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.

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

by myself. At three in the afternoon, Jared called. “Yvonne fell. Her leg’s hurt. Meet us at the hospital,” he said,

“How?” My stomach dropped.

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

Yvonne’s mother, I knew

Yvonne was curled against Jared, quietly crying

1 entered, Yvonne immediately reached for me, her small voice breaking.

of the

1/3

said, her voice thick with remorse. “I should have been watching her more

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

red

have cried herself to exhaustion. She fell asleep in my

I’d blame Tracy. “Victoria,” he said quickly, “Tracy was just trying to help with

his protectiveness. Did he really think I’d play the

Holcomb.” Tracy’s voice

world, I would have torn Tracy

then turned to Tracy. “Thank you for watching her. She’s a handful even

silence was almost

looked almost disappointed when I didn’t give

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

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

When she snapped her head up, I saw

“why don’t you take Tracy home

unexpected kindness toward Tracy clearly caught Jared off guard.

guilt or

but to leave, though not without one last

back against the raised hospital bed, I closed my eyes, our daughter secure

let me take her,” Jared offered suddenly.