Ex-Husband's Regret

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.

He hangs up after that. Good thing he’s so excited about the slides to realize I ignored his

grandmother’s greetings. Noah is usually in tune and nothing escapes his notice. A character he got from his father, but not today. Today his mind was completely on having fun.

smile and put my phone down. I get back to cleaning but soon I’m finished. Instead of watching a movie like I had planned, I decide to go through the biology essays of my students. So far the ones I’ve marked have done really well! I don’t mean to

the best performed

was almost done when my phone rings. My heartbeat lurches when I see Ethan’s name flashing.

I answer unsure, part of me afraid

Ava…are you busy?” he

been a

“Not particularly, why?”

shooting range. I thought maybe

together”

things he said were making any kind

would I be at a

They were all advised to train in shooting

in case they ever

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

to be pissed that no one told me about this but

go fuck themselves for all

you up?” Ethan asks interrupting

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

again.

“Sure”

I’ll be there in ten

I rush to my bedroom to find something descent to wear. Seeing we

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minutes like he said and

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

ease

another adult for

dad was killed by a cop”

a bit surprised. “That would turn most

wasn’t a good man and neither was he a good father. When the

selling illegal firearms I

like my dad who thought was untouchable made

was living in a

goes quiet but I can tell there was something more. The way he talked about his dad

his father wasn’t just bad, he was a terrible

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

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

emotional.

you

myself opening up to

surprise.

was neglected as a child. When I was

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