AUTHOR’S POV
SATURDAY CAME BY quickly to Sydney’s dismay.
Somehow, she’d hoped Gavin got into a car accident or something that would make him not show up, but she quickly shook off the thought.
It was very inconsiderate of her to put her fears over Emily’s happiness. Right now, all that was important was her children’s happiness.
Sydney lied to Gabriel she was going to get her and the kid’s annual medical checkup so he wouldn’t have to follow her.
There would be havoc between him and Gavin if he’d show up.
” You are shaking.”
Sydney squeezed Emily’s shoulder affectionately as she squatted in to look at her.
Emily replied raspyly, ” I’m a bit nervous mommy.”
It was the last round of the National Spelling contest and Emily managed to get to the top 50 participants. Plus, the boy on the chair next to Emily’s looked very intimidating.
He wore braces and glasses, so he must be intelligent! Emily reckoned.
” Calm down, keep your eyes on me the whole time, and believe in yourself.”
Sydney kissed her forehead and smiled.
” My smart little girl, make mommy proud.”
The voice that sent Sydney’s heart breaking every time came from behind her.
” And Daddy too.”
It was like Sydney touched a barbed wire hearing his voice, on the other hand, Emily gasped happily and ran to her father.
She jumped on his carefreely, and he caught her easily and then kissed her forehead. He’d seen Sydney’s lipstick there.
” You came!” Emily giggled happily.
” I couldn’t miss my baby’s contest for the world.” He sounded very tired.
He glanced at Sydney whose back was turned to him. His heart felt heavy seeing her.
He turned back his attention to Emily and asked, ” Where’s your brother?”
” He went to pee, he’d be back soon.”
Emily touched his mustache like it was the strangest thing in the world.
Soon after, there was an announcement for the contestants to take their seats. Sydney knew she’d have to look at Gavin eventually.
When she looked at him, she wasn’t sure he was the same man she had been married to. He was a mess, from his hair to his clothes.
He looked depressed. Good for him.
Sydney forced words out of her mouth, ” Thank you for showing this time.”
She wanted to sound nice but it was the opposite.
” We should sit now.” Sydney didn’t wait for a reply. She brushed past him and searched for a seat without an empty chair next to it, but the world seemed to be against her.
She settled for a chair in the seventh row with only one empty seat by the side. At least he wouldn’t be next to her.
She looked at Ethan and Gavin who were talking. Ethan had a rare smile on his face and Gavin momentarily looked at her.
She wondered what Gavin had told Ethan the previous day that made Ethan so joyous. Whatever it was, she was happy to see him less gloomy.
Sydney’s eyes widened and she came back to reality when Gavin began walking to her while Ethan took another seat.
Before she could come up with some excuse to find another seat, there was an announcement that everyone should be seated.
Sydney released a breath and put on a nonchalant look. Just two hours and she’d be relieved of this torture.
Not up to a minute into the contest, Gavin breathed, ” I didn’t see you at Ethan and Emily’s school yesterday?”
He’d waited for her to arrive before he’d leave but to his dismay, he saw Gabriel instead.
” Gabriel picks them up from school.” Something you had never willingly done before.
Her voice was aloof and indifferent.
She focused on Emily who was looking at her and smiling nervously.
Sydney gestured for Emily to be calm. Emily nodded in response. She’d been preparing for this for a very long time. Hopefully, her parents wouldn’t argue.
That’d be enough to make her forget everything.
Emily was called to the stage and asked to spell denigratory. She’d seen the word in one book she’d read to take her mind off the pandemonium going on in her home.
Looking at her parents, she spelled the word correctly.
Sydney smiled proudly and blew her a kiss. Gavin stared at Sydney as she continued to cheer Emily on.
She looked different since the last time he’d seen her. Gabriel was sure taking good care of her! He thought jealously.
She’d never looked as good as she was now since they’d gotten married. Then, Avery’s words became clear to him. He’d never given her what she’d wanted. All he’d ever do was guess what she wanted and give her it anyway without asking if she liked it or not.
How did Gabriel know how to take care of his ex-wife better than he ever did?
He felt like he’d lost her, and he knew it was almost impossible to get her back, especially after knowing Avery’s truth.
And Sydney deserved to know.
” I heard you are now staying with Gabriel.”
Sydney didn’t look at him when she said brusquely, ” Good for you.”
” I’d like if you give me his address.”
Sydney looked at him with a raised brow. She wilted slightly at his broken look. Why should she care? He deserved to look this way!
” Why? So you can pick up from where you left off? I left that house so you could enjoy a peaceful life with Avery. You have no business knowing the address of where I live.” She hissed.
” I- I just wanted to know so I could come pick up our kids when I want to.”
” You could pick them up after school life you did yesterday, then call Sofia so she’d take them back.”
” And what of weekends?”
Sydney looked at him squarely in the eyes, ” I’m not telling you where I live, Gavin, and you won’t cajole me.”
After today, she didn’t want to see his face ever again. It reminded her of a lot of things she didn’t want to be reminded of, bad things.
Gavin leaned into his chair, gazing at her. He’d find out anyway. Even if she’d run to a faraway land, he’d find her. He just wanted her to tell him herself but it was futile.
His eyes scanned the cloth on her body. At least she still knew how to dress like she was married.
Meeting her gaze, his tone changed as she asked, ” Tell me the truth, Sydney, have you had s! x with Gabriel?”
She would have if Gabriel hadn’t been such a gentleman. Sydney wanted to say out loud.
Thank God he didn’t. It had just dawned on her the wreck it would have caused if that had happened. She would have been living with another weight on her shoulders.
” It’s none of your business.” She replied savagely.
He wanted to say it was but he realized they weren’t married anymore. Another strike to his heart.
” You were my business, Sydney; just answer my question.”
Sydney stared at him hotly. ” Why are you suddenly interested in knowing what goes on in my personal life? In case you’ve forgotten, I’m not your wife anymore. Can you just don’t say anything and let me focus on my daughter’s contest in peace!”
” I don’t want you regretting anything later Syd.” His voice was tear-chocked.
” You should have told yourself this when you slept with my best friend.”
What he had done would forever chase him even till his grave. The deed had been done and he had to live with whatever side effects came in his way.
He nodded and agreed, ” You are right, I should have.”
His voice was barely above a whisper when he said, ” I should have been faithful to my wife, and I wish I had known beforehand that Avery has cancer.”