I Didn't See Who She Was

She arrived on the front step of the house belonging to her fiance's ex-wife. It was a strange situation, a mother who didn't let her kids see their father without her supervision, but with good reason. Whether she knew it or not, her fiance was bipolar, and his ex-wife did indeed know it. Tossing her long black hair back gracelessly, she marched into the foyer when the door opened, followed by her slightly cowed fiance, Mitch.1

"Thank you for taking care of Mitch's kids," were the words out of her mouth before introductions had even been made.2

Mitch's ex, Monica, stood at the head of the stairs, only slightly put off by the woman. She was a big person, and had set out to become friends with the new woman.3

Before Monica replied, Nancy held out a gift, a CD. Monica took it, either not knowing what to say or knowing she shouldn't say what she was thinking.4

This development was overshadowed by the arrival of the children. A grinning, excited girl appeared, followed reluctantly by her older, wiser brother who wore a frown.5

Introductions were made at last and Nancy liked what she saw. Mitch's kids were good-looking, like him, and seemed easily controllable. The boy might need a little work, but she knew how to fix a bad attitude.6

That evening, at dinner, Nancy made a big show of feeding Mitch. She wanted everyone to see that Mitch was hers now. And everyone saw, except the little girl. Nancy didn't mind, her relationship with her own daughter was strained and she didn't mind her flaws being overlooked. In fact, she was endeared to the little girl, and it seemed that the feeling was mutual.7

During Mitch and Nancy's visit, mishaps occurred, including a near-abusive confrontation at a museum and a disturbing subway ride, and in the end Nancy's clandestine plan failed. The children would not be hers, the mother would not be easy to control, and perhaps Mitch wasn't the pushover she had thought him to be. Still, she was used to over-bearing in husbands; this would be her third marriage.8

Mitch and Nancy returned home, which then was Atlanta but would later be Florida. They were engaged for years afterward, never marrying. Mitch repeatedly chose Nancy over his children which was enough to make her stay, but never agree to marriage. She used him to get ahead and he used her to feel loved, never realizing that real love waited for him back in Virginia. Not romantic love, but certainly stronger and more true than Nancy's.9

But Mitch was blind, or just dense, and nothing ever changed.