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.
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.
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.
20:22
He Called Me His Ex’s Name. So I Took Our Son and Left
10.0%
Chapter 2
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.
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.
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?”
Then he gave me a small, brave smile.
“It’s okay. He’s busy. I get it.”
Those words crushed me.
– Con and Left
12.5%
Chapter 2
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.”
“And look, a new Transformer too!”
I sniffled and fumbled for the bag of treats I’d just bought.
But in my rush, everything spilled all over the sidewalk.
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 post.
There he was–Declan.
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.
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.
15.0%
Chapter 2
“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.”
1 forced a smile, trying to soothe him.
Held him tighter.
Declan…
If 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?
