HAZY SHADE OF WINTER - PART FOURTEEN

PREVIOUSLY

"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.

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February 5th, Friday, The DA’s office…

Téa Delgado walked into the district attorney’s office. The office was busy – alive with people – and no one paid her any attention. Téa briskly walked past Hank’s office en-route to her own office. She had a brief to prepare for her Monday meeting with the NY District Attorney.
Hank stuck his head out his office, “Téa?”
She stopped dead in her tracks. Slowly, she turned around, “Hank?”
“Why don’t you come into my office a minute?” suggested Hank.
Téa went in. Hank closed the door. Téa stood in front of Hank. Hank walked behind his desk.
“I heard Todd Manning is back,” said Hank.
“Yeah…Todd Manning is back,” confirmed Téa.
“Look, are you going to be all right? He’s not going to…” started Hank.
“…hurt me? Is that what you were going to ask?” muttered Téa. She held her briefcase in front of her.
“Yeah,” said Hank, “I mean…you know…”
“Yeah, I know,” said Téa, “No, Todd would never hurt me. Besides, he’s changed. He got a haircut.”
“Right. Well, if you need to talk, I’m here,” said Hank.
“Thanks, Hank,” said Téa. She walked out and headed toward her office.
Jeff, her paralegal stopped her.
“Ms. Delgado, you’ve got a visitor in your office,” said Jeff.
“Oh? Who?” asked Téa looking at her office door.
“A Dr. Hannon,” said Jeff.
“Oh. O.k.,” said Téa. She paused and walked to her door, slowly opening it. She went inside.
“Dr. Hannon,” said Téa.
Susannah turned around from looking out the window. She was standing behind Téa’s desk.
“I’d prefer Susannah, Dr. Delgado,” said Susannah smiling.
“Dr. Delgado. I haven’t been called that since I graduated law school,” said Téa.
“Oh, I’m aware that doctor is a title earned by lawyers but not used,” said Susannah picking in a framed degree that was on Téa’s desk. Téa didn’t have the time to put the degree up.
“An NYU law degree. Summa cum laude. Impressive,” said Susannah looking up at Téa.
“Call me Téa,” said Téa. They exchanged smiles, “This is about Todd, isn’t it?”
Susannah nodded her head, “Yep. This is about Todd.”
Téa put her briefcase on her desk, “You know, I wanted to believe the DID was real…” started Téa.
Susannah moved away from Téa’s desk, “So, why didn’t you believe it was real?”
“You know – Todd – sometimes it was hard to believe him…” continued Téa.
“Maybe, Téa, that was because of the DID. Pete is willing to lie to get what he wants. Tom wouldn’t lie to anyone…” added Susannah.
“I see,” said Téa, “The DID. It’s real? It’s really real?”
“It’s really real,” said Susannah.
“And now?” asked Téa, “He’s seems…different – better…”
“Oh, he is better,” said Susannah, “He’s dealt with a lot of issues…Téa – Todd has discussed the sexual abuse – not Pete or any of his other alters – Todd. He’s done a lot of work these past three months to re-integrate his alters…”
“Has he? Have the alters reintegrated?” asked Téa.
“The therapy isn’t finished Téa,” said Susannah.
“It’s not?” asked Téa.
“No, it’s not. That’s why I’m here. I need you to get involved in Todd’s therapy,” said Susannah.
“Me? How?” asked Téa.
“Todd needs to know you forgive him. Your love will give him something to believe in…and something to fight for and only you can convince Todd…and Pete…that you love him…” explained Susannah.
“So Todd…is different?” asked Téa.
“Todd is Todd…he’s not quite like the Todd you knew – maybe you should get to know him,” suggested Susannah.
“I don’t know,” said Téa.
“I’ll be blunt then. Todd is in the final stages of reintegration but you need to become involved in the therapy. Now of course, you can chose not to become involved but it won’t be easy on him or me to finish the job,” said Susannah firmly.
Téa paused, “Ah, yeah – I’ll do it. I’ll become involved – if it means Todd will get better…I’ll get involved.”
“Thank you,” said Susannah.
There was silence between them.
“Todd and I are staying at Llanfair for now. This weekend we’ll be settling in. I’m getting an office at Llanview General. Our first session is on Monday,” said Susannah.
Téa frowned, “I have to meet the District Attorney for the state of New York on Monday.”
“Oh,” said Susannah.
“The appointment is at nine in the morning. I could be finished by noon and back in time for a late afternoon session,” said Téa.
“Good. I’ll arrange for an afternoon session. Thank you, Téa,” said Susannah making her way to the door.
“No, thank you, Susannah – for giving this to Todd…” said Téa.
Susannah left. Téa got to work on her brief.

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Téa finished a rough draft of her brief and looked up. It was 11:30 a.m. She walked outside her office and into the main workroom. She approached her paralegal, Jeff.
“Jeff, can you have a rough draft ready by two so I can finalize it?” asked Téa looking down at Jeff and the brief.
“Sure, no problem Ms. Delgado,” replied Jeff reviewing her draft.
“Téa.”
She looked up, “Todd.”
Jeff looked up.
The room quieted down and all eyes were on them.
Téa immediately noticed Todd’s haircut. His hair was parted on the side with a hint of bangs falling over his forehead. His hair was off his shoulders. He wore a casual sweater with a pair of matching black casual slacks.
“You look good Téa,” said Todd.
“So do you Todd. I’m not used to the haircut,” replied Téa.
“Susannah told me you agreed to the…” started Todd.
“…yeah, I agreed,” finished Téa.
“Why is everyone looking at us?” asked Todd.
Jeff looked at his desk quickly.
“I don’t know. Why is everyone looking at us?” asked Téa raising her voice. The office immediately became noisy and inquisitive eyes looked away.
“Do you have an office?” asked Todd.
“Yeah,” said Téa. Todd followed her into her office.
Téa paced in front of her desk, “It’s kinda messy. I haven’t had time to really arrange it the way I want.”
Todd paced in front of the door, “No – it’s good. You’ve changed Téa. I never figured you’d be the ADA type.”
Téa continued pacing, “You’ve changed too Todd. I never figured you’d cut your hair.”
Todd stopped abruptly and looked at Téa, “Look, Téa, I came here – to see if you wanted to do lunch…”
“Lunch?” asked Téa stopping abruptly to face Todd, “Sure. Yeah. I have no plans.”
“O.k. Where?” asked Todd.
“I don’t care Todd,” answered Téa. She began playing with her hands.
“The diner?”
“The diner is fine,” answered Téa.
“You’re nervous,” said Todd, “I am too.”
“How do you know?” asked Téa.
“You’re playing with your hands,” said Todd crossing his arms.
Téa stopped.
“You don’t wear your ring,” said Todd confidently.
“Well…it’s a painful reminder…of what happened…” explained Téa.
“But you didn’t divorce me?” pointed out Todd.
“No, I didn’t…I couldn’t…my heart wasn’t in it,” said Téa.
“You believe the DID was real, right?” asked Todd.
“Yeah, I do,” whispered Téa.
There was an awkward silence pause between them.
“Ah, we should get going…I’ve only got an hour for lunch…” said Téa.
“Sure, after all, we’ll have plenty of time to talk,” said Todd.
Téa grabbed her purse and Todd walked out beside her.

Boston, Massachusetts…
Blair Cramer followed Cameron Alton’s secretary into his office.
Cameron Alton was overlooking the harbor from his window. Slowly, he turned around. He wore a stylish business suit and had his hands in his pockets. He had blonde hair, fair skin, and cerulean blue eyes.
“Mr. Alton, Blair Cramer,” said the secretary making introductions. She left.
Cameron held out his hand and Blair shook it. She wore a business suit, carried a briefcase, and had a newspaper tucked under her arm.
“Thanks for seeing me on such short notice,’ said Blair smiling at him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. What can I do for you?” he asked.
“I’m the managing editor for a Pennsylvania newspaper, The Sun, and we’d like to do an exposé on you and your empire…” started Blair.
Cameron made a face, “I don’t know Miss Cramer. I’m personally kind of media shy…It’s a ‘Bill Gates’ thing…”
Just then the door to his office opened and a young girl walked in with a backpack over her shoulder. She covered her mouth as she let out a cough.
Blair’s mouth dropped. The girl had an uncanny resemblance to Téa.
“Samantha! I’m in a meeting!” said Cameron almost exasperated.
“I’m sorry Dad. I just don’t want to go home. Mom’s not there,” said Samantha walking up to her father. Cameron’s face softened and they exchanged a hug. Samantha appeared a bit pale to Blair, as if she was suffering from a cold.
“Samantha, this is Blair Cramer. Ms. Cramer, my daughter, Samantha,” said Cameron making introductions.
Samantha Alton approached Blair and held out her hand, “It’s nice to meet you Ms. Cramer.” Blair returned the handshake thinking of how polite the girl was, “It’s nice to meet you Samantha.”
Samantha turned to her father, “Is it o.k. if I do my homework by the window? I promise to be quiet Dad.”
Cameron made another face and then softened as if he’d given her permission before, “All right.”
Samantha sat down next to the window and pulled out some schoolbooks.
Again, she coughed. Blair tried not to stare.
Blair took out the copy of the Sun she held under her arm and handed it to Cameron.
“This is a copy of the Sun. The paper we’d run the articles of you in,” said Blair.
Cameron looked at the front page. The cover story was about the benefit the night before. Cameron opened the page. His mouth dropped. Blair looked over his shoulder. There was a picture of Téa next to all the other generous donators. The resemblance between Téa and Samantha was uncanny.
Samantha had Téa’s eyes, nose, and cheekbones…Anton’s mouth though. Cameron closed the paper and turned to his daughter.
“Samantha, wait outside,” he instructed.
“Dad?” questioned Samantha.
“Do it,” said Cameron firmly.
Samantha gathered her things and begrudgingly walked outside.
Cameron turned to Blair.
“This isn’t about writing an exposé. Tell me the real reason why you’re here,” said Cameron, his eyes on fire.
“You’re right, I lied,” said Blair up front.
Cameron was a bit surprised by her quick admission.
“Go on. How do you know this Tea Delgado?” asked Cameron. He pronounced her name “tee”.
“We don’t get along,” said Blair.
“This Tea – she’s Samantha’s biological mother – isn’t she?” said Cameron.
“Yes, she is,” answered Blair.
“So this is a game to you – to hurt my Samantha and this Tea Delgado?” spat out Cameron.
“No!” said Blair vehemently, “No. This is not a game. Granted, I’m not Téa Delgado’s biggest fan – but – I wouldn’t do anything to purposely hurt your girl. I was just curious – about what Téa’s daughter was like, that’s all.”
“Well, you’ve been surprisingly honest about everything else so I’ll just have to believe you for now,” said Cameron.
Just then the door opened and Cameron’s secretary ran in.
“Mr. Alton – it’s Samantha…”
“What?”
“She’s coughing up blood!”
Cameron and Blair bolted out of the office.
Samantha leaned up from over the trash can – her forehead in a cold sweat.
“Sweetie – what’s wrong?” asked Cameron putting his hands on his daughter’s arms, looking into her eyes.
“I don’t feel so well, Dad,” remarked Samantha.
“It’s this flu…” muttered Cameron.
Blair found some tissues and handed them to her. Samantha wiped her face. Blair’s smile helped to calm her. Cameron appreciated that.
“We’re going to the hospital – now. You’ve been sick for weeks…” muttered Cameron.
“I’m coming too,” insisted Blair.
Cameron glared at Blair.
“It’s o.k. Dad,” insisted Samantha, touched by Blair’s gesture.
Cameron picked up his daughter and walked out. Blair followed behind him.

TO BE CONTINUED