Chapter 310

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She had told Jonathan that life here was comfortable and fulfilling . She was supposed to feel happy .
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Suddenly , warmth enveloped her shoulders as someone draped a jacket over her . Blinking through her tears , Teresa looked up into the concerned eyes of Rebecca Nelson , the doctor overseeing her prenatal checkups .
“ Why are you sitting here crying ? ” she asked , frowning . “ Pregnant women shouldn’t sit on the floor . It’s cold . What happened ? ”
Teresa shook her head and stood up , hastily wiping her cheeks . “ My eyes are watering from the wind . Don’t worry about me ,” she explained .
“ Where do you live ? Let me drive you home . ” Rebecca offered .
“ No need – I live nearby , ” Teresa replied .
“ Then have your husband pick you up . Where is he , anyway ? ” Rebecca’s tone took on a sharper edge . She’d never seen Teresa’s husband at any of her appointments . Was he just uninvolved , or worse ?
Teresa sighed , pressing her lips together before admitting , “ Actually , we divorced some time ago . ”
“ What ? ” Rebecca’s voice rose , her gaze dropping to Teresa’s swollen belly . “ You’re carrying his child and he left you . Is he even human ? ”
Growing up in a village all – girls school , Rebecca had always been deeply troubled by stories of men abandoning their wives and children .
Teresa shook her head and said , “ No , he’s actually a good guy . This pregnancy happened after we separated . ”
That’s even worse ! ” Rebecca snapped . “ He gets you pregnant after the divorce and doesn’t step up ? Give me his info . I’ll call the police .”
“ It’s not like that . I should go – I’ve got things to do . ” Teresa was too exhausted to explain further .
“ Wait .” Rebecca removed her jacket . “ May nights can still be chilly . Take this and don’t catch a cold .”
“ No need , Dr. Nelson . I’m fine- ”
“ Take it . It’s just a jacket , ” Rebecca insisted . “ Honestly , you remind me of a stubborn junior schoolmate I once knew . ”
Teresa finally accepted it and said , “ Thank you . ” She promised to return it the next day .
“ No rush . ” Rebecca smiled .
As Teresa walked away , Rebecca lingered on her features – something hauntingly familiar , like her junior schoolmate , Jennifer Nelson . Teresa Johnston and Jennifer Nelson ? Different last names . Could there be any relationship between them ? Rebecca shrugged off the coincidence .
When Teresa got home , she’d already scrubbed the tear tracks from her face and pasted on a cheerful smile for her child . Adulthood wasn’t simple , but at least she wouldn’t let her kid see her vulnerability .
Over dinner , Michael blurted out , “ Mom ! Our school is having a family sports day next week .”
Teresa froze for a second . ‘ A family sports day ? But I’m pregnant . Could I join in something like that ? ‘ she thought to herself .
“ Next week ? ” she murmured .
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“ Yeah ! The teacher said it’s for the upcoming Children’s Day , ” Michael explained , bouncing in his seat .
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“ Oh , I see . ” Teresa cupped Michael’s face in her hands and smiled . “ My sweet boy , what should Mom get you for the big day ? I’ll make sure to have it ready . ”
Michael grinned , shaking his head like a bobblehead . “ Guess , ”
Teresa chuckled . “ Alright , let me put on my thinking cap . I’ll prepare a real surprise for my little prince , ”
Michael stuck out his pinky . “ Pinky promise . You’ve gotta get my gift ready . ”
“ Promise , Teresa said as their linked pinkies sealed the deal .
After dinner , Teresa ran a bath and let the hot water melt her tension . Her phone buzzed incessantly – Lysander had flooded her with multiple voice messages .
“ Hey Teresa , what are you up to tonight ? A pretty flower like you needs protection , right ? ” His slurred voice reeked of whiskey and sleaze , like oil sliding across a parking lot . “ Come on , be my woman . I’ll show you how to live it up ! ”
The sound of his disgusting laugh made her gag . Teresa pressed the screen record button , capturing every grotesque second before saving the file as evidence .
Then she replied , “ You disgusting old creep , I’ve put up with your crap long enough at school . Do you even own a mirror , you pig – faced bastard ? ”
Teresa took a deep breath and continued , “ I haven’t lost my temper in ages , but you’re really pushing my buttons , you bald- headed cockroach . Harass me one more time , and I’ll make sure you regret it . ”
After hitting send , Teresa felt a wave of relief . Getting that off her chest made her feel so much better .
If it weren’t for her kid just settling into kindergarten and her school contract tying her down , she wouldn’t want to stay at this terrible school . Otherwise , breaking the contract would mean paying a penalty .
Early the next morning , Lysander showed up at school and immediately called Teresa to come to his office . His face was twisted with anger . “ Teresa , what did you mean by that voice message you sent yesterday ? ”
Teresa shot back with a cold smile . “ And what do you mean by harassing a female teacher late at night ? If you don’t care about your reputation , I can forward your voice message to the entire staff group .”
Lysander’s jowls quivered like angry jelly as he jabbed the air between them . “ I tried to be nice , but you just had to make things hard . You just wait .” With that , he turned and stormed off .
Teresa took a deep breath . She didn’t feel she’d done anything wrong . She just got on with her day and went to class as usual
had helped yesterday ran up to her and handed her a paper heart she’d folded herself . “ Ms.
gentle smile , accepting the heart . “ Are you feeling better today ? ”
Sasthroat tightened . “ You don’t need to apologize . What’s important is your health . Next time you’re unwell , tell your
m straight out , ‘ I don’t feel good . I can’t do homework right now ! Okay ? Always put yourself first . ”
Put yourself first . The advice slipped effortlessly from Teresa’s lips , yet she couldn’t bring herself to follow it .
“ Thank you , Ms. Johnston . Your child must be so lucky , ” the girl said earnestly .
Teresa chuckled , picturing her son’s mock scowl . “ He’s always giving me that look . ”
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Wow , Ms. Johnston , you’re already a mom ? ” The girl’s eyes widened . “ You have a son ? ”
Teresa knelt to meet the girl’s eyes and whispered , “ Shhh … It’s my little secret . Can you keep it between us ? ”
“ Okay ! ” The girl hooked her pinky with Teresa’s , sealing their promise .
Teresa gently stroked the girl’s hair . “ Alright , back to class now .”
Teresa didn’t have classes that afternoon , so she left school early and headed to the hospital to return Jennifer’s jacket , bringing a basket of fresh seasonal grapes and cantaloupe as a gift .
Rebecca studies Teresa’s face . “ You seem better today . No more tears , huh ?”
Teresa’s lips curled into a stubborn smile . “ I didn’t cry yesterday , ” she insisted .
Rebecca chuckled . “ It’s okay to cry , Teresa . Adults cry too . No need to put on a brave face .”
Teresa hummed softly . “ Thank you for yesterday , Dr. Nelson . Really . ”
Rebecca waved a hand dismissively . “ All I did was just lend you a jacket . No need for thanks . ”
Teresa wrapped her arms around herself , her voice softening . “ It’s just … in a strange city , even a little warmth feels so precious . ”
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