Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

119. Hoping against hope

I stare at my son. I’m so proud of him and of the bond he has with his mother. No one, not even her best

friends and her parents, knew the name she had chosen, yet she had told Noah.

“That’s really good,” Mary says, smiling at Noah. “You’re already shaping up to be a great big brother.”

Noah just nods, then looks up at me.

“One day we were on her bed while eating ice cream because she wanted it so much. I asked her what

name we were going to give to the baby. We spent hours going through baby names until we settled on

those two. It was so much fun, and we laughed a lot.”

Tears start filling his eyes once again, and I pull him to my side. It physically hurt to see him hurting. To see him in pain. I wanted to ease his heartache, but I didn’t have the power.

“When will she get better? I miss her so much,” he continues to cry.

I kept quiet because I have no answer to that. Not even the doctors know when or if Ava will wake up.

Mary kneels down to his level. She gently tugs at him a little. Noah doesn’t let me go, but he twists his

head to face her.

“Tell you what? How about I let you visit your sister? You’ll be the first person to see her,” she tells him.

“Really?” he asks as he wipes away his tears.

“Really” she smiles. “Just give me a few minutes, and I’ll come to get you. Is that okay?”

Noah nods his head as a small smile takes over his lips. The sadness is still there, but it’s been pushed

back.

When Mary stands up, I give her an appreciated nod. It may seem like a small thing, but she has done

something huge. She has given Noah hope. Something, or rather, someone to hold on to while he waits

for his mother to recover.

She nods to the rest and then turns to leave. Taking Noah’s hand, I lead him to the seats. I was damn

exhausted. Mentally, psychically, and emotionally. I could use some sleep, but I won’t get it until I see

both mother and child.

To my surprise, Calvin, Gunner and Kate walk in. Gunner’s hand is held firmly in Kate’s. They were chatting

while Calvin walked behind them. I can’t really tell whether they’ve told Gunner the truth.

I watch as Gunner’s eyes land on Emma. They become huge. I don’t understand that part, because I’m

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grandmother’s hand and literally launches himself at Emma. Emma doesn’t have it though. She gently pushes him away from her with a look of disapproval. Gunner’s face falls, and tears start

father. Calvin in turn glares at Emma, as do Kate, Travis, and everyone else who had

herself but doesn’t say a

and stare at Noah. He had his head on my shoulder and was holding my hand. His eyes were closed, but I knew very

up, only to find Kate pointing a finger at Reaper as

here for Ava,” I tell her

face twists into something ugly. “I didn’t know that Ava was

didn’t, since you know nothing

have a stare down. Sure, Kate is a powerhouse, especially as the matriarch of the Sharp family, but

“If

you’re free

place, given that you treated Ava like shit

also drenches up something

at the rest before looking

about?” He didn’t say the words loudly, but it was enough to

everyone’s attention.

all their faces. It’s like they’d

you to

doesn’t buy it.

I know what shit means, and grandpa is talking as if mom wasn’t treated well. Is

as it nears the end of the

notice

I tell him that Theo was right without making him hate

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to see your baby sister?” Mary comes back out with a

of relief and thank the heavens for the distraction. Noah seems to have forgotten. everything as

you’ll have to accompany him,” she

my head and

enter a separate room where they sanitize us before giving us a medical gown, gloves, and masks to wear. Once that is done, we are then taken to the NICU unit. We pass a few babies who

at us. “Noah,

me wrapped around her tiny fingers. She wasn’t my

her eyes closed, so I couldn’t see her eye color, but everything else, from her nose to her lips and the piece of hair that was

her. She didn’t deserve

She’s alive.

Right. That’s what matters.

I hold her?” Noah asks in

珍味

shaping up to be a great

over his face. There is no fucking way you can miss

her only if you

his hands inside the incubator. He

though she

inside for a while until the nurse lets us know it’s time for

the protective gear. I felt like I was

present, but not

brother while

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by herself, and she

with Ava. The nurse couldn’t let both of

see Iris. Reaper, step forward. No one argues as she leads him to

“How’s Iris?” he asks.