Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

6. A new version

Rowan

There is something that happens inside you when you see your ex–wife, the mother of your son, shot and bleeding on the cold cemetery ground. Something I never thought I would feel towards Ava. 1

When I saw the men with guns pointing at us, I didn’t fucking think. I knew Noah was safe with my parents so my instincts took over and I dived for Emma. I would die for her and I was prepared to do just that..

I was relieved when the shooters ran after seeing the police but my relief was short lived when one of the officers shouted for an ambulance. I turned around wondering who was hurt, only I didn’t expect it to be Ava and seeing her hurt almost brought me to my knees.

It was a flurry of events after that. The ambulance arrived and the officer refused to let Ava go until he made sure she was safely in the able arms of the doctor.

I was pissed at his reluctance to let her go, she was my wife, I mean ex–wife but more importantly I was pissed at myself. I should have protected her. If something worse had happened to Ava, how would I have explained it to Noah? How would I justify the fact that I had failed to protect his mother?

So here I was pacing back and forth in the waiting room. So fucking worried because we hadn’t gotten a word since Ava was rushed to the emergency room. No one had come out to inform us of the prognosis.

“Please let her be okay” Kate, her mother whispered.

This is the first time I’ve heard any emotion in her voice when she talked about Ava I guess losing her husband and then almost losing her daughter softened her a bit.

We were all here with the exception of Noah Travis was seated next to Kate who was next to

Emma

I sat down unable to control the anxiety inside me. I needed her to be okay for Noah’s sake. I kept telling myself

I don’t know fo

ow long we were waiting, but when I looked up I saw Ava. She was over at the nurse’s station handing off papers. Her left arm was in a sling as she took her credit card and put it in her bag.

With difficulty, she managed to get out her phone, while still holding her bag. You could see that it wasn’t an easy task by the frown on her face.

+15 BONUS

“Ava” I called as she was about to walk past us. Her eyes still on her phone.

She looked up. I immediately noticed that something about her was different. I couldn’t place my

finger on it but it was there.

“What are you doing here, did someone else get hurt?” she asked. Her voice flat and devoid of any

emotion.

“How are you doing?” her mom asked instead of replying.

“Unfortunately for you, I’m not dead yet”

Her answer took everyone by surprise. Not only because of how she worded, but because of how cold it was.

I decide to cut in. “Where are you going”

“Home” was her only answer.

“Your hand is in a sling, you can’t drive” I reason.

“That’s why I called an Uber”

talk. It’s about you father” Kate whispers

I could see it in

mother. “I don’t see what that has to do

consider me his

Ava doesn’t pay any attention

feelings leaving nothing

but then stopped. “Where

house” Travis answered.

“Looks like you’ll

you” I

Emma but she’s got to understand. No

Noah’s mother and she is hurt.

down. “No need. I’ll use the Uber like

turned and left. We stare at the place she just stood

at any opportunity to be close to me. So

she rejected my offer.

+15 BONUS

gets home and leaves before we’ve had the chance to talk” Kate says softly. Her voice

my Cadillac Escalade and drive off. Breaking every speed limit, we get to Kate’s house just in

them. It was weird seeing this side of her. Most of

this over with” she says in

to me with a business proposal that he wanted to partner with me. I agreed because I thought it was a good investment”

gang. Neither James nor I wanted anything illegal

brows were furrowed as if she was confused

were among the most wanted, they didn’t take it well that we had ousted them so they went into hiding. We thought that

wife and children. They blamed him because he was the one that had approached them even though he didn’t they were involved in illegal business.

I look at Emma

then turn to Ava and the same

is cool as she looks at us. Her eyes piercing us like shards

“I’m going to

you’re not taking this

what this meant? How much danger

with us planning her funeral

said I

+15 BONUS

growled portraying the same frustration I was feeling. “You were shot today

glares at him. “All it tells me is that I was in the right place at

Kate goes to speak but Ava cuts

the three of you, not me. Everyone in this damn city knows that

so what’s the use of going

if she died?”

leaving us.cold. This was so unlike

to look at me. Her eyes are devoid of any emotion. It’s like she was dead on

about the way she looked at me bothered me. I hated that I

her eyes

safety should be your priority then. it’s the woman beside you. She was his perfect little

pauses then faces the rest. Staring each

it turns out I’m danger I will

we stare at her in surprise. Unable to recognize

1. like Ava has just

to intimidate her. In the past Ava would

but

being such a little bitch, just like always you want everything to be about you” she seethes making Ava laugh tonelessly.

not what we’re discussing right now. I’ve lived without these people’s protection for as long as I can remember, I don’t know why they’re