HAZY SHADE OF WINTER - PART SIX
PREVIOUSLY
"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.
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Angel Square Late November 1998…
It was ten a.m. in the morning and Téa Delgado Manning briskly walked down the street wearing a dark winter coat, a scarf, and carrying a briefcase. She walked up to a small run down house and knocked on the door.
She smiled as the old man opened the door, “Hi, Mr. Edwards,” she said.
“Come in Ms. M,” he said gesturing for her to enter.
Téa walked in and waited for him to close the door. Then she followed him through the hallway and living room into the kitchen. He put some water in a pot and began to boil the water on the stove.
“So, what’s the latest?” he asked.
Téa sat down at the kitchen table and put her briefcase on the table, “I’ve filed the affidavit and drafted a letter to the attorney representing your landlord telling him thatyour landlord no longer owns the property because of the Adverse Possession laws of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” explained Téa, “I wanted to run it by you to make sure it’s still what you want to do.”
“I trust you, Ms. M.,” he said, “I’m making water for tea. Want some?” “I’ll have a quick cup,” said Téa softly.
He went into the cupboard and pulled out some cups.
Téa briefly smiled.
He trusts me. This man barely knows me and he says he trusts me… “Why are you smiling Ms. M?” he asked reaching for some tea bags.
“No reason,” she replied, “Do you want me to go over this letter with you at least?”
“No,” he replied smiling at her, “You’re the professional.”
“You’re good for a girl’s ego, Mr. Edwards,” she replied.
The water came to a boil and he prepared their drinks. He passed her a cup and sat down across from her.
“Timmy seems to like you. He’s a good boy,” hinted Edwards.
“I hear he’s a good doctor,” said Téa trying to suppress a smile.
“He’s a good judge of character as well. That’s a nice scarf you have,” he mentioned.
“Thank you,” said Téa mildly.
“I got you a present, Delgado…”
“Did Timmy get you that scarf?” he asked.
“You’re doing that thing with the bug eyes again Delgado. Cut it out…” His smile was so warm as he looked into her eyes… the odor of fresh Christmas holly lingered in the air as he brushed her hair to the side so he could put the scarf around her neck…
“Ms. M?” came the man’s voice, bringing her back.
“Ah, no,” muttered Téa, “My, ah, husband did…”
“You’re married, Ms. M?” he asked mildly surprised.
“Yeah.”
“You don’t wear your rings?” he pointed out.
“No. I’m estranged,” muttered Téa, “And I haven’t made any decisions yet about what to do about it.”
“All right, Ms. M – now don’t you be leading my Timmy on…” he said sipping his tea.
“It’s very sweet, how you watch out for him,” remarked Téa sipping her drink, “Tim and I… are friends. Nothing more.”
“Do you have any kids, Ms. M?” he asked.
“Mr. Edwards you’re a pretty noisy guy,” remarked Téa.
“I have a granddaughter about your age. She’s in Boston,” he remarked.
Téa took a breath, “Ah, no, I’m not a mother.”
“If you weren’t married, you’d be a nice girl for my Timmy, he said forthrightly.
“Well, Thank you,” mumbled Téa, “Ah, maybe we should get back to business.”
“O.k., what now, Ms. M?” he asked.
“Well, I understand you’re supposed to be out by Tuesday? If there’s no response by then we’ll ask the court for a temporary injunction against the construction company and petition the court to legally recognize your ownership of the property,” said Téa, “Just remember, you’re my first Property law case.”
“Well, I guess that makes you my first property law lawyer,” he said.
“Mr. Edwards, I promise – you’ll get to keep your house. I haven’t lost a case yet,” replied Téa confidently.
That Afternoon, Sam and Téa’s Law office…
Sam’s conference room was spare and very legal looking with law books lining the shelves.
Sam and Téa sat on one side and Nora and Blair on the other.
“What are we waiting for?” demanded Blair.
“Me,” said Kelly walking into the room. Max Holden followed her in. Kelly held up a federal express envelope. It was unopened.
“Kelly, this is between me and Téa,” stated Blair.
Kelly pulled out a piece of paper and read from it, “Look Kelly – don’t open this thing yet. Get Blair, Max, and Téa together and open it then. Todd.”
“Let me see that,” said Blair grabbing the paper out of Kelly’s hand. Max smiled. Téa and Sam looked at each other and raised their eyebrows. Nora peered over Blair’s shoulders.
“So, I’m going to open it…” started Kelly.
“Ahhhhh,” started Max, “Why don’t you let the lawyers open it?”
Kelly glared at Max, “Why?”
“Well, they have to be honest,” said Max slyly.
“Good idea,” said Blair.
“Sure,” said Téa.
Kelly handed the envelope over to Nora. Nora got up and walked over to Sam. Téa got up, crossed her arms, and walked over to the window watching Nora and Sam like a hawk.
“There’s a letter…” said Sam picking up a letter.
“Shares?” muttered Nora.
“Hang on,” said Sam handing Nora the letter, “Read the letter.”
“Blair. Max. Kelly. You’re all vultures – but I guess I owe you something…” started Nora.
“Mighty big of him,” remarked Max.
“…So, I’m giving you a percent of the Sun…” continued Nora.
Téa’s mouth dropped.
“Blair, you and Kelly get twenty percent each. Max you get five…” continued Nora.
“Only FIVE?” exclaimed Max. “Where’s the other fifty-five?” asked Blair.
“…But I don’t trust any of you to make any of those really smart decisions… but… I trust Téa…” Nora paused.
Téa closed her eyes briefly.
“I want to trust you Delgado but you’re making a fool out of me… You go ahead… You make a fool out of me…”
“…My wife. And as long as she is my wife, she’s got controlling interest over all you bozo’s – the remaining fifty-five percent. Téa’s the boss.
That’s final. Todd.” finished Nora.
Sam passed out the shares.
“Now what?” asked Blair.
“Ask your boss,” said Sam snidely.
Blair glared at Téa, “You don’t know anything about running a newspaper, Téa. I do.”
Téa just stood there, arms crossed, leaning up alongside the window.
“You’ve got a few decisions to make Téa, what are you going to do?” asked Sam.
Téa didn’t budge from her cold stance.
“How can I even rely on my own judgement again? I should hand my life to someone else… let them remember my PIN number…” “Téa’s going to fire me, aren’t you?” demanded Blair.
“No, I’m not going to fire you,” said Téa, her voice cold as ice, “The paper needs stability right now and you’re it.”
“How generous of you,” Blair remarked.
“Besides, my step-daughter’s mother needs a job to support... my step-daughter,” added Téa in a cold, hard voice.
“Why you!” Blair lunged for Téa but Nora grabbed Blair’s arm.
“How do I fit in?” asked Kelly.
“You and Blair will share the position of Managing Editor. I’ll be listed as the publisher. You’ll be co-managing editors – with equal weight,” said Téa, not flinching.
“How do I fit in?” asked Max.
“How do you want to fit in, Max?” asked Téa dryly, “Don’t you have a club to run?”
“I guess I do. I’ll get back to you,” answered Max.
“Do that,” said Téa.
“Well, at least we don’t have to go to court,” said Nora smiling.
Téa realized all eyes were on her.
“What are you looking at? Don’t you have jobs? A paper to run?” questioned Téa.
“Téa, we should talk,” said Kelly.
“Later, Kelly,” said Téa.
“All right,” said Kelly. She turned around and left. Max, Blair, and Nora followed her.
“Téa, you haven’t budged from that stance,” said Sam.
Téa softened her hard stance and walked away from the window, “I couldn’t show them any weakness, Sam.”
Sam made a face, “Yeah… I guess I felt the same way…”
Téa went to the closed door, put her back against it and banged her head back against it, “Did I do the right thing, Sam? Did I make the right decisions?”
Sam walked up to her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. She tilted her head to face him.
“Only time will tell, Téa…” he replied softly.
“Sam, I don’t know…” Téa drifted off.
“You too, huh…” he replied.
That evening, Téa’s apartment…
Téa sat on the couch. Her feet on her coffee table as she tried to write a brief. Roseanne had on the stereo and was writing a letter.
Téa couldn’t focus. She looked up at Roseanne. She had hair like AnnaRosa…like Anton…
She found herself thinking of Anton a lot since receiving his letter.
Anton had taken her to Ellis Island and was sketching her as they looked out over the water. It was April break, her senior year of high school.
The air was brisk and the wind vibrant.
“What do you want the most out of life?” asked Anton as he sat close to her, sketching…
“I don’t know Anton…”
It was silent between them. Anton paused and stared into her eyes.
Téa was very physically attracted to him. Like no other man before him…
“Anton, you’re ten years older than me. I don’t understand…why you want to be with me?” she said softly.
“The cards say will be lovers and the cards are never wrong. Besides, I find you fascinating, Téa Delgado – in more ways than one…” he replied.
“I’m a kid to you Anton…” she added, insecure in her demeanor.
Anton put his sketch aside.
“Do you not think like I do? Do you not feel like I do?” he questioned, finding her eyes.
“I don’t know…”
He took his hand, placing it on her neck, rubbing it gently then pulling her into him, sharing a passionate, open mouth kiss…
“Now tell me you do not feel like I do right now…”
She paused.
“I want so much Anton…so much more from life…I have dreams…” she said.
“What? So much more than I give you? I offer you love you have never known,” he asked.
“Anton, I want to be a lawyer. I want to have a successful career…I want to be rich…”
“Will that make you happy in your heart? Are those truly your dreams?” he questioned.
The fresh sea breeze filtered through her nose.
“What about love?” he asked.
“Maybe that too. I want it all Anton,” she laughed.
“Soon you will have a decision to make…to let love into your life or to harden your heart…” he cryptically remarked.
She stared at him…at how attractive he was…not knowing what to think as the wind blew through her hair.
There was a knock on the door. Roseanne answered it. It was a messenger. Roseanne closed the door and opened the message.
“What is it?” asked Téa.
“An invitation to a masked ball that Dorian is throwing in a week,” replied Roseanne.
Téa raised an eyebrow, “I don’t know… I’m not in a party mood.”
“It will be fun. You need to get out…” said Roseanne.
Téa frowned.
TO BE CONTINUED
