Chapter 438

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Donald said he and Jennifer were getting their marriage licenses in August . That day hadn’t come yet . Teresa’s face was cold as she said , “ Well Thop everything goes smoothly for you two . Just make sure you pick a nice day . Don’t go when it’s thundering ”
Jennifer could tell Teresa was being sarcastic . She sighed , “ You have to promise me , don’t go confronting your ex . Did you forget about the baby you’re carrying ? Do you really want both our kids to have no peace ? ”
Teresa , clearly annoyed , shook off Jennifer’s hand . “ Fine , I won’t say anything , okay ? Happy now ? Please leave . ” With a loud bang , she slammed the door , shutting Jennifer out .
Jennifer stood there , not sure if she should believe Teresa or not . She knocked on the door again . “ Teresa , open up . I didn’t want to bother you , but you blocked me everywhere , so I had no choice but to come here . Please , open the door .
“ I’m begging you , just this once . Don’t treat me like this , or I’ll have nothing left . I’m your real sister . Doesn’t that mean anything to you ? You can’t treat me like this .”
Teresa leaned against the door , finally unable to resist Jennifer’s relentless pestering . She opened the door again . “ I won’t spill the beans . Are you ever going to stop ? ”
Seeing the tears in Teresa’s eyes , Jennifer fell silent . She finally realized Teresa wasn’t lying . Jennifer let out a long breath , her voice soft . “ Thank you , Teresa . Thank you for me , and for my baby .”
Teresa was speechless . “ So you didn’t go through with the abortion ? ” When she’d gone to Shaville for work , Jennifer had said she’d get the abortion herself .
Jennifer shook her head . “ Donald’s been so good to me . I just need more time to think about it . It feels too cruel to him .”
Teresa was completely exasperated . First , Jennifer swore she’d leave Nareigh and move to Shaville , but she didn’t . She said she’d never get married , didn’t believe in love , and that men were all the same .
But she moved in with Donald and got engaged . She said she’d get an abortion for her career , and now she was keeping the baby . It was always her , changing her mind .
Teresa couldn’t help but give a sarcastic thumbs – up . “ Hannah , have you ever kept a single promise ? You’re always calling other people childish and immature , but are you really any better ?
“ Whatever . I don’t even want to talk to you anymore . I’m blocking you again , and this time it means I don’t want anything to do with you .
“ Whether you keep the baby or not , it’s your business . I’m done interfering . If you ever get married , have Evelyn let me know . ”
Other than Jennifer and Donald’s wedding , there was really nothing else Teresa needed to be involved in .
Jennifer was silent for a long time . “ Alright , let’s just leave it at that . Still , thank you . ” She didn’t say anything more and turned to leave .
Teresa closed the door again , her face expressionless .
Edward brought Michael along to have lunch at a nearby spot , Grove Bistro .
That morning , Benny had come looking for Jonathan , planning to get him some ginger tea . When he heard Jonathan was going to eat with Edward , and since he had nothing else going on , Benny decided to join in for the fun .
“ Whoa ! ” Michael pointed at Benny , “ Bunny is here , too .”
Edward looked confused .
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Benny greeted Michael , “ This little guy thinks my name sounds like a bunny . ”
Edward laughed , “ He got an insight . ”
Benny couldn’t help but laugh at that .
Jonathan , on the other hand , didn’t smile . He brought over the cake he’d ordered ahead of time . “ Happy birthday , Mike , ” he said , giving the latte gry ‘ cheek a gentle pinch . “ How old are you now , huh ? ”
“ I’m three ! ” Michael beamed , enjoying the attention as Jonathan pinched his cheek .
Benny leaned forward , curiosity in his eyes . “ Three already , huh ? So , Mike , who celebrated your birthday with you the last two years ? ”
Michael pouted , “ Mom never celebrated my birthday . This is my first birthday party . ” Michael wished Teresa could be there too , he’d be even happier .
Benny’s eyes grew thoughtful . “ So your mom doesn’t celebrate your birthday ? That actually reminds me of a tradition from Nareigh . ”
He explained the custom to Jonathan and Edward . In Nareigh , if a child was born around Halloween , or if a single mom was raising the kid alone , they didn’t throw a big birthday party for the first couple of years – supposedly to keep mischievous spirits from snatching the child away .
The child had to be given a godparent , and only after they turned three could they have a proper birthday celebration .
Jonathan raised an eyebrow . “ He
come I’ve never heard of this weird superstition ? ”
Benny just grinned . “ You only lived in Nareigh for a few years . I grew up here . ”
Today was Michael’s birthday , and it was not Halloween , so that left the other possibility : Michael’s parents got a divorce .
Benny was getting more and more interested . He’d been itching to ask since he first saw Michael , and now the urge was back . He reached out and ruffled Michael’s hair . “ Hey Mike , can I ask you something ? Is your mom’s name Teresa ? ”
Jonathan just rolled his eyes at Benny .
Edward jumped in , “ Benny , what kind of joke is that ? There’s no way Teresa had a kid . ”
Benny glared at Edward . “ Let the kid answer , will you ? ”
Michael remembered what Miriam had told him that morning , so he just shook his head , looked down , and focused on his ribs , not saying a word .
Jonathan patted Michael on the head , thinking he was just scared . Then he turned to Benny . “ If you’ve got something to do , just go . I didn’t even plan on inviting you today . ”
Benny spread his hands helplessly . “ Don’t you guys think this is a little weird ? ”
“ What’s so weird about it ? ” Jonathan shot back .
Jonathan had already done many DNA tests with Michael . Just thinking about how Teresa cut him off so completely made Jonathan’s heart ache all over again .
“ I know what’s weird . ” Edward snapped his fingers./Mike kind of looks like Jonathan , doesn’t he ? ”
Benny snapped his fingers , too . “ Edward , you just hit the nail on the head . ”
Edward had actually thought so for a while . He looked at Jonathan . “ Come on , just admit it . Did you freeze your sperm or something ? ”
Jonathan was really speechless .
Edward thought he was spot on and he continued , “ Jonathan doesn’t have any kids , so what if he gets old or something happens and he can’t have any ?
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“ Maybe he froze his sperm just in case . Then , some woman with an agenda could’ve gotten her hands on it , hoping to use the kid to marry into money
“ That woman is Miriam’s cousin , and Miriam probably has no idea . ” Edward was so proud of his wild theory that he started clapping for himself . “ Call me Detective Edward ! ”