REAL LIFE: BILLBOARD BRIDE: 'I advertised for a husband - and ended

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Oct 31, 2004 | by Words: Kim Carillo.

The irony didn't escape Theresa, but she had such strong feelings for Ronnie, she was prepared to give him time to come around to the idea of marriage. But several months later, Theresa had to accept the man of her dreams would never become the husband she longed for. 'I knew he loved me, but he could never make that final commitment. Marriage is hugely important to me. It was painful, but I knew in my heart if Ronnie wasn't willing to marry me, then he couldn't really love me enough, not the way I wanted to be loved.'

Theresa suggested they have a trial separation to sort out their feelings. 'I was very emotional. I wanted to ring him a million times, but stopped myself because that would just be prolonging the agony.' But then came the bombshell. Four weeks later, Theresa discovered she was pregnant. 'I was shocked,' she admits. 'We had been very careful. I couldn't understand how this could have happened. I wasn't against having kids, but I wanted a husband first. I had some serious thinking to do. I knew I couldn't terminate the pregnancy, but I didn't know how to handle the situation with Ronnie.'

Although the couple hadn't spoken for a month, Theresa called and said they needed to talk. 'Ronnie seemed pleased to hear from me, but I was very nervous about how I was going to break the news,' says Theresa. 'In the end, I just sat him down and explained I was pregnant with our baby. Ronnie was amazing, saying it wasn't the end of the world. Although he told me again he wasn't ready to get married, he promised to be totally involved as a father.' Theresa knew Ronnie loved her and, once again, hoped in time he would change his mind about marriage. 'Ronnie was with me when our beautiful daughter, Gracie, was born,' says Theresa. 'He's turned out to be a great dad, the best.'

At first the couple lived apart, but when Gracie was seven months old, Ronnie asked them to move in with him. Theresa's heart soared. 'We moved in for three months, and were a perfect family, but I don't feel right living with someone without being married. And I didn't want Gracie growing up in a house with parents who aren't married.'

So last May, Theresa and Gracie, now 16 months, moved into their own home. She and Ronnie have remained the best of friends.

'You never know where life is taking you,' says Theresa. I'd set my hopes on Plan A, the dream husband, but sometimes plans get altered. Suddenly I was living Plan B, motherhood. Becoming a mum has turned my life upside down and inside out, but I wouldn't change a thing. Maybe there's still that perfect husband out there for me somewhere. If there is, that's great. But these days it doesn't seem as important any more. The truth is, becoming a single mum turned out to be the best thing that's ever happened to me.'