HAZY SHADE OF WINTER - PART FOUR

PREVIOUSLY

“My plans…are too painful to talk about right now,” she said. She tugged on her scarf.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…” he said.
“No biggie…I’d rather focus on other things in my life right now. Like work. Like spending time with the friends I do have…” she added.
“Sounds like good focus,” he added.
They got to the diner and he opened the door for her.
She looked inside and saw Blair talking to Nora…

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Late November, 1998…

Téa walked into the diner and frowned. She did not want to deal with Blair right now. Tim Lange walked in beside her. Téa went to the counter.
"How long have those two been there?" Téa asked Roseanne.
"A while," said Roseanne, "I'll get your sandwich."
Lange smiled at her, "Thanks."
Carlotta walked in with the mail and walked up to Téa, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure, excuse me a minute Tim," said Téa. Carlotta took Téa away from the counter.
"You have a letter," said Carlotta grimly.
"From Todd?" asked Téa.
"No. From him. From Anton," said Carlotta firmly.
"AnnaRosa's brother…" muttered Téa lowering her voice, AnnaRosa's Twin brother… "Why now? How did he find me?"
"I don't know, but we should not mention this to Roseanne, not yet," said Carlotta.
"I agree. Roseanne still holds me responsible for driving him away and causing the depression that contributed to her mother's suicide," added Téa.
"Tee!" came a little girl's cries.
Téa looked down and saw Starr running toward her, followed by her nanny.
Téa bent down and exchanged a hug with her stepdaughter.
"Sweetpea. How are you?" asked Téa.
"O.k. I just got out of school," said Starr.
Téa felt eyes glaring at her and looked up. Blair Cramer was standing over them watching Starr like a hawk.
Starr turned around and looked at Blair, "Hi, Mommy."
Blair picked up Starr, "Hi, Sweetie pie."
Starr turned to Téa, "Tee, have you heard from Daddy?"
"No, honey, I haven't," said Téa softly.
"Well, that's o.k. Maybe just you can take me camping again…" started Starr.
"Camping? You and Todd took Starr camping?" questioned Blair.
Téa did her best not to make a face in front of Starr.
"In the penthouse…" started Téa.
"The penthouse?" asked Blair.
"Yeah, Mommy… Tee got a tent and me and Daddy and Tee played camping with the bears…" explained Starr.
"Oh," said Blair.
Nora walked up behind Blair, "Téa, how's it going? I'm representing Blair now."
Téa looked at Nora, "I see. Well, I'll just have my lawyer contact you."
"And who would your lawyer be?" asked Blair.
"Sam," said Téa firmly.
Blair's face fell.
"We've got to go Starr," said Blair turning around.
"Bye, Tee…" said Starr waving at Téa.
"Bye Sweetpea…" said Téa softly.

That Evening…

Téa looked out her unlit apartment window into the dark Llanview night.
Roseanne was out. With Will or Cris or…what did it matter?
"Who did I just make love to Todd? You or Pete?"
"Delgado, now is not the time to be arguing…"
"I love you…Téa…"
"I want to be the kind of man you can love…"
She closed her eyes remembering Todd's lips on hers…his hands on her hips…
the room spinning…lost his eyes…
"I stopped running because of Todd.."
She walked away from the window.
"What am I going to do?"
The apartment was lit only by the moonlight from the window. She picked up the scented candle on the kitchen counter and lit it. Amazing she hadn't developed a phobia for candles and fire.
She walked over to her winter coat and pulled out the letter Carlotta gave her… from Anton. She didn't want to read it right now. Not with thoughts of Todd running through her head. She stared at the letter for the longest time and then put it back in her coat's pocket. She would read it… soon.

The Next Day…

Téa walked into her new law office. Sam was in the reception area picking up the mess.
"Hi, Téa, I'm interviewing paralegals today," said Sam.
"Just do me a favor," said Téa smiling.
"What?" asked Sam.
"No one named Georgie, all right?" she asked.
"You're on," said Sam.
"Nora is representing Blair," said Téa taking off her coat, "I told her my attorney would call her."
"Nora?" said Sam, "This could be ugly…"
"I know," said Téa.
"And just exactly does my client want?" asked Sam.
"Well, I've been thinking. Let's try a settlement negotiation before we go to court. Let's try…" started Téa.
"Téa,' interrupted Sam, "You sounded very hard about going to court yesterday, but today it sounds as if you might have softened a bit. Why?"
"I was thinking last night…just thinking… I still have every intention of going to court if the settlement negotiations don't work out…" answered Téa.
"O.k., what are we going to the table with?" asked Sam.
"Money. For not dragging her name through the mud. For avoiding a costly courtcase," offered Téa.
"Well, we'll see if they take the bait…" said Sam picking up the phone and dailing a few numbers.

That Afternoon…

Téa walked into Carlotta's diner all bundled up against the winter chill, carrying a few law books in her arm and sat down at the counter.
Carlotta joined her, "What's with the books?"
"I'm brushing up on my property law," said Téa smiling, "Got something hot?"
"Coffee?" asked Carlotta.
"How about some tea?" she asked putting the books on the counter.
Carlotta turned around and started preparing the hot drink.
Téa took out her notepad and started scribbling some notes.
Carlotta served her the tea. Téa took a sip.
"Did you read that letter?" asked Carlotta.
"No. I will soon. I promise," said Téa.
"Hello, Ladies," came a voice.
"Hi, Tim," said Téa.
"Hola," said Carlotta, "Your usual?"
"No, think I'll try something different today," he said, "Pastrami - on rye."
"Adventurous, aren't you?" asked Téa.
"I like to live life dangerously," he replied smiling.
"Ah…but I do," remarked Téa.
"By the way, how are those burns?" asked Lange.
"Almost healed," she replied, "I'm working on your friend's case right now."
"You are? What about your office? Don't you have one?" he asked.
"Yeah…I wanted to feel the hustle and bustle of life instead of the musty smells of a law library," she explained.
"Touché," said Tim, "I guess I do the same thing when I come here."
"Well, give me another day and tomorrow I'll got get an affidavit from your friend and we'll get the ball rolling," said Téa.
In walked John Sykes who made his way to the counter.
"Hello Councilor, Carlotta," he said.
"Hi, John," said Téa.
"Let me guess, your usual?" asked Carlotta.
He nodded his head.
In walked Asa Buchanan who made his way to the counter.
"You know, Téa – you and Manning sure do know how to throw a wedding. Loved that bit with the tape…" started Asa.
"Coffee, Asa?" asked Carlotta.
Téa frowned.
"…And where is Manning now? He left town and you attract all of Llanview's eligible young men…" goaded Asa.
Téa got up and in Asa's face, "Is there a point to this, Asa? What bug crawled up your ass? Your office declared a no-smoking zone?"
"You got spunk girl, I like that. I hear you're fixing to stick it to Blair…" he added.
"What's it to you?" asked Téa.
"Well, I can't stand that two bit hussy so I got a deal for you…" finished Asa.
"A deal? Me? Deal with you?" questioned Téa.
"Well, if you'll deal with the devil, you'll deal with me," said Asa smugly.
"Todd Manning is not the devil," said Téa firmly.
"You ready to listen?" asked Asa.
Téa raised an eyebrow.
Carlotta rested her face in her hand on the counter.
Sykes crossed his arms.
Lange just smiled.

TO BE CONTINUED