Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

11. Shooting range

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

• 15 BONUS

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

+15 BONUS

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

mother.

Good thing he’s so

A character he got from his father, but not today.

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!

being the best

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

afraid that he had

you

a mistake like

“Not particularly, why?”

the station’s shooting range. I thought maybe we could

together”

in confusion. None of the things he

would I be

rest of you family is there. They were all advised to

case they ever

was news to me but I guess it did make sense. I

to be pissed that no one told me about this but I couldn’t bring myself to care.

go fuck themselves

pick you up?” Ethan asks interrupting

better to do. Plus this could be fun. Not to mention that I get to hang out

again.

“Sure”

there in

my bedroom to find something

+15 BONUS

arrives in ten minutes like

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

atmosphere was comfortable and I felt at ease around him.

around another adult for a

a cop”

“That would turn most people off

but my dad wasn’t a good man and neither was he

him down for selling illegal firearms I was actually relieved. Seeing those

was untouchable made me want to do

living in

quiet but I can tell there was something more. The way he talked about his

that his father wasn’t just bad, he was

who had really

needed such parents. Abuse

emotional.

you

back but I find myself opening

surprise.

neglected as a child. When I was around nine years,

was everything I wanted my mother to be. She cared, praised me, hugged me when I needed a hug, supported