The first step was Katie Blackmer and Stephen, her ex-husband, were experiencing strains in their relationship. Unfortunately, all of this is not abnormal as approximately 50% of marriages end in divorce, and their marriages join this group.
It wasn’t an easy time over the next few months, but they got through it and moved on. The two separated in January 2016 and later worked together to co-parent their children aged 5, 10 and 11.
However, a tragedy occurred 16 months later when Stephen and his brother were involved in a horrific car accident, which killed his brother and injured Stephen so badly that he needed 24-hour care, 7 days a week, for several months.
Although she is divorced, Katie rushed to Stephen’s rescue and also took care of her children before welcoming him and her new husband to their 2,500 square foot home in Christiana, 45 miles away. southeast of Nashville, after the hospital discharged him.
Then, once he recovered and was able to take care of himself, he didn’t leave. The situation seemed favorable to him, helped by the high cost of houses in the area, and Katie told him that hers and Ben’s were his.
But that didn’t stop him from looking for a new love. Soon he meets Brandy, they surprise him, and suddenly this crazy story settles in this divorced couple living in the same house with their new estate and, in addition, six children now.
The other three are Ben’s 19-year-old son and Brandi’s children, aged 7-9. While outsiders might expect this situation to be awkward at best, horribly tense, and uncomfortable at worst, it really wasn’t.
Katie said the situation was actually very easy and they all felt very comfortable with each other. Although the sound tends to be loud and frantic with many people living under one roof, they wouldn’t live otherwise.
