HAZY SHADE OF WINTER - PART THIRTEEN

PREVIOUSLY

"Susannah – this masquerade ball is absolutely perfect for me to find out how Téa really feels about me now. Right now. Let me tell you what I have in mind…" started Todd.

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February 1999 Dorian's ball…

Blair and Dorian stood by the punch bowl sharing a drink. Dorian was dressed as Marie Antoinette. Blair was dressed as an angel. The benefit was a success and Dorian was pleased. Her only regret was that Cassie couldn't attend. She was still at St. Anne's. A picture of David Renaldi was on display near the entrance. Some people were dancing. Some were socializing – it was a festive ball.
A messenger walked up to Blair, "Miss Cramer, you wanted to receive this package as soon as it arrived?" he held up a fed ex. envelope.
"Yeah," said Blair grabbing the envelope. She reached into her purse and tipped the man. He left.
"Well, Blair?" asked Dorian, "What is it?"
Blair tore into it and pulled out a newspaper article. She read the headline to Dorian, "Susan Alton dies of breast cancer."
"Oh, how sad. Who is Susan Alton?" asked Dorian.
Blair showed Dorian the accompanying picture. A Caucasian couple in their 30's were featured along with a pre-teen Hispanic girl.
"Susan Alton is survived by a husband, Cameron and a 12 year old daughter, Samantha," read Blair.
"What's the point Blair?" asked Dorian sipping her drink looking at the picture, "Who are the Altons and what do they mean to us?"
"The Altons live in Boston, Massachusetts. Cameron Alton is the founder of FutureTech computer software. He's a gazillionaire. Susan was involved in a lot of community programs," explained Blair.
"What about Samantha?" asked Dorian.
"C'Mon, Dorian! Look at that picture! I've done my homework here. Samantha Alton was adopted – by Cameron and Susan," added Blair.
"O.k. So…Samantha was adopted…" said Dorian attempting to follow to Blair.
"O.k. Dorian… take a look at Téa and Anton over there and then look at Samantha again," instructed Blair.
Dorian looked over at Téa and Anton. Carlotta was with them. They were on the opposite side of the dance floor. Téa was dressed as a gypsy and Anton was dressed as Dracula. Carlotta was a cheerleader. Téa and Anton appeared to be engaged in a lively discussion. Dorian looked at the picture again.
"You mean to tell me Samantha Alton is a product of…" started Dorian.
Blair nodded her head and giggled, "Yep. Samantha Alton was born Marisa Maria Delgado with Téa and Anton her biological parents," said Blair grinning evilly.
Dorian's mouth dropped, "How did you find out?"
"Money, and the Sun's resources will buy you anything…" said Blair crossing her arms.
"I can't believe that nice Anton and that despicable Téa Delgado…" stammered Dorian.
"Yep. Téa Delgado has her own daughter she can be a mother too. She doesn 't need mine," spat out Blair.
"Do Téa and Anton know about Samantha?" asked Dorian sipping her drink.
"Nope. And the Altons don't know about Téa and Anton either, but I know it all," said Blair laughing, "I'm holding all the cards."
Blair took a sip of her drink and looked at Téa and Anton. Dorian followed her gaze.

Téa was trying not to get upset, "Anton, I don't think the ball is an appropriate place to talk about Marisa."
"Well, where and when can I talk about our daughter with you?" he demanded.
"Not here," replied Téa.
"Anton – Téa has a point," injected Carlotta.
Anton stopped and glared at Téa.
Téa crossed her arms and glared back at Anton.
"You two are worse than…" started Carlotta, "Now kiss and make-up."
Téa turned to Carlotta and glared at her.
"I don't mean literally," replied Carlotta.
"Truce?" questioned Anton holding out his hand.
Téa took it, "Truce."
"A dance?" asked Anton.
"With me?" came an accented voice. Téa, Anton, and Carlotta turned around. A tall man, dressed as Zorro stood behind Téa.
Téa could feel an immediate reaction. Zorro was tall, dressed in black, and confident in his demeanor. He wore a black rimmed hat that covered his hair but Téa could tell he had a conventional haircut. He was clean shaven with no facial hair. He wore a black mask that covered his forehead, cheekbones, and nose but those eyes…and those lips… She hadn't felt like this about a man…since Todd.
Téa held out her hand to the mysterious man and he took it, escorting her to the dance floor.
"Who is that?" muttered Anton.
"I don't know…" replied Carlotta.
A waltz played. Téa found Zorro's arms strong and firm. Téa tried to find Zorro's eyes with hers but he would always look away. The silence between them was deafening.
"I'm…" started Téa.
"ADA Téa Delgado. I know who you are," said Zorro in his accented english.
"How do you know who I am?" asked Téa. The dance was enthralling.
"Are you married?" asked Zorro.
"Ah…yes…" replied Téa. She didn't want to admit it to him.
"You don't wear your wedding band? Are you a…tease, Ms. Delgado?" questioned Zorro.
"It's a long story…but, ah, no…a tease is one thing I'm not," replied Téa.
"Do you love your husband?" asked Zorro.
Téa paused finding Zorro's eyes. She felt a connection. Zorro continued to hold her, they slowed the dance down, and she raised her hand to his lips. Zorro took a deep breath.
"Yes," she answered.
And then, rather impulsively, she took her hand, placed it on Zorro's neck , and pulled him into a kiss. Zorro responded and Téa, as if the spell had been broken, freaked, and pulled away from the kiss.
Zorro said nothing, turned and walked away, leaving Téa surrounded by a swirl of dancing couples.
"Todd?" she muttered. She turned to go after Zorro but she didn't see him anywhere.

Todd found Susannah near the country club's indoor pool. Susannah was dressed as a maid. They had chosen the location since they figured everyone would be upstairs dancing.
"Did you see Susannah?" asked Todd, full of excitement, "She kissed me."
"Did she know who you were?" asked Susannah.
"No. I didn't tell her, but I think…she knew…" said Todd.
"How did she know?" asked Susannah.
"She just did. Her kiss…it was in her kiss…" said Todd.
"Todd. No more games. Tell Téa who you are and that you're here," instructed Susannah.
Todd nodded his head, "I'll tell her tonight."

It was midnight. A few people had left, however, Téa had stayed – hoping to find Zorro again. She wasn't successful.
Carlotta had seen what occurred on the dance floor and had asked Téa a lot of questions. Questions Téa felt uncomfortable answering. Téa had noticed Blair and Dorian had been giving her odd looks all night too. Téa took a sip of her wine and felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around. It was Zorro.
"I've been…I…" muttered Téa.
Zorro took the glass from her hand and put it on the adjacent table. Then he took her hand.
"Follow me," said Zorro.
She followed him, in hand, across the dance floor. Téa brushed against Blair as she was dancing with Max. He led her out the doors onto the club's patio. Heat lamps kept the patio warm. The doors remained opened.
Zorro turned to face her. Her back was to the doors. Zorro could look into the country club. He could see Susannah milling about out she wasn't close to hear.
"Who are you?" asked Téa looking up at him with inquisitive eyes.
"I have something to tell you," said Zorro.
"Go on," she said.
"But I'm nervous…" said Zorro.
"I promise not to bite," said Téa smiling at him.
"And I'm not good with words…but I'm getting better…" he said breathlessly.
A rush of adrenaline shot through her, "I've heard that before…"
Zorro quickly removed his hat revealing his haircut and with his other hand, removed his mask, revealing his face to her. A look of confusion overcame her, another rush of adrenaline flooded her body, and she dropped her mouth, "Todd…is that you?"
He nodded his head, "It's me, it's Todd."
"Your hair… your face… what? How?" she muttered, "The DID… was it real…Todd?" She was in shock.
"There's someone I want you to meet," said Todd spitting the words out. He rushed into the country club and Téa turned around quickly – a million emotions flowing through her from anxiety to anger and again, she could feel a rush of adrenaline flowing through her body. Was her husband, Todd Manning, really standing before her?
Todd came rushing back onto the patio with Susannah behind him.
"Téa, this is Dr. Susannah Hannon. She's my therapist," said Todd anxiety in his voice.
Susannah smiled at Téa. Téa just stared at Susannah, dumbfounded.
"And Susannah…ah…this is my wife, Téa Delgado…Manning…"
Susannah held out her hand and Téa took it.
"Well?" asked Todd nervous.
"I…ah…therapy…I…" muttered Téa.
"Well?" asked Todd again.
"I don't know what to say Todd," muttered Téa.
"I did this for you Téa…all this therapy…for you and Shorty…I love you…" said Todd softly. He took a step closer to Téa. She took a step back.
"I don't know what to say," said Téa raising her voice. She walked toward the door.
Todd reached out to her with his hand but Susannah put her hand on his arm, "Don't, Todd."
"She's always leaving Susannah!" shouted Todd.
Téa turned around at that to face him, "I need… I need time, Todd…"
His eyes pleaded with her to stay.
"Give me time Todd…" whispered Téa. She turned around and ran out. "Susannah? What? Did I do it wrong? I told her like you said…" said Todd with a confused look on his face.
"Todd, she didn't appear angry, just confused…" started Susannah.
"She's confused? What about me? I thought…" muttered Todd, "…she wanted me to be me…"
"Todd, she didn't say she didn't want you," said Susannah, "Look, relax. Tomorrow I'll go talk to her… remember your walking abruptly into her life – just as abruptly as you walked out of it. It's shocking to a person – jarring almost…"
"Yeah. I'm a shocking kind of guy," muttered Todd, frustrated.
"Todd?" came a voice.
They turned around. Viki was standing at the patio doors.
"Susannah?" said Viki. They exchanged hugs. Viki then walked over to Todd and stood before him.
"Hi, I'm Todd Manning," said Todd. His tone of voice was light as he remembered Viki saying she wanted to meet the real Todd Manning one day.
"The real Todd Manning?" asked Viki smiling at him.
He nodded his head. Viki held out her arms and Todd gave her a warm, affectionate hug.

TO BE CONTINUED