“Well, for the past few days before he left school, he seemed more… withdrawn. Children are sensitive and are very attuned to their environment, and changes within that environment can affect them.”
Once again, I asked myself if getting divorced was the right thing to do, especially for Daniel. The thought of my baby being affected by Kieran’s and my separation made my heart ache.
“I’ll pay more attention to his well-being,” I said thickly. “Thanks for pointing it out.”
Miss Brenner smiled kindly. “Of course. As you know, we usually have a segment where our students share their thoughts about the academic experience, and since Daniel’s not physically here, could we video call him?”
My heart lit up with the usual happiness when I was about to see Daniel. “Yes, of course.”
I pulled out the encrypted phone and video-called Daniel.
I set up the phone between us, and my heart skipped a beat when the screen lit up with his bright, expectant face.
“Mom!”
I beamed. “Hi, baby.”
His gaze shifted, and he waved, his smile widening. “Hi, Miss Brenner.”
“Hello, dear. It’s good to see you. Everyone misses you in class.”
“I miss them-” His gaze shifted to the space beside me, and his smile froze. “Where’s Dad?”
My heart cracked at the way his voice wavered. “Sweetie, he had to work. He’s really sorry he missed this.”
The words tasted bitter in my mouth. I didn’t want to have to cover for Kieran like this. He should have shown up for his son.
But my anger wasn’t important right now.
AIR
What was important was the way Daniel’s face crumpled with confusion and hurt.
“He promised,” he whispered, his voice shaking with too much fury for a nine-year-old.
“This morning, after breakfast, he promised he’d come. He said he wouldn’t miss it for the world.” guess Celeste was more than the world.
I reached for words, anything to patch the wounds I could already see forming. “He didn’t mean to break his promise. He just-” I sighed. “Things came up.”
But Daniel had already stopped listening. His chin trembled slightly before he looked away.
“He’s a liar,” he muttered, angrily swiping at his cheek.
My heart completely broke at the tears spilling down his cheeks. “Danny-“
He shook his head obstinately. “I’ll never forgive him.”
“Honey, please don’t be mad. Miss Brenner is telling me some amazing things about your school work and-“
“I don’t care,” he said. “What’s the point of working hard to make Dad proud if he won’t even show up?”
I choked back a rogue sob. “Oh, baby. I’m proud.”
He smiled softly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Thanks, Mom. Bye, Miss Brenner.”
“Dan-“
The screen went blank.
I sat back in the chair, numb and burning at the same time. I’d worried about how our divorce affected Daniel, worried I’d inadvertently hurt my son.
But it was Kieran who had initiated the break. He was the one who broke his promise to our son.
He chose Celeste over Daniel.
“Mrs. Blackthorne-“
I gathered my things. “Thank you, Miss Brenner. I think we’re done for the night.”
Daniel’s teacher sighed. “Children look up to their parents and-“
I shook my head, cutting her off. “I’m not the one who needs to hear that. I showed up.”
My steps faltered as I walked out of the school-and saw him.
Kieran.
He was rushing toward me from the parking lot, looking disheveled-messy hair, wrinkled dress shirt. What the hell had he and Celeste been up to?
His eyes widened when he saw me, an apology written all over his face.
I huffed and forced my legs to move, intending to walk past him. But he caught my arm, turning me around to face him.
“Sera-wait-I’m sorry.”
I glared at him, fury rising like wildfire. “You’re sorry?”
He ran his hand through his hair, further mussing it up. “I-I lost track of time. I was with
Celeste and-“
I couldn’t help it-I laughed. It was either that or scream in the parking lot of an elementary school.
“Of course you were with her. You weren’t just late, Kieran. You chose not to be there. You chose her.”
“It wasn’t like that,” he said, face twisting in frustration. “I didn’t mean-“
“I don’t care what you meant,” I snapped. “All that matters is what happened, and what happened is that you didn’t show up for your son. There was an exhibit of projects. Daniel made the cutest birdhouse. His teacher sang his praises. And you weren’t there. He worked himself to the bone to make you proud-and you couldn’t even show up.”
Kieran looked like he wanted to argue-like he had a thousand excuses just waiting to pour out. But I didn’t give a fuck.
“He cried,” I continued, my voice sharper. “You promised him, and he trusted you; he believed in you. And now he’s saying he never will again. Do you know what that means?
What that does to a child?”
Kieran stepped forward, his face set like stone. “It won’t happen again.”
I stared at him, feeling like I was looking at a stranger.
The Kieran I knew was honorable, a man of his word.
This man, who kissed his ex while prancing around with her sister and then broke promises to his son…
I didn’t know him.
“You say that now. But what happens the next time Celeste calls? What happens when you two eventually get married and have a child?”
The words caused an inexplicable ache in my chest, but I shoved that feeling aside and focused on my anger. “How far will Daniel fall on your list then?”
His jaw clenched. “Don’t say that.”
“I will. Because it’s the truth, and someone has to say it. You already made your choice. But
I swear to you, Kieran-” I stabbed a finger in his chest, and his eyes darkened. go, and you will
“If you hurt Daniel like this again, I won’t stay still. I will take him, and we’ll never see him again.”
Kieran looked like I’d dropped a flash grenade in front of him, and for once, he was silent- no comeback.
Because he knew I meant it.
Daniel was the one thing in the world I didn’t take lightly, and I would be damned if I let anybody, least of all Kieran and fucking Celeste, break my baby’s heart.
KIERAN’S POV
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