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

is usually in tune and nothing escapes his notice. A character he got from his father, but

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 I am a damn good teacher and it

the best performed in

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

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

Ava…are you

it hadn’t been a mistake like I

“Not particularly, why?”

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

together”

confusion. None of the things he said were making any kind of sense

be at

there. They were all advised to train in shooting and to

case they ever got in

that was news to me but I guess it did make sense. I mean having a gun when dealing with a dangerous gang could

pissed that no one told me about this but I couldn’t bring

go fuck themselves for

pick you up?” Ethan asks

Plus this could be fun.

again.

“Sure”

I’ll be there

to find something descent to

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Ethan arrives in ten minutes like

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

felt at ease around him. It was nice. I haven’t felt

adult for a

by a cop”

bit surprised. “That would turn most people off

good man and neither was he a good father. When the

for selling illegal firearms I was actually relieved. Seeing those cops taking

thought was untouchable made me want to do

was living

can tell there was something more. The

his father wasn’t just

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

no child needed such parents. Abuse was

emotional.

what made you

I find myself

surprise.

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

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