Chapter 75 Irreplaceable
Teresa's first meal with the Garcias went smoothly enough, though having Gabriel by her side, incessantly looking after her, did make her feel slightly uncomfortable.
After dinner, Teresa said she needed to visit Patrick at the hospital and excused herself to leave.
Of course, leaving meant taking little Michael along with her. Katherine, cradling the child, was visibly reluctant to let go. She smiled and negotiated playfully, "Teresa, honey, it's exhausting for you to take the little one around so much. Why not leave Michael here?"
"Michael's so young, and it's his first day back. What if he cries at night for his mom? Better that Teresa takes him," Mason interjected before Teresa or Gabriel could respond.
With Mason having spoken, Katherine couldn't press the matter further and simply smiled, handing the child over to Teresa.
"Mom, give it a few days for him to get used to the new surroundings, then he can stay over and keep you guys company," Teresa reassured Katherine as she took her son.
It was evident that the Garcias held a deep affection for the little tyke.
"Guys, I’m going to leave with mommy now, goodbye!" The smart little fellow waved his chubby hands, promising, "I will come to see you tomorrow."
Katherine's heart melted at her grandson's words. After another tender kiss on the little one, Gabriel finally embraced Teresa and helped her into the car to take her and Michael to the hospital.
"Really, you didn't have to drive us. It's a waste of your time," Teresa said, adjusting Michael's clothes in the car and glancing at the man seated next to her.
Under the bright car lights, Gabriel's deep eyes were intense, fixated on her. Out of the blue, he asked, "Teresa, how have you and our son been getting by in Jena these past couple of years?"
Silence fell as Teresa turned her head to look at him, not uttering a word.
"Has it been tough?" he persisted when she remained silent.
"Not at all, it's been easy. The little one is our bundle of joy," Teresa cheerfully replied.
Gabriel's gaze was fixed on her with unwavering intensity. He reached out and took her hand. "So, tell me, have you ever regretted having our son? Not even once since the beginning?"
Teresa met his eyes with silence.
This man... when his tongue turned venomous, it could be deadly harmful, yet when he showered her with sweet nothings, he was truly...
"Mommy, what is regret?" asked their little boy from his car seat, his large eyes blinking, legs kicking excitedly.
"Regret," Gabriel responded before Teresa could speak, furrowing his brow in a serious tone, "is Daddy feeling sorry for not having married Mommy earlier, for not being there for you and Mommy when you were born. Now he's heartbroken and full of guilt."
Teresa cast him a sidelong glance, remaining silent.
"But does it make Daddy's face hurt?" The little one pondered aloud, cupping his chubby cheeks and pouting, like he was the one with a bruised face.
Gabriel caught Teresa's eye and shook his head. "No pain, little man. Daddy got hit for Mommy, so it doesn't hurt at all."
Teresa just looked on, wordless.
Just then, Teresa's phone started to buzz. Without further attention to their interaction, she pulled out her phone and answered. Gabriel turned his attention to entertaining their son.
Teresa was on the phone for a while, speaking fluently in German, and by the time she hung up, they had just pulled into the hospital.
"You can head back. No need to wait for us," Teresa said while unbuckling her seatbelt, directing the words at Gabriel.
"I'll come up with you to see the in-laws!" Gabriel insisted, not wanting to leave her side.
Teresa faced him squarely and said seriously, "I want to spend some time alone with my parents."
Gabriel smiled. "Sure, I'll wait down here for you guys."
"Gabriel, can't you give me some space and go do your own thing?" Teresa's face fell at his persistence.
"Daddy's annoying; Mommy's getting angry," little Croissant chimed in supportively.
With a light laugh and looking at his wife and child, Gabriel conceded, "Alright, you win, my love. Here, kiddo, let Daddy get you out of the car."
And with that, Gabriel unbuckled the child's seatbelt, and lifted him out of the car.
Teresa also got out of the car from the other side, and as she was distracted, Gabriel handed the child to her, lowered his head, and kissed her forehead. Under the evening sky, his eyes shined like stars, flickering with an inner fire. His voice, husky and raw, plainly stated, "Honey, I'm going to be up all night."
Teresa looked up at him, speechless, her skin breaking out in goosebumps.
Without giving him another thought, Teresa turned with Croissant in her arms and headed towards the inpatient building.
Gabriel stood there, slipping one hand casually into his pocket, a pleased smirk forming on his lips as he chuckled quietly to himself.
"Bye Daddy!" The little one in Teresa's arms waved a tiny hand at him.
Gabriel waved back, "Bye-bye, sweetheart," watching them until they disappeared into the elevator. Only then did he turn and get into the car, but he didn't leave. Instead, he instructed his driver to pull over and wait. Pulling out his tablet, he began to work through his business affairs with concentration.
Running two major corporations single-handedly, the number of decisions awaiting him daily was endless. Thus, the idea of truly relaxing was something he couldn't afford, not even for a day.
...
At Patrick’s ward, Teresa found William already there. Patrick and Sophia inevitably bombarded her with a host of questions about the afternoon visit to the Garcia family estate while William played it cool, not asking anything and keeping the little one company.
Although William had been more of an uncle in name, over the past two years, he had played a fatherly role from the child's angle. The bond between the little one and William was even stronger than with Patrick and Sophia.
After staying in the hospital for more than an hour, Teresa and William together took the child home.
But as they stepped out from the building, Teresa looked up to find Gabriel just getting out of his car, parked not too far away.
Why is he still here?
"Daddy!" The child lit up at the sight of Gabriel and called out happily.
"Gabriel," William greeted with a hint of a smile.
"Why are you still waiting here? Didn't I tell you to go ahead?" Teresa chided him with a glare.
Locking eyes with her mockingly indignant gaze, Gabriel couldn't hide his delight. "I just want to be around you and our son, every moment I can."
She rolled her eyes at his cloying sentiment. "Look, I'm heading back with my brother. There's no need for you to drop me off. You can go ahead."
With William present, what was there for Gabriel to worry about? He smiled, nodded, and conceded, "Alright, I'll watch you and the boy get into the car, and then I'll take off."
That overprotective tenderness was something Teresa had never even experienced during the sweetest moments with Liam. It was impossible for her not to feel the depth of Gabriel's affection.
Yet, it all felt strangely rapid to her. Everything was moving too fast.
"Come here, Mommy's got you. Say goodnight to Daddy!"
"Night-night, Daddy!" The little guy snuggled into Teresa's arms, waving his tiny hands obediently.
"Goodnight, my sweetheart," Gabriel said as he leaned in to plant a kiss on the child's forehead. Then, seizing a moment when Teresa least expected it, his hand cradled the back of her head and, right in front of William, he landed a swift kiss on her lips.
It was a mere brush. By the time Teresa could react, he had already pulled back, his eyes sparkling as he smiled, "Goodnight to my lovely wife as well!"
With a glare again, Teresa turned to William. "Let's go, William."
William nodded with a smile, bidding Gabriel farewell, "Take care."
"Sure thing," Gabriel replied, watching them get into the car and drive away.
On the ride home, William drove in silence, not uttering a word to either Teresa or Croissant.
