Dear Ex-wife Marry Me by Twin Bridge

"Yeah, Mom's got a new beau now and doesn't need him or Dad anymore."

Sister Rosemary used to say that stepmothers could be wicked, leaving kids hungry, cold, and sometimes even selling them off to some godforsaken place in the boonies. The more Nolan thought about it, the deeper his sense of loss became.

As recess rolled around, Zoey stepped out of the classroom and immediately spotted Fitch standing not too far away.

She wasn't exactly fond of the man, but he was, after all, Zion City's biggest investor. She owed him some courtesy.

"Mr. Haskins."

She called out and started heading to her office.

"Ms. March, are you off for a break now?"

Zoey forced a smile, not too keen on chatting, but managed to respond, "Yeah, in an hour the kids will have lunch. I need to get the storybook ready for our pre-meal reading." "I'll join you."

"That won't be necessary, Mr. Haskins. I'm sure you're quite busy."

"Not at all."

Taking a deep breath, Zoey replied with feigned cheerfulness, "Really, it's fine. This sort of thing, I usually do with my boyfriend."

Fitch didn't budge, fiddling with his lighter that he had pulled out but hadn't used, twirling it between his fingers.

he wasn't insisting, Zoey

Fitch whipped out his

other end made the corners

believe he'll pass it up. Have the official side send

"Yes, Mr. Haskins."

up, Fitch approached the classroom door, catching sight of Nolan staring blankly at the crafts

age that

Deep down, Nolan probably

a new family and didn't want him anymore. The child's fear was

the faint bond of mother and

every child was hers, her love equally divided among all her students, with no

so

greatest wrongs in his life

to notice him, getting up from his seat and walking to the front to

the first time Fitch had seen Zoey

being with Mom didn't mean the insurmountable separation adults talked

about to touch the little cat, another child snatched

class adored Zoey, all vying for

is mine,