Their relationship started in deceit, both knowing that they could have taken the honourable route of waiting a while so Richie could end his marriage in a mature way, putting the kids first, but choosing instead to run full steam ahead, deceive, shack up and play house and play happy families two minutes after he leaves the woman who has only four months ago birthed his third child. No matter what facade they try and put on their lives, how many kids they have to try and cement their status as a normal happy family, the world knows who they are and what their character is. And unfortunately they will have to live with that 24/7, Stephanie knowing he has a roving winkie and can’t be let out of sight, Richie slowly realising he cheated on his family for some fun and ended up within a few months in exactly the same position he was in before, married with little kids, only this time with five or more mouths to feed. Their therapists will make top dollar off these two.
meanwhile Helen is seemingly loved by the nation, an inspiration to many, a strong and loving mother, and if and when she starts a new relationship it will be pure and not a result of lying and cheating, no public shaming, no difficult questions to answer to her kids, she will be able to settle down with someone she can trust and who loves her. She will sleep well at night knowing there is nothing on her conscience to answer to. She has all that to look forward to if and when she’s ready.
I bet Stephanie has been wearing some sort of ring on her fourth finger since before the divorce was even finalised. She strikes me as deeply insecure. Trying to speed run the relationship as fast as she can to try and match up to Helen and what Richie and Helen had. Unfortunately it will be their undoing. Far too much too soon. No time taken to try settle the existing children, make them feel secure, build up coparenting, adjust and adapt. Just an instant add water family while the old one might as well never have existed. The stress of it all and having no time to breathe and settle as a couple, just excitement and drama of an affair then a couple months of shacking up then a baby on the way. Poor kids, all five of them.