Housewife Gone Wild

Chapter 1

It was late 2044, and I was in my fifties, counting down my final moments.

Breast cancer had ravaged my body. My husband, Jared Holcomb, was desperately trying to save me, rushing to find the best doctors. But I was done fighting. I’d stopped eating for three days, not even taking a sip of water.

We’d been married for thirty years, but I couldn’t stand the thought of laying eyes on him one last time.

In the hospice room, I lay dying, my eyes tightly closed. Suddenly, familiar footsteps grew louder–Jared and our daughter, Yvonne, were approaching my bedside.

The doctor’s voice was heavy. “She’s stopped eating. You don’t have much time left.”

A thick silence filled the room. My remaining consciousness was fading, bit by bit.

Then I heard Yvonne whisper, her voice deliberately low, “Mom’s about to pass. When are you going to marry Tracy?”

Jared paused before responding, “We’ll see. Let’s get the funeral over with first.”

Yvonne sighed, “Mom wasted her entire life. I never understood what she was holding onto. She should’ve divorced years ago. All that stress just ate her alive.”

My heart felt like it was drowning in bitterness. The reason I’d stayed married was so simple–I wanted Yvonne to grow up in an intact family. I didn’t want her to deal with in–law drama when she got married someday.

Now, my stubborn persistence felt like one pathetic, cruel joke. Whatever, I was about to leave this world that had torn my heart to shreds. Finally, I’d be free.

“Quiet as she seems, she’s always been stubborn,” Jared muttered, his voice dripping with contempt. “It destroyed everything, including herself.”

What a sharp way to sum up my life.

“Tracy’s had it tough, hanging around without any real status. Finally, she’s gonna get what she deserves,” Yvonne said, sounding relieved.

of my life making it up to her,”

my face, uncontrollable. So, my years of sacrifice meant nothing to them. They only cared about the woman who’d wrecked

like it was ringing far off in the distance. Exhaustion crashed

sudden, a bright, blinding light sliced through the dark. Dazed, I forced

“Victoria, still

spun around. There, standing by the floor–to–ceiling window, was my mom–who’d been gone for years–gathering up the curtains. Outside, the sun blazed bright, and the

Mom walked over, playfully tapping my arm. “Were you up late reading romance novels again? I’ve told you

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Chapter

I grabbed her hand, felt its warmth, and

said you were bored and asked

key turning in a lock. Just after Memorial Day in 2014, Mom had taken some time off, and I’d had

off,” Mom said, Mom said, shooing me out of my thought. “Go get Yvonne. Jared’s on his way home for supper, and I need

we got married. It was 2014, and Yvonne

son, he’d been running the company pretty

warmed my skin, and I wondered–had I time–traveled? Did fate take pity on me, seeing how I’d wasted my first life? Was this a do–over, or just another shot at

playing tennis on the community court, that easy, carefree vibe of being young just

After a while, I let out a laugh.

worked.

and checked the time—3:40 PM. Normally, as a stay–at–home mom, I’d now be heading out to pick Yvonne up, a 30–minute drive from the

like slacking off. Yvonne was my kid, but picking her

voice answered, “What’s up? You on your way to get

feigning a weak tone. “Ugh, my stomach’s been acting

“I’ve got a meeting. Can your mom do

cooking. You know I can’t handle raw fish,” I said casually. I knew him–if I didn’t