Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

11. Shooting range

“So how’s your day sweetheart?” I ask Noal

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The phone is between my shoulder and eat I was trying to maximize by talking to him while doing some cleaning. It wasn’t an easy but at least my shoulder was doing so much better now.

“It’s awesome“” he shouts through the phone almost bursting my ent drums “We just had ice cream and now we are going to the slides, they have slides here and they lead straight to the

ocean”

His excited chanter makes me happy. His happines in my happiness The fact that he is safe and enjoying himself was enough for me.

“That’s great baby…see, I told you that you would have lots of fun”

Giving up on cleaning, I take a seat on the couch. It would be better to finish talking to him first.

“What about you mommy, how’s your weekend?”

What could I say? It was boring as hell. My eight year old son was having more fun than I was. I didn’t have anywhere to go or anyone to hang out with since I had no friends.

My colleagues used to invite me to things but they stopped after I kept turning them down Deep inside I knew they invited me as a formality, because I was there when they were inviting others. Not because they genuinely want to know me or hang out with me.

“Uh, it’s okay…just doing some cleaning” I murmur

I hear him sigh. “Mom, you need to go out and have fun like I am. Since I’m not there, I don’t want you to stay at home all alone”

Why the hell did I feel so chastised right now?

“I will, I just have to finish my chores first” I lie.

After cleaning I would probably just watch a movie and drown myself in junk food. Or I would just catch up on sleep. Both options didn’t seem that bad.

“Fine…I have to go mommy, Pa is calling for me”

“Okay my love, talk to you at night”

“Bye, and grandma says hi to you”

Noah calls mother grandma and used to call father grandpa. As for Rowan’s parents, he calls them

Pa and Ma

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“That’s good be careful on the slides” I say, completely ignoring the greetings from my supposed

mother.

after that. Good thing he’s so excited about

A character he got

planned, I decide to go through the biology essays of my students. So far the ones I’ve marked have done really well! I don’t mean to brag but

being the

when my phone rings. My heartbeat lurches when I see Ethan’s name flashing.

answer unsure, part of me afraid that he had dialed my number by

you busy?” he

been a mistake like

“Not particularly, why?”

told you aren’t at the station’s shooting range. I

together”

None of the things he said were making

I be at a

the rest of you family is there. They were

license just in case they ever got

guess it did make sense. I mean having a gun when

told me about this

go fuck themselves for

pick you up?” Ethan asks

better to do. Plus this could be fun. Not

again.

“Sure”

I’ll be there in

to find something descent to

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in ten minutes like he said

become an officer of the law?” I

at ease around

another adult for a

dad was killed by a cop”

“That would turn

wasn’t a good man and

firearms I

who thought was untouchable made me want to do the same thing. Make

was living in a safe

goes quiet but I can tell there was something more. The

wasn’t just

had such kids in my class. Students who had really abusive parents. I try

parents. Abuse was abuse. Whether it

emotional.

you

I find myself opening up to him, something

surprise.

I was neglected as

praised me, hugged me when I needed a hug,