HAZY SHADE OF WINTER - PART SEVEN
PREVIOUSLY
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.
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December 1998… Carlotta's Diner…
Téa walked into Carlotta's Diner and approached the counter. She took off her winter coat and scarf and sat down next to Dr. Tim Lange who was eating a sandwich. Carlotta turned to face her.
"Hi Tim. Hi Carlotta," said Téa.
"Hi Téa," said Tim turning to face her.
"Hi," said Carlotta, "Coffee?"
"Sure," said Téa, "Were is Roseanne?"
"Believe it or not, she went to down to Llanview U to file her tuition assistance forms and register for classes starting in January," explained Carlotta.
Téa took a sip of her coffee, "I was wondering when she was going to get around to that."
"Well, Mr. Edwards was glad to hear that his house is now his. He's glad you saved it for him. I guess you could say he's your number one fan," said Tim Lange.
"I'm glad I could help him," said Téa smiling, "You know he looks out for you too."
"Oh, I know," he said smiling, "He warned me you were married."
Téa allowed herself a small laugh, "He told me not to lead you on."
There was a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and found a young man staring at her.
"Are you the lawyer who's working for free in Angel Square?" he asked. He wore a pair of leather pants and a leather jacket over a white t-shirt. He wore his hair greased back and he was of Hispanic descent.
"And you are…?" questioned Téa.
Carlotta and Tim looked on in amusement.
"Alberto Alverez," he replied, hands in his pockets.
"Téa Delgado. Ah, Manning," she replied.
"So you're the freebee lawyer?" he asked again.
"Yeah," she replied.
"I got a case for you," he said.
"You do?" she inquired trying hard not to chuckle.
"Yeah, my younger brother, Georges, he was hanging with his homies, Manny and Tonio when they robbed a bodega and then the cops busted them. Now Georges, he didn't do it. He was just there…" explained Alberto.
"Right. And he needs a lawyer and he can't afford one and he thinks his public defender stinks," said Téa.
"Right," said Alberto in a confirmation tone of voice.
"How old is Georges?" asked Téa.
"Nineteen," said Alberto.
"Is he at the Llanview jail?" asked Téa.
"Yeah," replied Alberto.
"O.k., I'll go see him and talk to him later on today," said Téa.
"But… are you going to take his case?" asked Alberto.
"Not until I talk to him," replied Téa.
"Oh," said Alberto.
"Tell me Alberto, does your brother believe in taking responsibility for his actions?" asked Téa, her voice becoming serious.
"Huh? Why do you ask?" questioned Alberto.
"Because it's something I believe in. And it's something I just recently came to believe in," said Téa, her voice sounding detached.
"I'll tell him you're coming," said Alberto leaving.
Téa turned to face Tim and Carlotta who had smiles on their faces.
"Well done, Counselor," said Tim.
"I have my moments," said Téa.
Tim got up and put on his coat, "Well, duty calls."
"Have a nice day, Tim," said Téa.
"You too. Bye," he said walking out.
"Adios," said Carlotta.
Téa took another sip of coffee and faced Carlotta.
"He's a nice man," said Carlotta.
Téa closed her eyes, "Carlotta, I don't…I don't need…a man…I don't want…a man…right now."
"I know you don't," said Carlotta softly.
There was a pause.
"Did you read Anton's letter?" asked Carlotta.
She opened her eyes and looked at Carlotta, "I did."
"What did he want?" asked Carlotta.
Téa smiled briefly, "He said the cards told him we would be lovers again."
"Wow," said Carlotta softly, "I know what he was… what he met… to you."
"My first love," said Téa wistfully.
"He was more than that," replied Carlotta.
Roseanne Delgado walked in but Téa and Carlotta did not notice.
"I won't lie, Carlotta. I loved Anton de la Rocha. My affair with him was passionate and it almost consumed me," said Téa.
"Like your affair with Todd?" questioned Carlotta.
"What I feel for Todd and what I feel for Anton are two different emotions," said Téa.
"Can you be sure of that? Your love for Todd almost consumed you too," remarked Carlotta.
"Carlotta, trust me," answered Téa.
"Your mother had an affair you know. That's why she left your father. That affair consumed her. For her, it was a passionate affair of the heart, like Anton…like Todd…were for you," said Carlotta.
Téa paused, "I know. With my step-brother, Enrique."
Roseanne's eyes grew wide…it couldn't be true! Téa's mother and her father?!
She walked up to Téa and Carlotta.
"So, what's going on?" asked Roseanne.
Téa and Carlotta paused, wondering how much Roseanne had overheard. "Well," said Téa hesitantly, "I might have a new case. Did you take care of your fianical aid and winter registration?"
"I did," replied Roseanne.
There was a moment of silence between them.
"Good. Good," said Téa softly.
Roseanne walked behind the counter. Téa slowly smiled at her niece.
Dorian's House The Masked Ball December 1998
Roseanne and Téa arrived at Dorian's ball. Dorian sneered at them. Téa wondered why Dorian invited them in the first place. Blair was in a corner talking to Max. Roseanne had arrived as Pocahontas and Téa was wearing the costume of a traditional Hungarian gypsy.
Téa didn't feel very sociable. She grabbed a drink and found a corner to hide in, watching everyone else. She kept on eye on her niece, Roseanne who appeared very affectionate with Will Rappaport. Jessie had eloped with Cris, but Roseanne's words about Cristan haunted her, "He's my soulmate…"
"Todd's my soulmate…"
Téa noticed several couples. Bo and Nora. Jessie and Cris. Dorian and Mel.
"Mr. and Mrs. Todd and Téa Manning…"
"Téa, nice costume," said Sam standing in front of her. She hadn't even noticed him. Téa looked up. Sam was dressed as a Christmas elf.
"Original Sam," remarked Téa.
"Well, I just couldn't think of anything else," said Sam. He raised his drink to hers and they clinked glasses, "That's an interesting costume? What are you? Esmeldra? Rhinnon?"
"Try a gypsy," she replied allowing her a slight smile.
"Hidden message, Téa?" asked Sam, "A girl with no roots trying to find her way in the world?"
"Hadn't thought of that Sam," said Téa, "Maybe…"
"You should be more social. I bet you're one hell of a dancer," he commented trying to lighten the mood.
"I don't feel much like being social. I'm surprised you do," replied Téa, "So, what's Dorian's occasion anyway?"
"Dorian's showcasing a new artist for her gallery," remarked Sam, "Will you cheer up? It's a party after all!"
Téa frowned. On purpose.
A man approached her. He was an older man, slender build. He was dressed as prince and he wore a mask. There was something haughtingly familiar about him. He held out his hand like he did all those years ago. Sam's eyes darted from the prince to the gypsy, back to the prince.
Téa nodded her head, 'no'.
"I will not take no for an answer," the prince said.
She knew that voice.
"Go ahead Téa. It's just a dance. With a stranger," said Sam.
Téa frowned a serious frown at Sam and turned to the prince. Slowly, she offered him her hand and he took it, escorting her to the dance floor. He took her into his arms and held her close as they danced.
"You're beautiful, Téa," he said.
"You're as charming as ever, Anton," she replied.
He smiled at her, "You got my letter, then?"
"I did. But I don't believe it," replied Téa smiling.
"Why not? The cards don't lie," he said.
"I'm married, Anton," said Téa guardingly.
"And where is the man of your dreams now, Téa? Right now, this minute, you are not in his arms, you are in mine," said Anton guiding her across the dance floor.
"Touché," said Téa.
There was silence between them.
"Why now Anton? Why have you come back into my life now?" asked Téa.
"You have a secret you need to tell me…" he said lightly but seriously.
"It's all been said and done between us, Anton…" replied Téa.
"Not quite. I do not know what your secret is but I will find out…" he said finding her eyes. She looked away.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of…"
He slowed down the pace of the dance until they had come to a stop. Dancers swirled around them. The music loud and distracting. He took his hand and titled her chin so her eyes met his. He leaned into her so as to kiss her but she surprised him by raising her free hand and stopping him.
"No, Anton. I don't want to kiss you," she said softly.
"You surprise me, Téa," he said gently backing away from her lips.
he saw Todd's lips on hers…his soft sensual lips…his fingers intertwined with hers…his shirt open…his chest hair against her body…his lips on her neck…
Their wedding night…the only time they had made love…physically…sharing their hearts and their bodies…
"Anton…" she said.
"You think of him," said Anton.
She nodded her head.
"And you love him despite all that has occurred between you," stated Anton.
She didn't answer him.
"You need time and I will give you that…" replied Anton, "But I am here now…and he is not."
Anton parted from her and walked away leaving Téa standing alone, once again, surrounded by dancers having fun.
That Evening… Téa's apartment…
Roseanne and Téa walked into their apartment.
"You've been uncharacterically quiet," remarked Téa flipping on the light. Roseanne took off her coat and hung it up, "Uncle Anton is back. He danced with me."
Téa took off her coat and hung it up as well, "I know."
"I saw you two dance with each other. I saw how he wanted to kiss you," remarked Roseanne, "He couldn't keep his eyes off you during the whole party."
"I know that too," said Téa flopping down on the couch and rubbing her eyes.
"Are you going to get involved with him again?" asked Roseanne sitting down in a chair opposite Téa.
"I don't want to get involved with any man right now, Roseanne," replied Téa. She let her head flop back on the couch.
"I need to ask you about something I overheard," said Roseanne in a serious tone of voice.
Téa looked at her niece, "Sure. What?"
"Is it true your mother and my father had an affair?" asked Roseanne point blank.
"You overheard Carlotta and I?" questioned Téa.
Roseanne nodded her head.
"It's true," confirmed Téa.
"I see," said Roseanne.
There was silence between them.
"That's upset you," said Téa.
"A lot of things upset me but yeah, that does. And seeing you with Uncle Anton again, dancing…" started Roseanne.
"What? What Anton and I had was over a long time ago," said Téa firmly.
"I saw how he looked at you tonight," said Roseanne.
"But I'm older now," said Téa.
"But are you wiser?" asked Roseanne standing up.
"I don't know," said Téa honestly.
Roseanne frowned, "I'm going to bed. Good night."
"Night," said Téa watching her niece walk out of the room.
"Damn you Todd!"
The DID is real…He's in a clinic in Switzerland…
"Téa, I want you to be happy…"
"You make me happy, Todd…"
Téa took a breath and let it out slowly as she put her feet on the coffee table. It was going to be a long night.
TO BE CONTINUED
