‘It's Either Me or Your Late Wife!’ My Fiancée Yelled, Demanding That I Take My Old Wedding Ring off — My Story

I never thought I'd be able to move on after losing my wife, Stacy. I've now had to do something I fear might betray her memory. It has left me wondering if I've done the right thing.

I met my late wife, Stacy, in college many years ago. It might be a cliche, but it was love at first sight. We got married 13 years ago and had a daughter, Chloe. And about seven years back, my worst nightmare came true. I was driving home with Stacy after date night when we were involved in a terrible car accident.

We were both hospitalized after the crash, but Stacy's injuries left her in critical condition. "I promise I'll make sure to protect Chloe. I will never be the reason our precious girl cries," I told her as she lay unconscious on the hospital bed. I like to believe that she heard me somehow, but the following day, Stacy passed away.

At first, raising my daughter alone was difficult, mainly because we were both mourning Stacy. But over time, I learned to play the role of a single father, and Chloe and I became inseparable. I slowly learned to move on and focus on keeping Chloe safe and happy.

"Do you think mommy is in heaven?" Chloe asked me one day. I remembered my promise to my late wife and trusted that Stacy was in a better place, watching over us. "She's right up there," I replied, pointing to the clouds.

Despite moving on, I couldn't imagine that I would ever find love again. I kept my old wedding ring on wherever I went. I focused more attention on my business of fixing up classic cars, and I've managed to build a successful company.

"Arthur, as much as I love you, I need you to decide. Me or your late wife."

Even though my professional life was thriving, and my relationship with Chloe had never been stronger, I still felt empty. It also felt as though I had a Stacy-sized hole in my heart. I craved romantic affection, but there was a tremendous sense of guilt. My business partner, Jack, always encouraged me to get back out there.

"Stacy wouldn't want to do this all alone," he said. Even though I knew he was right, I didn't know how to approach women any more. That all changed when I met Tess. She came to my shop looking for someone to fix her father's old car.

I couldn't believe my eyes when she walked inside my garage. Tess had the same big brown eyes as Stacy, which left me mesmerized and almost speechless. I summoned the courage to take my opportunity.

"I'm sorry if this is sudden, but could I take you out on a date?" I asked nervously.

To my surprise, she said yes, and I took her out to coffee. Tess is also a parent and has two daughters from two failed marriages. "You're probably wondering if there's something wrong with me," she joked. But I didn't judge her.

As nervous as I was to enter a new relationship, everything seemed to click with Tess. She even treated Chloe like her own child and completely understood my trauma from the accident. Chloe seemed unsure of Tess, which sometimes led to her acting out.

Because I spent so much time with Tess and her daughters, Caitlyn and Allie, I had less time to hang out with Chloe. In a way, I had to find a new balance. This year, I was ready to take the leap with Tess. I purchased a new ring and decided to propose to Tess after dinner.

I was shocked to hear her response. "Arthur, as much as I love you, I need you to decide. It's either me or your late wife!" my fiancée yelled, demanding that I take my old wedding ring off. I had kept the ring on as a way to remember Stacy.

Over the past few years, I used the ring to stay strong and remember Stacy is still watching over Chloe and me. I tried to explain to Tess that taking off the ring seemed like betraying my late wife's memory. Tess argued that she hadn't kept rings from her previous marriages, so I should get rid of mine. I was left shocked.

To make matters even worse, Chloe had seen the entire argument. Not only had Tess rejected my proposal, but my daughter was crying in the backyard because she thought I had forgotten her mother.

"Your mom will always be in my heart, no matter what. I'm not replacing her. She's always watching over us," I explained to Chloe.

For the next few days, I focused on spending time with my daughter and wasn't sure how to deal with things regarding Tess. Luckily, Chloe had a great idea. She suggested I make a necklace using the ring instead of wearing it on my hand.

Yesterday, Tess came over to apologize. She explained to Chloe and me that she had overreacted. "After my past marriages didn't work out, I just needed to be sure that you were all in," she told us. I showed her I had nothing on my ring and reached for my necklace.

"As long as you understand that Stacy will always be in my heart, we won't have any problems," I told her.

I reached into my pocket, pulled out the new engagement ring, and proposed again. I was relieved and excited when she said 'yes.'

Even though I'm happy, I do still have questions. A part of me wonders if Stacy would approve of me moving on in this way. I'm also terrified of entering a new marriage, because last time around, I lost someone who I cared about deeply.

It almost feels like Chloe and I are marrying into a brand new family, so naturally, I'm worried that I may be rushing into things or making a mistake. My daughter seems to have finally accepted Tess into the family but she may just be acting that way for me.

Should I be worried that Tess reacted the way she did? Did I make the right compromise?

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a man who vowed to stay single after his wife's death, only to learn his kids are not his own.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.