Chapter 2
The moment I said yes, Jasper lit up and made his first request. []
He wanted his dad to pick him up from school.
He’d told me before.
From preschool to elementary, every kid had their dad show up at least once. 0
Everyone but him. []
I knew how much that meant to him, so I swallowed my pride and called him Mr. Declan.
He immediately declined the call. []
Then came a text. Two words. [
“Busy now.”
That was always his go–to excuse.
That
But from where I sat, I could see him in the break room, all cozy with Elodie.
They were deep in conversation. []
When someone walked by, Declan instinctively pulled her closer, shielding her with that familiar tenderness in his eyes. []
I blinked back the sting and typed another message. [
“Jasper really wants you to pick him up today. Do you think you can?”
From across the office, I watched him glance at his phone. [
Three seconds later, he set it down again. []
Expression blank.
No reply.
I stared at the empty chat screen and gave myself a bitter little laugh. |
Then I asked my manager for the rest of the day off.
I figured I’d swing by the store, grab some of Jasper’s favorite snacks.
I knew snacks wouldn’t fill the void his dad left, but it was something.
At least I could try to protect him from more disappointment. [
Just as I was paying–maybe thirty bucks worth of goodies–my phone buzzed. []
Declan had finally replied. []
“Okay.”
Just that.
Still, my heart jumped. []
I could barely wait to tell Jasper.
“Jasper, wait at the front gate, alright?” []
“Daddy and Mommy are picking you up together today!” []
I didn’t even need to see his reply.
I could already picture the look on his face. [
Chapter 2
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His little hands clapping, that goofy smile with the baby teeth, running into our arms…
Yelling “Mommy! Daddy!” like it was the happiest thing in the world. []
It was the kind of moment I’d dreamed of during eight years of marriage. [
When I got to school, I looked around, but Declan wasn’t there. []
Maybe he got caught up in something. D
I texted him again.
Minutes later, Jasper’s class came out. [
He spotted me and dashed over, just like I imagined. []
But then he stopped. []
Because I was alone. []
He looked down, adjusted the straps of his backpack, and asked quietly, []
“He didn’t want to come, did he?”
0
Then he gave me a small, brave smile. []
“It’s okay. He’s busy. I get it.”
Those words crushed me.
0
It felt like a boulder landed on my chest, and I couldn’t breathe.”
“Jasper, hey… Mommy’s here, right?” [
“I even got you all your favorite snacks.” []
wwwwww
“And look, a new Transformer too!”
!” 0
I sniffled and fumbled for the bag of treats I’d just bought.
But in my rush, everything spilled all over the sidewalk.
0
Jasper knelt down and carefully started picking things up, one by one.
Then he tugged on my hand and said,
“Let’s just go home, Mom.”
I nodded, wiping away my tears while his head was turned.
I pulled out my phone to order a Lyft. []
But the first thing I saw was Elodie’s social media
There he was–Declan. []
post.
The man who barely looked at his own son, smiling like I’d never seen before. []
Arms wide open, hugging a little boy I didn’t recognize. []
And the geotag?
Jasper’s school.
I looked up, scanned the crowd. []
And then I saw him.
Declan.
Wearing the same coat I gave him for our anniversary last year. []
Chapter 2
I held it together. Barely.
Scooped Jasper into my arms and turned to leave.
Then his small voice whispered in my ear,
“Mommy… I think that was Daddy.“[]
I pressed my forehead against his, shielding his eyes with my hand. []
“No, sweetheart. You must’ve been mistaken.”
“Daddy said he was in a meeting today, remember?” []
“And when he’s done, he’s bringing your favorite cake home.”
I forced a smile, trying to soothe him. [
Held him tighter.
Declan…
If yo
you knew you only had two more chances to make this right with your son and me… [
Would you still waste them?
Would you still choose her over us?
