HAZY SHADE OF WINTER - PART FIVE
PREVIOUSLY
"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.
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Late November 1998
Carlotta's Diner…
"Well?" said Téa. Her voice was hard.
"I'll help you stick it to Blair…" started Asa.
"In exchange for…?"
"You come to work for Buchanan Enterprises. I need a cold hearted, tough as nails attorney to get things done," finished Asa.
Téa didn't react.
Carlotta raised an eyebrow.
Sykes just stared at Asa.
Lange reached for his coffee.
"No, Asa," said Téa firmly.
"What? You're not even going to think about my proposal?" questioned Asa.
"I refuse to be bought," said Téa.
"Didn't Manning buy you?" shot back Asa.
"My…relationship…with Todd is none of your business," said Téa crossing her arms.
"Think about it Ms. Delgado," said Asa turning his back on her. He walked to the door and stopped. Slowly he turned to face her before opening the door, "Or, do you go by Mrs. Manning now?"
Téa sneered at him.
Asa walked out.
Téa turned to Carlotta – her eyes burning…
"What does he mean? Manning bought you?" asked Sykes.
"Do not even presume to talk to me about Todd. I have no desire to talk about Todd with anyone…" said Téa reaching for her coat and law books.
"I didn't mean…" stuttered Sykes.
Téa glared at him and then quickly left. Carlotta reached for her coat and followed Téa out the door.
Carlotta found Téa leaning against her car, clutching her books. "Are you all right?" asked Carlotta.
"No, Carlotta – I'm not all right. My future just fell through my hands – my hopes – my dreams – kicked to a curb and I'm numb. I'm emotionally numb and I don't know if I can ever allow myself to feel again…" said Téa bitterly.
Carlotta put her hands around Téa, "Don't say that. Now is not the time to harden your heart…"
"Why not?" cried Téa through her tears, "I am THROUGH letting the people I care the most about hurt me!"
"You've needed to cry like this for a very long time now…" said Carlotta softly.
"How could Todd…" muttered Téa, "I didn't want to let him in Carlotta… I didn't want… to fall in love with him…"
Carlotta held the young woman tight.
The Next Day…
Téa walked into the Banner dressed in a power suit, carrying a briefcase.
No one appeared to notice her. She walked up to Viki's office and knocked on the door.
"Come in," came Viki's voice.
Téa walked in.
"Téa, it's good to see you," said Viki. She gave her sister-in-law an affectionate hug and Téa returned it.
Téa put her briefcase down and unbuttoned her coat, "I got your message Viki. What's up?"
"How are you doing? How are you holding up?" asked Viki.
"All right. Why do you ask?" asked Téa.
"I heard from Todd…" started Viki.
"Oh," replied Téa.
"His therapist seems to feel his case of DID is full blown but if he works hard enough… he'll get well…" said Viki.
"I see," said Téa looking at the ground.
"Téa… he wants to get well – for you – and for Starr…" said Viki.
"Viki – I just don't know what to think or even feel right now…" replied Téa.
Viki picked up a letter, "He sent this for you…"
"Another letter? Why?" she asked.
"I don't know," said Viki.
"Read it to me," said Téa.
"You don't want to read it yourself?" asked Viki.
"No," replied Téa.
Viki opened the letter up and paused.
"Forgive me," she read.
"Go on," said Téa.
"That's all it says. He sent me a letter with the same phrase," said Viki.
Téa let out a sigh, "If I wanted to – how do I do that?"
"The DID is real, Téa. Remember that… and start from there…" said Viki.
"Yeah… the DID is real…" said Téa softly.
The Law Office…
"This place is shaping up," said Téa walking into Sam's office.
"Yeah – well," said Sam smiling, "Did you met the new paralegal out there?"
"Sure did. Barry… I think he said his name was," she remarked sitting down in a chair across from him.
"I heard back from Nora today. The negotiations are tomorrow… is that all right?" asked Sam.
"Where at?" asked Téa.
"Here. We've got home field advantage," said Sam, "But…"
"But, what?" asked Téa.
"I just got off the phone with Kelly Cramer who is requesting to sit in on the negotiations," said Sam.
"Kelly?" questioned Téa, "I wonder why?"
"She says Todd gave her an interesting document… one that might effect these negotiations," added Sam.
"Now my curiosity is peaked," replied Téa, "Any idea as to the contents?"
"None," said Sam.
"Well, I don't see why not. This might be interesting…" said Téa, "Blair and Kelly don't get along very well, do they?"
"No, I don't think they do," remarked Sam, "Téa, if you want full control of the Sun, I'll get that for you."
"Sam, I'm not quite sure what I want but I do know this. NO ONE is going to make a fool out of me ever again. No one. Not Asa Buchanan. Not Blair Cramer. No one," said Téa icily.
That night…
Téa sat in her apartment. Alone. Again. The apartment was dark – lit only by candlelight. This was supposed to be the happiest time of her life.
Instead, it was pretty bleak.
In her hands, she held Carlotta's letter from Anton. Anton de la Rocha. AnnaRosa's twin brother. Anton with his deep, soulful eyes… his long flowing hair… his handsome features…
…it was a wedding… the music was loud, there was a lot to drink… the food was homemade and plentiful… and 17 year old Téa Delgado stood in the corner of the room, not wanting to get involved… admiring her older brother, José as he charmed dance out of dance from several unsuspecting girls.
She was not as outgoing as her older brother.
There was a tap on her shoulder.
She turned around.
She was stunned to observe the most attractive man she'd ever seen in her life. He was tall, his hair was dark, almost black, his eyes – so expressive – he stood confident and firm, and without saying a word offered his hand to her and motioned for the dance floor.
She nodded her head, 'no' more out of shyness than anything…
"I will not take no for an answer…"
Hesitantly, she extended her hand and he took it in his, escorting her to the dance floor. And as they danced, he held her tightly in his arms, firmly in his gaze.
She wanted the dance to last forever.. in the arms of the mysterious, attractive man…
"My name is Anton. Anton de la Rocha," he said as he held her close.
"I'm…"
"I know who you are, Téa Delgado," he replied.
She bit her lip. The man knew her name before she even told him.
There was silence between them again and slowly the music faded away.
Another song started but Anton did not begin dancing. They just stood there facing one another, as couples danced around them.
He took her hand and brought it to his lips – lightly kissing it. She couldn't help but stare into his eyes, knowing she was blushing.
"We are destined to be lovers…" he said passionately.
Her mouth dropped and her eyes grew wide.
He let her hand fall and slowly walked away.
She stared after him – not knowing what to make of his cryptic remark.
She opened the letter and read it in the candlelight.
I will be in Llanview soon. And I will see you again for the cards tell me we will be lovers again…
She took a deep breath. No Anton. I don't believe in the cards anymore.
The door opened a light turned on. Roseanne walked through the door.
Téa folded her letter and looked up.
"Is this healthy?" asked Roseanne walking in and sitting down in a chair across from her aunt.
"I'm fine," said Téa nonchantantly.
"Who's the letter from?" asked Roseanne.
"No one," said Téa.
"Todd?" questioned Roseanne.
"No, it's not from Todd," replied Téa, "So, ah, coming from Carlotta's?"
"You're changing the subject," said Roseanne.
"I suppose I am," said Téa getting up, "Have you thought about what electives you were going to take in January?"
"No," said Roseanne, "Are you sure you're all right?"
"Just lost in a memory, that's all…" said Téa wistfully.
TO BE CONTINUED
