Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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The next day marked exactly two months since Teresa Sullivan had arrived in the small town–and the day she could finally return to Riverdale.
To thank her, Mr. Leach thew a small farewell at the school.
Teresa hated to say goodbye, but that’s life–every stop comes with its own story to write.
She drove back to Riverdale, stopped by Joyacre Villa to gather what still mattered, then packed it up and sent it to the Sullivan Mansion.
She’d spent over two years in Joyacre Villa, enough time to fill a truck–but she took only what truly mattered.
At least, leaving the Logan Family didn’t mean she had nowhere else to go.
The next morning, she was at the hospital early.
The director had a surgery scheduled and asked if she’d assist
She was scrubbing in, hands under the running water, when a surprised voice came from beside her. “Teresa?”
Teresa was in scrubs, mask and cap in place, only her eyes were visible. She turned toward the man, blinked once before it clicked. “Hector?”
Hector Reed’s eyes were the only thing showing, creasing with a smile. “Yeah, it’s me.”
“You work here?” she asked, still a little thrown.
“Just in for a consult.” Hector said. “Got a minute at lunch? Let’s grab a bite.”
She didn’t miss a beat. “Sure thing. Lunch is on me.”
He smiled under the mask. “I’ll catch you after the surgery.”
At 12:00 p.m., Teresa picked a hotpot place.
She remembered Hector couldn’t handle much spicy food and ordered accordingly.
When the food arrived, she poured him a bowl of broth. “It’s been a long time, Hector.”
He took it with a nod of thanks. “Yeah. How’ve you been?”
Teresa didn’t go into her life–just summed it up in one word. “Good.”
His gaze flicked to the faint mark on her ring finger. He paused. “Married?”
“Mm.” Teresa didn’t deny it. “And a very sweet little girl.”
Hector said warmly. “Congrats. But how come we never got an invitation?”
Teresa lowered her gaze. “We never had a wedding. So no guests to invite.”
Hector sensing she didn’t want to linger on her private life, he let it drop.
About halfway through the meal, he couldn’t help but ask, “So, what’s your specialty these days?”
Teresa sipped her soup slowly before replying, “Pediatric surgery.”
After graduation, she hadn’t gone on for further training, choosing instead to put marriage and motherhood first.
Many of their classmates had gone on for further study—master’s, PhDs, even abroad.
Back then, Teresa had graduated at the top of their year. Now, she was the one who’d fallen the farthest behind.
Hector, meanwhile, had earned both his master’s and doctorate, specializing in neurosurgery. He was now an authority on primary brain tumors–his name searchable across medical journals, his list of successful surgeries too long to count.
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Chapter 14
With his current standing, he was easily in the top tier of the field.
@
Teresa could have taken that path with him. She’d had the offer, the chance.
Instead, she’d taken another road–marriage–and five years had proved it was a dead end.
Hector had heard bits and pieces from classmates–her not continuing her studies, her marriage.
“You need a lot of patience to do pediatrics,” he said lightly. “Especially pediatric surgery.”
Teresa’s lips curved, but there was a shadow in her expression. “I only just made attending. Still just a community doctor.”
He looked at her, the quiet lack of confidence in her eyes tugging at something in his chest. “If you’re willing to start, it’s never too late. And with your ability. I believe you’ll stand higher than anyone else.”
She only smiled again, letting the words pass without reply.
When they finished, Teresa went to pay–only to have the server tell her, “The gentleman with you already settled the bill.”
She blinked, turning to Hector. “We agreed it was on me. How could you let me make you pay?”
He was smiling at her, about to reply, when a surprised female voice came from behind. “Hector?”
They both turned—and there was Naomi, with Charles standing just behind her, Yolanda in tow.
Hector knew Naomi, but the man and the little girl with her were strangers to him. He didn’t think much of it.
“Naomi, what a coincidence.” Hector said with an easy smile.
Naomi’s gaze slid over Teresa like she wasn’t even there.
“Yeah. Have you eaten, Hector? Stay and have something,” Naomi said, her tone sugar–sweet.
Hector didn’t know what tied the man and little girl behind her to Teresa, but he caught the undercurrent in Naomi’s glance- something sharp, dismissive.
So he shifted, closing the space to stand beside Teresa. “Already ate,” he said with the same pleasant smile. “Wouldn’t want to intrude.”
Something in that small movement made Naomi’s stomach tighten. She shot Teresa a quick, involuntary glance before turning back to hook her hand through Charles’s arm. “Charles, this is the brilliant senior I told you about.”
The moment Charles stepped through the door with Yolanda’s hand in his, he saw Teresa.
She’d clearly taken the time to get ready–skin smooth, lips softly tinted, even her lashes curling upward in delicate arcs.
She looked different today, striking in a way that made the memory of her pale in comparison.
But what stood out even more was this, Yolanda stood right in front of her, and Teresa didn’t so much as glance her way, as if they were strangers passing on the street.
Yolanda spotted Teresa too, but quickly turned her head away. She still hadn’t gotten over the fact that her mother had hit Miss Naomi.
In her mind, Mom was in the wrong–and she hadn’t apologized.
So forgiveness wasn’t on the table.
Still, a tiny part of her hoped Mom might come over, coax her a little. But Yolanda prided herself on having principles: no apology, no deal.
Besides, she figured Mom would crack soon enough–maybe even scoop her up, say she was sorry, and smother her in kisses.
Charles pulled his gaze back and gave Hector a nod. “Hello.”
“Hey.” Hector returned politely, then turned to Naomi. “Already had lunch, Naomi. Let’s catch up another time.”
Naomi couldn’t press without making it awkward, so she let it drop with a faintly disappointed smile.
Hector gave Charles a slight nod in parting, then lifted the curtain for Teresa, his eyes following her out.
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Chapter 14
As Teresa started toward the door, Yolanda’s heart gave a little jump.
Maybe, just maybe, Mom would scoop her up, and she’d get to lecture her in her best grown–up voice about how hitting Miss Naomi that day was wrong.
But before the picture could finish playing in her head, Naomi’s hand was waving in front of her face, snapping her back to the table.
Naomi bent down, palm brushing Yolanda’s forehead. “Yolanda, what’s wrong?”
Yolanda glanced back on instinct–just in time to see her mother walking away with Hector, already halfway to the door.
Not a glance. Not a pause. Not even when she’d passed right by her.
Heat rushed up her little face. She stomped her foot, her pout sharpening like a tiny blade. ‘Bad Mommy. If you don’t want me, I’ll tell Daddy not to want
you either!
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