Chapter 12
Chapter 12
C
There weren’t many at the dinner–seven or eight in all, every one of them from the school’s administration.
A student had been hurt earlier, and it held Teresa Sullivan up. She walked in last.
When the waiter pushed open the private–room door, every eye turned toward her.
She scanned the table–and caught sight of Charles Logan and Liam Collins.
Jimmy Leach hadn’t mentioned this was a thank–you dinner for the donation, and she hadn’t asked. She’d just said yes.
Besides, Charles was the type who ate at Michelin–level restaurants and slept in luxury hotels. The last thing she’d expected was for him th to stick around for a meal in this little town.
Charles noticed her too, mildly surprised. Then it occurred to him–maybe she’d made a donation just to him at dinner.
Jimmy jumped up the moment he saw Teresa still standing. “Dr. Sullivan–quick, have a seat!”
Doctor?
The word caught Charles off guard.
et the chance to ru
”
into”
But when Teresa stepped inside, he instinctively turned away, saying to Liam, who was still standing, “Sit. Don’t just stand there.“”
Liam blinked. “Huh?”
By then, Teresa had looked over the table and chosen the seat farthest from Charles.
Charles noticed, his brow tightening.
Liam caught on. So that was it–Charles didn’t want her sitting too close. Yet she’d gone out of her way to sit as far from him as possible. Liam was floored. He’d been with Charles for years–long enough to know Teresa’s feelings for him had bordered on obsession. Since when did she ever pass up a chance to be near him?
This…
What on earth was going on? He couldn’t wrap his head around it.
Charles saw him still standing and shot him a glance. Liam had no choice but to sit down.
Jimmy played the host, making the first toast to Charles. Charles sipped politely, no more.
All eyes were on Charles. Teresa stayed quiet, nibbling at her food. She sipped when the table toasted, but when the glasses clinked just- between the two of them, she kept her gaze fixed on her plate.
When Jimmy made his last round, he stopped at Teresa. “Dr. Sullivan, I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for the children. Since you came, the ailments we could see have been taken care of. You’ve cared for them like they were your own. This one’s to you- for these two months of hard work.”
Lifting her glass, Teresa smiled faintly. “You’re too kind, Mr. Leach. I only did what I could.”
‘Two months? Teresa had been here for two months already? So she hadn’t followed his car here?‘
He glanced at her–simple clothes, just the lightest touch of makeup… and still, she was beautiful.
Those years of being a full–time mom had drained the color from her, yes, But now, looking closer… there was a new kind of allure in her, something he couldn’t quite nante.
She set her glass down without a glance in his direction.
As if, to her, he were no one at all.
Then a peeled shrimp landed in her bowl. She looked up–it was Neil Watson.
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Chapter 12
After two months at the school, she’d come to know most of the teachers. Neil was the quiet, gentlemanly sort; when he smiled, his eyes were clear as glass.
“Thank you, Mr. Watson,” she said.
Jimmy’s eyes flickered, and he asked outright, “Dr. Sullivan, are you married?”
Direct question, direct answer, “Yes. I have a daughter.”
Across the table, Charles saw Neil peeling shrimp for her. Saw her smiling at another man.
He didn’t know what he felt–only that he lost his focus for a moment.
When he tuned back in, she was saying she was married–with a daughter.
For a split second, something like relief flickered through him, sharp and uninvited.
And he saw the light in Neil’s eyes snuff out in an instant.
Then she added, “But I’m about to get divorced.”
Charles didn’t hear that part–his phone started ringing on video.
He answered, but not before flicking another glance at Neil. The light in the man’s eyes was back.
So… what had she said?
Before he could puzzle it out, a sweet voice piped through the phone, “Daddy, where are you?”
Charles didn’t bother to step out. Still at the table, he looked at the screen, his expression softening without thought. “Daddy’s in a small town. I’ll be back tomorrow. Miss Naomi will come over to stay with you tonight. You can sleep with her.”
Almost by reflex, his eyes went to Teresa–she was talking with the man beside her, faint smile on her face.
“Okay, Daddy,” Yolanda said sweetly.
Out of nowhere, Charles said, “Mommy’s here too. Want to say a few words to her?”
Perfectly normal for a father to offer–until he said, “Mommy. Every head at the table turned.
There was more than one woman at the table. Who exactly did he mean?
No one asked aloud. They just listened.
On the phone, Yolanda pouted. “No. I’m still mad at her. If she doesn’t apologize, won’t forgive her.”
The room was quiet. Her little–girl voice carried easily.
གས་དང་། ས་་གས་པ་དེའི་
Teresa, adding Neil on Facebook, heard her daughter’s words but didn’t look up. As far as she was concerned, they were just air. What had she done that needed forgiveness?
Charles’s eyes darted to her. She kept eating, indifferent to his call.
Once, she’d been the one more attached to Yolanda. Now, it was like she was a different person.
Back when she’d spent six months on a work trip in the next province, she’d video–called her daughter almost every day. Now? She didn’t even ask.
“Daddy, Miss Naomi’s here! I’m gonna go play blocks with her. When you’re done working, you have to rest, okay?”
The call ended.
Jimmy, still mulling over the conversation, grew curious. The child’s mother was here? Who could it be?
Three women at the table–two were married to others, and the only one who might fit, Teresa, was sitting a mile away from Charles, And if Charles didn’t mind people knowing he had a daughter, why hide a wife?
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11:27 AM Pd.
Chapter 12
Maybe Jimmy had misheard.
When he refilled Charles’s glass, he said with a smile, “So Mr. Logan’s married.”
Charles’s reply was cool. “Mm. I have a lovely daughter.”
Jimmy’s grin widened. “She’s such a sweetheart. Seems close to her nanny at home, too.”
“Nanny?” Charles frowned.
“Sure–Miss Naomi?”
Jimmy’s eyes were open and guileless. He had no idea who “Miss Naomi” really was.
Charles didn’t call him out, but the urge to stay was gone. He pushed back his chair, tone even. “I’m full. Enjoy the rest.”
He picked up his suit jacket and walked for the door without looking back.
Passing Teresa, he stopped–without even knowing why. “Not leaving?”
Even he wasn’t sure if he meant her.
Once, she would’ve fallen into step without a thought.
Now? She knew Charles couldn’t care less where she went.
So he couldn’t be talking to her.
www
A beat of silence. Then, louder, “Liam.”
Liam shot up. “On it.”
Teresa’s lips curved.
See? Not her after all.
People shouldn’t get too full of themselves.