Previously...

“Yes, sweetie, August 2nd is your real birthday,” confirmed Téa. She was lost in her daughter’s eyes, and suddenly flooded with emotion. Téa struggled to fight back tears.

“Where’s Todd?” asked Cameron.

Téa and Samantha looked at Cameron.

“Téa’s husband is right here,” said Todd standing over the booth. His arms were crossed. His face was hard and cold as he looked into his nemesis’s eye’s.

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Carlotta’s Diner…

“Well,” said Cameron with a devious grin, “Téa’s part time husband finally shows up.”

Todd sneered, “Don’t the three of you make a cozy picture of domestic bliss. Cameron the devoted daddy, Samantha the perfect daughter and Téa, mother of the year.”

Samantha’s eyes grew wide with shock and Téa flew out of the seat and got in Todd’s face.

“Don’t do this Todd! Not in front of Samantha!” yelled Téa.

“Don’t do what?! Your little girl is pretty smart Téa or don’t you think she’s caught on to your little affair with Cameron?!”

“Todd shut up! You’re letting your jealously say things you don’t mean!!” said Téa frantically. Todd grabbed Téa’s arm.

Cameron shot up out of the booth.

“Do you care Todd? Do you care about us or not?” asked Téa bravely.

“Let go of her now!” demanded Cameron.

Todd looked into his wife’s eyes full of courage.

“Go away rich boy!” yelled Todd.

“Stop it!” came a voice. Everyone looked at Samantha who had gotten out of the booth and looked downright upset.

“Is it true Dad? Are you having a affair with my mother?!” demanded Samantha.

“Samantha, your mother and I…”

“You are, aren’t you?!” she said, shocked.

“Samantha,” said Téa looking into her eyes, “I’m not perfect. I’m not. God, I’m a mess but I love my husband. I love Todd…!” tears began to flow out her eyes and suddenly the roles were reversed. Suddenly it was Téa looking into her mother’s eyes searching for the love and comfort she desperately needed as a child.

Todd, moved by Téa’s sincerity, dropped his hand.

“I have done nothing to ruin your mother’s marriage,” said Cameron, his voice full of authority.

Todd felt contrite. He softened his facial expression, “Look Samantha, Téa’s right. I’m letting…my jealously…get the better of me. See, I’m…crazy about Téa…your mother…”

Samantha’s eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms. She looked up into her mother’s face, “Tell me the truth mother.”

Téa swallowed, “The truth?” she whispered bending down to look her daughter in the eye knowing that Samantha would feel the truth in her body language, “The truth? The truth is when I was just a little girl a few years younger than you I looked into my own mother’s eyes and I wanted the truth to my question…and to this day I still don’t know if she told me the truth. And I don’t want you to look into my eyes and ever doubt…like I did. Dios, I’m feeling and seeing so much right now…Samantha, I am not having an affair with your father but I do care for him and I don’t know why. I don’t know if it’s because I respect him and admire him because of his unconditional love for you or because I just like him for him…” she paused and looked up into Todd’s eyes, “But I love my husband and recently I hurt him. I did. I caused him to doubt my love for him. I gave him a reason to question his trust in me and I can’t take it back. I don’t even know if I can convince him I’m sorry…” she paused and took another deep breath, “But I am sorry.”

Samantha looked at her mother and immediately had a million questions for her but she didn’t doubt the sincerity or the honesty of her words.

“What did you do?” asked Samantha.

“I kissed your father,” said Téa swallowing.

“I don’t get it,” said Samantha.

“Neither do I,” said Téa. She stood up.

“Well, Todd?”

“I’m sorry. I never should have aired our dirty laundry in front of your little girl,” he said honestly, “What you said about looking into your mother’s eyes…”

Téa turned her head and began sobbing, “I don’t want to talk about my mother. She’s not here and I am not going to screw things like she did…”

“Téa…what about your mother…?” asked Cameron sensitively.

“I can’t do this…” she cried walking out of the diner. She brushed past Roseanne while Roseanne was walking in. Roseanne said nothing and looked up at Cameron, Samantha, and Todd, who all looked confused.

“What is going on? Why is Téa upset?” asked Roseanne crossing her arms.

Samantha looked at Roseanne, “ I want to talk to my mother alone Roseanne. Will you help me find her?”

“Sure Sam. Now?” asked Roseanne.

“Now,” said Samantha and she looked at her father with a look very reminiscent of Téa’s look of determination, “And don’t say no Dad.”

Cameron knew it was a losing battle, “Just bring Samantha home when you’re done.”

“I will,” said Roseanne. Roseanne and Samantha left. Both Todd and Cameron had questions about Téa’s past and mother they wanted answered.

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The Park

Téa sat on a park bench crying, wiping her tears on her sleeve for lack of a tissue. What a mess. And now Samantha knew – truly knew what a lousy mother she really was.

“What is wrong?”

Téa looked up. Anton de la Rocha looked at her softly. Sympathically.

“Oh, I’ve just made another mess in my life. If it isn’t one mess it’s another. I just can’t seem to catch a break Anton,” Téa said through tears.

Anton sat down next to her and took her hand, “Tell me. Maybe I can help.”

“You can’t. Only I can fix my mess and I don’t know how,” said Téa beginning to compose herself.

“I can listen…” he suggested, “Just listen.”

Téa paused, “Yes, Anton you could do that.”

“I’m attracted to Cameron at least…I dunno…I am attracted to him on some level Anton, and this past weekend Samantha’s horse died so I tried to comfort him and we ended up kissing and then I felt guilty and told Todd. Todd is furious and to make it worse I see Cameron wherever I go. And now…thanks to a jealous fit by Todd Samantha knows about me and Cameron. And I saw how hurt she was in her eyes Anton, and she knows…she knows know I’m not cut out for motherhood…!” said Téa feeling the tears welling up again.

“I see,” said Anton. He paused not really knowing what to say.

“Anton…I just want the madness to stop,” said Téa.

“Take charge Téa,” said Anton.

“How? How can I make Todd realize I goofed up? How can I make him trust me again…? How can I repair Samantha’s faith in me?” questioned Téa.

Anton made a face, “He is hurt. I would be hurt as well. But if he loves you, he will find a way to let you know he wants to forgive you…”

“Todd doesn’t forgive…” whispered Téa.

Anton shrugged his shoulders, “He might surprise you.”

“It’s not just Todd. I’ve hurt Samantha too. I’ve disappointed her. She believed in Todd and me. Anton, I don’t want her to know…”

“Know what Téa?” asked Anton seriously.

Unbeknownst to Téa and Anton, Roseanne and Samantha had spotted them on the bench talking. Samantha wanted to go to them but Roseanne held her back. They remained in hearing distance hidden behind tall shrubs. “You?”

“As a little girl, thinking about how I must have disappointed my own mother…Anton…I’m a lousy mother. I am…” she broke down and cried. Anton took her into his arms.

“Neither one of us were ready for parenthood all those years ago. But Téa…I have seen you with Samantha and you two click,” said Anton, “You are a good mother.”

Téa held her head up, “I don’t want to hurt her Anton and I did that today.”

Roseanne and Samantha walked up startling Téa and Anton. Samantha stared at Téa. Just stared at her and Téa realized it was up to her as an adult to provide her daughter some reassurance.

“C’Mere Sweetie…” said Téa holding out her arms. Samantha ran into Téa’s arms and they both cried.

“It’s okay sweetie. I’m sorry. I will make it right. I promise…” she whispered.

“I believe you,” replied Samantha.

And suddenly in that moment Téa knew she had the strength to make everything right.

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Bo & Nora’s house…

Todd walked up to the door pounding on it, looking for his therapist, Susannah Hannen. Nora opened the door.

“My sister is insane, giving you therapy,” said Nora.

Todd smiled, “Happy Holidays Nora,” he joked, “Susannah here?”

Susannah walked up behind Nora, “What’s up Todd?”

“We gotta’ talk,” said Todd.

Susannah walked outside and joined Todd, “What’s up Todd?”

“Téa took a pregnancy test. We’ll find out the results tomorrow,” he said crossing his arms.

“Where do you and Téa stand?” asked Susannah.

“I screwed up. I had a jealous temper tantrum in front of her and her kid today. I don’t know where she went but if she’s pregnant…” he started.

“If she is?” questioned Susannah.

“I’m going to try to…make it work Susannah. She said she’s sorry but I dunno…” he said looking at the ground suddenly upset.

“What if she’s not? Are you still going to try to make it work?” questioned Susannah.

“She’s made a fool out of me Susannah!” he protested.

“That’s not a yes or a no,” said Susannah.

Todd looked into his therapist eyes, “She said today she was sorry.”

“Did you believe her?”

“Her eyes don’t lie,” responded Todd.

“Yes or no Todd? Is your marriage worth it?” asked Susannah.

“Look Susannah if Téa tries…I’ll…I’ll try too,” said Todd, “Damn Susannah, I can’t get her out from under my skin.”

Susannah smiled at him, “Go with your gut Todd. Go with your gut.”

TO BE CONTINUED…

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