When She Turns Her Back (Teresa and Charles) novel Chapter 93

Chapter 93

Chapter 93

At that moment, Teresa couldn’t help but remember all those times when she was on her own with Yolanda.

Kids got fevers so easily, and whenever she couldn’t get ahold of Charles, she’d end up carrying Yolanda to the hospital all by herself.

She couldn’t even remember how many times she’d made that trip. Sometimes the weather was just like this. She was so drenched that she could barely feel her own skin.

Back then, she’d wished so badly that Charles would just show up, stand next to her, and say, “Don’t worry. I’m here.”

But he was always too busy, and she could never get through

So, she learned to handle everything on her own.

to him.

But just a moment ago, Charles had reached over and taken the umbrella she’d been awkwardly holding under her chin, saying he’d hold it for her.

It was something she’d wished for countless times, and now it was finally happening. But all Teresa felt was a dull ache inside.

She thought, ‘If only he’d done this sooner, maybe I wouldn’t have lost all hope in him.

As they stepped out into the rain, Charles kept angling the umbrella so Teresa wouldn’t get wet.

But Teresa knew he wasn’t really doing it for her. He was doing it for Yolanda.

Teresa thought, ‘Well, that’s fine. At least he’s still good to Yolanda,

When they reached the gate, Teresa carefully placed Yolanda in the back seat. As she leaned down, Charles still held the umbrella over her, keeping the rain off her.

After closing the door, Teresa got into the driver’s seat.

Just as she was about to shut the car door, she saw Charles still standing there, holding the umbrella. She tilted her head up to meet his eyes and said, “Thanks.”

Charles frowned, not saying a word. Then, noticing Teresa’s clothes were still damp, he took off his jacket and draped it over her lap. “Don’t catch a cold,” he said.

Teresa was taken aback. She picked up the jacket, meaning to hand it back, but Charles was already walking away toward his own car, umbrella still in hand.

She didn’t insist on giving it back. Since it was still raining outside, she just set the jacket on the passenger seat.

As the car pulled away, Teresa glanced at Yolanda in the back seat. “What do you want to eat later?” she asked.

Yolanda’s eyes lit up. “I want the blueberry pie from that place near my kindergarten, and warm yogurt.”

“Okay,” Teresa replied.

Charles sat in his car, watching as Teresa drove off, and didn’t look away until her car disappeared down the road.

That afternoon. Teresa left work at 5:30 PM and arrived at the kindergarten right at 6 PM.

The rain had been pouring all day and still hadn’t let up. When she got to the kindergarten gate, Yolanda was already waiting outside, with Doris standing beside her, keeping her company

As soon as Yolanda spotted Teresa, she jumped up and down, her little backpack bouncing “Mom!” she shouted, waving her arms.

Teresa smiled at her but didn’t make a move to go in and fetch her

Yolanda started to walk over, but Teresa quickly stopped her “Yolanda, I’m here to pick up Monica Just wait a little longer. When Sharon gets here, she’ll take you back to Joyacre Villa

Yolanda’s eyes instantly filled with trats “What about Dad?” she asked, her voice trembling

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11:22 AM PP.

Chapter 93

Teresa saw Yolanda’s eyes turning red and felt a stab of guilt. She quickly turned her face away and said to Yolanda, “Dad is working

overtime.”

Yolanda’s tears spilled down her cheeks as she asked, sounding hurt, “Can’t I go with Monica to Grandma’s place?”

Teresa still didn’t look at her, forcing herself to be tough. “If you don’t want to go, I won’t force you.”

Yolanda clutched the strap of her backpack, a little anxious. “But Mom, I…”

Just then, Monica called out from behind Yolanda. “Aunt Teresa.”

Monica came running up to the gate, her face lit up when she saw Teresa. She turned back to Doris, who was holding an umbrella, and said, “Ms. Taylor, this is my aunt. She’s here to pick me up today.”

Then Monica turned to the other kids under their umbrellas. “Candy, Mike, Leah, this is my aunt. She’s a pediatric surgeon. She’s amazing. I really like her.”

As Monica talked about Teresa to Doris and her friends, she stood up straight, her head held high, her eyes shining with pride.

Teresa couldn’t help but smile at Monica’s excitement. But when she glanced over at Yolanda, who was half–hidden behind Monica, she saw Yolanda clutching her backpack strap, head bowed so low, shoulders trembling with silent sobs.

She was definitely crying.

m

Teresa’s heart clenched into a tight ball. She wanted to call out to Yolanda, but the words just stuck in her throat, and she forced herself to swallow them back down.

Monica walked out of kindergarten and took Teresa’s hand without a second thought.

Teresa snapped out of her thoughts. She pulled a pink stuffed leopard from behind her back. “Here,” she said, holding it out to Monica. “This is the toy you’ve been wanting. I got it for you.”

Monica’s face lit up as she took the stuffed leopard. She jumped up and down, squealing, “Thank you, Aunt Teresa. You’re the best.”

After thanking Teresa, Monica tugged on her arm, asking her to bend down. Then she wrapped her arms around Teresa, giving her a big hug and planting kisses all over her face.

Yolanda stood inside, watching everything unfold, her grip on her backpack strap unconsciously tightening. She shot Monica a furious look, her eyes burning with anger.

She thought bitterly, “That’s my mom. Why does Monica get to hug and kiss her? Why does Mom have to come for her instead of me?

Yolanda felt both hurt and angry, but with Teresa ignoring her, it felt like nobody cared how upset she was.

Teresa ruffled Monica’s hair and smoothed it out. “Monica, go say goodbye to Ms. Taylor, she said.

Monica waved enthusiastically at Doris. “Bye, Ms. Taylor.”

Then Teresa Look Monica’s hand, and the two of them headed out into the rain, each holding their own umbrella,

Yolanda stood at the school gate, watching helplessly as Teresa and Monica turned to leave. She grabbed onto the iron gate and called out, “Mom.”

But the rain was pouring down, and Monica was making so much noise that Yolanda’s voice got completely drowned out. Teresa didn’t hear her at all.

Sharon finally showed up, running late, and ran right into Teresa just as she was about to leave.

“Mrs Logan, Sharon greeted her in her usual respectful tone

Monica stopped chattering and looked up at Teresa.

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