Chapter 19

Teresa’s jaw dropped as she clutched the keys to a gleaming red Porsche. “Your thank-you gift,” Jonathan said before he disappeared.

Stunned, she barely registered the phone buzzing in her pocket—a call from the dealership confirming that Jonathan had indeed bought her a car, and all she had to do was sign on the dotted line. The gift was more generous than she’d dared to imagine. She had thought a $3,000 present would be the limit, but this exceeded that by a large margin.

As soon as Teresa got home, Miriam was all over her, dying to hear about her evening with Jonathan. Teresa gulped down some water, her throat dry. “Nothing happened,” she stated firmly.

Miriam’s eyebrows shot up. “Come on, you’re pulling my leg.”

Dropping the car key on the table with a definitive clink, Teresa shook her head. “I’m dead serious.”

Miriam’s eyes nearly popped out of her head when she spotted the key. She snatched it up, turning it over in her hands. “Holy smokes! You got a new car? Where’d the money come from?”

“Just a favor for my ex,” Teresa explained with a casual shrug. “This is Jonathan’s way of saying thanks.”

Miriam let out a low whistle. “Damn, your ex doesn’t mess around, handing over a car and—”

Teresa’s forehead wrinkled in thought. What else could Jonathan have done for me? she pondered.

Miriam steered the chat in a new direction. “Curious, why did Jonathan invite you over for dinner and not his fiancée?”

Teresa took a sip of her water before explaining. “We’re still keeping our divorce a secret from his grandpa, so we pretended everything was fine for his sake. His grandpa’s on his way back home today!”

“Bet that fiancée of his is pretty ticked off,” Miriam remarked with a laugh.

Teresa had the same thought and had texted Jonathan about it: [Is your fiancée green with envy?] But there had been no response, leaving her curious.

Then Miriam let out a surprise. “I suspect Jonathan’s making up the fiancée thing. I got this from Benny—Jonathan’s not engaged at all. He’s flying solo.”

Teresa’s eyes dropped, her voice gentle but firm. “Whether he’s engaged or not, it’s a moot point. We’re not getting back together.”

Miriam took a deep breath and shifted the conversation. “Let’s move on from that,” she said, flicking her hand as if to sweep the topic away. “Teresa, I need to talk to you about something big.”

With a playful grin, Teresa teased, “Are you and Edward tying the knot?”

Miriam’s laughter filled the room. “Fat chance,” she joked, her tone light-hearted.

As Teresa settled in, ready for the real talk, Miriam got to the point. “I’ve been thinking about starting an online store,” she announced.

Teresa’s eyes widened in surprise. “An online store?” she echoed. “That’s a bold move. Where’d you get the funds? Running an online store isn’t for the faint of heart these days,” she remarked, her voice serious.

Miriam, who was currently an assistant at a design company, had always felt like the less favored sibling at home, even with her parents’ support. Miriam was buzzing with ideas as she turned to Teresa. “My parents are footing the bill for our new venture. We’re launching a clothing line, and you’re in, right?”

Teresa raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Who are we gonna get to model for us?” she questioned.

With a flourish, Miriam pointed at Teresa. “We’ve got the perfect model right here,” she declared, her voice full of conviction.

Teresa mused on the idea. She’d done hand modeling before, her long, elegant hands gracing a fesenjan ad for some extra cash.

Miriam, brimming with confidence, gave Teresa a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “So, are you on board? I know we’ll make a killer team,” she said, her optimism contagious.

Teresa voiced her doubts. “But what if it tanks? What if we lose money?” she asked.

Miriam dismissed the worry with a wave of her hand. “We’re a sure bet, especially with you in the mix,” she insisted.

Caught off guard by the proposition, Teresa laughed. “You’re really pushing me here,” she remarked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Miriam, with a playful poke to Teresa’s cheek, teased, “This is your golden ticket. Haven’t you been on a money-making roll lately!”

Teresa drummed her fingers on the table, lost in thought. “I’m already rolling with that new car, and if the online shop kicks off, it’ll be a cool way to pad my pockets.”

Resolutely, Teresa said, “I’m in. I’m committed to making sure we stay out of the red.”

Miriam’s hands met with a smack, a sign of her confidence. “We’re on track to make bank, no question,” she stated firmly.

Their work schedules actually played in their favor. Teresa had the shop floor on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, while Miriam took the helm on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. They both had Sundays to recharge, which meant they could step in for each other and keep the online store running smoothly.

Diving into their new venture, they were ready to work hard. Teresa was particularly motivated, knowing that Miriam was the one funding the project. She was committed to ensuring Miriam’s investment would be worthwhile.

Fresh from her evening shower, Teresa was hunched over her laptop, immersed in work. That’s when Michael, cozy in his pajamas, strolled over and rested his chin on her shoulder. His voice was faint with drowsiness as he inquired, “Mommy, why aren’t you sleeping yet?”

Glancing at her laptop through her black-rimmed glasses, which she wore to prevent eye strain rather than for clarity, Teresa said, “It’s bedtime for you, honey. Mommy’s trying to make some extra money for something nice.”

Michael rubbed his sleepy eyes and slow nod. “Alright.”

Teresa leaned in to press a kiss on his cheek. “Goodnight,” she whispered.

Michael waved his little hand. “Goodnight, Mommy,” he mumbled, dragging his feet back to his room for the night.