Page 63 of The Ex Next Door
“Mom, Daddy’s friend is his girlfriend.” He looked at the ground, scowling and kicking with one foot. “I don’t understand. You’re so much prettier, Mommy. Why does he need a girlfriend when he could be with you?”
Despite everything she’d read and learned about divorce with children, despite the therapy she’d had after the divorce, Amy had nothing. She was hollow. Empty. Everything she had to say was too grown-up for them to understand and she didn’t know how to make it simpler.
We grew apart. He doesn’t love me anymore. I thought he didn’t want to be married but what he didn’t want was me. And now, I don’t love him anymore. It’s too late for us.
“He’s right, Mommy,” Naomi said. “You are prettier.”
“Thanks, sweetie. Listen, you two. You both know that looks aren’t everything. Anyway, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
“I don’t know what that means,” David said.
“It means that while you and Naomi think I’m pretty, you’re sort of looking at me through a special lens. You know, like one of those filters on the phone apps. I’m your mother and you love me so to you, I’m pretty.”
“I think Dec thinks you’re pretty, too,” David said.
“Okay, maybe he does. But see, to Daddy, I’m not as pretty as hisnewgirlfriend.”
That didn’t sound right, either. She was failing here. Sinking fast. Her son didn’t like the idea that his father and mother were no longer together. And she wasn’t going to be able to make this better for him. Since he’d been born, she’d protected and guided him and Naomi. Cribs with slats the right width apart, car seats tested for accident safety, nursing for optimal health, reading daily, healthy snacks. But when it came to this, possibly the most important part of their lives, she couldn’t fix it.
“I don’t like this,” David said. “I don’t need a new mom. Why is she even here? We were supposed to play catch. And all Daddy does is hold her hand and kiss her. It’sdisgusting.”
“What? I don’t need a new mom, either!” Naomi crossed her arms. “I didn’t think about that!”
“No, look, neither one of you are getting a new mom. Or a new dad. Ever. Okay?”
Rob chose that moment to run up to them. He took one long look at the three of them setting on a bench together and his face went nuclear.
“David Robert Holloway!”
“Daddy, don’t be mad at him!” Naomi yelled.
“I’m sorry!” David said, swinging his legs and not moving from his spot on the bench.
Rob took several steps until he was nearly in David’s face. “You scaredeverybody! You scared your mother! Shannon wanted to call the police!”
“Thepolice?” David snorted. “Stupid. I was just mad at you because we didn’t play catch enough. I can’t get good if you won’t let me practice.”
“We’ve talked about this, young man. You cannot hide when you’re mad. It’s notsafe.” Rob pointed at the air in emphasis, punctuating every word.
Shannon came running up, right behind Declan. If nothing else, Amy hoped the presence of his girlfriend might cool Rob down. He was still in that early stage of the relationship where he would want to make a good impression. But Rob had never been violent with the children. He’d been stern, and too in your face at times, but he’d never hurt them.
“Rob, it’s an emotional time,” Shannon said. “Maybe you could excuse it just this once.”
It was official. Amy really liked Shannon. She liked her a lot and maybe someday, somehow, David would, too. First, he had to give up on the hope that his parents would get back together. Second, he had to understand he would always only have one mother.
Rob deflated like a balloon left out too long in the sun. “Yeah.”
“Sorry, Dad. I won’t ever do it again.” David lowered his head.
Rob finally reached for David and hugged him.
“Okay, let’s all go home and talk about this. I’m sorry you’re so upset. We’re going to fix this, you’ll see.” He glanced in Amy’s direction. “I’ll take it from here, Ames.Thanks for your help finding him. You, too, Declan. Sorry, really, to scare you like that.”
“It’s okay, I was happy to help. Naomi called me,” Amy said.
“And Naomi and I will talk about that later, too.” He gave her the side-eye.
“I was scared!” Naomi said.
