Page 129 of Fierce-Michael

“No,” Electra said. “Not right now. It’s my life and not theirs.”

He’d text Amber when the documents were legal. He didn’t expect Electra to change her mind, but no reason to bring anyone else in right yet.

“What do you want me to tell Ty?” he asked. “Anything? Any message for him at all? I’m guessing you don’t want to see him one last time to say anything. Even if it’s the right thing to do.”

“I don’t know what I’d say. I’d rather not. It’s better this way. You’ll handle it better than me. You always do. I’m not good at those things.”

“I want to make this clear,” he said. “You’re not saying goodbye to your son and don’t know when you’ll see him again.”

“I understand,” she said.

“Do you want any updates on him? Pictures or anything?” he asked. He wanted to be able to put his head on the pillow at night that he did everything he could and no one could come back and say he screwed his ex over.

“Nah,” Electra said. “Not now. Maybe in the future, but it’s best to just walk away like this.”

As if it was some bad habit that she was breaking.

There was no change in her tone of voice, no emotion at all.

“Do you want me to take his things out of the apartment?” he asked. “You know, so you have no reminders.” He knew it was said sarcastically.

“Actually,” Electra said. “That’s a good idea. Then I can redo that room and make it something fun. I’ll see if I can get some boxes. There are always a few down by the recyclables dumpster.”

“Go get them,” he said, moving past her into his son’s room.

Jesus. There wasn’t even much in here. Most of it was what he’d bought and things his son had at home already.

“Here are two,” Electra said five minutes later.

“That’s enough,” he said. “He doesn’t need some of these things as he has them already.”

“What am I supposed to do with them?” Electra asked.

“Give them away or throw them out. I don’t care.”

He packed up and walked out the door with the two boxes on top of each other. He hoped he never came back.

“How did it go?” Kelly asked. He turned his head from where he was getting the boxes out of his SUV and dropped them in thecorner of the garage. No reason to bring them into the house. Ty most likely wouldn’t want them as a reminder either.

“Not good. She’s walking away without thought or argument. Didn’t even want his stuff in the apartment.”

Kelly’s jaw dropped. “You’re joking.”

“No,” he said. “I should be relieved, but I’m just pissed off.”

“Of course you are,” she said. “I can’t believe any mother can do that.”

“I gave her a few options and she chose that,” he said. He told her how it went. “We need to get inside before Ty comes looking for you.”

“He’s watching a movie,” she said.

“I know, but I need to get this over with and tell him.”

“Do you know what you’re going to say?”

“Not the truth,” he said. “That would be hurtful and he doesn’t need that in his life. He doesn’t need to feel as if he’s not wanted.”

“No,” she said, wrapping her arms around him. “It’s going to be hard enough as it is. Confusing too.”