Chapter 43

Days passed without a word from Jonathan after his mention of a blind date. Teresa found herself thinking about him, particularly when she entered her new lock code each evening—a reminder of the night he’d stumbled into her home, completely intoxicated.

Miriam sent her a puzzled text one day: [Teresa, the code isn’t opening the door. Have you changed it? I thought it was all sixes.]

With a chuckle, Teresa typed back: [Yeah. It’s Mike’s birthday now.]

Miriam’s reply came quickly: [Oh, really? Everything okay? No break-ins or anything?]

Teresa thought for a moment, avoiding mentioning Jonathan’s involvement. As she set her phone aside, Teresa sighed, her thoughts drifting to Jonathan’s date. She guessed it was with Simona, but she shook her head, reminding herself it wasn’t her place to wonder.

Thankfully, there was good news to focus on. Teresa’s online store was booming. She’d already paid back the $30,000 Miriam had invested, and now she was reaping the benefits.

One weekend, Teresa took Michael to the cemetery to pay respects to his great-grandparents. As they stood by the graves, Michael looked up at Teresa. “Mommy, are my great-grandparents resting beneath the ground?”

Teresa nodded, smoothing his hair. “Yes, sweetheart, they’re resting peacefully down there.”

Curiosity filled Michael’s eyes as he pressed on. “Do they have blankets? Will they be cold in winter? What about snakes?”

Teresa smiled, her voice gentle and reassuring. “They’re safe from the cold, and if there are snakes, your great-grandpa would keep your great-grandma safe because he loved her so much.”

Michael tilted his head, his brow furrowing slightly. “Mommy, does love mean you protect someone?” He was a bundle of questions, but Teresa was never tired of them. She always took the time to answer.

“Yes,” she said, hugging him close. “Love means doing everything you can to keep your beloved ones safe.”

Michael seemed to grasp the meaning, nodding in understanding. As they headed back home, Teresa’s gaze landed on a face from her past.

“Teresa,” Truman Garcia, a man with a kind look and wearing a crisp white shirt, greeted her warmly. It had been ages since their paths last crossed.

Michael, clinging to her leg, looked up at Truman with curiosity. “Mommy, who’s he?” he asked.

Teresa looked down at her child and said, “This is Truman Garcia, a friend of Mommy’s.” She gently prompted, “Wave hello to him.” Michael waved and said, “Hi, Mr. Garcia!”

Truman’s smile grew as he started to ask, “Is this your son with…” But Teresa didn’t let him finish. “He’s my son,” she said, cutting him off and avoiding the mention of the boy’s father.

Truman, with a warm grin, asked, “Hey, it’s been ages. How are you holding up?”

Teresa managed a small smile, sensing the deeper meaning in his question. A lot had happened since they’d last talked—her marriage, the rough patches with Yvonne and Irene, and the tough loss of her grandparents. She maintained her emotional turmoil to herself, not wishing to burden Jonathan despite their marriage. She had discreetly sought therapy, fighting depression without using it as a tool to keep Jonathan close as Yvonne had done. Truman, her physician, was privy to her unspoken struggles.

Pretending to glance at her watch, Teresa said, “I’ve got to take my son for some errands, but let’s plan on having lunch or something soon.”

Truman nodded, his eyes following her as she got ready to leave. “Just give me a call when you’re up for it,” he offered.

“Mommy,” Michael gazed up at Teresa, curiosity sparkling in his eyes. “That tall, thin man is nice, right? Can he be my dad?”

Teresa chuckled at her son’s straightforwardness. Patting his head, she replied, “We’ll discuss it later, kiddo.”