The Perfect Family

The Beginning

     Moving to a different country on the other side of the world was scary. But there, I had a new life waiting for me. A new job, home, and family. My beautiful, lovely wife Lily, who originally was from England, was expecting twin daughters. I had the perfect family lined up in the future. It was looking bright and full of mysteries. Little did I know this fantasy would soon come crashing down.

     While waiting on our flight out of Washington, my wife informed me that her elderly mother would be staying with us. "Where at?" I asked. "We'll just give her the spare until the twins are born." She said as if that was a solution. Although, we had a long plane ride ahead of us, Including two more collecting flights. I just wanted to rest and would worry about the spare going to her agonizing mother later. 

     Once we landed in England, my wife informed me that laws here were different, and that I must do my research and to be careful. Since I am American, I will not enjoy the luxuries of sympathy or mercy from law enforcement. I thought this was strange, but I took it as her just being cautious. Although the American comment made me slightly anxious, so I read some traveling websites and mostly focused on American males posting about their experiences when they moved to England while we rode in our cab to our new home. Nothing really raised any red flags except for divorce and custody battles. Nine times out of ten the English Woman will win. Although, I didn't feel the need to dig deeper into it since it should be the least of my worries. 

     We arrived at our beautiful countryside home. It was a two-story home that was painted a gray blue with grey shutters on every window. The windows and doors all had white lining along with the front porch railing. There was a front porch swing and a garnish mixture of plants on the ground in front of the porch. Lily and I stood there embracing each other as we stare at our perfect little family home. Of course, that didn't last long as Lilys mother opened the front door and said, "What are you fools standing there for, gauding at the house with such odd intentions. Get in it's hot out." As the mother walks in, I look down at Lily, she says, "It's only for a little bit, she just is looking for a new place, she told me she'd be out before we moved in, but the markets tight right now." I let out an exhausted sigh. Although Lily looks at me with her darling brown eyes. How could I say no? "Alright. But she has to be out before the girls are born, which is soon", I say as I embrace her pregnant belly. She smiles and we walk across the yard, and I follow as she waddles up the stairs. 

     Adjusting hasn't been as hard as I thought it'd be. Work was fun and I made lots of friends. Of course, here and there I ran into an anti-American, but I didn't let it put me down too much. I missed my sister and friends, but we were all still in contact and keeping each other updated on our lives. Lily, although didn't enjoy that I continued my contact with them. I didn't understand why. She'd always say, "It's a new life and new beginnings." But honestly, we came back because she missed her hometown, not because we had a horrid life in the America. Luckily, she let it go after she understood that I was going to stand my ground and not cut contact with my friends and family. I already only had my sister, and I was not going to lose my friends along with her. I felt a shift in Lily. I mustered it up to her being in her last two weeks of her pregnancy and she was just nervous about taking care of the twins at home while I worked. I tried assuring her by reminding her mother would be there and that I was one call away and would drop everything. Although, it didn't seem to be stress that was bothering her. it was almost like she was distant. Distance was strange for Lily since we have built our relationship on communication since we had been friends all throughout college before getting together. We always told each other everything. But now our conversations are dry and short. She gives the same responses to every question I ask, even gets annoyed sometimes. At first, I thought post-partum, although after researching it, it just didn't fit.  I asked her mom if she struggled with post-partum, or if any of her close relatives did as a precaution, and she said no. When I explained why I asked, she said that when her and Lily hangout and go run errands at the market and such, she was her bright usual self. She claimed it must be me since I'm a sufferable American. After that I realized she wasn't going to be any help. Maybe my life will recover when the girls are born. Something to bring some more brightness in her life.