Contents
Chapter 62
Overview
Veronica privately celebrates Naomi’s arrest, bonds intensely with Teddy, and resolves to reveal that he is her biological son. Jeremy secures a temporary protective order but learns Naomi is already released. He must fly to Boston and asks Veronica to watch Teddy, prompting Veronica to delay the revelation until his return.
Summary
Veronica, relieved that Naomi was handcuffed at the party, processes the confirmed DNA result proving Teddy is her son. She tells only Lola by text and wrestles with how to tell Teddy and Jeremy.
Upstairs, Veronica visits Teddy, who is happily playing with a new truck. Internally claiming her role as his mother, she comforts him about Naomi’s arrest, promises he is safe, and hugs him, vowing to make up for losing him years ago.
Downstairs, Jeremy ends a tense call and reports that a temporary protective order is in place to keep Naomi from Teddy. He then reveals Naomi has already been released, crediting her lawyer Fletcher. Jeremy says his attorney, Hardwick, expects Jeremy to get full custody and Naomi only visitation, though Jeremy remains uneasy.
Needing to travel to Boston for a business meeting, Jeremy asks Veronica to stay with Teddy until Tuesday evening. Veronica agrees, seeing the trip as time to bond with Teddy and planning to tell Jeremy the truth about Teddy’s parentage when he returns. She promises to protect Teddy at all costs.
Who Appears
- Veronica (Ronnie)Narrator; confirms via DNA that Teddy is her son, comforts him, agrees to babysit, plans to tell Jeremy soon.
- TeddyChild at the center; plays with birthday gifts, worries about Naomi, bonds with Veronica unknowingly his biological mother.
- JeremySecures a temporary protective order, learns Naomi is released, and leaves for a Boston trip, entrusting Teddy to Veronica.
- NaomiArrested at the party but quickly released by her lawyer; subject of protective order and ongoing custody battle.
- FletcherNaomi’s lawyer who secures her release from jail.
- HardwickJeremy’s attorney who predicts Jeremy will get full custody and Naomi only visitation.
- LolaVeronica’s confidante; receives a text about the positive DNA result.
- ClayTeddy’s deceased biological father; Veronica reflects on his absence and resemblance to Teddy.