Victoria spotted McNeil and Violet beneath the fireworks, Curtis, Isaac, and Marcus nearby, with little Max in tow.
From a distance, the group wasughing and enjoying themselves, the night alive with their easy camaraderie.
"Dad, Ms. Marchand, you''re out here setting off fireworks and didn''t even invite me."
Gwh''s voice carried a hint of indignation.
Violet crouched down in front of her, her eyes twinkling. "Weren''t you the one who said you had ns tonight?"
McNeil had asked Gwh earlier what she was up to, and she''d said she was going to see her mom. She never mentioned this to Violet, only saying she had a craft project and needed to look something up on theputer.
She''d even whispered in Violet''s ear, promising not to intrude on her "special time" alone with Dad.
Violet saw right through her little scheme but chose not to call her out.
Isaac couldn''t help but ask, "It''s prettyte, Gwh. Who brought you here?" "My mom, of course."
Gwh replied without missing a beat. The three men-except for McNeil- immediately turned to look in the direction where Victoria stood.
The streemp behind Victoria cast her face in shadow; no one could see her expression.
Violet felt her whole body tense, unable to move for a moment.
Victoria was really here. If she came over to say hello, what would happen if she and McNeil were recognized as a couple?
"Is that your wife, McNeil? Why don''t you call her over?" Curtis asked, curiosity piqued. Marcus and Isaac looked just as eager.
After all, Gwh''s mom was McNeil''s mysterious, never-before-seen wife. Who wouldn''t want to finally catch a glimpse of her?
Even Violet couldn''t handle McNeil''s stubbornness, yet this woman had not only married him but had a daughter with him.
"Should we go invite her?" Isaac offered, almost jumping with anticipation. Violet''s face had turned an rming shade of pale.
McNeil cut them off. "No."
Marcus protested, "Come on, McNeil. You run into your wife and don''t even ask her to join us? Besides, you and Violet are just friends now. Don''t let her get the wrong idea."
Once Marcus got nosy, there was no stopping him.
Victoria froze for a moment, about to leave, when McNeil''s call came through.
"I''ll take care of our daughter," he said, his message unmistakable. He didn''t want her to show up in front of his friends-not to protect her, but to shield Violet from gossip, to prevent anyone from thinking Violet was the other woman.
How typical.
She was done caring what he wanted.
"Fine," Victoria replied.
And just like that, her figure vanished into the night. Isaac, still watching the spot where she''d stood, let out a disappointed sigh. "Oh, she left. What a shame..."
Marcus squinted; something about that silhouette seemed oddly familiar.
Curtis felt it too.
Victoria pulled her coat tighter against the chill. Despite the arrival of spring, the night wind still cut straight to the bone.
Yasmine finally reached her after Victoria called, searching along thekeside road until she spotted a lone figure sitting quietly beneath a streemp. "Ms. Turner..."
Yasmine hurried over, draping a cashmere coat over Victoria''s shoulders. Victoria gazed at her, eyes unfocused and distant.
"Oh my God, you''re freezing, Ms. Turner. Come on, let''s get you in the car. What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?"
She just didn''t understand.
Victoria slid into the passenger seat, and Yasmine cranked the heat up full st. It took five minutes for color to return to Victoria''s cheeks, for her to finally exhale and let herself breathe again.
As they drove back, they passed McNeil''s car parked by the curb. Violet held a sparkler, Gwhughing as she chased her, both faces aglow in the firework''s light, with McNeil watching over them, hands in his pockets.
Anyone passing by would have thought they were the picture of a perfect family. Victoria rolled up the window. McNeil nced at the car, catching sight of her for just a second before looking away, letting them pass as if she were a stranger. Yasmine wanted to say somethingforting, but found she had no words at all.