I’m 49 and just got out of a 20-year marriage with Isabel, or “Izzy”. The relationship had completely flatlined, and honestly, my wife seemed just as done with it as I was. So, after the split, I started dating a woman named Jenna.

Funny enough, I met her at a party while I was still technically married, hosted by a mutual friend. Fast forward to my daughter Maya’s 15th birthday, I figured it was a good time to introduce Jenna to my family.

Family vacation packages

We showed up at the party, and from the jump, things felt off. My ex’s family keeps side-eyeing Jenna and mumbling to each other. It wasn’t typical jealousy vibes either it felt like they’d seen a ghost or something.

Then, my ex sees me with Jenna and imme- diately screams “You idiot!” and burst into laughter. The sound was loud and uncontrollable.

Everyone turned to her in confusion. My kids Caleb and Maya had been at a table eating burgers, but they stood and looked just as perplexed as everyone else.

I noticed my girlfriend’s smile had frozen. She looked around and swallowed, nervously. But before I could ask her or Izzy what was going on, I saw Gloria, Izzy’s mother, stomping toward us.

Her face was red due to anger. She stopped just inches from Jenna and, without warning, slapped her hard across the face.

My girlfriend staggered back, her hand flying up to her cheek. I moved forward, trying to shield her, but Gloria wasn’t finished.

“How dare you show your face here!” she screamed her fury at Jenna. “After everything you did to my daughter? You think you can walk in here?!”

“Gloria, what the hell are you talking about?” I demanded, trying to push her away gently.

Suddenly, my ex-brother-in-law David stepped forward and put his arms on Gloria to hold her back while glaring at Jenna with open hatred.

“You really don’t know, do you?” he spat, looking at me like I was the biggest fool on earth. “This woman,” he pointed at Jenna, “was Izzy’s high school bully. She t0rmented her, and it was relentless!”

Jenna, staring at the ground, refused to meet my eyes. “Is… is this true?” I whispered.

Jenna hesitated, then nodded tightly. “Yes, but that was years ago. I was young and stupid…”