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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Emma. Emma doesn’t have it though. She gently pushes him away

his father. Calvin in turn glares at Emma, as do Kate, Travis,

herself but doesn’t say a

on my shoulder and was holding my

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

here for Ava,”

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

you didn’t, since you know nothing about my daughter,”

a stare down. Sure, Kate is a powerhouse, especially as the matriarch of the Sharp family, but she has nothing on Nora

“If

then you’re free to leave. Personally, I

place, given that you treated

drenches up something that I wasn’t ready to

snap open. He looks at the rest before looking at

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

everyone’s attention.

all their faces. It’s like they’d completely forgotten that Noah

buddy. It’s just a spat between adults. Nothing for you to worry about,” I try to assure him,

doesn’t buy it.

know what shit means, and grandpa is talking as if mom wasn’t treated well. Is that it?” His

hard as it nears

would come. I notice that everyone except

without making him hate us? Without making

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you ready to see your baby sister?” Mary comes back out with a smile on

and thank the heavens for the distraction. Noah seems to have forgotten. everything as excitement takes over his

Woods, you’ll have to accompany him,” she says, turning around as Noah takes

my head and

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 were also in incubators

at us. “Noah,

look at her, and she had me wrapped around her tiny fingers. She wasn’t my blood, but she

nose to her lips and the

of her. She didn’t deserve this. She should still be cushioned in her mother’s

She’s alive.

Right. That’s what matters.

Noah asks in

珍味

up to be a great big brother. The

face. There is no fucking way you

her only

Mary helps him get his hands inside the

him, though she doesn’t

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

get out of the protective gear. I felt

but not at

ask my brother while

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was by herself, and she looked

couldn’t let both of

comes back again and asks who else wants to see Iris. Reaper, step forward. No one argues as she leads him to

“How’s Iris?” he asks.