Melissa froze for a second, and then her eyes lit up. She clinked her glass against mine, tears still shimmering. “To new beginnings. And may everything go your way.”
I smiled from the bottom of my heart.
While we were eating, a waiter showed up with three fancy–looking dishes.
Melissa blinked. “I didn’t order these. Must be a mix–up?”
The waiter smiled, “Compliments of Mr. Holcomb. Your bill’s taken care of.”
Melissa’s head snapped to me. “Jared sent these?”
I took a bite. “Not bad. Let’s eat–no sense wasting good food.”
Melissa laughed awkwardly. “One of these probably costs more than my entire meal.”
I didn’t expect Jared to send over dishes. Maybe he felt guilty and was trying to make up for things with cash? That was just like him–seeming thoughtful, but cold at his core, a total train wreck.
Halfway through, Melissa still looked confused by my calm. She leaned in, her voice serious. “Yvonne was so cozy with that woman. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she’s her kid. Doesn’t that make you mad?”
I wasn’t surprised she would ask this. She’d watched me hover over Yvonne like a helicopter parent, terrified the kid might
get a paper cut.
Back then, I barely had enough breast milk. I’d call lactation experts every day, let them prod and poke until my skin was raw, and still nothing. I had cried through that whole first month, holding Yvonne, feeling like I was failing her.
Melissa stared at me, looking stunned. She let out a soft sigh. “Wow, Victoria. You’re totally different now. If it weren’t for your face, I’d swear you were a completely different person.”

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