Chapter 13

"Already forgotten," Teresa responded, her tone edged with discomfort. Jonathan, not picking up on her irritation, leaned in close, his breath brushing her ear as he murmured, “Forgotten? You want me to jog your memory?”

She didn’t hesitate to push him away. “Back off, Jonathan,” Teresa said firmly. His eyes lingered on her, taking in the new contours of her body that had bloomed since they last met. He realized how disconnected he’d become. Even though he’d endured two years alone, their married days had been anything but passionless.

Before the moment could escalate, Jonathan retreated, straightening up in his seat. As they arrived at Teresa’s place, she couldn’t hide her irritation. After stepping out of the car, she turned and muttered, “What a creep.” Catching the sight of her ears turning red, Jonathan softly laughed.

Teresa had dinner plans at the Lynns’, so she’d arranged for Miriam to look after Michael in her absence. Michael wasn’t thrilled with the idea of staying in. “Do I really have to hang around the house again?” he groaned, his lower lip poking out in a pout. Teresa gave him a reassuring smile. “Play nice, and I’ll bring you back something really good to eat,” she said, her voice warm and comforting. With a huff, Michael crossed his arms, mimicking his dad’s signature frown. “You always bribe me with food,” he grumbled.

Jonathan had been on a financial roll, earning enough to buy a fancy villa in Nareigh’s northern region for his mom, Irene Lynn. After his dad’s early passing, it had been Irene and a lot of help from his grandfather who’d raised him. Hayden was looking forward to coming home for his birthday, and Irene was all for it.

Upon learning that Teresa was included in the dinner plans, Irene was shocked. “Wait, you two are divorced, right? What’s Teresa doing at our family dinner?” she questioned, her tone carrying a hint of disapproval. Jonathan spoke matter-of-factly, “We haven’t told Grandpa about the divorce. It’s better for his heart if we keep it that way. Plus, he rarely gets to celebrate his birthday. Let’s just make sure he enjoys it this year.” Irene, her lips pressed thin, gave him a pointed look. “Promise me you’ll meet with Simona after dinner.”

Jonathan shook his head, a clear ‘no’ written on his face. “I’m not into her. You can drop it.” Irene stared at him, puzzled. “You’re only twenty-nine, Jonathan. You should be out there, dating. You’re not planning on being a bachelor for life, are you?” He just shrugged, not engaging with her probing.

Irene and Teresa had never seen eye to eye, and the feeling was mutual. When Teresa arrived at the Lynn residence, she kept it formal with a simple, “Hello, Mrs. Lynn,” and didn’t offer much else. Irene, not wanting to cause a scene with Hayden around, chose to avoid the family get-together. She turned on her heel and made her way upstairs, leaving the rest to their evening.

Teresa inched closer to Jonathan, her elbow lightly bumping his side as she spoke softly. “I think your mom still doesn’t like me.” When he didn’t respond, she continued. “You should have brought Yvonne. It would have kept your mom happy. She really adores Yvonne.” Jonathan gave her a pointed glance, silently urging her to drop the subject.

Hayden’s laughter boomed as he made his way over, his eyes sparkling with joy. “Teresa, sweetheart, come here and let me take a good look at you,” he called out, his hand waving her closer. With a gentle pat on Teresa’s hand, Hayden said, “You’re just glowing, Teresa. Jonathan, you’ve got a real gem here.” The gesture evoked memories of Teresa’s grandparents, a tender reminder of their presence in her life.

Chapter 15

Hayden’s face grew solemn as he gestured towards Jonathan. “I’ve been anxious. Any updates on the family expanding?” There was an eager glint in his eyes, leaving his question lingering. Jonathan’s face was unreadable, his thoughts tucked away.

Teresa’s heart pounded as she spoke. “Hayden, we’re not there yet with the kids thing.” Hayden counted on his fingers, a knowing look on his face. “You’ve been married for four years now. It’s time to think about starting a family.”

Teresa nodded, her eyes cast down. “We’re aware. We’re working on it.” Jonathan stepped in, draping an arm around Teresa’s shoulders. “Take it easy, Grandpa. Kids are in the cards, just not right now.”