'I fell in love with my hubby's best friend. Widowed mum who lost her partner, 32, to pancreatic cancer finds happiness again after marrying his mate

His best mate Kevin was a terrific support to her – and within a year both began to feel a spark develop between the two of them. Eventually putting their feelings of guilt aside, the couple got together – and now have a 10-year-old daughter. Kathryn told how she and Kevin had always been close as she and Philip

 Kathryn and Philip, whose life was cut short when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer

would often hang out in a big group of friends when they first got together, in which he usually included.
She recalled: “It was great to get to know Kevin and we even double-dated whenever he was seeing someone.”

 Kathryn and Philip got married in May 1998 and quickly started a family 

Kathryn said: “With a new baby we didn’t go out much, but Kevin would come over every couple of months for dinner or he and Philip would go for a run.”
The lads, who’d been friends since childhood, were both members of an athletics club, where Kathryn’s dad had been their coach.
Kathryn admitted: “I’d always fancied Philip. He was three years older than me.”
In January 2003 she and Philip welcomed another baby boy, Sam.
Kathryn said: “Philip was thrilled as he’d always wanted two sons.”

 Kathryn, pictured with Philip on their honeymoon, had always been friendly with Kevin

But one morning, when Sam was four months old, Philip came into their bedroom with a worried look on his face.
Kathryn recalled: “He told me his wee was bright orange, and he looked really yellow.
“I made an appointment with the GP who thought Philip might have hepatitis. They sent him to the hospital for scans.
“We were sick with worry and as soon as we saw the consultant’s face, our fears were confirmed.”
Philip had a tumour in his pancreas which had spread to his liver.
There was nothing doctors could do.

  Kathryn and Philip with their two boys Joseph and Sam, pictured a week before Philip’s diagnosis 

Kathryn explained: “We were told chemotherapy could help Philip live a bit longer, but there isn’t a cure.
“I couldn’t believe it was happening. It had come out of nowhere and Philip was only 32.
“We went home and held each other sobbing, before telling our parents.
“The more people we told, the more real it became.”