Chapter 38 Over at the Sullivan Mansion , the family had held off on dinner , waiting for Teresa . Now , the dining table hummed with warmth - Monica was tucked between Teresa and Yvonne , her plate already stacked with bits of honey - glazed ham and buttery rolls , while both women fussed over peeling her shrimp . She was so giddy , her eyes crinkled into little half - moons . " Mom , Aunt Teresa , tomorrow's the Thanksgiving play ! I'm so excited … but kinda scared too , " Monica said , licking a smudge of tartar sauce off her finger . Teresa smiled softly , but a weight settled in her chest . Yvonne brushed a crumb off Monica's cheek . " Don't you worry . Aunt Teresa and I - we'll all be there . Just do your best , okay ? If you get a gold star sticker, that's amazing . But even if you don't , you're still our favorite little performer . Deal ? " Monica giggled , her excitement bubbling back up . Then , as if a thought had just popped into her head , she turned to Teresa , her brows furrowed . " Aunt Teresa … do you think tomorrow will really be okay ? " She'd asked this before . Monica and Yolanda went to the same kindergarten , after all . Teresa was coming to her play , not Yolanda's . It made her happy , but … what if Yolanda felt left out ? Teresa had replayed this a hundred times . She hadn't known the girls shared a school until Monica mentioned it , and by then , she'd already promised Monica she'd come . Besides , Yolanda probably didn't need her there anyway . She squeezed Monica's hand , smiling . " It'll be okay . Promise . " ' Of course I want to be there for my daughter , Teresa thought , her throat tight . ' But she doesn't need me anymore . Things between us would never be like they were . If only I hadn't heard Yolanda say those things … If only I didn't know Naomi's the one she really cares about … But life doesn't hand out do - overs . The next morning , Monica was up with the sun . She bounded into Yvonne and her dad's room first , then raced to Teresa's door , bouncing on her toes . Today was the big day - the kindergarten's Thanksgiving event . The teacher had said kids could get ready at home or at school , but with Yvonne's knack for styling as a model , there was no way they were leaving it to the teachers . They needed to be at school by 8:30 , so Yvonne was already up by six , laying out Monica's outfit . When Monica's excited shouts echoed down the hall , Teresa dragged herself out of bed too . Yvonne spent the next hour fussing over Monica - a tiny pair of overalls dotted with turkeys , a fuzzy orange sweater , and two braids tied with sparkly gold ribbons that bounced when she moved - pure , unfiltered kid energy . Once Monica was ready , twirling in the mirror and pretending to be a little pilgrim , Yvonne headed to Teresa's room " Ter let me do your makeup , " she said hodien up a small makeup bag . " You've gotta look nice for our star's big day ! Teresa was already dressed an a cozy sweater and jeans , a baseball cap perched on her head She knew kindngjaren zes well - along with the school led performances , there were always parent child games Chapter 38 Better to keep it casual today , she figured , so she could join in with the kids without fuss . " Yvonne , I'll skip the makeup . I'll be playing games with Monica later , " Teresa said . She'd daydreamed so many times about joining Yolanda in those parent - child activities - she'd even scoured the internet for ideas . But she never imagined that by the time her daughter started school , she'd end up feeling like an outsider , watching from the sidelines . At least she could be there for Monica . Yvonne saw right through her . She grinned . " Playing games doesn't mean you can't look nice . Besides , makeup's not for anyone else - it's for you . When you feel good in your skin , everything's brighter . Come on , just a light , fresh base . Promise it won't take long ." Teresa couldn't resist Yvonne's warmth , so she gave in . Ever since Yolanda was born , Teresa rarely bothered with makeup . But her skin was naturally clear - smooth , even , no blemishes - so she still looked as fresh as women her age who fussed over skincare . A little concealer here , a touch of blush there , and Yvonne's quick work brought out her features - softer , brighter , somehow younger . Yvonne held up a mirror . " See ? Doesn't that make a difference ? " Teresa stared at her reflection , surprised . She'd always been pretty , but since Yolanda came along , she'd let herself fade into the background - Charles had grown used to seeing her with messy hair , stained shirts , always rushing to tend to their daughter . But Naomi was nothing like that . She was always polished - full makeup , outfits that never repeated , a new look in every social media post Teresa had sneakily scrolled through . Soft , bold , flirty , chic , playful … she was a chameleon , effortless in every style . ' If I were a guy , Teresa had even thought once , ' I'd fall for her too . Who wouldn't ? ' " Teresa ? " Yvonne's voice pulled her back . She smiled , shaking off the thought . " Wow . I really do look better . Thanks ." Yvonne patted her shoulder . " Dress up , have fun . The things you've lost … they don't define you . Not anymore . " Teresa nodded , softening . " Yeah . I get it . " " I'll grab our things , " Yvonne said . " We'll head out at eight sharp . " At eight on the dot , the three of them left the Sullivan Mansion . By the time they reached the kindergarten , the place was alive with energy - parents chatting , kids in tiny pilgrim hats and turkey costumes , the air smelling like popcorn and apple cider . Monica spotted her classmates and lit up , tugging Yvonne and Teresa over . " Guys , this is my mom and my aunt ! Aren't they awesome ? " she announced , bearing . After showing off her " team " to everyone , the teacher called the group together . Parents filed into their seats as teachers directed , chatting softly while kids buzzed with excitement . The event kicked off not with dances , but with a lineup of classic Thanksgiving performances tailored to tiny performers . Teresa sat in the audience , her gaze drifting every so often to where Yolanda's class huddled backstage . One by one , classes took the floor - some sang " Turkey in the Straw with off - key enthusiasm , others acted out a simplified First Feast akit . tny Pagrins and Native American kids passing around toy com and pumpkins . A few toddlers froze mid - lme or wandered off- rap to wave at their parents , but the crowd cheered just as loulcharm trumped perfection here Yolandas turn cute with her class's gren nuustær - a bouncy song about " Thankful Hearts , complete with hand motions Shedder somingor pana ini nakey feaders on lar checks , and be hair was pulled back in a seat ponytail , no frills - but she grimed the whole Dar beeping up with the qUJOVER PP Chapter 38 Seeing her that happy , Teresa let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding . No matter the hurtful words , she still ached for her daughter to feel loved . After the group acts , it was time for solo spots - kids showing off talents they'd practiced , with the best earning shiny gold stickers and small certificates that read " Little Performer Extraordinaire . " Monica was up later , set to act out a snippet of The Little Red Hen ( a story about gratitude and teamwork , the teacher had explained ) . Then came Yolanda's turn . She stepped onto the small stage alone , her eyes darting across the crowd as if searching for a familiar face . Murmurs rippled through the parents . " Is she by herself ? " " Doesn't she have mom or dad here ? " " " Poor thing - she looks nervous . " " Who misses their kid's first solo ? That's rough ." Yolanda heard the whispers . Her bottom lip trembled , and her eyes glistened . Teresa's chest tightened . She started to stand , but Yvonne's hand on her arm stopped her . Yvonne nodded toward the right , and Teresa turned to see Naomi approaching - dressed in a sleek silk dress , red as cranberry sauce , paired with strappy heels that clicked against the floor . Behind her , two people carried a portable keyboard , and another hauled a folding chair . Yolanda's face lit up . " Miss Naomi ! You're here ! " she cried , bouncing on her toes . Naomi navigated the crowd with a smile , climbed onto the stage , and squeezed Yolanda's hand . Once the keyboard was set up and the chair placed , she ruffled Yolanda's hair before sitting down . Yolanda took her position , ready to dance as Naomi played . Naomi closed her eyes , then let her fingers dance over the keys . A sweeping , almost classical melody filled the room - beautiful , but far more complex than a kindergartener's dance should be . Yolanda , in her frilly dress , tried to twirl and step to the music , but she'd clearly practiced something simpler . The melody swelled , and her moves grew stilted - a misstep here , a delayed spin there . Soon , she was visibly flustered , her small frame looking lost amid the music's grandeur . The dance , once eager , turned awkward - like a sparrow trying to keep up with a swan .