Page 64 of The Ex Next Door
“Okay, but Mommy doesn’t have to come running every time you and I have a problem,” Rob said. “We can solve problems on our own by talking about it.”
“No, we can’t.” With that, David got up and slumped away, Naomi following him after giving Amy another quick hug.
She understood what he meant. Words wouldn’t fix this for him.
“Well, we better go,” Rob said. “By the way, this is Shannon. Shannon, this is my ex-wife, Amy. And Declan, her um, her—”
“Boyfriend,” Declan interrupted.
“I’m sorry to meet under these circumstances,” Shannon said with a small smile.
“Same here,” Amy said. “But it’s nice to meet you anyway.”
“See you Sunday.” Rob turned and held up his arm for a backward wave.
Amy stood there watching them all walk away, intent on seeing Rob catch up to the kids.
“C’mere.” From behind her, Declan pulled her into his arms, his head lowering to the crook in her shoulder and neck.
She wanted to collapse. All the emotions sapped from her in the past few minutes ranging from horrific fear, swinging to rising hope and then crashing into despair had taken everyounce of her energy. She turned in Declan’s arms, burying her face in his chest.
“Have I ruined him?” She hiccupped back a sob.
“What? No, baby. You haven’t ruined anyone. You never could. What you did is fix this. You found your son.”
Amy wished it were that simple.
“He’s mad because his dad has a new girlfriend. I can’t fix this for him, and it hurts.”
“Of course it does. You would fix the whole world if you could.”
Declan just held her as she cried, his hand sliding up and down her back in slow strokes. They stood there until the sun made its final dip beyond the horizon and the park lights switched on.
The park would be closing soon.
“Tell me you’re okay, Tinks,” Declan said, tipping her chin to meet his eyes.
“Just take me home.”
Chapter Nineteen
The first few minutes of the drive home were spent mostly in comfortable silence, Amy reliving her emotional swings. In one day, she’d experienced more happiness and despair than she had in possibly ten years.
Divorce with children? Not for the faint of heart. Take it from her.
“Do you think David was actually trying to get you and Rob back together tonight?” Declan finally spoke up. “Maybe he thought that if you were united in a common cause, old feelings might resurface.”
“I was worried about that for a minute, but David isn’t that calculating. It makes more sense he was just mad at Rob. He doesn’t spend time with him practicing. And, of course, my son is loyal. When he realized that daddy’s ‘friend’ was actually his girlfriend, reality hit him.”
“Yeah, that’s what I mean. I guess all kids wish their parents would get back together.”
It occurred to her that maybe Declan was sensing uncertainty in this situation.
“Maybe they do, but in my case it’s never going to happen. I hope you believe that, too.” She reached for his arm. “It’s too late.”
“Are you sure? I know the divorce is official, but… Imean, you hear about it all the time. Couples getting back together for round two. Reunions.”
“You mean…like us?” She smiled, hoping to change the subject back to them.
