When a couple takes a relationship break, there are inevitably certain issues to work through. But, for Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, those issues became a whole lot more complicated when the NBA star fathered a son with another woman.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Dwyane and the baby’s mother were long-time friends and hooked up earlier this year when Dwyane and Gabrielle were on a hiatus. People reports Dwyane was immediately honest with Gabrielle and they worked through the issue privately. (Thankfully, the conversation seems to have gone better than Ross and Rachel’s in Friends…)
Speaking with Jay Leno in September, DWade said the break actually did a lot of good for his and Gabrielle’s relationship.
“This was a big year for us and our relationship from the standpoint of she was shooting her show Being Mary Jane, going most of the year. I was dealing with my injuries, trying to win a championship, so we kinda took a step back,” Dwyane said. “We supported each other… But at the end of the day we came back together and [said], ‘Listen, we want to continue this, we want to continue to try to get better each day,’ and she’s been with me, and I’ve been with her all summer long. We’re going strong now.”
In fact, the couple is so strong that Dwyane took the next step by proposing (with a massive ring) on Dec. 21. They are planning a September 2014 wedding.
As far as how Dwyane’s new son will fit into everything, Dwayne is recognized by many as an exemplary father: He already raises his two sons from ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches as well as his young nephew. He also participates in President Obama’s Fatherhood Task Force and wrote A Father First: How My Life Became Bigger than Basketball, a New York Times bestseller.
