Chapter 11

Chapter 11

“So how’s your day sweetheart?” I ask Noal

The phone is between my shoulder and eat I was trying to maximize by talking to him while doing some cleaning. It wasn’t an easy but at least my shoulder was doing so much better now.

“It’s awesome“” he shouts through the phone almost bursting my ent drums “We just had ice cream and now we are going to the slides, they have slides here and they lead straight to the ocean”

His excited chanter makes me happy. His happines in my happiness The fact that he is safe and enjoying himself was enough for me.

“That’s great baby…see, I told you that you would have lots of fun”

Giving up on cleaning, I take a seat on the couch. It would be better to finish talking to him first.

“What about you mommy, how’s your weekend?”

What could I say? It was boring as hell. My eight year old son was having more fun than I was. I didn’t have anywhere to go or anyone to hang out with since I had no friends.

My colleagues used to invite me to things but they stopped after I kept turning them down Deep inside I knew they invited me as a formality, because I was there when they were inviting others. Not because they genuinely want to know me or hang out with me.

“Uh, it’s okay…just doing some cleaning” I murmur

I hear him sigh. “Mom, you need to go out and have fun like I am. Since I’m not there, I don’t want you to stay at home all alone”

Why the hell did I feel so chastised right now?

“I will, I just have to finish my chores first” I lie.

After cleaning I would probably just watch a movie and drown myself in junk food. Or I would just catch up on sleep. Both options didn’t seem that bad.

“Fine…I have to go mommy, Pa is calling for me”

“Okay my love, talk to you at night”

“Bye, and grandma says hi to you”

Noah calls mother grandma and used to call father grandpa. As for Rowan’s parents, he calls them

Pa and Ma

“That’s good be careful on the slides” I say, completely ignoring the greetings from my supposed mother.

He hangs up after that. Good thing he’s so excited about the slides to realize I ignored his grandmother’s greetings. Noah is usually in tune and nothing escapes his notice. A character he got from his father, but not today. Today his mind was completely on having fun.

I smile and put my phone down. I get back to cleaning but soon I’m finished. Instead of watching a movie like I had planned, I decide to go through the biology essays of my students. So far the ones I’ve marked have done really well! I don’t mean to brag but I am a damn good teacher and it shows with my subject being the best performed in school.

I was almost done when my phone rings. My heartbeat lurches when I see Ethan’s name flashing. This was totally unexpected.

“Hello” I answer unsure, part of me afraid that he had dialed my number by mistake.

“Hi, Ava…are you busy?” he asked.

I guess it hadn’t been a mistake like I had thought.

“Not particularly, why?”

“I was told you aren’t at the station’s shooting range. I thought maybe we could drive there together”

I frown in confusion. None of the things he said were making any kind of sense to me.

“Why would I be at a shooting range?”

“Because the rest of you family is there. They were all advised to train in shooting and to get a firearm license just in case they ever got in trouble”

Well that was news to me but I guess it did make sense. I mean having a gun when dealing with a dangerous gang could come in handy.

I wanted to be pissed that no one told me about this but I couldn’t bring myself to care. They could all go fuck themselves for all I cared.

“Can I come pick you up?” Ethan asks interrupting my thoughts.

I had nothing better to do. Plus this could be fun. Not to mention that I get to hang out with Ethan again.

“Sure”

“Great! I’ll be there in ten minutes”

He hangs up and I rush to my bedroom to find something descent to wear. Seeing we were going flats. Ethan arrives in ten minutes like he said and we immediately leave.

“So, what made you decide to become an officer of the law?” I ask turning to face him.

The atmosphere was comfortable and I felt at ease around him. It was nice. I haven’t felt this comfortable around another adult for a long time.

“My dad was killed by a cop” he answers with a shrug.

I frown, a bit surprised. “That would turn most people off from being cops”

“I know, but my dad wasn’t a good man and neither was he a good father. When the officers gunned him down for selling illegal firearms I was actually relieved. Seeing those cops taking out trash like my dad who thought was untouchable made me want to do the same thing. Make the area I was living in a safe place”

He goes quiet but I can tell there was something more. The way he talked about his dad with disdain let me know that his father wasn’t just bad, he was a terrible man.

I’ve had such kids in my class. Students who had really abusive parents. I try to help as much as I can because no child needed such parents. Abuse was abuse. Whether it was physical or emotional.

“And what made you become a teacher?”

I usually hold myself back but I find myself opening up to him, something that takes me by surprise.

“My parents weren’t the best and I was neglected as a child. When I was around nine years, I had this amazing teacher. She was everything I wanted my mother to be. She cared, praised me, hugged me when I needed a hug, supported me. She was kind and not only to me. I never forgot her and when I grew up I wanted to be like her. It also helped that teaching just felt right”

Miss Olivia had been my support system when I was young. Her class had been my safe space.

Even though it’s been years, I’m still grateful for the kindness she showed a nine year old girl who was extremely sad and lonely.

“Wow” he simply says, awe in his voice.

We are quiet for a while before he surprises me.

“I know you have a kid, but are you single?” he asks.

I wasn’t sure why he was asking. Maybe it was to make conversation.

“Divorced”

“Well, I guess that gives me permission to shoot my shot” he lips forms a smirk.

I laugh at that because I was sure he was only joking. There was no way he was serious about shooting his shot. Even if he was he would soon lose interest the moment he saw Emma.

If ‘my family‘ is here like he said, then like all the boys back when I was teenager, he will take one. look at my sister and completely forget I exist.

We soon get to the shooting range. We get out and Head instead. Ethan greets and introduces me to some of his friends and colleagues and finally we get to where the actions takes place.

The rest are already there. Rowan, Emma, Travis and Gabe.

Gabe and Travis were shooting. Emma was seated down and Rowan who was facing her turns to us when we enter the arena.

His brows turn downwards and I roll my eyes at that.

“Who invited you?” he ask coming to stand next to Ethan and me.

“Not you obviously”

“I tried to call to let you know but you never picked up” he argues, irritation marking his voice.

“You obviously didn’t try hard enough” I snap.

I was already irritated and I hadn’t been in their presence for more than five minutes. I was starting to regret my decision on coming here. I should have asked Ethan if we could reschedule.

Before Rowan can say anything else, Ethan pulls me away. “Come, let go get you fitted”

I look back for a split second and see Emma glaring at me. If looks could kill, i would already be anancestor.

I sigh. This was going to be headache inducing, I should have just stayed home.