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Daddy's a bit different!

No woman would ever come between me and Ed...


Published by: Gemma Aldridge, Jean Jollands and Amy Thompson
Published on: 20th July 2010

Snuggling up to my boyfriend Ed, I stroked my swollen tummy. ‘Feel this,’ I grinned, placing his hand on my bump. ‘The baby’s kicking.’
‘I can’t wait to meet her,’ he beamed. We’d found out we were expecting a girl, and had already chosen her name – Olivia.
To most, we might have seemed a little young to be starting a family. I was only 17. But unlike most couples, I didn’t doubt our relationship.
We’d grown up next door to each other, and were best friends through secondary school. Ed wasn’t your average bloke.
Take now, for example. We were cuddling on the sofa watching a romantic comedy, while my mates had been dragged to the pub to watch footie with their fellas.
I couldn’t help feeling smug. How many 17-year-old lads were happy to go shopping for baby clothes, or brought home flowers instead of computer games?
I’d found the perfect guy. He’d even moved in with me and my parents when we’d discovered I was pregnant.
When he decided to train as a hairdresser though, my friends took the mick. ‘That’s a bit of a camp profession, isn’t it?’ giggled Rebecca, 19, who’d enrolled on the same course.
‘Trust me, he’s all man,’ I winked. ‘And I’m not complaining – I’ll get free haircuts!’
When I gave birth to Olivia, we were so happy. Ed helped to change and feed her.
He even took me out regularly for a Chinese, while Mum babysat.
Then, when Olivia was two months old, Ed had to go to London for a college trip. ‘We have to stay overnight,’ he told me. ‘You sure you don’t mind?’
‘Don’t be daft,’ I scoffed. ‘I’m sure we can cope.’
‘Okay,’ he smiled. ‘If you need me, you can call Rebecca’s phone.’ Ed gave up his old mobile when I was pregnant to help save for baby bits. Still, at least Rebecca was going on this trip, too. She’d lend him her mobile if he needed to get in touch.
Only, when Rebecca’s number flashed up on my phone, it wasn’t Ed calling…‘Vicky, it’s Rebecca,’ she said, quietly. ‘I need to tell you something… about Ed…’
‘What is it?’ I asked, panicking. ‘Has there been an accident?’
My mind reeled with visions of broken bones, cuts and bruises.
‘No, he’s fine,’ Rebecca interrupted. ‘It’s just… I saw
him earlier with a few guys on the course. He was bragging about some flirty text messages…’
‘But he doesn’t have a phone,’ I said, confused.
Then, I caught on... ‘He’s been cheating on me?’ I cried. ‘Do you know her?’
‘I don’t know he’s been cheating,’ she admitted. ‘That’s not what you should worry about. See, the messages are from a bloke.’
I sat there baffled for a minute – then it hit me. ‘Are you saying he’s… gay?’ I gasped.
‘I think so,’ she sighed.
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It didn’t make sense. Ed couldn’t be gay, we had a baby together! No, she’d got it wrong.
But laying in bed, I thought back, people’s comments haunted me.
‘Look at that poof,’ the other lads had laughed, seeing Ed dancing in the school playground.
‘He’s a right fairy,’ they’d sniggered when he chatted with me and my mates. I’d put it down to jealousy. So, Ed got along well with girls?
He was in touch with his feminine side, that’s all.
Then I thought about what Rebecca had said about him joining her on the hairdressing course, the things that made Ed different to other guys…
Just how different was he, though? When he got home, I confronted him. ‘I know about the messages on your phone,’ I said, as he lent over Olivia’s cot to pick her up. ‘Have you cheated on me?’
He kept his eyes fixed on Olivia.
‘Are... are you gay?’ I demanded.
‘No!’ he protested. ‘What are you talking about? I love you.’
I hadn’t even realised how nervous I was until I breathed a sigh of relief and unclenched my hands. Thank God!
As the months went by though, something changed between us. He became distant. We bickered.
Almost a year passed, before I got another call from Rebecca when Ed went out one afternoon.
‘I just overheard one of the lads at college arranging to meet Ed at McDonald’s,’ she said. ‘It sounded like a date.’
Not this again! To finally put my mind at rest, I went to check it out.
Pushing Olivia in her pram, I walked down to McDonald’s. They were just friends, had to be…
Standing outside the window, though, I froze. There was Ed, smiling adoringly at a slim guy with short, dark hair.
Storming in, I glared at him. He almost choked on his burger. ‘This looks cosy,’ I hissed. ‘Mind telling me what’s going on?’
Ed just stormed out.
Turning on his mate, I demanded answers. ‘Are you two gay?’
‘Talk to him,’ he shrugged.
Back home, I confronted Ed again, but he denied it .
In the end, I decided I’d had enough. There was something my boyfriend wasn’t telling me.
We broke up, but he still came to visit Olivia every day.
A few weeks later, I had to know the truth. ‘We’re not together any more,’ I said. ‘You’ve got nothing to lose by telling me.’
He took a breath. Then… ‘Yes,’ he admitted. ‘I’m gay. But I never cheated on you. I’ve only been figuring it out the last year.’
I should have felt betrayed and angry. But seeing the weight lift from his shoulders, I just felt overwhelming relief. I’d seen how hard he’d tried to fight who he was.
And all along, while we’d been denying the truth, it’d been driving a wedge between us. ‘We used to be best friends,’ I sighed.
He nodded, sadly. That’s when I realised Ed hadn’t meant to hurt me. And he was still an amazing dad. ‘How about a pact?’ I suggested. ‘We stay best friends and no more secrets.’
‘Really?’ he said, hopefully.
I nodded. It’s been two years now, and our relationship’s better than ever. We’re both dating other people, but the most important thing is Olivia sees her Mum and Dad happy instead of fighting.
We even talk about our boy problems. I could never have imagined my perfect guy would turn out to be gay. But although I’ve lost a boyfriend, I’ve gained a best friend.

• Ed Cotton, 20, says: ‘When me and Vicky got together, I loved her. Just after Olivia was born, I started having feelings towards guys as well. I wasn’t sure what I felt, so I pushed it to the back of my mind. But it became too much.
‘I’m sorry Vicky found out the way she did, but I never cheated on her and never wanted to hurt her. I’m so glad we’re friends, and I’ll never regret our years together as we have a gorgeous little girl to show for it.’
Vicky Marriner, 21, Fareham, Hampshire