TRUE-LIFE
I was grieving for our baby but even that wouldn’t stop his abuse
Paige Thomas, 30, Portadown
My baby girl giggled as she bobbed on Richy’s knee.
‘She likes you!’ I said. It was September 2021, and when I’d first suggested meeting Richy for coffee, I’d been unsure how it’d go.
Especially as I had my baby, Ariiyah, then 4 months, in tow.
I had a toddler too, Eliijah, then 2, and was a single mum.
Richy wasn’t put off, though. We were old school mates who’d lost touch.
Until he messaged at 4am one day in March 2020, asking why I was up after seeing I was online. Turned out we both worked nights.
Me as a carer, Richy for a pharmaceutical company. We’d chatted throughout the pandemic.
But it was only after Richy lost his mum that we were able to meet, as COVID restrictions eased off and I suggested a coffee.
And now, here we were. ‘I love kids,’ Richy grinned. He had one of his own.
It definitely wasn’t a date but minutes after we parted ways, my phone pinged. It was Richy.
I had a great time, he wrote, asking me out.
This time… a proper date! We met the following evening and Richy’s family friendly, caring attitude drew me in.
He’d watch me on my phone, read all my social media posts
Things between us moved quickly, and soon he was at mine most of the time. He was adorable, playing with Ariiyah and Eliijah.
Only, a couple of months later, Richy spotted a magnet on my fridge.
It was a pic of Eliijah with his dad – my ex.
‘What’s this?’ he yelled. ‘Are you looking at another man every time you open the fridge?!’
I almost laughed. ‘Of course not! That’s my son and his dad!’ I said.
Still, I moved the magnet out of sight to keep the peace.
In December, Richy gave me a bracelet, and a few months later he bought me a charm to go with it.
The words ‘I love you’ were inscribed on it.
‘It’s true,’ he grinned. My heart swelled.
Richy seemed to really care about me and the kids.
If only he didn’t get himself so paranoid.
He’d watch me on my phone, read all my social media posts.
I had nothing to hide, so I gave him the passcode to my phone.
But week after week, he sent me screenshots of my social media.
Who just liked your picture? Who’s that guy who commented? he’d demand.
I don’t know, I’d reply. Or, Just an old friend! Eventually, he’d calm down and, despite the outbursts, when things were good, Richy was great.
We both loved kids so started trying for a baby.
By Valentine’s Day 2023, I was sneakily popping a positive pregnancy test into his card.
‘Guess what!’ I beamed as I watched Richy open it.
He threw his arms around me, thrilled.
Until the next day, whe
