My Son Drew a Picture of Our Family at School — But There Was an Extra Baby in Mommy’s Belly

The father thinks the drawing must mean ‘baby’s secret mother’ lovingly created by his son and not much more, until the boy lets slip what he heard between them.

You might have seen occasions where kids say something hurtful without realizing what they are doing. Well, my son just brought me a nuclear warhead that is wrapped in a drawing he made using crayon and construction paper.

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It was Thursday afternoon and I drove over to take my son home from school.

Like usual, dressed in a big rush, sticky-fingered and full of life, he slid into the car holding his drawing.

I spent my time drawing this and might show it to you. he grinned and offered it to me with his unique smile that makes me smile too.

I took the paper from my bag, hoping to see my common stick figure depictions. The writing said “My Family” in a shaky manner on the cover.

Me, my husband and my wife Sarah were portrayed in the traditional kindergarten style.

But I noticed next that there was a small picture, this time in Sarah’s eye.
My face lost the joy I usually had.

What are you holding, buddy? I tried to keep my voice light, even though inside I felt my chest was falling apart.

It’s no one else, but our family. There’s me, you and Mommy who will have a new baby very soon!
My breath departed at that moment. Why, what baby?

A baby discovered by me … your secret baby. She informed Grandma about it when I was coloring yesterday. She told everyone not to mention it because you would be cross with her dad… He all of a sudden looked down and frowned.

I moved my hand and touched his shoulder.

It’s all right. You mentioned to me before that you made a terrific drawing. Let’s pretend I have no idea, all right?

The smile started to light up his face and he pointed to his mouth with his finger.

I nodded. Right and this secret will be between the two of us. What else was Mommy telling Grandma then?

His reply had the same effect on me as if I’d been hit by a brick.

This is the important point you should recognize when it comes to Sarah and me. Two years ago, we decided on a deal as we got married. The agreement was out in the open: we decided there would be no children.

My first marriage resulted in my son and ever since, I’ve gone through health issues that have grown worse.

No one can say for sure when things will get critical, but I can tell that the end is approaching.
I decided against having another child since I might not be there for them.

Sarah told me she recognized the problem. In addition, she mentioned that having kids was something she couldn’t do. I discovered that something that happened to her years ago had stopped her from having kids.

I was convinced by what she said. Trusted her. It seemed to me that we were in agreement.
Grandma, Mommy said you feel that you can’t have more babies, but this isn’t true, said Dylan. Seeing that, I know it’s her skills at work!

“Trick?” I repeated.

“Yeah. She explained she will try to charm the baby if you feel weary from the mom role. As a result, she knows she will end up ‘getting the house.’ And according to Grandma, being smart paid off and you could be ready for anything.

I was seated in my car, looking at my son’s drawing, as everything around me grew more and more overwhelming. I was so stunned, but there must be no doubt that what was said was real, wasn’t there?

My son gave me a warm hug and kissed my cheek.
“Don’t you worry about a thing, Daddy,” he promised. Tell Mommy how much you love her and then the trick might not be needed.

My son, still gobbling up his after-school snack in the back and I drove home without anyone saying a word.

All my thoughts were going around in a circle and the only thing I kept thinking about was my son. Obviously, I noticed he was trying to say something, but it was comforting that he was too young to realize how important it was.

That day, I did not mention to Sarah how I had felt. I wasn’t able to share any of the things I’d learned.

Even so, I stayed active.

I knew Mike would understand perfectly, so I reached out to him since he’s a divorce attorney.
I texted him and asked him to come over for dinner at my place the next day. I just mentioned how it would be a simple get-together, I told her.

On the second day, I arranged everything at the table, opened the wine and served the steak ready after being marinated all day.

Sarah behaved nicely but her hands were shaking since she felt something was wrong but wasn’t sure what.

She looked back and forth between Mike and me because she couldn’t understand why I’d ask company over on a weeknight.

We went from work to marriage to making up different situations naturally. At that point, I acted.

I looked at Mike and said, “I have a question,” while I was naturally cutting into my steak.

At work, I have a friend and he wants some advice from me. Suppose there’s a marriage and a child is born, but both spouses agree everything the other owns was bought before they got married. Would the child’s opinion mean the spouse would receive a larger portion in the split?

Mike immediately nodded his head.

“Nope. If your divorce is after your marriage and you didn’t sign a prenup, having a child does not give you any extra benefits. Giving child support might be one thing, but who would think to give someone property? Never possible. This is especially the case when everything is listed in a trust or LLC.

I agreed and smiled, then put another bite of steak in my mouth.

Yet, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Sarah instantly stood still. She paused mid-bite and her complexion became white.

If I may just make a hypothetical point for him, a woman who has a kid can’t automatically expect the house as well?

“Legally? It would take her buying in for it to work or an arrangement other than that.” “Why? Are you worried about what’s bothering your friend?

Sarah said she was going to get some water and went off before anyone could talk with her.
It appears that way to me as well. I told her he was considerably older than his wife and she started shaking at the thought. Apparently, he thinks she married him for his money or status.

Go ahead and give him my number, Mike mumbled as he put a piece of steak on his fork. Because of this, I am able to give precise advice according to your case.

The following morning, I just waited. Try to keep the conversation quiet for some time. Give her the impression that she is still ahead.

Even though she was chatting away on the phone in the guest room, she did not feel that I had found a way to send the audio through my Bluetooth speaker.

Everything was easy to hear and made sense.

I don’t understand what took place, Mom, I can hear Sarah saying over the phone. He invited his silly lawyer friend and they talked about how children are treated in divorce. What is the use of this conversation? The whole exercise has wasted.

No, I don’t feel that I can chalk it up to a miracle now. He has come up with a story that blames a guy from work, yet I think he is aware. He appears to be aware of every detail.

Once I entered the guest room, I was calm and composed while she was still holding the phone.

She began to collapse as soon as she looked at me. The color on her skin vanished. I stopped her before she could get out much.

I told him with a quiet voice, “I do know.” This will be my wrap-up comment.

That was the point at which she cracked. She started crying and at the same time, found excuses.

You didn’t catch what I was saying,” she cried. I had a desire to have a family. I imagined that, if I pointed out this side of things, you’d consider it differently.

But I had worked out the truth from the scattered remains of her lies.
No, you didn’t want truthfulness, but something safe instead. Then you built your empire based on lies.

A day after, the papers for divorce were submitted by my husband.

On the other hand, I never left the child behind. In any situation and regardless of Sarah’s reasons, that child is still a part of my family. It is still part of all of us.

I said that I would be there, support the child and be their father.

Love gave Sarah a difficult path to follow. She could only get the assets and inheritance that the law provides. No house. No promises. No affection. Having a name on custody papers and making payments every month for child support.

After several days, when selecting laundry for my son and I, he looked up at me with those wide eyes filled with questions.

Do we still belong to one family, Daddy?

I could have convinced him everything would be fine and feed him a bunch of lies. Officers should have treated him better than they did.

He deserved to have the truth told to him.

I knelt by him and told him, “The truth always holds families together, my friend. The lies? They only have a short lifespan.

He nodded in a way that seemed to show he knew more than he should at that age. Next, he got back to folding his t-shirts and humming a tune from his lessons at school.

What is the most troublesome thing about this? It is not so much the betrayal itself that hurts so much. For me, the divorce isn’t even the hardest part to face.

It means I understand that both my kids will recognize the fact that someday their father won’t be around anymore.

Being there every time won’t be possible, but I will always give them what time I have left.