Losing your partner can be a grief that takes forever to heal from, and what makes it worse is the judgments passed from people around, when someone tries moving on from the grief, seeking love and to rebuild life. It was a shock to Calrine Stephenson when her husband, at the age of 38, suddenly passed away in April 2016. Living a life that apparently looked perfect, at only 29, she had to go through the heartbreak that no one can ever process.
Carline and Shayne had built a perfect life and were a beautiful family of four. Their girls, Audrey, who was four, and Brooklyn, who was only 2 when their dad passed away, were now dependent on Caroline, while she was trying to make it through every day after experiencing widowhood. Her girls often questioned her as they were not old enough to understand the situation, and all of it had to be dealt with patience and strength.
Everything in the house became scary, as each corner held memories the family had made when Shayne was present. This made healing for Carline difficult, so she moved away from Houston. Knowing she was responsible for raising the girls well and giving them a life free of worries, she took them along to rebuild her life and start all over in Florida. This was when she built a connection that she did not imagine would become so dear to her.
Although Jessep was only an Instagram follower, with great courage, they decided to meet. While she was already trying to get over all that had happened in her life, Caroline never imagined that she would develop feelings for Jessep. Not just this, the sense of whether she would ever be able to experience the feeling of love or being loved again would be something she’d ever experience again.
Caroline decided to show up, and it was the best decision of her life. Both were quick to open up, as Carline and Jessep could understand each other because they had recently lost their partners. Jessep was caring for Maddax, his son, and after knowing his story, Caroline knew that fate had made them meet because it was meant to be, and she would not let them go. She did not know where it would end, but she knew that she wanted to be constant in Jessep’s life, whether it was through a bond of friendship or something more than that.
Caroline knew how much love and support a person needs through this journey. It took them a few months to introduce each other to their children, and in September 2017, they decided to live together as a family. Ever since the decision was made, Caroline saw how amazing a person Jessep was.
Without her trying to take responsibility for her, Jessep had already stepped in to be Caroline’s daughter’s father figure. He did not just attend all the events that required Dad to be accompanied, but was the biggest cheerleader and supporter in the lives of all three children. Not just this, Caroline was extremely content to see how her girls equally loved her back.
On days, Caroline’s grief takes over, rather than reminding her how they had been through equal pain, Jessep decided to hold on tighter on the low days, and the hugs and love made everything way better. The love Jessep was giving the little family, like he had known them forever, was something Caroline craved on her healing journey. Although she admits that Shayne never leaves his heart, and the absence has given her the deepest wound, she is grateful every time she sees her daughter happy.
Caroline knows that Shayne wanted them to shine and grow into beautiful girls. About Jesse, Caroline finds his love brave and his heart big. She is thankful to be loved by him and for his presence. The loss will stick with her; however, Caroline believes that the blended family they have formed has become her world now. With so much love around, they heal each other without realizing it.
