Ex-Husband's Regret (by Evelyn M.M) novel Chapter 12

“Your mother was asking for you, haven’t you spoken to her of late?” I groan in annoyance. “You’re awfully chatty and it’s getting on my nerve Rowan. 
Can you just ignore me and pretend like I don’t exist like you usually do?” His grip on the steering wheel tightens. I see his jaw clench. He was getting pis sed. Probably because I wasn’t acting like the meek lamb he was used to. The tables had turned and he didn’t I used to break my back trying to make him happy. Trying to be what he wants. 
Trying to be like Emma. I did everything I could to be the wife he could fall in lov e with. Now I had shed that skin and he didn’t like that I wasn’t falling at his feet l ike a dog. I smile at that Pissing him off eased. something inside me. 
From there the drive is quiet. Both of us brooding in our seats while Noah laugh s and follows his cartoons. An hour later we arrive at the airport. I hold Noah’s h and as Rowan get his bags from the trunk “I’m so excited to see the ocean” Noah says bouncing up and down in frantic en ergy. 
“Then let’s get going… we wouldn’t want to keep you waiting” Rowan playfully tells him. 
Taking my good arm, Noah drags me towards his grandparents. There were cop s present I knew some of them. 
When we get to them, Noah greets everyone but I don’t. There wasn’t any need playing nice with people who obviously hate me. 
Rowan get the bags and then walks to us. He hands them over to one of the offi cers before going to stand next to Emma, Travis and Gabe. He greets his two bestfriends before turn ing to Emma. Right before my eyes he wraps an arm around her and brings her close before kissing forehead I ignore that. Refusing to acknowledge the disrespect or the pain I felt. Like is it a must he rubs his relationship in my face? Couldn’t he have the decency to wait until our son w as on the plane “Five minutes before we leave” A man I’m guessing is the pilot says. 
Everyone is giving me strange looks. I bet they’d expected that I would fall at the ir feet like 1 usually did That I would beg for a scrap of their affection Instead her e I was ignoring all of them like they didn’t exist. 
I watch as Noah says goodbye to Rowan, Travis and Gabe Is it weird that I felt happiness when Noah totally ignored Emma? 
“Noah, say goodbye to Emma” Rowan commands with a bit of irritation in his voi ce “I don’t know her, so why should I say goodbye to her?” he asks with a shrug leaving everyone staring at him in shock Before Rowan can say anything else, Noah runs to me His body colliding with m ine as he hugs “I’m going to miss you so much my love” 1 tell him, tears filling my eyes s “I’ll miss you too mommy, promise you will call me every day?” “I promise The pilot calls out again and an officer comes to take Noah. 
“Bye Mommy, see you soon” “See you soon” I watch as the officer gets into the plane with Noah. Mother finishes saying good bye to the others. and comes to me 1 “Please don’t” I stop her when she goes to hug me. 
I don’t remember her ever hugging me, so I didn’t understand why she wanted t o do so now She steps back and looks at me. Tears swimming in her eyes. I turn away not wanting to see them I wasn’t going to fool myself into b elieving that she cared for me or loved me. Years have proven that she didn’t “Take care of yourself Ava, and don’t worry we’ll look after Noah” she finally says. 
I just nod at her. When I don’t say anything else she turns and walks towards th e plane where Rowan’s parents had already boarded. 
A few seconds later I watch as the plane carrying my son takes off Once it’s off t he runway, I turn and leave. My heart feels heavy but I know this is the best decision for Noah. 
Just as I get outside the airport, my phone rings with Rowan’s name flashing I reject it and hail a cab When he continues calling, I switch off my phone complet ely and head home, where 111 be alone for an unforeseen time