37 Times She Chose Him, The Last Time I Let Him Go Chapter 01

37 Times She Chose Him, The Last Time I Let Him Go Chapter 01

I stared at my phone as Natalie Harlow’s name lit up the screen for the thirty-seventh time.

She wanted to borrow my husband.

Just for one day, she said. Leo’s school was hosting Family Fun Day, and all the other kids would have their fathers there. She couldn’t bear for her son to be the only one without a dad.

Grant barely glanced at me before grabbing his jacket.

“She’s divorced and raising a kid alone,” he said on his way out, the same line he always used. “Don’t be so petty.”

But that same day was the spring showcase Tessa had been waiting three months for. My daughter sat backstage in her recital costume, waiting through the entire performance. Her father never showed.

When we got home, we saw him on the local news livestream.

Grant stood beside Natalie and Leo, all three of them matching in navy polo shirts. Natalie looped her arm through his like it was the most natural thing in the world. When the host asked how long they’d been married, Grant didn’t correct her. He just tucked a strand of hair behind Natalie’s ear, his eyes soft with something that looked too much like affection.

Leo wrapped his arms around Grant’s waist and shouted “Dad” loud enough for the whole gymnasium to hear.

The camera panned across the audience. Laughter and cheers rolled through the crowd.

Tessa watched in silence. Then she tore her crayon drawing of the three of us straight down the middle.

“Mom,” she said quietly, “Dad always gets borrowed by someone else.”

Her voice cracked just a little. “Can we stop waiting for him?”

I looked into my daughter’s red-rimmed eyes and felt the last ember of hope inside me go dark.

I pulled out my phone and texted my lawyer.

[Start drafting the divorce papers.]

—

My lawyer replied quickly.

[I can have the agreement ready tonight. Start gathering your records for custody—texts, emails, anything that shows patterns.]

I had just finished saving my screenshots when Grant walked through the door.

He was still wearing that navy polo from the livestream, a smear of frosting on one sleeve. Natalie followed close behind, Leo’s hand in hers.

“Is there anything to eat?” Grant asked, tossing his jacket over the back of a chair like he did every night. “Leo’s hungry after the event. Just order a pizza or heat up some chicken nuggets—hold the extra salt. He’s picky.”

I didn’t move.

Tessa peeked out from behind me, clutching the torn halves of her drawing.

“Dad, why didn’t you come watch me dance?”

Grant finally noticed her costume. He paused for half a second, then crouched down to ruffle her hair.

“Something came up, sweetheart. I’ll catch the next one.”

Tessa pulled away from his hand.

“Ms. Torres said this was the last showcase of the year.”

“Then have Mom record it. I’ll watch the video later.”

His voice was casual, brushing it off like it didn’t matter. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold-colored medal.

“Look, I brought you a present.”

Tessa’s eyes lit up for just a moment.

Then she turned the medal over.

Engraved on the back, in clean block letters: LEO.

Natalie gasped and covered her mouth. “Oh no, Grant, that’s Leo’s. He won it at Family Fun Day.”

Grant frowned and took the medal back from Tessa’s hands. “If it’s Leo’s, then it’s Leo’s. Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll buy you a new one.”

Tessa’s hands stayed frozen in the air, still cupped as if holding something.

After a long moment, she lowered them.

“But you always said ribbons have to be earned. Store-bought ones don’t count.”

Grant’s expression flickered.

Leo snatched the medal from his mother and hung it around his own neck. He stuck his tongue out at Tessa.

“Grant won a race with me today. We got first place.”

Tessa looked down at her torn drawing and crushed it tighter in her fists.

I stepped in front of my daughter.

“There’s no food here. Take them out.”

Grant’s face hardened. “Naomi, the kids are right here. Do you have to do this now?”

Natalie tugged his arm. “Forget it. She’s still upset. Leo and I can go home. The water’s shut off, but we can manage one night.”

“Shut off? You can’t stay there.”

Grant rubbed his temples. “The guest room’s empty. You two are staying tonight.”

I lifted my eyes to him. “That won’t work.”

“Why not? We have space.”

He glanced at Tessa and softened his tone just a fraction. “I know I missed your showcase. That’s on me. I’ll make it up to her tonight. Natalie’s just crashing here—don’t make this harder for her.”

Tessa tugged my sleeve. “Mom, I’m tired.”

I led her toward the bedroom.

But Leo had already spotted the glittery foam crown on Tessa’s nightstand. He broke free from Natalie and ran in.

“I want that. It’s pretty.”

That crown was the souvenir every kid got after the showcase. Tessa had been so proud of hers.

Tessa finally snapped. “That’s mine!”

Leo hid it behind his back. “Grant says sharing is nice.”

The two children tussled, and the crown split right down the middle.

Tessa froze.

Grant walked over and pulled Leo behind him. “It’s just cheap plastic. We’ll buy another one.”

Tessa looked up at him, tears pooling in her eyes. “Dad, that’s the second thing you gave him today.”

Grant opened his mouth. Nothing came out.

Tessa hugged the torn drawing to her chest—the only thing left that still proved, even a little, that her father had once belonged to her and me.