Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

Ava

“I still don’t understand why I have to go. Why can’t I just stay here with you?” Noah complains. A frown marring his handsome face.

He’s been sore about this whole thing since I told him that he’ll be leaving with his grandparents. At first he was excited about it but then he became saddened when he realized that neither I nor his father would be joining him.

His school had been understanding of our situation His teacher even agreed to send lessons to mother so that he isn’t left too behind.

“I already told you baby, this is a grandparents–grandson kind of vacation…it’s just for you and you grandparents.”

After talking to the chief he assured me that they’ll be sent somewhere tropical.

“You’re going to a beach. Haven’t you been begging us to take you for a vacation?” I add with a

mischievous smile.

The word ‘beach‘ immediately catches his attention. All the complaints he had, now lost.

Noah is obsessed with the ocean. He loves beaches so much that he once cried for a whole week

after we returned from a vacation in the Maldives. He’d wanted us to move there. When we refused

he’d pleaded for us to just leave him there.

I smile at the memory. So grateful for the happiness and joy Noah has filled my life with.

“You’re not lying to me are you?” he asks, pulling me back from my thoughts.

“Would I ever lie to you?”

“No” his frown turns into a full blown smile. His grey eyes shining in happiness. “I guess it’s okay then. I’m not mad at you anymore”

“Why were you mad at me?” I ask

“Because you refused to come with me, but it’s okay now. You can always join us later”

I wanted to tell him I won’t be joining him but I stop myself. I wasn’t going to risk him going back.

to being sad and moody again.

“Now, come one let’s go or we’ll be late” I take my handbag and sling it over my uninjured shoulder

While I grab his small suitcase, he grabs his duffel bag and rushes downstairs Carefully, I bring

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I was just about to order an Uber when my door bell rings. I rush to open before Noah can. He has a

tendency to open the door without first asking who is on the other side. No matter how many

times I caution him. No matter how many times I tell him to ask first and not to open if the person

on the other side doesn’t answer or he doesn’t recognize his or her voice. He just never listens.

Opening the door, I groan when I see who is on the other side.

Why did it seem like that the moment I decide to get over Rowan is when he seems to be

everywhere I turn?

“Dad!” Noah rushes past me and throws himself on his father.

“Hey buddy” Rowan greets him then hugs him close.

He sniffs him. Breathing his scent in. I once asked him why he does that and he told me Noah’s

scent just calms him. Like how fragrances calm other people down.

He puts him down and faces me. Noah rushes back to the living room. His excitement making

him hyper.

seems like I’ve been asking him

days.

He shrugs his shoulder.

he says as he gestures to my injured arm as a way

explanation

always, his face gives nothing away. I now understand that he is like

me. I’m the only one he looks at coolly. Even with his

them a

for that. I’ve

lie. The last thing I wanted was to be stuck

take us to get to

His cold

wonder why I fell for him. He is

have ran for the hills screaming when I

in my power

leave, I’ll meet you at the

think he was coming to my house and throwing out

allow him

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we’re chest to chest. His eyes flash and

Refusing to let him

that fucking order and get your ass into my car” he growls through clench teeth.

and I clench my fist. Usually I would push it down

him but I no longer

think you’re, hmm? I’m not some fucking puppy you think you can fucking command” my voice

thought we had. But what did it bring me? What did pushing down and containing who I am give? Nothing. It gave me nothing but pain and heartache.

says in a warning

you two fighting again?” Noah’s voice cuts through the

looking at us sadly. Damn it! I hate Noah seeing

with us fighting all

aren’t. We just can’t agree on something” I side eye Rowan.

like me, the anger and coldness on his face has disappeared. Just like me,

for Noah. Including tolerating my

with an Uber’since she can’t drive but I wanted to drive

with a lazy

can’t we just go

take a deep breath and cast my eyes heavenward. Damn

my son and he looks at me so

defeat. “Alright,

things I do for

screams and rushes back to the leaving

then leave to

tidy the living room a bit and then pick things

was in place before

hand. Rowan wraps an arm around me and steadies me before I can fall.

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at the foyer”

to do you know this”

“Let’s just go”

leaves I watch him wondering what has gotten into him. Not once has he helped me before. He was acting strangely and I didn’t like

the time I get my feet moving and lock the door, Rowan and Noah were already seated in the car. Reluctantly, I approach

busy on his tablet watching. some cartoon. Once he’s focused on something it’s hard to get his attention. Another ten minutes in and I was going crazy. I’m almost tempted to throw myself out of the moving car just to

my hands to turn on the radio but Rowan stops me

the arm?” he asks His eyes were on the road but he looked at me briefly when

does the one arm driving? Shaking those thoughts from my mind I focus my eyes

“Fine”

give me more than just a one word answer?” he asks through clenched

lengths to tune me out” I say

push it back down. I’m set on healing from those past hurts

the window. Praying that we would just get where we

haven’t you spoken to her

it’s getting on my nerve Rowan. Can you just ignore me and

grip on the steering wheel tightens. I see his jaw clench. He was getting pissed. Probably because I wasn’t acting like the

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like Emma. I did everything I could to be the wife he could fall in love with. Now I had shed that skin and he didn’t