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.

up after that. Good thing he’s so excited about the slides to

A character he got from his father, but

get back to cleaning 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

subject being the best performed in

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

I answer unsure, part of me afraid

Ava…are you busy?” he

hadn’t been a mistake like I

“Not particularly, why?”

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

together”

the things he said

be at a shooting

you family is there. They were all advised to train in

case they ever got

did make sense. I mean having a gun when dealing

one told me about this but I couldn’t bring myself

themselves for all

you up?” Ethan

fun. Not to mention that I

again.

“Sure”

be there in ten

to find something descent to wear. Seeing

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ten minutes like he said and

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

at ease

another adult

a

“That would turn most

wasn’t a good man and neither was he a

illegal firearms I was actually relieved. Seeing those

thought was untouchable made me want to do the same

I was living in a safe

but I can tell there was something more. The way he

let me know that his father wasn’t

Students who had really abusive parents. I try to help as much

child needed such parents. Abuse was abuse. Whether

emotional.

you become a teacher?”

but I find myself opening up to him, something that takes me

surprise.

parents weren’t the best and I was neglected as a child. When

She was everything I wanted my mother to be. She cared, praised me, hugged me when I needed a hug, supported me. She was kind and not