A woman is best friends with her ex-husband and his new partner, and they are all raising their children together.
Pub owner Rachel Young, 36, from Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, met Gillian Knox, 40, 16 years ago.
At the time, Rachel was married to Alan Malone, 39, and Gillian was married to one of her friends.
The two couples would socialize together and Gillian would look after Rachel and Alan’s daughter Alexa, who is now 14 years old.
In 2014, Alan and Rachel split after six years together, and that same year Gillian and her ex-husband ended their 13-year relationship.
Later that year, Gillian and Alan fell in love and began dating, leading to a fight with Rachel, who only communicated with the couple about taking care of Alexa’s children.
However, over time, Rachel and Gillian realized that it was “silly” to disagree and began going to Alexa’s parents’ nights and school events together, and are now best friends.
Pub owner Rachel Young, 36 (second left) from Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, is best friends with her ex-husband Alan Malone, 39 (second right) and his new partner Gillian Knox , 40 years old (right). Left: Stephen, Rachel’s new partner, 41 years old.
They slowly rebuilt their relationships and are now dating their children: Zach, four, Rory, two, and Hallie, two, and their partners, Alan and Stephen, 41.
Rachel said: ‘We’re best friends. He is almost brotherly or cousin. It’s a really nice relationship. It makes life easier.
‘I don’t think there’s anything I can’t talk to Gillian about. It’s kind of like taking your hands off the table.
Gillian said: ‘There’s no awkwardness. It’s more like she’s a relative. As a couple, life is very easy, it is lovely. We are all friends. We are completely immersed in each other’s lives.
Gillian was friends with Alan through her ex-husband and said the friends used to go out with their partners all the time.
Gillian said: ‘I used to look after Alexa a lot. Alan and Rachel came to my wedding.
Gillian split from her ex-husband in 2014 after 13 years together and Alan and Rachel, who were together for six, split the same year.
Gillian did some shifts for Alan’s catering business and the pair grew closer and began dating later that year.
Rachel’s ex-husband’s best friends, Alan, and his new partner, Stephen, go out for a drink together.
Rachel (left) and Gillian (right) met 16 years ago through Rachel’s ex-husband Alan.
Rachel’s daughter Alexa is also very close to Gillian’s daughter Hallie and her half-brother Rory.
She said: ‘We spent a lot of time together. We ended up as a couple. Rachel and I naturally drifted.
‘We couldn’t communicate. We had to go through Alan. We avoid each other.
Rachel met Stephen, with whom she owns the pub, in July 2014, but despite finding a new partner, she struggled to communicate with Gillian and only texted Alan to arrange childcare.
She said: ‘I didn’t have any problems with anyone. When that relationship (with Alan) ended, I made it clear that that life was over.
‘It was a bit mean. “It was a little awkward at first, when everything was tense.”
But in 2017 Rachel and Gillian finally started talking again. Gillian said: “We have to make sure Alexa is number one, and we realized she wasn’t.”
‘Rachel called to say she needed the Rainbows uniform. She was going to leave it to Alan at some point.
Gillian (left) and Rachel (right) used to communicate only through Alan to arrange childcare for Rachel’s 14-year-old daughter Alexa (centre).
Gillian found it difficult when Rachel became pregnant with four-year-old Zach (centre) as she had been trying to have her own baby. But shortly after Rachel had Rory, two (left), Gillian discovered she was pregnant with Hallie, now two (right).
Rachel and Gillian text each other every day and when they’re not out playing with the kids, they go on afternoon dates and drinks together.
‘I saw her walking down the street with him. I thought “this is stupid, I can’t just walk past you.” I asked him “do you want me to wear the uniform?” She broke the ice.”
Gillian decided to take Rachel out for coffee, they talked about their problems and put them to bed.
They started going together to parent’s evenings, school concerts, and dentist appointments for Alexa.
Rachel said: “I think things changed naturally.” “Everything is to benefit Alexa: she is the most important one.”
Little by little they began to go out together again as a four and go to restaurants and pubs together.
Gillian found it difficult when Rachel became pregnant with four-year-old Zach as she had been trying to have her own baby.
But shortly after Rachel had two-year-old Rory, Gillian discovered she was pregnant with Hallie, who was now two.
Now all the children play together and families can hang out together without animosity.
Gillian, pictured with her children Zach, Rory and Hailie, said the children are raised as cousins and all live just a few minutes’ drive from each other.
The friends now raise their children together because they live nearby (pictured: Rory and Hallie)
She said: ‘It was lovely spending time with Rory when she was a newborn and pregnant. Now we always take care of each other.
Rachel said: ‘When she got pregnant, the relationship picked up speed again. We started catching up more often and being together more socially.’
Gillian said the children are raised as cousins and all live just a few minutes’ drive from each other.
Rachel and Gillian text each other every day and when they’re not out playing with the kids, they go on afternoon dates and drinks together.
Gillian said: ‘This year on Mother’s Day we went somewhere fancy for afternoon tea to treat ourselves. This year we also spent the New Year together for the first time.’
Rachel said: ‘I’m grateful to Gillian for stepping up and taking care of my daughter. Alexa is the person she is thanks to both of them.
‘It’s getting to the point where she doesn’t want to talk to me about some things. But I know she will go to Gillian.
