HAZY SHADE OF WINTER - PART TEN
PREVIOUSLY
She could feel his hands on her on her body like they were on their wedding
night – kissing him – playing with his hair.
A tear flowed out her eye.
"Come back to me Todd…" she whispered.
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Late December, 1998…
The DA's office…
Hank Gannon leaned back in the chair at his desk in his office. He allowed himself a quick smile and put the Sun down. Christmas had passed and New Year's was around the corner. And he had a feeling it was going to be an exciting new year.
Téa Delgado's client decided to take advantage of his offer and plead guilty. As soon as her business was concluded with Georges Alverez, Téa took him up on his offer and became Llanview's newest ADA. And Téa immediately became involved in attempting to prosecute Max and Blair for perjury in Todd's trial. Hank disapproved but he felt it was important to prove to Téa that he supported her. And Téa came through for him by realizing her motives were not professional and dropped the charges. His new ADA needed focus though, and he knew exactly what to do. There was a knock on his door.
"C'Mon in," said Hank.
Téa walked in, "I got your message. You wanted to see me?"
"Yeah. Sit down Téa," said Hank motioning to the seat across from his desk. Téa sat down.
"I got your next case," said Hank throwing some papers aside. "Oh?" questioned Téa.
"Our office has gotten a request for a special prosecutor," started Hank.
"I see," replied Téa.
"Up in Pine Valley, New York, there's a rape case pending. However, the DA there is too close to the case. Turns out he's the brother of the victim…" continued Hank.
"And you want to assign me as the special prosecutor," concluded Téa.
"Well, you are the Junior ADA," said Hank.
"And…" prodded Téa.
"There's only two people who have taken and passed the New York Bar…" said Hank.
"And I'm one of them," added Téa.
"And I'm the other," said Hank, "Besides, this change of pace might be actually what you need."
Téa shrugged her shoulders and frowned, "When do I report?"
"Tomorrow," said Hank, "The case begins the day after tomorrow."
Late that evening… The Country Club…
Téa Delgado sat at the bar of the Country Club sipping her drink. The case in Pine Valley was a great career challenge for her but she was hesitant to leave – what if Todd attempted to get in contact with her? She sipped her drink again and opened her purse, pulling out the two of hearts playing card. Todd had sent it to her along with a brief note…
"…Téa…what I do now… I…I… would forgive you anything Delgado…Forgive me…"
"I forgive you Todd," whispered Téa staring at the card.
She felt a hand on her shoulders and put the card away as she turned around.
"What did you say?" asked Anton. He took the seat next to Téa and ordered a drink.
"Nothing," muttered Téa, "What do you want Anton?" She took another sip of her drink.
"Nothing imparticular," said Anton, "Just to be with you."
"You should know Anton, I've been assigned as a special prosecutor. I leave tomorrow for Pine Valley," said Téa.
Anton ordered a drink, "Running away Téa? From us?"
"Isn't that your specialty?" asked Téa.
"You know why I ran away. I could not handle your decision to have an…" started Anton.
"…Don't go there Anton. It's painful for both of us," finished Téa.
"I would have been a good father," said Anton. He sipped his drink.
Téa softened, "Yes, I believe you would have been."
"Tee!" came a cry.
Téa and Anton turned around to discover Blair and Starr behind them. Téa got off her stool and reached out to Starr.
"Hi, Sweetpea," said Téa exchanging hugs with Starr. Blair bit her lip.
Why did her daughter have to like Téa Delgado so much?
Téa picked up Starr and Anton looked on in surprise.
"So, Téa…" said Blair darting her gaze from Téa to Anton back to Téa, "Who is your handsome Prince?"
Anton raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"Ah, Anton de la Rocha, this is Todd's first wife, Blair Cramer and this is my stepdaughter, Starr," said Téa making introductions.
"I've heard of you," said Blair extending her hand, "My Aunt Dorian is featuring your work in her art gallery. She's spoken highly of you."
"Thank you," said Anton returning the handshake.
"So, how do you know Téa?" asked Blair.
Téa looked up from Starr.
"We're ah…" started Téa.
"We're old friends," finished Anton.
Blair raised an eyebrow.
"So what brings you here Miss Cramer?" asked Anton.
"I'm meeting Dorian here," said Blair.
"Tee, I thought Daddy was your prince," said Starr glaring at Anton.
Téa's mouth dropped and then she bit her lip, "Your daddy will always be a prince in my heart," she said softly.
Blair frowned.
"You care for the young girl," noted Anton.
Blair raised an eyebrow. Now that was a cryptic comment.
"Yes, of course I do Anton. She's my stepdaughter," replied Téa.
"Te quiero Tee," said Starr, "I learned that in school today."
Téa smiled at Starr, "Te quiero."
Dorian walked up, "What a pleasant surprise. ADA Delgado is corrupting the young. Hello Anton."
"Hello Dorian," replied Anton smiling at Dorian.
"C'Mon Starr, we've got to go," said Blair reaching out for her daughter.
Téa smiled at Starr who returned the smile before handing her over to Blair.
Blair, Dorian, and Starr took a table facing the bar.
Anton and Téa took their seats at the bar. Anton ordered another drink.
"Your stepdaughter adores you and it's obvious you adore her," remarked Anton.
"Starr's a wonderful young girl," replied Téa.
Anton took a sip of his drink and leaned into her, "I believe you would have been a good mother…"
"Anton," whispered Téa, "I'm sorry…"
"No… do not regret…" whispered Anton, caught up in her presence. He reached up, placed his hand behind her neck and drew her into a kiss.
Téa immediately broke off the kiss and stood up, "Do not ever presume you can kiss me like that again, Anton. What we shared was over…years ago."
"Téa…I'm sorry…" muttered Anton.
Téa nodded her head, 'no', turned around, and walked out.
"Tee got mad at that man," said Starr watching Téa leave.
"Starr, do you want Auntie Dorian to take you to River's sleep over tonight?" questioned Blair smiling at her daughter.
"O.k.," said Starr smiling at Auntie Dorian.
"Blair, what do you have in mind?" asked Dorian.
Blair leaned over and whispered into Dorian's ear, "Anton is a very handsome man. And I think he and Téa were more than just friends… all those years ago…"
"I got that impression too," whispered Dorian.
"You should leave now. I've got…work to do. I think a wonderful opportunity to get back at Téa just presented itself," whispered Blair into Dorian's ear so her daughter wouldn't hear.
Interlude… Geneva, Switzerland…
Todd collapsed to his knees on the floor of Susannah Hannon's office – the tears flowing out his eyes – his cries inaudible – his fists slamming into the floor of the office.
"Todd!" exclaimed Susannah, moving toward him – understanding his need to be physical. He had just relieved his father's sexual abuse and it was painful to him.
"Todd – that wasn't love. That was – hate…" spat out Susannah over his cries.
Todd stopped slamming his fists into the floor and looked up at his therapist.
"What is love… if it isn't violence?" he questioned.
"It's gentle. It's a warm feeling. It's a caress – a tender touch – a look – love is wanting to put another's needs and wants before yours…" started Susannah.
"I feel that – for Starr…" said Todd finding Susannah's eyes.
"Good…" said Susannah.
"But how do I show it? How do I make Pete go away?" questioned Todd. He was a mess.
"I don't want to be violent anymore. I don't want to hurt the ones…I love…anymore…" his lips quivered.
"The first step is self-realization – self awareness…" said Susannah.
Todd closed his eyes and saw images of a woman… Téa… and he could feel her tender caress as she pulled him into a kiss – was it the opera? He felt Téa caress his chest as she kissed him on the stairs… his eyes meeting hers as he proposed to her… his fear in offering her an unconsented divorce… only to have her say 'yes' to his proposal… dancing with her at their second wedding…
"Todd…! Todd…! What's going on… What are you thinking of?" questioned Susannah firmly.
"Téa… I love Téa…" he muttered – his eyes still closed, his lips still quivering.
"Téa is your wife, right?" questioned Susannah.
"I love Téa…how you said…" muttered Todd, "But – I'm afraid – I've hurt her badly…"
"Love is about forgiveness too," said Susannah.
"I would forgive Téa anything… I have…" muttered Todd opening his eyes and staring up at his therapist with the most confused look.
"Does Téa love you, Todd?" questioned Susannah.
"…I love you Todd, I do, I love you…"
"Yes," muttered Todd remembering her words.
"Then she will forgive you anything…" replied Susannah.
"How will I know?" he asked.
"A glance – a touch – a caress – you can feel it in a kiss…" replied Susannah.
There was silence between them as Todd digested what Susannah had said. His body shook as Todd felt his anger, bitterness, and frustration drain away. And he knew now he had the 'tools' to make Pete go away…
Llanview, Blair's Penthouse…
Anton felt the alcohol buzz as he followed Blair into her penthouse and sat down next to her on the couch.
Blair smiled at him and gently caressed his face, "Want a nightcap?" she asked.
"Yes," replied Anton, imitating her gesture.
Blair got up, went into the kitchen and poured them some wine. And before she went out to the living room, she slipped a herbal sleeping package into Anton's drink.
Blair walked out into the living room and handed Anton his glass, "You know this used to be Todd and Téa's penthouse…"
"Téa…"muttered Anton sipping his wine, reliving a memory.
"Were you married to Téa?" asked Blair sipping her drink as she sat down next to Anton.
"No. But Téa was the most passionate love affair I ever had…" slurred Anton taking another sip of his wine.
"Were you and Téa lovers?" asked Blair moving closer to Anton.
"We were lovers…and more…" replied Anton. His head was spinning and it felt good.
"What do you mean by more?" asked Blair. She began to rub Anton's arm.
"She was pregnant with my child…" slurred Anton feeling relieved at having told someone his secret.
Blair hid her surprise, "Let me guess. She had a miscarriage and it ruined your relationship?"
"No, an abortion," said Anton. The room was spinning faster…
"Are you sure?" asked Blair, she couldn't hide her shock, "I can't believe Téa would…"
"No…I'm not sure she did…" said Anton. He blinked his eyes, put his glass down on the coffee table and collapsed on Blair's couch.
Blair put her glass down and wiped her mouth with her hand. She undressed Anton and made him comfortable on her couch before she retired to her bedroom. Téa may have decided to drop the perjury charges but Blair was going to go after Téa, like Téa went after her… and now she had the ammunition to do it.
TO BE CONTINUED
