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.

Good thing he’s so excited about the

usually in tune and nothing escapes his notice. A character he got from his father, but not today. Today his mind was completely on

but soon I’m finished. Instead of watching a movie like I had 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

the best performed in

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

of me afraid that he had dialed my number

Ava…are you busy?”

guess it hadn’t been a

“Not particularly, why?”

told you aren’t at the station’s shooting range. I thought maybe we could

together”

things he said were making any kind of

would I be at

is there. They were all advised

license just in case they

me but I guess it did make sense. I mean having

told me about this but I couldn’t bring myself to care.

go fuck themselves for all I

I come pick you up?”

Plus this could be fun. Not

again.

“Sure”

I’ll be there in

to find something descent to

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Ethan arrives in ten minutes like he said and we immediately

an officer of the law?” I ask turning to face

ease around him. It was

adult for a long

was killed by a cop” he answers with a

“That would turn most

and neither was he a good father.

him down for selling illegal firearms I was

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

living in

there was something more. The way

father wasn’t

in my class. Students who had really abusive parents. I

Abuse was

emotional.

made you become a teacher?”

I find myself opening up

surprise.

as a child. When I was around nine

be. She cared, praised me, hugged me