Getting Divorced Saved Our Marriage - Couple Make Amazing Revelation on Love Life (Photo)

 

 

Steve and Ann Berry were childhood sweethearts when they walked down the aisle, aged 21 and 17, blissfully in love. From that day they led an unexceptional, but happy, life. Cosy Sunday lunches, nights tucked up in front of the television and, when their three daughters came along, family holidays.

 

For 22 years, the couple, from Redditch, Worcestershire, remained by each other's side. Steve had a successful career as a financial adviser, Ann worked in accounts for a local firm. There were no rows and their girls grew into beautiful young teenagers.

 

However, in 2004, Ann suddenly found herself filled with discontent.

 

According to her: 'It's difficult to say what went wrong. Steve and I never fought and the girls say they have very happy memories of their childhood. I just remember thinking: 'I don't want to be married any more.

 

 

They split, rapidly and painfully. Steve was bereft, then angry and their daughters were confused and heartbroken.

 

 

For years, Steve and Ann couldn't bear to be in the same room. Vitriol and bitterness replaced the happy times they had shared.

 

But the couple got back together after five whole years and people now ask how on earth did they achieve the feat in the face of such anguish.

 

They had found out that they could actually not live without each other. The fact they divorced had forced them to realise their need for each other.

 

The split was rancorous, with Steve unwilling to accept his marriage was over. 'I loved Ann. I couldn't understand why she was breaking up the family,' he says, 'but we couldn't have a civil conversation with each other.'

 

They were forced to see one another once a week when Steve picked their daughters up for visits and would argue about everything from whether Steve was ensuring the girls were doing their homework to the fact Ann was now in a new relationship.

 

Despite the heady excitement of her new relationship, it was volatile. Despairing at this situation, Ann found herself calling the one man she knew she could rely on: Steve.

 

Ann's needs took over Steve's life, despite the fact he was in another relationship. 'I had met someone, but I was always leaving her to help Ann so it didn't work out,' he says.

 

Ann began to look at Steve differently. He still had that same old kindness and humour. She found herself comparing her new relationship to the one she'd had with Steve and realised how close and loving their marriage had been.

 

 

In 2009, Ann left her partner. Steve was there, helping her to pick up the pieces - and their caring friendship soon became more romantic. 'The romantic spark was much stronger when we got back together,' says Ann. 'We both felt elated to be back together. Steve never gave up on me.

 

When they remarried in 2012, their daughters were bridesmaids and their grandchildren flower girls.

 

 

'We get on so much better,' says Steve. 'I've always loved Ann. I'm so happy to have her back.'

 

Christine Northam, a counsellor from Relate, says crunch points in relationships, such as stressful jobs or coping with small children, are often what cause divorce. A few years down the line, however, former couples may realise the situation, rather than any inherent flaw in their relationship, was to blame for their unhappiness.