HAZY SHADE OF WINTER - PART EIGHT
PREVIOUSLY
"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.
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December 1998 The Sun…
Téa Delgado Manning paused in front of the Sun's doors. She wore a power suit and a winter coat. She took a deep breath and adjusted her scarf. After a brief pause she opened the doors and walked inside. As she walked through the newsroom, several reporters and admin staff stopped and looked at her. She continued walking and walked into Todd's old office – the office that Blair used. Blair, Max, and Kelly were inside arguing. As soon as Téa walked in they got quiet. Téa raised an eyebrow.
"Am I interrupting?" asked Téa putting down her briefcase on the couch inside the office.
"Ah no," said Kelly.
"Ah yes," said Blair crossing her arms.
Téa put her hands on her hips, "Max – what did I just interrupt?"
Max smiled at her, "We were just discussing the headline."
"O.k., Kelly, what do you want to go with?" asked Téa.
"Police close in on Drew Buchanan killer," said Kelly putting her hands on her hips.
Téa frowned, "Blair?"
"Potential police cover up in Buchanan murder," said Blair bluntly.
"I see," said Téa.
"Well?" asked Max.
"What's the gist of the article, Max?" asked Téa.
"Bo Buchanan accuses Sykes of covering up who really murdered Drew.
Evidence points to Sykes knowing who the real killer is…" said Max calmly.
"Go with Blair's headline," said Téa decisively.
Blair looked at Kelly and grinned. Kelly frowned. Max looked amused.
"Téa, your costume at Dorian's ball…was very…appealing…" said Max slyly.
"Max!" exclaimed Blair hitting him upside his shoulder.
"Trust me Max – I'm not your type," said Téa evenly.
Just then Starr and her nanny walked in.
"Want to do lunch sometime, Téa?" asked Max grinning.
"Tee!" exclaimed Starr running toward her stepmother.
Téa stooped down and she exchanged a warm hug with Starr. Téa picked the little girl up in her arms. Blair hovered over Starr and Téa.
"I've missed you Tee!" said Starr smiling at Téa.
"I've missed you too, Sweetpea," said Téa returning the smile.
"So Téa," said Blair, "Who was that prince you were dancing with at Dorian' s ball?"
"Were you dancing with Daddy Tee?" asked Starr, "Daddy's a prince…"
Téa frowned slightly, "No Sweetpea, I wasn't dancing with your Daddy. There was another prince at the ball."
"Don't you miss Daddy, Tee?" asked Starr, "I do."
"Do you Téa Marissa Delgado, take this man…" "I do."
Téa paused, "I'm sure your Daddy misses you too. Ah, unfortunately, I get going Sweetpea."
"Where do you have to go?" asked Starr.
"Ah, I have a client to meet at the jail," said Téa.
"Tee's very busy," said Blair holding out her arms.
Téa frowned and gave Starr to Blair. Blair and Starr smiled at each other.
Téa picked up her briefcase. Max walked up to her.
"C'Mon Téa, what do you say?" said Max, "Lunch? Tomorrow? At the country club?"
Téa allowed herself a slight smile, "Can you afford it?"
"Well, I know you can," said Max.
"Agh," said Téa, "Call me. I'll think about it."
Max smiled.
Téa frowned.
"Bye Tee!" said Starr, "I miss you!"
Blair sneered.
"I miss you too Sweetpea," said Téa waving at her stepdaughter. She walked out.
The Llanview jail…
Téa walked into the Llanview police station. She was all too familiar with the place. Commissioner John Sykes approached her.
"What brings you here counselor?" asked Sykes.
"My client, Georges Alverez," said Téa stoically.
"How are you doing Téa?" asked Sykes leering at her.
"I'm functioning. How about you?" asked Téa shifting her feet.
"All right," said Sykes.
"I heard your department is under scrutiny for Drew Buchanan's murder," said Téa softly.
"You heard right," whispered Sykes.
"Good luck to you John," replied Téa.
He reached out to touch her in his usual fashion but she backed away and walked off.
Téa walked into the client interview room. Alverez was all ready there.
"I didn't think you were going to make it," said Alverez sitting down at the table.
"I was detained. Your arraignment is this afternoon at one," said Téa.
"You believe me, don't you?" asked Alverez, "That I'm innocent?"
"You mean, you didn't know your buddies Manny and Tonio were going to pull a gun and rob that old man?" asked Téa crossing her arms.
"Yeah," said Georges.
"Frankly, I don't know what to believe. Usually, you know the people you hang with well – well enough to know what they're capable of," replied Téa. Alverez got up from his chair, "I swear to you, I did not know what they were planning!"
"You doth protest too much," said Téa, pushing him.
"Yeah well – maybe I'm not protesting enough for you. My brother said you were a good mouthpiece…" started Alverez glaring at her.
"So, I'm a mouthpiece now?" inquired Téa.
"My brother said you were rich," said Alverez.
"So? What does that have to do with anything?" questioned Téa.
Alverez made a face, "I didn't know what they were going to do."
"Listen up," said Téa firmly, "In order for me to give you the best defense I can – you need to be truthful with me."
"I am!" declared Alverez.
"I WILL NOT be made a fool of ever again," said Téa coldly, "Some two bit punk I barely know WILL NOT make a fool of me."
Alverez paused, "Yes…ma'am."
"Good," said Téa, "Do you have any suits?"
"No…ma'am," replied Alverez.
"I'll be back in an hour with a suit for you so you'll look presentable at your arraignment," said Téa lightening the tension in her voice.
Alverez put his hands in his pockets and looked at the ground.
"Thank you, ma'am…" said Alverez.
Téa left.
Later that afternoon, At the law offices of Rappaport and Delgado…
Téa knocked on Sam's office door.
"C'Mon in," said Sam.
Téa walked in and saw Sam staring out his window. He turned around.
"Hey, Counselor," said Sam.
"Back at you. This is a switch. Usually I'm the brooding, moody type who is caught staring out the window," said Téa lightly.
"How did your arraignment go?" asked Sam.
"We plead not guilty," said Téa crossing her arms, "What's bothering you Sam?"
"That same thing that's bothering you…" said Sam putting his hands in his pockets.
"Is the good Christmas elf nursing a broken heart?" asked Téa.
"That…and more…bright Hungarian gypsy," replied Sam. They smiled. "Sam, if you need an ear…someone to confide in…" started Téa.
"Back at you…" said Sam.
" I know what you're thinking but Todd Manning is not in my life. He's not here…" said Téa.
"Fine, I'll leave, but I will NEVER be out of your life…"
"Do you Thomas Todd take this woman to be your life, ah, wife…"
"And Blair Cramer isn't in mine," replied Sam.
Téa snapped out of her memory, "There's more though, that's bothering you… it isn't just Blair…"
"Yeah, there's something more – I'm just not ready to talk about it," said Sam, "But thanks for your offer. Maybe one day I'll take you up on it."
"Sure, Sam," said Téa.
"Have you given anymore thought about an annulment?" asked Sam.
Téa nodded her head, "I've given it some thought. I need to give it some more."
"All right, I won't push," said Sam.
"Thank you Sam," replied Téa.
That evening…
Téa put her key in her apartment's door to unlock it but it was all ready unlocked. Slowly, she opened the door.
"Roseanne?" called out Téa walking into her apartment. The only light in the apartment was the dim light coming from the kitchen. Candles burned on the living room coffee table. Anton walked out from the kitchen holding two glasses of wine.
"Roseanne is not here. I am," said Anton.
Téa flipped on the living room light in an attempt to destroy the atmosphere Anton had created, "Anton, I'm not in the mood."
Anton frowned and sat on the couch, "Roseanne told me your husband's name is Manning. Todd Manning. Yet you live here? Alone. With Roseanne?
Without…Todd?"
"Todd is sick Anton. He's in Switzerland trying to get well," said Téa starting to pace.
"Roseanne said it ended badly between you…" said Anton having a sip of wine. He put Téa's glass on the table.
"You don't know anything Anton," said Téa.
"Sit down," said Anton.
"Fine," said Téa sitting down in the chair across from Anton. Again, Anton frowned.
"I am not your enemy Téa," said Anton.
"Where's Roseanne?" asked Téa.
"She received a phone call from a Will Rappaport and had to leave," said Anton, "I've missed her. She certainly has grown into a quite a precocious young woman."
"Precocious is one way to describe Roseanne's attitude," said Téa relaxing. She reached for her glass of wine and took a sip.
"I see a lot of the Delgado blood in her," said Anton, "Maybe too much." "Are you really here to talk about Roseanne? Or do you want to discuss this supposed secret I have to tell you?" questioned Téa.
"I just want to be in your presence for now," said Anton.
"Lucky me," remarked Téa.
"Really, Téa, you should lighten up," replied Anton, "You're still as serious as I remember you."
"I'm a serious kind of girl," said Téa, "Besides what are you doing in town Anton?"
"Dorian Lord Hayes is showcasing my work at her art gallery," said Anton.
"Ugh. Big Momma Dorian…" muttered Téa, "Just as Todd would say."
"Again with this Todd. Téa, this man is not in your life," said Anton sipping his wine.
"Anton," said Téa, "He may not be in my life but I am married to him."
Anton got up and walked over to where Téa was sitting. He knelt down before her. His eyes found hers.
"I have never loved a woman as I have loved you," he whispered.
"My heart doesn't belong to you anymore Anton," replied Téa.
He reached up and cupped her cheek in the palm of his hand. She didn't know why she let him. She hadn't wanted any man to touch her since Todd.
Since she'd been intimate with Todd.
"My heart is still yours," said Anton.
"Don't, Anton. Don't presume to think you can touch me like that," whispered Téa, her eyes cold.
"What's going on?" asked Roseanne walking in. She put her hands on her hips.
Anton stood up, "Nothing. Your Aunt had just told me to leave."
Téa stood up as well.
"She did?" questioned Roseanne.
Anton walked over to his niece, "Tomorrow I will come by. We will go Christmas shopping."
"I'd like that," said Roseanne.
"Good. You have your father's eyes," said Anton. Then he turned to Téa, "Good night Téa. I will see you again. Soon."
"Good night Anton," replied Téa.
Anton left.
Roseanne frowned, "What did I interrupt?"
"Nothing," said Téa, "Nothing."
"I don't like whatever is between you," said Roseanne crossing her arms.
"There is nothing between us," replied Téa.
"If you chase Uncle Anton away again I will never forgive you," said Roseanne sneering at Téa and walking off to her room.
Téa's eyes found the living room window and she began to stare out of it.
TO BE CONTINUED
