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.

the genuine gratitude in his voice, I calmly refused. “Meeting isn’t necessary. The best repayment is

in the afternoon, Jared called. “Yvonne fell. Her leg’s

“How?” My stomach dropped.

he finished, the hospital location

mother, I knew

hospital, Yvonne was curled against Jared, quietly crying

me, her small voice breaking. “Mom,

the hospital bed

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

spoke up to comfort her. “We all know how Yvonne is, always climbing where she shouldn’t.

eyes grew red as silent

cried herself to exhaustion. She fell asleep in my

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

Did he

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

for my reaction. In my previous life, when Yvonne was my entire world, I would have torn Tracy apart for letting Yvonne

then turned to Tracy. “Thank you for

silence was almost

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

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

fault,” Tracy said with theatrical

her head up, I

looking up calmly, “why don’t you take

kindness toward Tracy clearly caught Jared off guard.

Whether out of guilt or self–reproach, he sent her

choice but to leave, though not

hospital bed, I closed my eyes, our daughter secure in

Jared