The Ex-Wife He Can't Get Over

lyn'

. when I got to the funeral

ady seated, and several head

sage-one of many generic condole

ping to hear from-even just

. Not even

ha

hus

en by my side today... couldn't

an I should have, hoping maybe s

seen this kind of coldness fr

but it didn't make

e back into my clutch and strai

tall frame moved determinedly like a storm, crossing the aisle in just a few strides, c

edged. "Mom waited for you for years, and

, trying to keep my voi

t blame the flight, Kately

"Believe it or not, I'm the

r loving husband? Shouldn't he be here, holdi

Derek, though his eyes were bloodshot and

Ethan?"

meetings," I lie

other dies, and he's too busy to pay his resp

ered, glancing at the rows of peop

time you try to reach him, you have to go through his secretary. You don't even get your husband on th

wasn't ready for thi

rope. Wake up. He doesn't give a damn about you. He didn't even bother t

hissed. "Th

with uneven breaths. I could tell he wanted to say more, but

as a heavy knot formed right behind my ribs. I reached

st normal tone I could manage. "Di

e ans

and pointed to th

d. "He didn't want t

ew. He was half-hidden behind a woman's hat. His small fingers were pu

e, and his jaw was bobbing as his lips shifted from a buzz to

to my chest. I hadn'

lived, I'd entrusted Lucas to Marcus t

rbed in his world, I ju

his laugh, the way his fingers cu

lowly. "Lucas,"

ment his eyes landed

Mo

round my waist. I bent down, hugging him tight

," I murmured

. "Grandpa's been helping me

cou

ack pocket of his pants. It was a mess of colors-red scribbles,

he said proudly. "I'm makin

ile f

course my sister would

was proud of himself. "She's coming home today! Daddy said she's fly

it was a big secret. "He told me not to tell an

hair off his forehead. "It's ok

nd went back

the hallway as I pulled out my phone. Th

I hadn't change

ped, annoyed. "What?" In the background, I heard her. Scarlet

expected one. It wasn't even sadness anymore. Just a dull,

*

one tapping echoed sof

out to speak," s

down, murmurs fading into silence. I turned b

into the crook of his arm. I walked toward him, planning to

s tal

rlett," he said, patting

mped once-lo

ht, bud. Your mom's been way

n't b

r. "Not just you, son-everyone likes Scar

t them like it

move. Cou

few steps away, invi

n't bring myself to sit down-o

lear about how unimportant I was to my family, including my own son-so unimportant