Chapter 7: Playdate

Renee’s POV

I sat in the car, my eyes fixed on the gates of Mary’s Kindergarten Center. My fingers drummed lightly against the lap, but my chest throbbed with something heavier… anger, memory.

“Look, ma’am,” Lydia’s voice cut through my haze, she pointed towards the gate. “That’s Mrs Wayne.”

I looked ahead. Sarah had just stepped out of a cab, her bag slung over one shoulder. And in that instant, my breath caught.

She wasn’t the woman I remembered. Back then, she was stunning… polished, glowing, the kind of beauty that drew eyes without even trying. Clark’s mother would always tell me how I needed to be like Sarah..

But look at her now, the tides have changed,  she looks like a shadow of that woman, her hair dull and pinned up without care, her once-perfect figure softened by long days indoors. The spark that used to sit in her eyes had dimmed, replaced with a tired glaze. She didn’t even seem to notice how far she’d slipped; she wore her exhaustion like a second skin.

This was me two years ago.. the dull and doting house wife. Yet they left me to burn like a i worth nothing to them.

My vision blurred with a sudden flash of firelight… the night that still causes me nightmares till date.

I saw her again in my mind, leaning into Clark as he led her out of the burning restaurant, she looked back briefly and I could see her lips curled into that sly smile. She had wanted me gone. She had wanted me dead. And she had succeeded.

“That Renee they all oppressed is long gone and buried… I bet my burrito she wouldn’t see this Renee coming.” I swore under my breath as I bit back in the stinging tears in my eyes

“Ma’am?” Lydia’s voice brought me back. She was watching me carefully. “Are you okay?”

I swallowed hard, forcing my chest to rise and fall evenly. Then I nodded, extending my hand. Lydia quickly placed the ID tag into my palm.

“The class teacher has been briefed,” she said softly. “The child will go with you without hesitation.”

“Good.” I clipped the tag onto my blouse, straightened my jacket, and opened the car door.

Inside, I sat a few seats away from Sarah, smiling politely as I greeted the other parents. My eyes flicked to the door every few seconds, counting down the minutes until fate or rather, my plan set the stage.

And it came faster than I expected.

Sarah’s daughter walked out of the classroom, side by side with the little girl I’d paid her mother to play the role of mine. My chance.

I rose quickly, almost too quickly, and bumped right into Sarah. She stumbled, I caught myself, and we both laughed lightly, murmuring apologies. That was my opening.

“Hey.. to properly apologise, and perhaps help our girls bond” I said smoothly, “maybe we could take them out for ice cream? They might as well start being friends.”

Sarah looked like she was about to refuse, but her daughter’s face lit up at the word ice cream. That settled it.

“Fine,” she said half chuckle.

By the time we reached the car, my driver and Lydia had disappeared, exactly as I instructed. Sarah’s eyes widened slightly at the Porsche waiting for us. I caught her staring but pretended not to notice.

Once inside, the girls settled in the back seat, giggling together. Sarah sat in the passenger seat, hesitant at first.

“Nice car,” she murmured eventually.

I tilted my head with a smile. “Do you like it?”

Her answer was shy but laced with fascination. I could hear it in the way she spoke, even in the pauses she took. Her voice gave her away more than her words.

The drive was short and quiet, tension humming between us.

At the parlor, I insisted on paying. While the kids played in the small playground, I turned my attention on Sarah.

“So,” I said casually, “what do you do for a living?”

She eased into the conversation, piece by piece, finally looking relaxed. I asked about her family, her life. And then she asked about my husband.

“We’re going through a divorce,” I told her, my voice calm, steady.

Her face softened. “I’m sorry.”

I gave her a small shrug. “Well, fame comes with cheating. I expected it eventually. I just…tried to believe it wouldn’t happen to me.”

At that, her body tensed. I noticed the flicker in her eyes, the way her hand froze on her cup. My words had struck a nerve, exactly where I wanted.

“Are you okay?” I asked lightly.

“Yes,” she said quickly, forcing a smile. But she wasn’t fine. I could see it. And she knew I could see it.

Her phone rang then, saving her. She checked the screen and gasped. “Oh shoot… that’s my mother-in-law. We were supposed to pick up something for her at the mall.”

“She lives with you?” I asked.

“Yes.”

I let out a small shrug. “It’s nothing… just imagining how exhausting it must be, caring for three people.”

Her expression faltered. Her lips pressed into a thin line. “I’ve got no other option.”

“There’s always an option,” I said softly. “We just choose not to explore it.”

Her eyes flicked toward me but she said nothing. Instead, she tucked her phone away and stood. The moment was broken.

We collected the kids, who were laughing and holding hands now as if they’d known each other forever. Sarah and I walked toward the door together.

“I’ll be hosting a play date for my daughter’s friends  this weekend at the park,” she said suddenly. “You and your little girl should come.” Pulling out an invite from her purse and handing it to me.

I smiled warmly, hiding the victorious thrum in my chest. “We’d love to.”

We parted ways at the entrance. Once back in the car, I stared down at the invitation slip in my hand. My fingers pressed against the paper as a smile curled at my lips.

This was it. The first step into the Wayne household.

And Sarah had just handed me the keys… hook, line, and sinker.