I swapped my hubby for a teenage lover

Saturday 20th October 2007

She was a 38-year-old married mother of two. So what was Elaine Jewitt from Hull doing snogging a 17-year-old in the local park?

I'd like to think it was fate that led me to the park that day. But in reality it was my 15-year-old daughter,Victoria.
'Will you walk the dog with me?' she'd sighed as our Staffie, Bubba, yapped at her heels.
'All right,' I'd said, peeling myself off the settee.

We'd moved from Hull to a three-bedroom semi in the seaside town of Hornsea, East Yorkshire, in January 2006. The move was a feeble attempt to revive my flagging marriage to Leslie, 39, my husband of six years.

Our fresh start hadn't gone down well with Victoria and my son, Leigh, 18, though.
'I haven't got any mates down here,' Victoria had groaned.
'Why not take the dog for a walk in the park?' I'd suggested. 'Meet some people your own age.'
Reluctantly, she'd agreed. Usually she went alone, chatting to the other lads and lasses that hung around there. But now, in April 2006, she'd invited me along too. That's where I first noticed a handsome lad with twinkly eyes and a gorgeous smile. He was sitting on the swings minding his own business when Bubba decided to wee on his shoes.

'Stop that you naughty dog,' I scolded, embarrassed.
Mr Handsome eyed his ruined trainers.
'I'm so sorry,' I said.
'Don't worry about it,' the lad smiled back warmly.
'Mum, this is my mate, Stewart Firth,' Victoria told me.
I held out my hand.
'Elaine,' I said. 'Nice to meet you.'

This lad was gorgeous.
'He'd make a great boyfriend for Victoria,' I thought.
After chatting for a while, Victoria and I made our way home. But there was something about Stewart I couldn't get out of my mind.

The next day, I went walking with Bubba when I spotted him by the swings.
'Mind if I walk with you?' he smiled.
We chatted and he told me how he was a trainee chef, still living with his family.
'I'd like to run my own restaurant one day,' he said.
He only looked in his early 20's, but there was a real maturity about him that impressed me.
He was funny too and made me feel so young and carefree.

All that slipped away walking back into the house and seeing Leslie slumped in front of the telly. Despite the move, we were barely speaking. So I didn't feel guilty joining Victoria and her mates in the park the next day. Stewart was there, sprawled on the grass.
'I challenge you to a rolling competition,' he said as I sat down. 'I bet you I can roll down that hill faster than you.'
'Don't be daft,' I snorted.
But Stewart had that twinkle in his eye again.
'Why not?' I laughed.

Clambering to our feet, we lined ourselves up at the top of the bank.
'One, two, three…go!' Stewart shouted.
I launched myself off the bank and careered down the hill. At the bottom Stewart and I rolled into each other. My stomach did somersaults. And suddenly our lips met in a tender kiss. It felt so magical I completely forgot where I was.

Pulling apart though, reality hit. What was I doing?I was a 38-year-old married woman snogging one of my daughter's best friends. I looked up to the top of the hill, praying Victoria hadn't seen. But she was staring straight at me, a look of shock on her face.
'She's going to tell her step-dad,' I panicked.

Hurriedly, I brushed the grass from my jeans and headed up the hill towards Victoria.
'What were you thinking?' she hissed, when we were out of earshot of the others.
'I don't know,' I said, my head spinning.
'I won't say anything,' Victoria promised. 'But I think you should tell Leslie.'
'I will,' I stammered.

But back home, as Victoria went upstairs, I headed straight for the computer in our living room. I knew Victoria had Stewart's email address. Never mind that Leslie was in the room too.
'I have to know what Stewart's thinking,' I thought.
I could see he was logged on, using his webcam. So I sent him an email. 'Do u like me?'
If Leslie turned round, he'd be able to see the computer screen But I didn't care.
'Yes', came back the reply as Stewart's image flashed up on the screen. I could see his grin over the webcam.
My heart raced with excitement. I hadn't felt like this in years.
So when Stewart asked me to meet him in the park later that night, I couldn't help but agree.

With Leslie engrossed in the telly, I sneaked out at 11pm to meet Stewart. We fell into each other's arms.
'I'm going to tell Leslie it's over,' I said. 'But I don't know what people will say.'
'Who cares if I'm only 17?' Stewart said.
17! I'd thought he was in his 20s.
I felt sick. I was practically a cradle-snatcher. But looking at Stewart, I couldn't help the way I felt.

An hour later I headed home to tell Leslie the truth. He was still sat in front of the telly but he'd sensed something was wrong.
'You've got that sparkle back,' he said as I sat down. 'The one you had when we first met.'
'I'm sorry,' I said. 'But I've met someone else.'
His face drained. 'To be honest I was expecting it,' he admitted.

The next day, before Leslie left, I sat Leigh down in the kitchen and told him everything.
'He's the same age as me,' he said. 'What are you doing, Mum?'
'The right thing,' I said.

Later that day Leslie moved out and Stewart moved in. Victoria was shocked.
'But if it makes you happy Mum,' she shrugged. 'That's OK.'
That night me and my teenage lover slept together for the first time. I was terrified about peeling off my clothes and showing him my middle-aged wobbly bits. But Stewart was nervous too. We turned off the lights and took it slowly. It was perfect.

While Stewart's family were shocked, but understanding, not everyone was. A week later Leigh moved in with my mum Christine Jewitt, 70, saying he couldn't cope. Mum didn't approve of my romance either.
'Cradle-snatcher!' a woman called out one day, four weeks after Leslie left.

In September 2006 Stewart and I decided to leave Hornsea and set up home in Hull where no one knew us. Then in October 2006 after six months together, Stewart got down on one knee in front of hundreds of shopper during a trip to Hull's North Point Centre.
'Will you marry me?' he asked, handing me a beautiful diamond ring.
'Yes!' I cried as fellow shoppers stared.

Leslie and I divorced in January 2007 and Stewart and I plan to marry some time next year.
We're also desperate to have a baby and I'm hoping to have the sterilisation I had 12 years ago reversed.

People ask, do I worry Stewart will grow bored and leave me for a younger model? Never.
With my love of house music and wicked humour, I'm as funky as any teen. Most important, Stewart and I are soul mates. And our sex life is fantastic! To think, I'd had him down as the perfect boyfriend for my daughter.

Want to read more stories about unusual love? Check out:

Sean's fatal toyboy fantasy

I watched my son lose his virginity!

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