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.

in his voice, I calmly refused. “Meeting isn’t necessary. The best repayment is you succeeding,” I said,

Jared called. “Yvonne fell.

“How?” My stomach dropped.

finished, the hospital location

mother, I knew

quietly crying with her leg bandaged. Tracy sat nearby, her face filled

Yvonne immediately reached for me, her

on the edge of the

1/3

sorry,” Tracy said, her voice thick with remorse. “I should have been watching her

to comfort her. “We all know how Yvonne

eyes grew red as

herself to exhaustion. She

me carefully, clearly worried I’d blame Tracy. “Victoria,” he said quickly, “Tracy was just trying to help

Did he really think

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

life, when Yvonne was my entire world, I would have torn Tracy apart for letting Yvonne get

turned to Tracy. “Thank you

stunned silence was almost

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

my previous life–playing the fragile victim while needling me into outbursts that only

entirely my fault,” Tracy said with theatrical remorse, tears streaming as she made a deep, exaggerated

her shoulders mid–bow, forcing her upright. When she snapped her head up, I saw the frustrated realization in

don’t you take Tracy home now? I’ll stay with

kindness toward Tracy clearly caught Jared

Whether out of guilt or self–reproach, he

had no choice but to leave, though not without one last

the raised hospital bed, I closed

her,” Jared