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

called. “Yvonne fell. Her leg’s hurt. Meet us at the hospital,” he said, his voice

“How?” My stomach dropped.

he finished, the

I knew she

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

immediately reached for me, her small

sat on the edge of the hospital bed

1/3

“I

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

eyes grew red as

have cried herself to exhaustion. She fell asleep in my arms within

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

protectiveness. Did he

Holcomb.”

my entire world, I would have torn

“Thank you

stunned silence was

disappointed when I didn’t give

fragile victim while needling me into outbursts that only made

with theatrical remorse, tears streaming as she

she snapped her head up, I saw the frustrated

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

kindness toward Tracy clearly caught Jared

Jared said. Whether out of guilt or self–reproach, he

but to leave, though not without one last

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

let me take her,” Jared offered suddenly.