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After getting engaged within the finale of the primary season of The Golden Bachelor, Gerry Turner and his winner, Theresa Nist, married in entrance of hundreds of thousands of at-home viewers in a televised wedding ceremony particular on January 4, 2024. They introduced their divorce three months afterward Good Morning America. In an excerpt from his new ebook, Golden Years: What I’ve Realized From Love, Loss, and Actuality TV
, Gerry particulars the “deafening” second he knew he and Theresa have been over. Learn the unique Golden Years excerpt beneath.
On Friday, Theresa knocked off work a bit early to drive to Angie’s home so we may attend Charlee’s volleyball match the following day. Angie’s husband, Rob, drove all of us to the massive venue in downtown Indy, the place over 100 groups have been collaborating. The purpose of the day was to spend household time watching volleyball, however I can’t deny that I actually loved the half the place individuals stored coming as much as me to take photos. (After all, I fortunately obliged.) Sadly, Theresa didn’t discover my Indiana fan base fairly as enjoyable. A number of occasions, I caught her expression when somebody requested me for a photograph, and though we didn’t know one another in addition to I’d have appreciated, I may inform she was not happy. I attempted my finest to incorporate her, however both she or the fan can be reluctant, which solely served to extend the strain.
The week, which had began with the dream of connection and romance, deteriorated into each of us going by way of the motions—and never all that effectively. There was no animosity, no quarreling. The truth is, there wasn’t a lot emotion in any respect. As a substitute, there was a near-constant low hum of battle as we continued to confront our variations in schedules, consuming habits, and plans to see one another. As if highlighting our incompatibility, a number of occasions throughout her go to, Theresa regarded round on the countryside and mentioned with a shudder, “There’s simply no approach I may stay right here. It’s so remoted.”
I drove Theresa to the airport for her flight dwelling, and it was some of the uncomfortable automobile rides of my grownup life. The variations between East Coast and Midwestern mentalities had develop into painfully obvious. I remembered that in the course of the drive to my home from the airport, struck by the miles and miles of farmland rolling by her, she’d instructed that it must be developed with condos, buying malls, and industrial parks. “It simply looks like such a waste of all this house,” she mentioned.
I used to be flabbergasted on the notion that anybody would need to destroy such nourishing magnificence. “Theresa, these farmers would somewhat promote considered one of their youngsters than promote these farms, which in some circumstances have been of their households for over 100 years,” I mentioned. I used to be being a bit hyperbolic, however I couldn’t imagine her response to the sight of agricultural land was to need it razed for extra Starbucks and Lululemon storefronts.
With extra distance between us than ever earlier than, we shared a horribly awkward goodbye on the airport. The sunshine kiss on the cheek and mild hug we exchanged had all the heat of a gathering between distant cousins. I used to be relieved the week was over, and I guess Theresa was too.
Within the weeks that adopted, I used to be uncomfortable remembering the vows I had spoken at our wedding ceremony. “So long as I stay, I promise to like you, I promise to be there for you within the final chapter of our lives, and I make this promise with one thousand % certainty,” I mentioned. “I like you, Theresa, with all my coronary heart.”
There was such battle raging inside me. I’m not a liar, however was what I’d mentioned in entrance of all our company and hundreds of thousands of viewers the reality? Prepared to make concessions for the wedding to outlive, I had consistently been asking Theresa, “Do we now have room to compromise? Do we now have an space the place we will discover happiness with one another?” By the point she left Indiana, nonetheless, I may not see any path ahead for us. The ambivalence was deafening.
Tailored from GOLDEN YEARS by Gerry Turner, publishing on November 4, 2025. Copyright © 2025 by Gerry Turner. Utilized by association with Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette E-book Group. All rights reserved.







