Housewife Gone Wild

When Jared hugged me, all I could think about was how another woman had been in his arms and how her perfume still lingered on him.

My body stiffened before I could stop it. I stepped back quickly, then turned and fled to my bedroom.

Since our daughter was born, Jared and I had maintained separate bedrooms. He only visited mine when he wanted sex. Most nights, he slept alone in the guest room, leaving me the master suite to myself.

I didn’t care whether my rejection wounded him. I remained in my room until dinner called me downstairs.

Downstairs, I found Jared helping Yvonne feed her pony. When Wendy announced dinner, they washed up and took their places at the table.

“Dad,” Yvonne whined the instant she saw me, clutching Jared’s arm, “Mom hasn’t made fried meatballs in forever. Can you make her cook some now?”

Jared met my eyes. “Yvonne’s begging for your meatballs. Feel like making some?”

Wendy stood beside the dining table, her eyes darting between the spread of dishes she’d just prepared and my indifferent expression.

said flatly, not moving from my chair. “There’s more than

this,” Yvonne announced, crossing her

well—the aversion to spices and the limited palate. I’d spent years

three separate dishes at every meal just for her. Yet here she

side as

nearly laughed out loud. “Darling,” I asked, “do you have any clue how long proper meatballs

before all the kneading to get the texture

Jared looked surprised. “I figured

Jared’s reaction, Yvonne pouted. “Dad, I only want meatballs. If Mom won’t make them, I’m not eating

don’t eat.” My patience was

demands had worked every time before, so she assumed persistence would make me give in again. But

temples. “Just eat something,” he said wearily. “We’ll grab burgers later if you’re

a show of sighing before dragging her spoon through her

my meal in silence and retreated upstairs. Let them figure out their own drama–I was done for