My Husband Left Me for Another Woman, and When He Had an Accident, My Mother-in-Law Insisted I Must Welcome Him Back into the Family.

My husband, James Turner, walked out on me a year ago for another woman. He simply told me hed met someone he loves, that hes had enough of me and probably never really loved me. Nowhe sayshe finally feels true emotions and wants a real family.

He doesnt even think about the fact that I cant get back to work because our youngest son, Max, is only eighteen months old. Our older boy, Luke, attends nursery, and we have hardly any money left. My only close relative is my sister, who lives in Manchester.

Dont worry, youll manage, says my motherinlaw, Mrs. Clarke. The flat is yours, so at least youve got a roof over your head. Be grateful my son is still paying you maintenance.

He does, in factexactly a quarter of his declared salary, paid in pounds.

James never files for divorce and I simply have no time for it. Two small kids, a remote job just to bring in a meagre wage, its all overwhelming.

Mrs. Clarke drops by to see the grandchildren once a month, sometimes bringing a bag of apples.

The father of my children never takes part in raising them. He keeps saying hell have other children now.

So we spend a whole year, me and the kids, just scraping by.

At the end of the year a place opens up at the nursery and Max gets a spot. I can start working again and things ease a little.

James will be a dad soon, Mrs. Clarke announces cheerily over the phone one day. File the divorce quicklyI dont want my grandchild born out of wedlock.

I learn that Jamess new partner is eight weeks pregnant, so I file for divorce.

A week later James is involved in a car crash. He loves speed and daring overtakes, and this time his luck runs out.

The car we bought during our marriage is a total loss, and James lies in hospital with numerous injuries. Doctors say theres little hope hell ever walk again.

Mrs. Clarke cries on the phone. I feel sorry for her; after all James is still my husband. Then she makes a demand that shocks me:

You must take James out of the hospital and look after him, she says.

Me? Why me? I ask, stunned.

Youre his wife; you arent divorced yet, she replies. His girlfriend terminated the pregnancy yesterday. She doesnt want a child with a disabled father. And you, as his wife, are responsible!

The divorce isnt final because the court date was postponed when he was admitted.

I tell Mrs. Clarke my duties as a wife ended the moment her son walked out on us without a thought for a year. He never cared for me or the children.

He left me, cheated on me and the kids, I say. The fact were not divorced is an unlucky coincidence Ill sort out soon. James still has his mother, who dotes on him.

You expect me to look after my son? she snaps. I stopped when he was a baby. Now its the wifes job! Youre heartless and ungrateful. Ill tell my grandchildren that their mother abandoned their father when he became disabled.

Now it looks as if Im the one who flednot him a year ago!

Mrs. Clarke finally arranges for James to leave the hospital. He recovers slowly, and the doctors grow less pessimistic. Our divorce finally goes through.

Meanwhile, my former motherinlaw spreads the story around London:

Now I have to care for my sick son in my old age! His wife left him and the children! What kind of women are these nowadays? As long as a man is healthy and earns, hes welcome. The moment hes disabled, hes cast aside!

And you know what? Plenty of people nod in agreement, shaking their heads sympathetically. Yet it was James who abandoned me and the kids while he was still fit.

A friend advises me to sell the flat and relocate far away. My sister in Manchester invites me to stay with her. I think Ill take her up on it.

What would you advise me to do?