Chapter 15 Even though she'd been plotting in her head to team up with Daddy and freeze Mommy out , Yolanda still gave Naomi a sweet smile . " Miss Naomi , I'm fine . I just want to hear you play the piano again ." Naomi's expression softened . " As it happens , I have a performance tonight . How about I call a friend and have them set aside two tickets for you and your daddy ? " Yolanda's face lit up , clapping her hands . " Yay , yay ! Miss Naomi , you're the best ! " Then she launched herself into Naomi's arms , wrapping her neck and rubbing her cheek against hers . Charles found himself drifting for a moment , caught off guard not only by Teresa's reaction , but by how cool she was toward their daughter . In his mind , Teresa'd always been hopelessly devoted to Yolanda - the kind of mother who couldn't even run to the bathroom without lingering for one more hug . He could still picture the time he'd taken Yolanda to visit his grandfather at the Logan Manor . When Teresa came home and couldn't find her , she'd rushed over in a panic , snatching their chicken - leg - munching daughter into her arms and bursting into tears . Back then , Charles had thought Teresa was overdramatic . But now ? She didn't even spare Yolanda more than a passing glance , let alone a word or two . If it were before , she'd be clinging to their little girling " Charles ? " Naomi straightened , noticing the faraway look on to let go . his face . He blinked back to the moment , his tone even . " Come on , let's sit . " Once they'd ordered , Charles glanced across the table at Yolanda . She was nestled up against Naomi , heads bent over a phone screen . Yolanda couldn't read much yet , but she was determined to keep Miss Naomi company while picking out tickets . Miss Naomi smelled so nice . Her fingers were so pretty . Naomi navigated to the ticket page , and after a quick glance , her smile faltered , and she looked a touch sheepish . She turned to Yolanda , a touch apologetic . " Sweetheart , the front row's gone . Only second row left . " Yolanda's face fell . " Huh ?" Charles had no idea Naomi was buying concert tickets , but he was certain this was something he could handle . If it made Yolanda and Naomi happy , no price was too high . " I'll get the tickets ," he said without hesitation . Naomi quickly explained the concert to him , and Yolanda chimed in that she wanted to hear Miss Naomi perform . The two of them went back and forth , and Charles watched them with a faint smile before pulling out his phone to call Liam . " Two front - row seats for tonight's piano concert at the Riverdale Auditorium . " Liam didn't ask questions just replied , ' OK , Mr. Logan ' When he hung up , Naomi glanced over at Charles with a smile . " Front - row seats are pricey and there are only two . Usually , unless you two are there , they stay empty at my shows ." Her concerts were always sold out , but she kept those two prime seats at a sky - high price . It wasn't about the money - just a way to make sure that if Charles and Yolanda wanted to come , she could comp them the best spots . Tonight was different , though . 1/3 P Chapter 15 Someone had actually bought them . Naomi figured it was probably some rich kid trying to impress a date . Whoever it was , they didn't matter in front of Charles . Charles's phone rang , it was Liam calling back . He picked up . " Just get it done , no need to call me about it . " 4 . Pict " Mr. Logan , I couldn't get the tickets . " Liam said . " I reached out , but the buyer won't let them go . " Charles's brow furrowed . " You can't manage something this simple ? Offer more , he won't turn it down . " " I tried ," Liam said , a note of resignation in his voice . " They still refused . " Outside the hospital , Hector ended a call- -the one E arranging the sky - high offer he'd just made for a pair of concert tickets . Teresa , thinking it was work , waited patiently a few May . They'd just walked back from lunch , ambling through the streets while talking about college days , professors , and friends they hadn't seen in years . For the first time since her marriage , Teresa found herself speaking this much , this easily , with another man When Hector closed the distance between them , he gave her a warm smile . " How about we go to a concert tonight ? " The instinctive answer on her tongue was no - divorce plans aside , she was still a married woman . But Hector spoke again before could refuse . " Just think of it as keeping me company for a bit . " She hesitated , then thought , ' It's only a concert . And we've always been good friends . " Alright . " she said finally . No 6 રણ સિવા she ( དེ་འོད་ ཀི་ སྐལ་ ལ ) པར་ གསང་རྒྱ་ བ་་ ་་་ ཀ་ ་ གིས་ He smiled and said warmly , " I'll pick up tonight ." She nodded . " Okay . I'd better get back to work . " Hector watched her walk away , standing under the shade of a tree long after she'd vanished from sight . Then , suddenly , he smiled - like a man who'd just found something precious he thought was lost forever . The joy in his eyes was impossible to hide . Pulling out his phone , he scrolled back to an old chat with Neil , his smile deepening as he read . " What do you think of this girl ? I'm thinking of going after her . " The message came with a photo - one Neil had coaxed out of her , claiming he needed it as a memento before she moved back to Riverdale . " She's divorced , has a little girl . But it's fine , I can handle being a dad . I'd treat the kid like my own . " Hector had stared at the photo that day , stunned , before typing out a single word , " Divorced ? " " Yeah ," Neil replied . " She told me herself , why would she lie ? " Hector's hands had started to shake , and a slow heat welled in his eyes . He didn't reply for a long while , until Neil finally gave in and called him on video . " I'm serious , what do you think of her ? I kinda like her Neil said . Hector's brow eased for the first time , though he kept his tone deliberately earnest . " Neil , she's not the right girl for you . " Neil kept pressing for a reason . At first , Hector wouldn't give one . But in the end , he let the truth slip . " Neil , she's the junior I once told you about . " Hearing that , Neil didn't ask anything more . He just smiled faintly and said , " Then I wish you luck . " 2/3 P Chapter 15 That evening , when Teresa finished work , Hector was already waiting at the hospital entrance . They grabbed dinner first , then strolled toward the Riverdale Auditorium . Once their tickets were scanned , Hector led her straight to the front row - the best seats in the house . When the hall filled , the lights dropped to darkness . A single spotlight cut through , landing on a young woman walking toward the grand piano . The pure white gown traced the curve of her figure ; a veil softened her face , but the poise and grace left little doubt she was strikingly beautiful . Teresa's eyes stayed fixed on the figure as camera flashes winked across the stage . With every measured step the woman took toward the piano , recognition sharpened - it was Naomi Yates . She'd spent enough time quietly watching Naomi's videos , studying her in countless photos , to know for sure in a Naomi was stunning - graceful , talented , and with the kind of beauty that drew admirers all over Riverdale . But beauty like that was never meant for public picking . This rose had already been claimed - by Charles Logan . The performance began with Naomi easing into Memory of the Rain . Then she played three es shifting tide of emotion . Teresa might have despised Naomi , but she couldn't deny the woman's talent . Against her will , the music drew her in , wrapping her in the stories woven between each note . single glance . བྲོ་ མོར ། ༽ སྐ་ ་ རང་ each carrying its own When the last chord faded , applause erupted through the Riverdale Auditorium , accompanied by murmurs of praise for Naomi . From the second row , Yolanda sprang to her feet , cupping her hands around her mouth . " Miss Naomi , you were amazing- -so dazzling ! " Her small voice was swallowed by the roar of the crowd , unheard by Teresa and just as easily missed by Naomi . Charles Logan , however , sat quietly in his seat , gaze fixed on the stage . His eyes held a softness that left no room for anything , or anyone else . As Yolanda sank back into her seat , her gaze drifted , almost by habit , toward the VIP section where she One glance , and she froze . and her daddy usually sat . Afraid she might be imagining it , she leaned close to Charles , tugging at his sleeve and pointing toward Teresa and Hector . " Daddy , look over there . Is that Mommy ? " 3/3