When She Walks Away (Teresa) novel Chapter 153

Chapter 153

That afternoon, as Teresa left the hospital after her shift, she ran into Hector.

He seemed to be waiting for her, and a smile spread across his face when he saw her.

As Teresa approached, Hector asked softly, “There’s a class reunion tonight. Want to come?”

Teresa was about to turn him down, since Richard was still in the hospital.

But before she could say anything, Charles called out from behind, “Teresa, Grandpa’s already waiting for us.”

Teresa turned and saw Charles’s car parked in the hospital’s outdoor lot, not far from where she and Hector were standing.

Charles didn’t get out. He just rolled down the window and called out to Teresa.

Teresa gave Hector an apologetic look. “Maybe next time, Hector. I’ve got something to deal with today.”

Hector was gentle by nature and never forced anyone to do anything.

He looked a bit disappointed, but didn’t say much. He just smiled and nodded, saying, “Alright, maybe next time I’ll ask you again.”

Teresa waved goodbye and got into Charles’s car.

She chose the back seat again.

Seeing her take the back seat, Hector couldn’t help but smile to himself.

Richard wasn’t staying at the hospital where Teresa worked. He was admitted to the best hospital in Riverdale.

Getting there from here would take more than half an hour.

Once inside, Teresa didn’t say a word to Charles, and he didn’t pay her any attention either. Instead, he opened up WhatsApp and started a video call.

He had a contact pinned right at the top–no name, just a kiss emoji as the label. No telling if he did that on purpose.

The call was picked up almost immediately.

Naomi’s face appeared on the screen.

“Charles, is everything alright?” Naomi asked softly.

Charles kept his eyes on the road, stealing a quick glance at the screen. “I just wanted to video call and see Yolanda.”

Naomi immediately coaxed her in a gentle voice, “Yolanda, come here. Daddy wants to see you.”

Yolanda’s cheerful voice rang out from the phone, “Yay! Here I come!”

You could hear the joy in her voice.

Naomi flipped the camera to Yolanda, who ran over from the couch and popped up on the screen.

“Daddy, are you done yet? I missed you!” Yolanda said excitedly.

Charles answered, “Daddy still has to visit your great–grandpa, but FIl be home later.”

“Then drive safely, Daddy,” Yolanda reminded him.

Charles agreed and asked, “Did you eat your dinner like a good girl?”

“Yes! I had a small bowl of oatmeal,” Yolanda replied.

Charles smiled. “That’s great. Be sure to listen to Miss Naomi and Grandma Ava at home, and I’ll bring you a present when I get back.”

Yolanda clapped her little hands and jumped up excitedly. “Yay! I love you, Daddy!”

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10:34 AM PP

Chapter 153

Charles’s smile grew even warmer. “Alright, go play now.”

Yolanda answered and walked off.

In the back seat, Teresa turned her face away, doing her best to block out the conversation between her daughter and Charles.

But the harder she tried to ignore it, the more every word seemed to ring in her ears.

Yolanda was saying she loved her daddy, but the one who’s always there for her, day in and day out, is Teresa.

It had been ages since Teresa last heard Yolanda say “love” to her.

On the other end, Naomi asked gently, “Charles, do you want me to hang up?”

Charles said, “No, keep it on. I like hearing you guys.”

Naomi laughed softly. “Alright, I’ll just set the phone here so you can see us.”

“Alright,” Charles replied.

From the phone, Yolanda’s voice kept popping up every now and then.

“Grandma Ava, look at this! Isn’t it pretty? Should I make one for you?”

“Miss Naomi, look! 1 molded a mini you.

“Grandma Ava, do you want some water? I’ll go get you some.”

Even though Charles was driving, he’d still jump in and say a few words now and then.

He might not have been at Joyacre Villa in person, but it felt like he was right there with them, soaking up all the joy.

Teresa huddled in the back seat, trying to make herself as small as possible, afraid Naomi might see just how vulnerable she looked on the video call.

She was Charles’s wife, and Yolanda’s mom. Yet right now, she felt like she didn’t belong at all, like she was just some extra in her own family.

Every minute of the ride was pure agony for Teresa.

She started counting the shadows of trees whipping past the window, but soon lost track, her mind drifting off somewhere else.

At last, Charles parked the car. He said a couple things to Naomi, then hung up the call,

Before going to see Richard, Teresa stopped at a flower shop, bought a bouquet, and carefully picked out a fruit basket.

The fruit basket was so heavy she couldn’t lift it at all. Charles noticed and came over, saying, “Here, let me get that for you.”

Teresa let go, letting him take it from her.

She hugged the bouquet while he carried the fruit basket, and the two of them headed into the hospital together, side by side.

When they got to the hospital room, Teresa saw it was packed with people.

Zack and Roselyn were there, along with Jason and Finn, plus some of Richard’s old friends.

Luckily, it was a VIP room, so there was plenty of space.

Richard looked over, his smile growing even warmer. He reached out, beckoning Teresa. “Come here, Teresa, sit by me.”

Teresa walked over with the bouquet, set it down, and said, “Grandpa, I hope you recover soon and live a long, happy life.”

Charles came over too and set the fruit basket down with the rest of the gifts.

Once he straightened up, he asked, “Feeling any better today, Grandpa?”

Richard beamed at Teresa and Charles, then put their hands together, his voice gentle and full of warmth. “I don’t care about living forever. As long as you two are happy, even if I had to go to hell right now, it’d still be worth it.”

Teresa frowned, saying, “Don’t talk like that, Grandpa.”

But Charles just smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Grandpa. Teresa and I will be good, I promise.”

As he spoke, he reached out and pulled Teresa close, his arm slipping around her waist.

He did it right in front of everyone, not caring one bit who was watching.

Teresa felt super awkward inside, but she just held it in and pretended nothing was wrong.

Richard only heard Charles’s promise, not hers, so he shot her a look, clearly waiting for her to say something too.

Teresa could only force a smile and go along with it, saying, “Yeah, I’ll stick with Charles and do my best.”

Not far away, Jason and Finn were watching everything going down by the hospital bed.

Jason narrowed his eyes, sneering, “So fake.”

He obviously meant Teresa.

Finn nudged him and asked, “What are you talking about?”

Jason didn’t bother repeating himself. He just rolled his eyes at Finn and walked out of the room.

Richard put his wishes out there for everyone to hear, and now he’d finally gotten the answer he’d been hoping for.

He gave everyone in the room a look, one by one, then declared with all the authority of the family patriarch, “Since you all heard that, I guess that makes you all witnesses.”

Some people chimed in with a quick “yes,” while others just turned away, looking none too pleased.

Teresa couldn’t care less what any of them were thinking.

After spending a little time with Richard, she pretended she needed to use the restroom and slipped out, desperate to escape that stifling room for a moment’s breath.

After using the restroom, Teresa was heading back when someone called out to her.

“Stop right there,” a voice said. It was Jason.

Teresa turned around and caught sight of Jason lurking in the shadows.

He stepped out, his face coming into view, and the disgust was written all over it.

He walked up, looking down at her with a sneer. “Is there any point in clinging to the title of Mrs. Logan and refusing to let go?”

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