Chapter 32

Teresa shot Miriam a stern look, silently telling her to keep the conversation away from the child. Miriam didn’t seem bothered, assuming a two-year-old wouldn’t understand their talk. Michael, curious, pulled at Teresa’s hand. “Mommy, what are you talking about? Did you bring honey with you?” His eyes were wide with innocence.

Teresa’s mind drifted back to the heated, intimate moments of their marriage when Jonathan had teased her with a sultry playfulness. “Honey, I can tell I’ve found your sweet spot. You can’t tell me I’m wrong, can you?” he’d murmured, his voice a seductive whisper in the darkness. “Maybe you’re not entirely off the mark,” she’d breathed, her voice wavering as she struggled to maintain a semblance of control. “Come on, honey, admit it. You’re loving every second of this,” he’d urged, his grin a mix of mischief and desire. “Okay, okay, you’ve got me. I’m loving this,” she’d conceded, her laughter replaced by a soft moan of pleasure.

Michael’s curious voice broke through Teresa’s reverie, his hand gently touching her flushed cheek. “Mommy, why is your face so red?” Teresa, feeling a bit embarrassed, cleared her throat and dismissed his concern with a wave of her hand. “It’s nothing, honey,” she said, sipping her water to avoid further questions.

After a two-hour journey, they arrived in Jarisburg and found themselves in a sea of people as they left the train station. The place was bustling, with crowds filling every available space. Miriam frowned amid the crowd at the train station. “Nice timing, Teresa. It’s packed on weekends. How are we supposed to have fun like this? Can’t even get tickets for the Candy Castle,” she grumbled, frustration clear in her voice. “Maybe we should’ve just gone to Silvar; it wouldn’t have been such a zoo,” she added, her gaze sweeping over the sea of heads.

Teresa, with Michael in her arms, looked around at the throngs of people and sighed. “It’s a madhouse here. We’re gonna need to grab a hotel room quick.” Miriam nodded, her fingers already scrolling on her phone. “I’m on it.” They’d forgotten to book a hotel in the rush. Now, the harsh reality of trying to find a room on the fly was setting in, with most places showing no available rooms.

Beads of sweat dotted Teresa’s forehead from the heat and the weight of her child. “Any hotels available?” she asked, her voice edged with worry. Miriam’s expression turned glum. “They’re all booked solid. We should’ve looked into this earlier.” Teresa let out a huff of frustration. “I said you shouldn’t have wasted time playing games on the train.” Miriam shot back, “You weren’t exactly strategizing either, always glued to your phone.”

Michael, his face flushed, pulled off his mask. “Mommy, I really need to pee,” he complained, pulling on Teresa’s sleeve. Feeling the same urgency, Teresa guided him to the restrooms, leaving Miriam to find a hotel and join them later. The men’s room had a massive line, while the women’s was almost empty. Teresa swiftly guided Michael to the women’s room, intent on keeping a watchful eye on him in the crowded space.

Michael stopped, stubborn. “Mommy, I want to go to the boys’ room. That is for girls,” he insisted, pointing to the symbol for the men’s restroom. Teresa kept her voice low, trying to reason with him. “It’s okay, nobody will notice.” But Michael was adamant. “I’m a big boy! I’ll use the boys’ room!” he stated, his tone serious and sure. Teresa felt awkward as she and her child waited in line for the men’s room, drawing puzzled looks from the men present.

Chapter 32

While Michael was inside, she wished she could melt into the floor. Then, a familiar voice interrupted her discomfort. “Teresa, is that really you?” Edward’s surprise was evident. She turned, a mix of emotions on her face. “Hey, Edward.” Edward, who could spot Teresa’s striking features in any crowd, seemed perplexed. “What brings you to the men’s room line?” he asked.

Well… Teresa stammered, glancing nervously toward the restroom. The moment she saw Michael exit, she quickly closed the gap, scooped him up, and moved them off to the side. Leaning in close, Teresa whispered to Michael, her words a secret between them. Edward, with a creased forehead, closed in on them. “Teresa, what’s going on?” he inquired. Teresa pivoted and swiftly introduced Michael. “Edward, meet Michael, Miriam’s nephew. She brought him along for a good time and invited me to tag along.”

Hearing Miriam’s name, Edward was taken aback. He then looked at Michael, who was bundled up in a hat, mask, and sunglasses, making him look more like a pint-sized spy than a kid on a casual day out. Edward pointed at Michael’s layers and questioned, “Isn’t it too warm for all that?”