Housewife Gone Wild

Chapter 19

My morning dance class left me drenched and pleasantly loose–limbed.

Come noon, I called Sally about whether Yvonne was coming home.

“Yvonne’s at the amusement park with Tracy,” Sally informed me. “You should give Tracy a call.”

Tracy had become like a second mother to Yvonne–genuinely devoted and always making time for her.

Not that I hadn’t been that mother once. There was a time when my world revolved around parent–teacher conferences and bedtime stories too.

I didn’t call Tracy. If my daughter smiled more with her, who was I to interfere?

I was about to eat alone when my phone buzzed with an unknown number.

“Hello. Is that Victoria Murphy?” The male voice on the line was warm and unfamiliar.

“Speaking,” I answered automatically before catching myself. “May I ask who’s calling?”

“I’m the student you sponsored years ago.” The earnestness in his voice prickled my skin. “I was hoping we might have lunch today.”

The pause stretched too long. I’d never wanted gratitude, and now wasn’t the time to revisit the past–not when I had my own reasons to keep my distance.

In my previous life, I’d seen enough online stories about scholarship recipients turning on their benefactors to last a lifetime.

“It’s just lunch,” he said, lowering his voice when he caught my hesitation. “No strings attached.”

“I’m married,” I said quickly. “Meeting men alone… it wouldn’t look right.”

“Bring a friend then,” he offered.

“Meeting isn’t necessary. The best repayment is you succeeding,” I said, and

three in the afternoon, Jared called. “Yvonne fell. Her leg’s hurt. Meet us

“How?” My stomach dropped.

tripped.” As soon as he finished, the hospital location appeared on

knew she needed me

against Jared, quietly crying with her leg bandaged. Tracy sat nearby, her

for me, her

the

1/3

with remorse. “I should have

all know how Yvonne is, always climbing where she shouldn’t. This

grew red as silent

cried herself to exhaustion. She fell asleep in my arms

carefully, clearly worried I’d blame Tracy. “Victoria,” he said quickly, “Tracy

he

so sorry, Mrs. Holcomb.” Tracy’s voice trembled

world, I would have torn Tracy apart for

Yvonne’s tousled hair and then turned to Tracy. “Thank you

silence

looked almost disappointed when I didn’t give her the dramatic scene

victim while needling me into outbursts that only

Holcomb, this was entirely my fault,” Tracy said with theatrical remorse, tears

head up, I saw the frustrated realization in her eyes–her

said, looking up calmly, “why don’t you take Tracy home now? I’ll stay with

Tracy clearly caught Jared off guard.

out of guilt or

not without one last resentful look

raised hospital bed, I closed

me take her,” Jared offered suddenly. “You should