As I carried our weekly shop into the kitchen with grocery bags looped over my arms one afternoon in January 2022, I could hear my husband, Erik, 50, talking to a friend on the phone. I was focused on unpacking the shopping until my ears suddenly pricked up. ‘ saved my marriage,’ Erik said. ‘If it wasn’t for lockdown, we’d be divorced by now,’ he added. I froze, almost dropping a box of eggs. But it wasn’t because I disagreed with him. It was because this was the first time he’d put into words exactly how I felt, too.
Erik and I had met at a friend’s wedding in Florida in April 2001. I was newly divorced with two young sons from my first marriage, Henry, then seven, and Matt, four. As soon as I saw this 6ft 3in blond, handsome American, I was smitten. Luckily for me, he felt the same way.
As I lived back in London, we had a romantic transatlantic courtship for a year, visiting each other every two or three months. Soon, I fell pregnant and when Lily was born in September 2002, I moved with my children to America.
Erik and I married in 2004 and were both thrilled with our blended family, but the truth was we had virtually no time alone together without the children. The next 18 years sped by in a whirl of homework, family holidays and demanding jobs - me as a writer and Erik as a fundraiser at a non-profit organisation - that meant we had very little intimate couple time. We’d been married for 14 years before we had our first weekend break on our own.
But as the boys finally flew the nest and went off to university, one at a time, I began to worry what would happen when Lily left, too, and it was just me and Erik.
This story is from the February 14, 2022 edition of WOMAN'S OWN.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 14, 2022 edition of WOMAN'S OWN.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MIND OF MY OWN
The Woman's Own columnist has her say on the gender gap, cats and timed hugs
Check out CHICAGO
With a spectacular skyline, sandy beaches and great food, the Windy City is calling, says Zoe West
LET'S EMBRACE OUR CHRISTMAS TAT!
Becky Dickinson explains why she'll still be rocking around her tinsel-strewn tree this year
BURIED SECRETS
We look at the shocking cases of celebrities posthumously accused of being sexual predators-and how they got away with it
FESTIVE NO-BAKES
Pop on the Christmas tunes and whip up a batch of these easy sweet treats
PROTECT YOUR SMILE
Are you doing enough to look after your teeth and gums?
'TIS THE SEASON TO SHINE!
At last, Hayley McCrossan, 39, feels fit and healthy
FOR THE LOVE OF TOM
When Deborah Mitchell, 57, lost her son, she vowed to help other families facing the same heartbreak
THE NURSE WHO LEFT MY GRANDAD FOR DEAD belict
Rachael Fealey, 31, had one question for the woman who killed her beloved Grampa - how could you?
Coleen's MONEY WORRIES
What are the reasons behind her financial and marriage fears?