Despite the large age gap and handpicking a replacement wife, fans had to give Mark Shoemaker some credit for being upfront about his reasons for marrying Nikki. Mark was looking for less of a wife and more of a mother for his kids (some older than Nikki). A point he drove home throughout Season 3 by continuously mentioning that he never imagined fatherhood as being alone with his kids. While it's unclear what exactly Mark thought raising children entailed, it is clear that he was determined to find a new wife to share the burden. The Father of the Year Award goes to Mark... just kidding.

Nikki didn't seem to mind the stepmom role and happily accepted Mark's marriage proposal and a one-way ticket to the Mid-Atlantic. But Mark had some rules before he'd make it official. First, he made Nikki sign a prenup that ensured she'd get nothing if they were to divorce. Second, Mark made it clear that he had zero interest in having any more kids. Starting a family is a big decision, and he generously gave Nikki 24 hours to decide if she'd ever like to be a mother. Nikki agreed to his demands, but was heartbroken over the decision. 

Mark wasn't all bad, though! He balanced out all his seemingly controlling rules by buying Nikki the exact same car he bought his ex-wife. Oh, wait, that's also not great.

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