Page 91 of The Ex Next Door
Talk to the kids?It was just like Rob to put it in those terms. She was not going to talk to the kids about this. They didn’t get to make these decisions, no more than they got to make the one when they divorced. So, yes, Rob had now put her in the position of having to break her children’s hearts when she informed them that no, she and Daddy were not getting back together.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Declan had a sense something was off with David, but he couldn’t put his finger on what. It could be that he worried his parents were out front arguing, but from here they couldn’t hear anything. They threw the ball back and forth, David’s strength notably improving. He was also catching the ball so easily that Declan threw him a few curveballs and made him work for it.
“I’m going back to coaching a team after the summer,” Declan said by way of conversation.
“Little League?” David threw the ball back to him.
“Our local high school’s varsity team.”
“That’s cool.”
“That’s where your mom and I first met. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be coaching you someday.”
“Maybe. If I don’t quit baseball.”
Declan caught the ball and hesitated before throwing it back. “Why would you quit?”
“I don’t know, no reason.” He shrugged.
But he looked, for lack of a better word…guilty. There was more to this story. Maybe his thoughts were running toward giving up the sport and he regretted all the time and effort Declan had put into helping him.
“If you ever think about quitting, talk to me first.”
Naomi joined them outside. “Are y’all going to play catchall day?”
“Do you want to try?” Declan offered. “No reason why you can’t play, too. I might have an extra glove laying around somewhere.”
“I don’t want to play ball.” Naomi crossed her arms. “I want to hunt for fairies!”
“Fairies?” Declan chuckled.
She reminded him of Amy more each day.
“Either that or I want to solve a mystery,” Naomi said. “Like Nancy Drew.”
“We don’t have a mystery to solve around here, unless it’s why weeds grow so easily when flowers you plant need to be watered every day or they die. That’s above my pay grade so I’ll help you find the fairies.” Declan threw one last ball to David. “Is that okay with you?”
“Yeah.” David threw his glove down, then he gave Declan what he could only describe as a self-defeated look. “I’m really sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” Declan said.
“And if you don’t want to help me with baseball anymore, I’m not going to be mad at you.”
“We’ll play catch again later, okay?”
“Yeah, sure.” But David went inside, the sound of the screen door slapping loudly in his wake.
Declan turned to Naomi, hands on his hips. “Where should we start our search?”
“Over here in the bush. I saw some ladybugs and they might know the way.” She pointed in the direction.
“Of course. They’re also small. Makes sense.”
“Yeah. Small bugs probably would know where all the fairyland creatures live.” Naomi knelt and dug at the base of a bush. “Yoo-hoo! We’re looking for fairies.”
“A little softer,” Declan said. “I don’t think they like it when we’re loud. Just whisper.”
