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.

so excited about the slides to realize I

in tune and nothing escapes his notice. A character he got from his father, but not today.

had planned, I decide to go through the biology

my subject being the best performed

was almost done when my phone rings. My heartbeat lurches

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

Ava…are you busy?”

a mistake like I had

“Not particularly, why?”

shooting range. I

together”

None of the things he said were making

be

you family is there. They were all

case they

sense. I mean having a gun when dealing with a dangerous gang could

no one told me about this but

go fuck themselves

you up?” Ethan

had nothing better to do. Plus this could be fun. Not to mention that

again.

“Sure”

be there in ten

to find something descent to

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Ethan arrives in ten minutes like he said and we

become an officer of the law?”

and I felt at ease

around another adult for

dad was killed by a cop” he answers

surprised. “That would turn most people off from

a good man and neither

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

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

living

can tell there was something more. The way he talked about his dad

know that his father wasn’t just bad, he

in my class. Students who had really abusive parents. I try to help as

because no child needed such parents. Abuse was abuse. Whether it was

emotional.

you

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

surprise.

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

praised me, hugged me when I needed a hug, supported me. She was