Chapter4: I’m Not Tommy’s Mommy Anymore
Caleb hung up. Evelyn sat back in her car, slammed the accelerator, and sped away. She didn’t notice the black sports car following her.
The scenery blurred into streaks of color as Evelyn’s silver Volvo became a blur on the highway. Her dark eyes were fixed on the road ahead. She hadn’t driven this fast in years; adrenaline surged through her veins. She effortlessly overtook three flashy sports.
“Whoa! Who was that?” someone shouted from one of the cars.
cars.
om another car, a man instructed his men through a Bluetooth headset, “Get me the license plate.”
Evelyn left the modified sports cars far behind, her speed unrelenting even on the winding roads. The spoiled brats in their cars heard someone exclaim. I got it. It’s a Hayes‘ car!”
“A Hayes? Is that Savannah?” one asked, incredulous.“Savannah’s that good? She never told us!”
The silver Volvo climbed the mountain road, only a black Ferrari still in pursuit. Damon smirked, a strand of hair falling across his brow. He’d witnessed Evelyn’s brilliance firsthand.
She was a prodigy, entering the prestigious Caltech’s gifted youth program at 14, winning three consecutive IMO gold medals, and applying to the Formula SAE competition at 19. After getting her racing license, she cracked the top ten in the World Rally Championship. Her life had been a trajectory of success, a path strewn with flowers and applause..
But in her third year of her Ph.D., she dropped out, fully committing to family life as a high–society housewife. Her car now held a child seat, and her speed limit had been. self–imposed at 45 mph.
The screech of tires against asphalt, the acrid smell of burning rubber, and a cloud of white smoke announced Evelyn’s sudden stop. Damon’s Ferrari easily passed, leaving Evelyn’s Volvo visible only in his rearview mirror.
Evelyn swiped at her phone; the voice of Lily’s teacher came from the car stereo.
“Mrs. Reed, please come to the school now! Tommy brought wax bottle candies to school and shared them with other children. Several kids are experiencing stomach aches!” Evelyn was still reeling from the high–speed drive.
“Ms. Jones, I’m no longer Tommy’s mother. If anything happens to him at school, contact his father. Don’t call me again.” She pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her voice firm and unwavering.“I’m not responsible for him anymore.”
“What?!” Ms. Jones was shocked. She desperately needed Evelyn to resolve the problem. Tommy said you gave him the candies. Several children choked. Had we not discovered it in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable! Several mothers are already here. Mrs. Reed, your need to come to the school and give them an explanation!”
The preschool was an exclusive bilingual institution for children from wealthy families. As Ms. Jones spoke, Evelyn could. hear those angry mothers in the background.
“Did you reach Mrs. Reed? How could she let her son bring such dangerous candies to school?”
“My child is so young, he doesn’t know he should spit out the wax. His throat is bleeding!” Evelyn asked, “Could I speak to Lily?”
“Certainly, please hold.”
< Chapter4. Im Not Tommy’s Mommy Anym
“Mommy!” Lily’s sweet voice filled Evelyn’s ears.
Evelyn asked, “Lily, did you eat any of the candies?”
“Tommy called me a fatty and gave everyone a candy except me.”
Evelyn breathed a sigh of relief.“Do you know who gave Tommy the candies?”
“Aunt Sav.”
Evelyn wasn’t surprised. Caleb always protected Savannah, and Tommy was following suit. Before Lily could answer, Tommy’s enraged voice exploded from the other end of the phone.
“Mommy gave me the candies! Not Sav!”
Tommy! You’re lying!”
“Shut up!!! AAAAAAH!!!”
Evelyn couldn’t make out what was happening, but soon, Tommy’s cries filled the phone. Ms. Jones shouted, “Lily! Don’t hit Tommy!”
Relieved that Lily wasn’t hurt, Evelyn hung up and called Davis.
“Davis, I just got a call from Tommy’s teacher. She said those candies was a hit, and she wanted more sent to the school.”
“What candy?” Davis was confused. Evelyn hung up.
Davis remembered the driver saying they’d encountered Savannah on their way to school. She confirmed with the driver that Savannah had given Tommy the candies. Then, she immediately called Savannah.
“Miss Hayes, where did you buy those wax bottle candies? Tommy’s classmates loved them, and his teacher asked me to send some more.”
Savannah was thrilled. This was her chance to step into the role of Tommy’s new mother.
Leave it to me, Davis.”
Davis readily agreed.“Okay, thank you.”
Evelyn tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, lost in thought. A knock echoed on her car window. She lowered the window. A perfectly sculpted hand, holding a business card, appeared. The black, gold–embossed card read: Damon Sterling, Partner of Wishing Star Law Firm.
Call me.
“If you need divorce consultation,
Evelyn took the card. “Mr. Sterling, you’re the best lawyer in town. I can’t afford- that.”
Damon leaned against her car door, his suit jacket open, his shirt collar undone, revealing a strong, defined throat.
“I can do it for free.”
Evelyn smiled. Besides money, I have nothing to offer you.”
for free.”
“Five years ago, you dropped out of your Ph.D. program to get married. My father’s health is deteriorating. Visit him. If you do,
If
do, I’ll handle
divorce case your Damon’s father, Professor Theodore Sterling, had been the dean of Peking University’s School of Mathematical Sciences, her doctoral advisor. When she was a young student at Caltech, he’d often hover around, urging her to grow up quickly so she could become his Ph.D.
ent. Later,
© Chaptent on Not Tommy’s Morning Anym
at Peking University, he pushed her relentlessly, reminding her to finish quickly before foreign d sanctions on universities crippled their research. She was caught between her studies and her life as Mrs. Reed, forced to juggle her coursework with classes in cooking, flower arranging, and art appreciation the requirements for a proper socialite. After she began to bleed during her pregnancy, she asked Theodore for permission to withdraw from the program.
“I can’t face him,” she confessed, remembering his silent turn, his refusal to talk to her. Damon leaned on her car door, gazing down at her.
“Falling in love when you’re young isn’t wrong. Letting go when you’re mature isn’t wrong either. Someone is waiting for you to pick up the pieces. Just find the courage to start again.”
