:11,728 Speaker 3: were back living together. 679 00:34:12,087 --> 00:34:15,928 Speaker 1: Sarah's worst fears were realized in one message. Well not 680 00:34:16,008 --> 00:34:18,928 Speaker 1: even her worst fears, really. She hadn't even considered any 681 00:34:18,968 --> 00:34:21,808 Speaker 1: of this. She was in shock, She was confused, and 682 00:34:21,848 --> 00:34:25,128 Speaker 1: she was incredibly hurt. What the hell would Jeff have 683 00:34:25,168 --> 00:34:27,087 Speaker 1: to say when he found out she knew all this 684 00:34:27,248 --> 00:34:28,728 Speaker 1: time he'd been hiding a. 685 00:34:28,728 --> 00:34:33,167 Speaker 3: Family He messaged me being like, of course you had 686 00:34:33,168 --> 00:34:35,688 Speaker 3: to tell her if I can't have you, and now 687 00:34:35,728 --> 00:34:38,567 Speaker 3: you've made me lose her too. I was like, how 688 00:34:38,648 --> 00:34:42,008 Speaker 3: dare you You haven't even explained anything to me as 689 00:34:42,008 --> 00:34:44,047 Speaker 3: to what's going on. Of course, I'm going to go 690 00:34:44,128 --> 00:34:46,848 Speaker 3: and tell this person you have been lying blatantly to 691 00:34:46,928 --> 00:34:49,848 Speaker 3: me and you have taken no responsibility. 692 00:34:49,928 --> 00:34:50,248 Speaker 2: At least. 693 00:34:50,288 --> 00:34:52,047 Speaker 3: I'm going to let someone else know that they don't 694 00:34:52,088 --> 00:34:54,248 Speaker 3: have to go through this because you are a liar. 695 00:34:55,208 --> 00:34:58,288 Speaker 3: It's just crazy to me that he thought that he 696 00:34:58,328 --> 00:35:00,848 Speaker 3: could get away with it. There was nothing too much 697 00:35:00,928 --> 00:35:04,448 Speaker 3: after that in terms of in text message form. I 698 00:35:05,128 --> 00:35:07,288 Speaker 3: kind of just stopped, but he did can't turn up 699 00:35:07,288 --> 00:35:09,488 Speaker 3: at my house. I think it was the next day, 700 00:35:10,288 --> 00:35:12,688 Speaker 3: and I didn't want to see him. He was knocking 701 00:35:12,688 --> 00:35:14,808 Speaker 3: on the door. I told him to go away. Then 702 00:35:15,328 --> 00:35:19,008 Speaker 3: the next day he left flowers and food at my 703 00:35:19,088 --> 00:35:22,368 Speaker 3: door some pat tie and sent me a text message 704 00:35:22,368 --> 00:35:25,128 Speaker 3: saying I left your favorite food. I hope you're eating. 705 00:35:25,608 --> 00:35:28,208 Speaker 3: I wouldn't be eating because he'd broken my heart. It 706 00:35:28,288 --> 00:35:33,047 Speaker 3: was so bloody narcissistic, and I walked it straight out 707 00:35:33,088 --> 00:35:35,047 Speaker 3: to the bin and put the flowers in the bin 708 00:35:35,088 --> 00:35:39,087 Speaker 3: as well. I actually text the wife and sent her 709 00:35:39,088 --> 00:35:40,728 Speaker 3: a photo and said, I hope he doesn't bring you 710 00:35:40,768 --> 00:35:43,888 Speaker 3: home flowers too, just to keep her in the loop. 711 00:35:44,048 --> 00:35:46,527 Speaker 3: She had to make her own decision about the relationship, 712 00:35:46,768 --> 00:35:49,047 Speaker 3: but I also didn't want her falling back into a 713 00:35:49,048 --> 00:35:51,688 Speaker 3: bubble where his love bombing her again and being like 714 00:35:51,768 --> 00:35:53,448 Speaker 3: that was a mistake I made. 715 00:35:53,608 --> 00:35:54,328 Speaker 2: I'm so sorry. 716 00:35:54,848 --> 00:35:57,527 Speaker 3: I never wanted to make her feel even worse than 717 00:35:57,568 --> 00:35:59,288 Speaker 3: what it was. But I was also happy to give 718 00:35:59,328 --> 00:36:02,488 Speaker 3: her information. But I also didn't want to be screenshotting 719 00:36:02,528 --> 00:36:05,128 Speaker 3: conversations in things like that because I just didn't think, 720 00:36:05,488 --> 00:36:08,248 Speaker 3: you know, we were in two separate relationships and we 721 00:36:08,368 --> 00:36:10,408 Speaker 3: both didn't know about each other. So I didn't want 722 00:36:10,448 --> 00:36:12,288 Speaker 3: her to see, you know, I love you and things 723 00:36:12,328 --> 00:36:14,167 Speaker 3: like that. So I just kind of kept it very 724 00:36:14,208 --> 00:36:16,808 Speaker 3: matter of fact and said, you know, if you need 725 00:36:16,888 --> 00:36:20,288 Speaker 3: assistance or something like, you can let me know. I 726 00:36:20,368 --> 00:36:23,608 Speaker 3: believe that she was then looking for another property and whatnot, 727 00:36:24,128 --> 00:36:26,488 Speaker 3: and she was going to move out of that home. 728 00:36:26,848 --> 00:36:29,368 Speaker 3: Then I started doing more digging, and the house that 729 00:36:29,448 --> 00:36:32,248 Speaker 3: he said was his, I did a title search and 730 00:36:32,288 --> 00:36:36,607 Speaker 3: it was their. The lies were just so many that 731 00:36:36,728 --> 00:36:40,008 Speaker 3: you couldn't even stop unraveling them once they come out. 732 00:36:40,968 --> 00:36:42,848 Speaker 3: The hardest thing for me was, you know, I hung 733 00:36:42,888 --> 00:36:45,687 Speaker 3: out with his friends and his work colleagues. I don't 734 00:36:45,728 --> 00:36:47,488 Speaker 3: know if he was feeding them lies that they had 735 00:36:47,488 --> 00:36:51,047 Speaker 3: separated as well, because obviously she was done south at 736 00:36:51,088 --> 00:36:54,488 Speaker 3: the time, so I don't know what the story was there, 737 00:36:54,568 --> 00:36:57,488 Speaker 3: but I certainly know, particularly the housemates knew that she 738 00:36:57,608 --> 00:37:00,088 Speaker 3: was staying there because they all lived in the same house. 739 00:37:00,568 --> 00:37:03,168 Speaker 3: And you know, when I actually did see them maybe 740 00:37:03,328 --> 00:37:05,527 Speaker 3: a month later at the pub, they looked at me 741 00:37:05,608 --> 00:37:07,167 Speaker 3: and went to stay hi, and I was like, don't 742 00:37:07,208 --> 00:37:10,608 Speaker 3: you dare, don't talk to me. I just can't condone 743 00:37:10,648 --> 00:37:13,087 Speaker 3: anyone that can go along with their friends and not 744 00:37:13,128 --> 00:37:14,928 Speaker 3: pull them up on that. They saw that I was 745 00:37:14,928 --> 00:37:17,608 Speaker 3: in love with this guy, and they didn't give me 746 00:37:17,648 --> 00:37:18,208 Speaker 3: any warning. 747 00:37:18,688 --> 00:37:20,688 Speaker 2: Like it's yeah, it was horrible. 748 00:37:21,488 --> 00:37:24,528 Speaker 3: I was sad, but I was also just there's nothing 749 00:37:24,528 --> 00:37:26,728 Speaker 3: I could do to change the situation. It was a 750 00:37:26,728 --> 00:37:29,408 Speaker 3: shitty situation, and there was no coming back from it. 751 00:37:29,408 --> 00:37:32,047 Speaker 3: It wasn't like there's My emotions turned off to him 752 00:37:32,288 --> 00:37:35,288 Speaker 3: almost immediately because trust was a big thing for me, 753 00:37:35,728 --> 00:37:39,047 Speaker 3: and you know, once you break that, it's pretty hard 754 00:37:39,088 --> 00:37:41,328 Speaker 3: to come back from. But this is like on the 755 00:37:41,368 --> 00:37:45,408 Speaker 3: extra scale of breaking a trust, so the feelings were done. 756 00:37:45,488 --> 00:37:48,048 Speaker 3: It was more so I kind of kept replaying over 757 00:37:48,168 --> 00:37:50,288 Speaker 3: and over in my head. How could I'd not have 758 00:37:50,328 --> 00:37:53,128 Speaker 3: seen more signs if I've looked back so many times 759 00:37:53,168 --> 00:37:55,928 Speaker 3: and tried to see whether or not there was anything 760 00:37:55,928 --> 00:37:58,408 Speaker 3: that I missed and any red flags. But I really 761 00:37:59,248 --> 00:38:02,088 Speaker 3: can't see anything that I would have picked up that 762 00:38:02,088 --> 00:38:04,808 Speaker 3: would have been any different. He was just able to 763 00:38:04,848 --> 00:38:08,448 Speaker 3: get away with it and lie so easily without any 764 00:38:08,728 --> 00:38:12,968 Speaker 3: need for concern. He really didn't give away any science 765 00:38:13,608 --> 00:38:17,167 Speaker 3: when baby wasn't here. But I guess in terms of 766 00:38:17,328 --> 00:38:20,768 Speaker 3: when you think about it looking back, once baby was here, 767 00:38:20,848 --> 00:38:22,768 Speaker 3: you know, taking off in the middle of the night 768 00:38:22,888 --> 00:38:25,808 Speaker 3: and walking outside for phone calls and things like that, 769 00:38:26,088 --> 00:38:28,368 Speaker 3: I guess could be. But I also knew she was there, 770 00:38:28,528 --> 00:38:31,208 Speaker 3: So it wasn't a huge red flag to me because I, 771 00:38:31,288 --> 00:38:33,488 Speaker 3: in my head was told the full situation of what 772 00:38:33,648 --> 00:38:36,808 Speaker 3: was going on at the time. So yeah, I really 773 00:38:36,888 --> 00:38:39,928 Speaker 3: couldn't have really picked anything up differently. It was just 774 00:38:40,008 --> 00:38:41,888 Speaker 3: I should have stalked her earlier. 775 00:38:42,168 --> 00:38:44,888 Speaker 1: As traumatic and huge a betrayal as this had been. 776 00:38:45,168 --> 00:38:48,288 Speaker 1: Sarah was empathetic towards Kathy. It was a much bigger 777 00:38:48,328 --> 00:38:50,968 Speaker 1: betrayal of her, and she was the one really left 778 00:38:50,968 --> 00:38:53,248 Speaker 1: in the thick of it. So Sarah put aside her 779 00:38:53,288 --> 00:38:57,208 Speaker 1: own hurt and backed away, not her circus, not her monkeys. 780 00:38:57,688 --> 00:39:00,687 Speaker 3: Realistically, I was hurting, but I was actually hurting more 781 00:39:00,808 --> 00:39:04,688 Speaker 3: for Kathy than I was for myself because I was 782 00:39:04,688 --> 00:39:07,527 Speaker 3: only seven months in, but she was ten and she 783 00:39:07,608 --> 00:39:10,328 Speaker 3: had a baby with this person that that's not a 784 00:39:10,328 --> 00:39:12,808 Speaker 3: good guy. There was a couple of occasions where he 785 00:39:12,848 --> 00:39:14,608 Speaker 3: tried to leave me food and things like that. I 786 00:39:14,808 --> 00:39:17,328 Speaker 3: just ended up fizzling out the conversation. I just wouldn't 787 00:39:17,368 --> 00:39:19,768 Speaker 3: get back to him if he texted me. I just said, 788 00:39:19,808 --> 00:39:20,968 Speaker 3: you know, you're going to have to leave me a 789 00:39:20,968 --> 00:39:25,047 Speaker 3: lot like it's done. And he did respect that. That's 790 00:39:25,048 --> 00:39:27,848 Speaker 3: the only thing he respected from me, But he did 791 00:39:27,888 --> 00:39:32,047 Speaker 3: respect that, and then quite the same with Kathy. She 792 00:39:32,168 --> 00:39:35,608 Speaker 3: probably asked a few more questions over the coming weeks 793 00:39:35,928 --> 00:39:38,728 Speaker 3: because he had been lying to her. It got really 794 00:39:38,848 --> 00:39:40,808 Speaker 3: actually to the point where I was a bit draining 795 00:39:40,808 --> 00:39:42,248 Speaker 3: on me as well, because I was trying to move 796 00:39:42,288 --> 00:39:44,647 Speaker 3: on and I didn't want to keep going back into it. 797 00:39:45,048 --> 00:39:47,408 Speaker 3: And I think she kind of got that and tape 798 00:39:47,408 --> 00:39:49,968 Speaker 3: it off on that as well. We didn't really have 799 00:39:50,088 --> 00:39:52,728 Speaker 3: the end of relationship conversation at all. It was so 800 00:39:52,808 --> 00:39:54,968 Speaker 3: black and white. There was nothing really he could say 801 00:39:55,288 --> 00:39:58,567 Speaker 3: to change my mind about anything. The blatant lies were 802 00:39:58,608 --> 00:40:01,328 Speaker 3: there and any facts that I needed. I was kind 803 00:40:01,328 --> 00:40:05,008 Speaker 3: of getting off Kathy, and even the language that was used, 804 00:40:05,048 --> 00:40:07,248 Speaker 3: being like, I can't believe you're talking to her now, 805 00:40:07,248 --> 00:40:09,008 Speaker 3: I'm going to lose both of you really showed his 806 00:40:09,048 --> 00:40:11,368 Speaker 3: true colors. But that was not someone that I wanted 807 00:40:11,368 --> 00:40:15,248 Speaker 3: to talk to ever again. I just rallied around with 808 00:40:15,288 --> 00:40:19,488 Speaker 3: my friends who we just talked about that crazy story 809 00:40:19,568 --> 00:40:22,047 Speaker 3: and got back on with my life. I took some 810 00:40:22,128 --> 00:40:25,848 Speaker 3: time out from dating, obviously, and you know, kind of 811 00:40:25,888 --> 00:40:28,248 Speaker 3: just focused on myself. I still had everything else in 812 00:40:28,248 --> 00:40:30,848 Speaker 3: my life was good, and that was, you know, something 813 00:40:30,928 --> 00:40:32,928 Speaker 3: adding to it. But once it wasn't adding to it, 814 00:40:32,968 --> 00:40:36,087 Speaker 3: then okay, see you later, because there was nothing I 815 00:40:36,128 --> 00:40:38,448 Speaker 3: wanted to do to change this one. But it definitely 816 00:40:38,488 --> 00:40:41,087 Speaker 3: took me some time. I actually do think he did 817 00:40:41,128 --> 00:40:43,607 Speaker 3: love me, that's the thing. I think that he did 818 00:40:43,688 --> 00:40:47,168 Speaker 3: truly care about me, and I don't know, in a 819 00:40:47,208 --> 00:40:50,167 Speaker 3: strange way, if he really did think that he could 820 00:40:50,168 --> 00:40:53,288 Speaker 3: have sorted this out and just separated from her, and 821 00:40:53,328 --> 00:40:56,728 Speaker 3: then we continue one. I don't know because I'm not 822 00:40:56,768 --> 00:40:59,448 Speaker 3: inside his mind, but I think in his head that 823 00:40:59,528 --> 00:41:01,968 Speaker 3: he was going to go through a separation with her 824 00:41:02,648 --> 00:41:05,768 Speaker 3: and start a life with me, and I would just 825 00:41:05,808 --> 00:41:10,328 Speaker 3: never know the numbers in terms of the overlap timeframes 826 00:41:10,368 --> 00:41:12,328 Speaker 3: and things like that. But you know, when it didn't 827 00:41:12,368 --> 00:41:14,288 Speaker 3: work like that, because you know, it all blew up 828 00:41:14,328 --> 00:41:14,808 Speaker 3: in his face. 829 00:41:15,208 --> 00:41:17,488 Speaker 1: So she thought that'd be it. She had no reason 830 00:41:17,488 --> 00:41:19,728 Speaker 1: to ever speak to nor hear from either of them 831 00:41:19,768 --> 00:41:22,928 Speaker 1: again until only nine months later. 832 00:41:24,248 --> 00:41:25,888 Speaker 2: I got a message of her. 833 00:41:25,928 --> 00:41:28,207 Speaker 3: We weren't friends on Facebook or anything, so it comes 834 00:41:28,288 --> 00:41:31,607 Speaker 3: up in your message requests. She just said, oh, hey, 835 00:41:31,848 --> 00:41:35,408 Speaker 3: I hope you're well. Just touching base with you. Jeffrey 836 00:41:35,888 --> 00:41:39,128 Speaker 3: has moved on to another girl. Turns out he's engaged. 837 00:41:40,448 --> 00:41:43,968 Speaker 3: He's engaged to another girl who apparently he has started 838 00:41:44,048 --> 00:41:48,448 Speaker 3: dating at the same time. I just wrote back to 839 00:41:48,448 --> 00:41:50,648 Speaker 3: her and I said, oh, I hope you're getting everything 840 00:41:50,688 --> 00:41:54,368 Speaker 3: sorted and getting yourself and your baby set up, and 841 00:41:54,488 --> 00:41:58,328 Speaker 3: best of luck to you. Escaped something pretty horrific. And 842 00:41:58,368 --> 00:42:01,607 Speaker 3: then she mentioned that they were selling the house and 843 00:42:01,648 --> 00:42:04,208 Speaker 3: that she would be, you know, going home to her 844 00:42:04,288 --> 00:42:07,608 Speaker 3: family and it was a complete separation and they split. 845 00:42:08,408 --> 00:42:13,488 Speaker 3: I wasn't surprised. I actually wasn't surprised after it, I said, 846 00:42:13,528 --> 00:42:17,368 Speaker 3: you know, like the facts about everything in this were 847 00:42:17,448 --> 00:42:23,047 Speaker 3: just so unreal that stick on an engagement like that's 848 00:42:23,088 --> 00:42:25,288 Speaker 3: just another bit to the story, really, isn't it. Like 849 00:42:25,408 --> 00:42:27,808 Speaker 3: it didn't actually shock me. I laughed, I think at 850 00:42:27,848 --> 00:42:31,768 Speaker 3: the time, and just goes, yeah, look, that would be Jeffrey. 851 00:42:32,528 --> 00:42:35,848 Speaker 3: I don't know it to be true. I haven't actually looked, 852 00:42:35,848 --> 00:42:39,808 Speaker 3: but apparently he is now married. He's now moved into state, thankfully, 853 00:42:40,208 --> 00:42:43,408 Speaker 3: and I don't know his relationship with his child, but 854 00:42:43,648 --> 00:42:47,128 Speaker 3: I don't think it's a super positive one. He's just 855 00:42:47,208 --> 00:42:48,848 Speaker 3: ran away from his problems again. 856 00:42:49,288 --> 00:42:52,688 Speaker 1: But Sarah hasn't done that. In fact, she's thrived. She 857 00:42:52,728 --> 00:42:55,608 Speaker 1: had dodged a massive bullet, and she credits that to 858 00:42:55,728 --> 00:42:58,087 Speaker 1: putting her on the path to exactly where she's meant 859 00:42:58,128 --> 00:42:58,328 Speaker 1: to be. 860 00:43:00,088 --> 00:43:01,288 Speaker 2: Well, it definitely took me a while. 861 00:43:01,568 --> 00:43:03,647 Speaker 3: I sat out for a little bit and just made 862 00:43:03,688 --> 00:43:06,128 Speaker 3: sure that I was going to be I guess, strong 863 00:43:06,208 --> 00:43:10,368 Speaker 3: enough to go through another situation, but also really that 864 00:43:10,368 --> 00:43:13,047 Speaker 3: that situation is like one in a million, So it 865 00:43:13,088 --> 00:43:15,608 Speaker 3: couldn't be as bad as that one, but you know, 866 00:43:15,648 --> 00:43:18,288 Speaker 3: I definitely had a lack of trust for people and 867 00:43:18,288 --> 00:43:21,488 Speaker 3: and always probably looked for, you know, the worst case 868 00:43:21,528 --> 00:43:24,328 Speaker 3: scenario rather than just kind of going with the flow, 869 00:43:24,368 --> 00:43:26,928 Speaker 3: which is what I had done in the past. 870 00:43:27,208 --> 00:43:27,728 Speaker 2: I didn't have. 871 00:43:27,848 --> 00:43:30,047 Speaker 3: I always used to be of the mantra that if 872 00:43:30,088 --> 00:43:32,688 Speaker 3: you don't have any reason to not be trusted, like, 873 00:43:32,728 --> 00:43:35,568 Speaker 3: the trust is given until it's broken. So that definitely 874 00:43:35,688 --> 00:43:38,488 Speaker 3: changed to the it's guilty to proven innocent rather than 875 00:43:38,488 --> 00:43:41,448 Speaker 3: innocent to proven guilty. And that was not the best 876 00:43:41,448 --> 00:43:43,608 Speaker 3: way to look at things, but it was just protecting myself. 877 00:43:43,808 --> 00:43:46,687 Speaker 3: So it would have been about nine months or so later, 878 00:43:46,728 --> 00:43:49,288 Speaker 3: maybe closer to a year, but it was a little 879 00:43:49,288 --> 00:43:54,208 Speaker 3: while and I hopped back on Tinder and thought I 880 00:43:54,208 --> 00:43:58,167 Speaker 3: would give it another shot. And it was within that 881 00:43:58,248 --> 00:44:01,567 Speaker 3: first evening that I was on there. I swiped on 882 00:44:01,888 --> 00:44:07,567 Speaker 3: a beautiful person called Dan and we started talking back 883 00:44:07,648 --> 00:44:11,368 Speaker 3: and forth, and yeah, it was just we lived in ourtown, 884 00:44:11,648 --> 00:44:14,728 Speaker 3: but he was doing some remote work and after a 885 00:44:14,728 --> 00:44:18,128 Speaker 3: few nights of talking, he said, oh, I'll give you 886 00:44:18,168 --> 00:44:20,328 Speaker 3: a call if you like, and we ended up sitting 887 00:44:20,368 --> 00:44:22,408 Speaker 3: on the phone and chatting for a couple of hours 888 00:44:22,488 --> 00:44:24,488 Speaker 3: and it was just free flowing conversation. 889 00:44:24,568 --> 00:44:25,888 Speaker 2: It's like we knew each other. 890 00:44:25,728 --> 00:44:28,888 Speaker 3: For years, and we actually because we weren't face to 891 00:44:28,928 --> 00:44:31,728 Speaker 3: face and we were talking, I actually told him the 892 00:44:31,808 --> 00:44:34,928 Speaker 3: story right then. I know, you never saw talked about 893 00:44:34,968 --> 00:44:36,567 Speaker 3: yex on a first date, but it wasn't even a 894 00:44:36,568 --> 00:44:37,047 Speaker 3: first date. 895 00:44:37,088 --> 00:44:39,328 Speaker 2: We were just talking and getting to know each other. 896 00:44:39,808 --> 00:44:41,888 Speaker 3: And I guess I really said like a bit of 897 00:44:41,888 --> 00:44:45,248 Speaker 3: a foundation that he really and he was so understanding 898 00:44:45,368 --> 00:44:49,368 Speaker 3: of me being very difficult to trust and let people 899 00:44:49,408 --> 00:44:54,408 Speaker 3: in and was respectful of that and really probably held 900 00:44:54,408 --> 00:44:57,128 Speaker 3: my hand a little bit like in terms of you know, now, 901 00:44:57,368 --> 00:45:00,008 Speaker 3: you know, you get to you worry about other people 902 00:45:00,048 --> 00:45:01,968 Speaker 3: and other things, but I never had a reason to 903 00:45:02,008 --> 00:45:05,288 Speaker 3: worry with him. Once we were together, that was it. 904 00:45:05,368 --> 00:45:08,248 Speaker 3: There was no one else. It's an open phone policy. 905 00:45:08,328 --> 00:45:12,328 Speaker 3: It's everything that I needed he gave me. And yeah, 906 00:45:12,368 --> 00:45:15,128 Speaker 3: I'm very, very lucky to have him. We've been together 907 00:45:15,208 --> 00:45:18,288 Speaker 3: coming up to two years now, just bought a property 908 00:45:18,488 --> 00:45:21,768 Speaker 3: together and have a nice little life with our three 909 00:45:21,768 --> 00:45:24,607 Speaker 3: little puppies. I can see myself getting old with this one. 910 00:45:24,648 --> 00:45:27,047 Speaker 3: And there's just no drama in our life, which I love. 911 00:45:27,568 --> 00:45:29,408 Speaker 3: I never want to have to deal with, you know, 912 00:45:29,528 --> 00:45:31,448 Speaker 3: secret wives and children ever again. 913 00:45:46,648 --> 00:45:49,047 Speaker 1: Everyone has an Eggs is a Minti Media production and 914 00:45:49,128 --> 00:45:51,888 Speaker 1: proudly part of the Mum and mea network. This episode 915 00:45:51,968 --> 00:45:54,848 Speaker 1: is written and narrated by me Georgia Love and produced 916 00:45:54,848 --> 00:45:56,968 Speaker 1: by Linda Scott. If you have a story you'd like 917 00:45:57,088 --> 00:46:00,008 Speaker 1: to share, email podcast at momameia dot com dot au. 918 00:46:00,328 --> 00:46:02,248 Speaker 1: You can support us by following the show in your 919 00:46:02,248 --> 00:46:04,968 Speaker 1: favorite podcast app and leaving a five star review. We'll 920 00:46:04,968 --> 00:46:08,008 Speaker 1: see you for the next episode.