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,

as she left, Fitch whipped out

other end made the corners

to believe he'll pass

"Yes, Mr. Haskins."

hanging up, Fitch approached the classroom door, catching sight of Nolan staring blankly at the crafts they'd

boy was precocious, aware at such a young age that Zoey was his mom, yet he dared not call out

Deep down, Nolan probably

Zoey was about to start a new family and didn't want him anymore. The child's fear was palpable, but Zoey was blind

the faint bond of mother and child seemed all the more

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

be so

urge to smoke again; the greatest wrongs in his life were done

seat and walking to the front to grab the craft Zoey had demonstrated. Zoey

had seen Zoey create something, and his heart felt a

insurmountable separation adults talked about, but why did it still feel so

were about to touch the little cat, another child

Zoey, all vying for the things she

kitty is mine,