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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though. She gently pushes him away from

glares at Emma, as do Kate, Travis, and everyone else who

into 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

me look up, only to find Kate

for Ava,” I

“I didn’t know that Ava was

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

a powerhouse, especially as the matriarch of the Sharp family, but she has

“If

like the fact that he is here, then you’re free to leave. Personally, I don’t get

place, given that you treated

up, but it also drenches up something that I wasn’t

open. He looks at the rest before

talking about?” He didn’t say the

everyone’s attention.

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

you to worry about,” I try to

doesn’t buy it.

I know what shit means, and grandpa is talking as if mom

hard as it nears the end

afraid this day would come. I notice that everyone except for Calvin

making him hate us? Without making him hate me for the

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

the distraction. Noah

Woods, you’ll have to accompany him,” she says, turning

my head and

masks to wear. Once that is done, we are then taken to the NICU

smiles at us.

around her tiny fingers. She wasn’t my blood, but she

her lips and the piece of hair that was sticking out of her pink hat, was Ava.

sticking out of her. She didn’t deserve this. She should still be cushioned in her

She’s alive.

Right. That’s what matters.

her?” Noah asks in a small

珍味

a great big brother. The love

There is no

you can’t…But you can touch her only if

his hands inside the incubator. He softly touches her cheeks, and she

him, though she

the nurse lets us know it’s time for us to leave. I walk back to

I felt like I was in a fucking dream.

but not at

my brother while taking a seat

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herself, and she

couldn’t let both of them in so Nora

see Iris. Reaper, step forward. No one argues

“How’s Iris?” he asks.