Housewife Gone Wild

Chapter 29

When the steaks arrived, Jared cut Yvonne’s portion into pieces, but she pushed her plate away, too full. With a sigh, he turned and noticed me still sipping my wine. “Would you like me to cut yours?” he offered.

I’m fine.” I understood this was simply his upbringing showing–the reflexive good manners of a man trained from birth in proper etiquette, not actual care.

We ate without conversation, the only sound being Jared’s phone buzzing with another message from Tracy–which he continued to ignore.

We maintained the ritual of family dinners, though ours contained none of the warmth those words suggested.

When dinner ended, Jared stood abruptly. “I have things to handle. Take Yvonne home.”

We both knew where he was going. I answered with a single “Fine,” scooped up Yvonne, and retreated to the car.

“Dad, where are you going? Can I come?” Yvonne asked, her tone suddenly brightening as if she’d guessed who he was meeting. “Please? There’s nothing to do at home.”

of course. His evening with Tracy

time,” Jared declined.

slumped against me with a

leave immediately, yet an

affair. What did that make me, the actual wife? Everyone claimed the first marriage mattered most, while the others were just temporary. But becoming less than the

me for a bedtime story. I picked up a book and read until she

fine–before closing my eyes, I let

to ask if I’d taken Yvonne to school. After all, her leg injury was almost healed by

I said she still didn’t feel like going and wanted more time

violin on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and all–day tutoring on Fridays

day, I dragged little Yvonne to

burned with resentment whenever she looked at me. My relentless