After the news of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s affair sent the media into a feeding frenzy and forced the former governor’s lovechild and mistress into hiding, reports surfaced that Schwarzenegger has been taking secret trips to visit the pair and get to know his son, Joseph.
“Arnold wants to spend time with Joseph and play more of an active role in his life,” a source says. “In a way, Arnold is relieved that he no longer has to hide the fact that he is Joseph’s father.”
But Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn’t been the only one making the secret trips, the source also revealed that 13-year-old Joseph and his mother, Mildred Baena, have been spending time at Schwarzenegger’s Brentwood, California home, where they have been continuing to foster a father-son relationship.
“Arnold apologized to Joseph because he had to miss the last few weeks of school, and Joseph said he had no problem missing school and could forgive him for that,” the source said. “It was a really tender moment between father and son.”
Although it will take time for the pair to bond as father and son and to create the semblance of a normal relationship, Joseph did get at least one trait from his dad — his love for cars.
“Joseph loves his dad’s car collection. He loves cars, and Arnold has driven his son around his gated Brentwood neighborhood.”
But a life behind the gates may be all the modern family can handle, at least until the media spotlight begins to dim — although Schwarzenegger does hope that his son will be able to return to school in the fall “without the cameras following him.”
The press may give Joseph a break once the new school year begins but one duo they won’t let up on is Schwarzenegger and his soon-to-be ex-wife, Maria Shriver. The estranged couple have officially filed for divorce and Schwarzenegger is reportedly willing to offer Shriver more than half of his vast fortune, owning up to his indiscretions.
