Back Together Again!
Woman & Home|August 2019

Remember your first love? After years apart, these readers were magically reunited with theirs – and found the spark still burns bright.

Alice Grebot
Back Together Again!

‘THIS HAS COMPLETELY RENEWED MY FAITH IN LOVE’

CATHY UNDERWOOD, 52, is married to Andrew, 55. Cathy is a yoga teacher and movement therapist (yoga4mums. com) who has two sons from a previous marriage, Tyler, 18, and Corben, 16.

From the moment Andrew and I first met, there was an instant spark. It was 1985 – I was 18 – and we were cast together in a show at the London stage school we both attended. He was extremely charismatic, very individual and a brilliant singer. I was utterly in awe.

It sounds like a cliché, but all the boys wanted to be like him and all the girls wanted to be with him.

We began dating and quickly fell in love. I’d been out with someone before, but this felt completely different. I’d get goosebumps just looking at him.

Within a few months, Andrew had finished stage school and we were living together.

During that time, he was signed to a band. His contract moved him to America and so we had to split up. I was absolutely heartbroken.

Every so often he’d return to the UK and we’d meet up briefly, but it became obvious it wasn’t going to work. I was so in love with him, it started to drive me crazy. I told him I couldn’t endure it any longer and we went our separate ways.

In my heart, I knew he was my ideal man, but our career circumstances were against us and we were still so young.

When we split up, hard as it was, I’d come to terms with having to let him go. So I put him out of my head and tried to get on with my life.

Not long after, I met the man I would go on to marry. We had a great relationship and had two wonderful children together. Sadly though, we drifted apart and split up in 2012 after 21 years together, then divorced amicably a year later. We still remain good friends to this day.

This story is from the August 2019 edition of Woman & Home.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the August 2019 edition of Woman & Home.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM WOMAN & HOMEView All
Welcome to ENGLISH WINE COUNTRY
Woman & Home UK

Welcome to ENGLISH WINE COUNTRY

Ellen Himelfarb discovers palate-tingling wines and warm hospitality among the sunlit slopes and flint villages of Sussex

time-read
5 mins  |
June 2024
Naturally STYLISH
Woman & Home UK

Naturally STYLISH

Combining mindfulness ideas and natural materials, this country house - built by Lisa and David Wallace – exudes beauty, calm and serenity

time-read
2 mins  |
June 2024
Make ANXIETY Your superpower
Woman & Home UK

Make ANXIETY Your superpower

Embracing worrying thoughts might be more beneficial than suppressing them, says Samantha Wood

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2024
I hope the kids have my self-confidence
Woman & Home UK

I hope the kids have my self-confidence

Author and presenter Richard Madeley reflects on the early days of parenting, and watching his family grow

time-read
5 mins  |
June 2024
Love..OR LIES?
Woman & Home UK

Love..OR LIES?

Romance fraud is, sadly, on the increase - meet two women affected and find out how to stay safe

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2024
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A...PROBATION OFFICER
Woman & Home UK

WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A...PROBATION OFFICER

Meet Sarah Port, 40, deputy head of the Probation Delivery Unit in North Essex

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2024
Could YOU live on your PENSION?
Woman & Home UK

Could YOU live on your PENSION?

Surviving on the minimum retirement living standard for a week shocked Faith Archer into increasing her contributions

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2024
We're having a FASHION moment
Woman & Home UK

We're having a FASHION moment

And long may it continue, says Wendy Rigg, charting the rise of midlife fashion

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2024
There really is NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Woman & Home UK

There really is NO PLACE LIKE HOME

But when Yorkshire-woman Sharon Wright fetched up in Surbiton, which would hold that special place in her affections?

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2024
Older & bolder
Woman & Home UK

Older & bolder

One of our favourite comedians, Helen Lederer, has finally sent imposter syndrome to Room 101

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2024