Chapter 14
Paul
Maybe it was better that she wasn’t interested after all, Paul mused the next day, as he shopped in the cereal section of Huff’s. He sighed, thinking about Jessica’s reluctance and his own fear of long-term commitment. Maybe they were better off just forgetting it. Keep on moving on. Maybe love wasn’t in the stars for either of them.
Just as he picked up a box of organic granola, Paul’s muscles went weak. Ten feet before him stood the little boy who had once been the light of his life: Ethan.
He was standing beside Eva, looking over the cereal selections. Eleven years old now, he had grown taller and handsome. A good-looking kid for sure. How was he doing in school? Had he gone to any more football games at UT? He didn’t know whether to try to talk to him or not.
Paul watched as Ethan asked to get a box of cereal, and Eva put it in her cart. Then, just as they headed up the aisle, there he was as Paul expected— The Maximizer . Max DeWalt.
When the news of their wedding was all over Facebook about two years ago, Paul had been happy for them. Truly. It had put that last extra bit of finality to his and Eva’s relationship. And he had hoped the Maximizer would give Ethan and Eva everything he couldn't.
But now that the man was standing a few feet away from him, he wasn’t so sure. The Maximizer stood with his hands on his hips, frowning. He pulled the cereal Ethan had chosen from the cart and started showing the boy the ingredients.
Ethan’s shoulders drooped. Paul couldn’t tell what kind of cereal it actually was, but come on, dude. It couldn’t be that bad, could it? And even if it was, sometimes it was okay to eat something just because it tasted good.
Eva stood there, her own shoulders held stiff, as DeWalt spoke to them both, no doubt lecturing them on the dangers of too much sugar and high fructose corn syrup. Finally, they moved along. Paul walked over to the fruits and veggies section, where he was still able to see them. They wandered to the meat section, and DeWalt put a brisket in the cart.
The guy was as dedicated as they came in terms of exercise and diet. You could tell just by looking at him: massive shoulders, not an ounce of fat. But what kind of husband did he make? And what kind of father?
Just before they moved on to the produce, Ethan, walking behind his mother and DeWalt, looked to his right as if he was sensing something. He swung around. Paul froze, and their gazes met. Ethan’s eyes looked so sad, dark, and it hit him in the chest. The boy’s pain was his pain.
Paul waved and gave him a smile, but Ethan sized Paul up for a long moment, letting his eyes run over him, then turned his back and walked on, not even acknowledging him. Paul’s heart seized up, and his throat clutched tight. He could hardly swallow against the lump in it. He’d abandoned the kid. Ethan had looked up to Paul for support, encouragement, guidance. And he’d let him down.
Paul stomped out of the store and got into his car. He slammed his fist against the steering wheel. “Shit!” He sat there as a lone tear trickled down his face, sadness creeping through his heart.