“I’ll help you take care of the kids, and you really don’t need to be with Jonathan anymore. It’s not like you two are actually remarried anyway,” Miriam said.
Teresa stayed quiet for a moment before finally saying, “Miriam, I’ll figure this out on my own.”
“Teresa, I used to be like Benny, always trying to push you and Jonathan back together. But now, I’ve changed my mind. You won’t ever be happy with him. Sure, he sent Irene away for now, but you know she’ll be back sooner or later."
“What if she starts yelling at you or even hitting you again? Are you really going to keep putting up with that?” Miriam said.
That was when Teresa learned from Miriam that Jonathan had actually sent Irene off to some small town.
Miriam told Teresa that Jonathan had sent Irene to live with Fiona. Irene had thrown a fit, crying and wailing that she didn’t want to go, but in the end, she still had to leave.
Edward said Irene can’t come back to Nareigh until New Year’s Day.
“Teresa, so much has happened. Jonathan’s mom is just like Jennifer. They both bring nothing but trouble. A marriage like this just isn’t worth it. Let’s just go back to the way things were. Life was so much better then,” Miriam said.
Teresa knew Miriam was just worried about her, which was why she was saying all this.
She took Miriam’s hand and reassured her, “Miriam, I’m really fine now. I’ll get some rest. You should head back to Nareigh. The company still needs you to look after things. I swear I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“I can’t. I want to stay here and look after you,” Miriam insisted, her eyes full of concern.
“There are already plenty of people here taking care of me. Really, you should go back. I’ll be fine,” Teresa replied, her voice calm and steady now, trying to reassure Miriam.
Miriam nodded.
Jonathan didn’t come back with Michael in his arms until it was already dark outside.
Michael had fallen asleep on Jonathan’s shoulder, so Jonathan gently laid him down on the bed next to Teresa. Teresa reached out and stroked Michael’s hair, wishing that the little one could grow up strong and healthy.
Chapter 1
“We need to settle on a name for the little one,” Jonathan said, discussing it with Teresa. “If you’re okay with it, how about we call him Felix and have him registered under your household?”
Normally, the baby’s name and registration should have been handled right after he was born, but since Teresa had been unconscious, Jonathan hadn’t been able to take care of it yet.
Teresa nodded. “Of course, the baby should be registered under my household. But…”
“But what?” Jonathan asked, looking at her curiously.
Teresa hesitated for a moment before saying, “Let him take your last name. His name should be Felix Lynn.”
Jonathan was taken aback for a second. “What did you just say?”
“It’s what Hayden wants. He’s got Alzheimer’s, and we don’t know when he might forget us. I know he really wants the baby to have his last name, so I want to make that happen for him,” Teresa explained.
Jonathan didn’t know about Hayden’s Alzheimer’s. He frowned. “If it’s just to make Hayden happy, you don’t have to do this. We’re not even really remarried.”
“Because I don’t want to owe your family anything any longer,” Teresa said.
Jonathan’s frown deepened. “That’s a separate issue. No matter what last name the baby has, you don’t owe me anything. Unless you remarry me, I won’t agree to the baby taking my last name.”
“I’m not going to remarry you,” Teresa said firmly.
“Then the baby takes your last name,” Jonathan replied, just as firmly.
“Fine,” Teresa said, turning her head away. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jonathan walk out, clearly upset. After a moment, Teresa picked up her phone and called Gary. “It’s me. I need you to do something for me,” she said.