Housewife Gone Wild

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

George took a sip of coffee. “Ms. Murphy has had a child and reached a certain age. Maturity was inevitable,” he said.

I glanced at George. He wasn’t wrong, but it was interesting he’d addressed me as “Ms. Murphy” rather than the casual “Victoria.”

Jared let out a tired sigh. “She was so easy when she was little. Now she’s a teenager who talks back constantly, and I don’t know how to deal with her anymore.”

Sandra smiled knowingly. “No one understands parenting like Victoria. She put her whole life on hold for six years to raise Yvonne–that kind of devotion shows.”

I smiled bitterly to myself. Morality wasn’t taught–it was something people were born with or without, plain as that.

Lunch was served amid pleasant conversation. Jared made a show of putting food on my plate–those carefully calculated husband gestures he’d mastered.

Sandra watched with undisguised envy while Wendell shoveled food into his mouth, completely oblivious.

Without Tracy, without Jared’s betrayal, I might have called this a happy marriage. But that illusion had shattered long ago.

After lunch, true to his word, Jared transferred the money. When he asked if I was going to the office that afternoon, I declined, saying I needed to visit the Harmonia Hotel site instead.

He arranged for his driver to take me while he left with George.

After six years of marriage, we’d settled into a comfortable routine–all the passion spent, our conversations as predictable as the tide.

Was this what happened to all marriages eventually? Or was ours uniquely empty?

*****

The Harmonia Hotel occupied two buildings in a prime location, though its aging facilities showed their years. While its reputation kept occupancy decent, the declining numbers spelled an inevitable end.

by the time I finished my inspection. I left with photographs and blueprints

pony, though I’d resolved to send

in his usual suit, shrugging off his jacket as

documents spread across

time when I’d rush to greet him, taking his coat to hang up while asking about dinner and even offering to draw

on the couch. Jared waited a beat before taking his coat upstairs

turned sulky. “Mom won’t play with me. Is she really going back

frowned at her words. When had Jared ever made that promise to

mom should work if she wants to,” Jared murmured. “You’re a

1/3

to do”

Mom home. I’m still little, and taking care of

fake a smile when I

wanted was to keep me prisoner in our

his daughter had become–a clear parenting failure. “Your mother and I won’t always

disregarded my words but perked up at her father’s voice, putting on that childish

You’re going to school tomorrow,” Jared

and when she saw the documents in my hands, she grabbed them with every intention

my hand connecting with her

doing?” Yvonne screamed. “You’re

and I were both calm people–so why did she fly off the handle over

same explosive

minutes,” I

a split second

I knew I

food,” she shot back with

I felt a pang of regret. They said too much