Previously...

“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.”

***********************************************************************************************************

Later that night,
The Alton Mansion…

After the diner, Cameron Alton went home, a man with a mission, totally curious about Téa’s past, Téa’s family, and specifically Téa’s mother. He got on the phone in his study and began barking out orders instructing private investigators to find out everything they could about Anna Delgado. Once that was done he tried to work, looking over finanical documents but he couldn’t keep his mind focused. He was so hung up on Téa, he shoved work aside and began to pace. What in the hell was he going to do about his feelings?

A small picture of his dead wife, Susan, was on his desk. He paused and looked at it softly.

“I didn’t ask for this,” he said addressing the picture, “Samantha’s birth mother is driving me crazy. Ever since I first laid eyes on her I’ve wanted her. What do I do? What do I do now?”

His email program dinged, indicating he had an email. Quickly, he printed it out. It was from a private investigator and it contained a brief history of Anna Delgado’s life.

Suddenly there was a loud banging on the door and Cameron knew who it was. He walked out of his study with his email in his hand and saw Todd Manning giving his butler a hard time.

“I’ll handle this,” said Cameron. His butler left, once again leaving Cameron and Todd alone, two predatory lions, each waiting for the other to pounce.

Cameron stood in front of Todd, his sleeves rolled up, his top two buttons undone on his shirt, his hair disheveled, clinging to his printed email.

“Why? Why do you keep coming to my house, trying to imitate me?!” demanded Cameron.

“Stay away from my wife Alton,” said Todd crossing his arms.

“Oh, I think you’ve made it clear you could care less about Téa now but you’re not beyond sabotaging the rest of her life – making her out to be a terrible mother in front of her daughter…” goaded Cameron.

Todd was pissed. That was not the case. Not with Téa. Anyone else but Téa. Todd grabbed Cameron by the lapels of his shirt.

“I still love my wife. Now back off and give us a chance to work out our problems. Stop sniffing around her!” hissed Todd.

“Or what? I will not have you physically abusing my daughter’s mother in her presence!!” spat Cameron.

“What are you talking about?! I do not abuse my wife!!” replied Todd. His anger growing…seething underneath the surface of his skin…wanting to come out.

“No. You just roughly grab her arm like you did in the diner today – like you’ve grabbed me…!” said Cameron, “Go ahead, hit me again. It won’t take Samantha much to figure out her mother is married to an abuser!”

“Shut up! Stop saying that! I do not abuse my wife!” yelled Todd again shoving Cameron away from him trying to gather his wits. Cameron dropped his email and Todd picked it up.

“What are you doing? This email is about Téa’s mother?! What sick shit are you pulling Alton having Téa’s mother investigated? Are you so obsessed with Téa you’d…do this?!” demanded Todd.

Cameron said nothing. Todd was appalled at the lengths Alton was going to in the pursuit of his wife.

Just then the door opened and Téa, Samantha, and Roseanne walked in.

“What is going on?” asked Téa putting her hands on her hips.

Todd felt very defensive, “What are you doing here Delgado?”

“I’m bringing my daughter home. Todd, you didn’t answer my question,” insisted Téa.

Samantha studied everyone’s expression.

“Did you mean it Delgado? About being sorry? About…the love junk?” asked Todd crossing his arms.

Téa sighed, “Of course Todd. Now what are you doing here?”

“Telling Rich Guy #2 to stop buzzing around my wife…” spat Todd.

“Samantha go upstairs,” instructed Cameron. Samantha said nothing and raced up the steps. At the top, she paused and lingered to listen to what was being said.

“Now C’Mon…let’s go home…” said Todd looking Téa in the eye.

“I dunno Todd. I think I’ll be staying with Roseanne until we work out our problems,” said Téa. Her voice was confident. She felt strong. She realized they had to come together on their own reasons – because they wanted each other. That meant Todd had to forgive her and take her back for her and not because of any other reason – including a baby. And for her, it meant proving to Todd that Cameron and her were not involved in any way except as Samantha’s parents.

“Yeah. Right. How are we suppose to work anything out when you aren’t coming home Téa? I swear I’ll never understand chicks!!” he yelled.

“Todd,” she said lightly.

Their eyes looked at each other.

How can I make you understand…?

Todd turned around and walked out. He still had the copy of Alton’s email in his hand, his own interest in Téa’s mother finally aroused.

“C’Mon Téa, let’s go,” said Roseanne.

“No. I’ll meet you there. I want to talk to Cameron. Alone,” insisted Téa.

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” asked Roseanne crossing her arms.

“I don’t know that either,” said Téa.

Roseanne waved her hands in the air frustrated and left. Téa and Cameron stared at each other while Samantha, very intrigued, watched her parents from the top of the stairs in a brand new light.

Cameron stared at her, “You’re beautiful.”

“Don’t…” began Téa.

“Does he hit you Téa?” asked Cameron softly.

“Who? Todd?” asked Téa surprised.

“Yes.”

“No.”

“He grabs you roughly….I don’t like it,” said Cameron.

“Look, Todd and I…aren’t used to…it’s hard to explain and I certainly have no intention of explaining it to you,” she said crossing her arms.

“Why Todd? Is that all you know? Did your father abuse your mother?” asked Cameron totally lost in her eyes.

Samantha gasped never realizing that the darkness and walls her own mother had experienced could have been even darker.

“Honestly? I don’t know. He never struck her in my presence, but my parent’s relationship was volatile if that’s what you mean. Rocky. Unstable,” she answered.

“I can give you stability Téa. A home. Love. A family. I can protect you,” said Cameron walking into her personal space.

“Todd can give me all that as well,” said Téa, “Look, Cameron, from now on I only want to see you in public with other people around. You’ve got to get over this infatution with me.”

“I need you,” he said.

“Don’t say that! Don’t!” she said totally frustrated, “Only one man … can need me.”

Cameron took his hand, put it behind her head and drew her into a kiss. They parted and she smacked his face, hard. He rubbed his cheek and looked at her surprised.

“What about your parents Cameron? Did they teach you this healthy disrespect of marriage?” she asked walking toward the door.

“No,” he said, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t kiss me again. It’s too dangerous for both of us,” she said as she opened the door. Cameron watched her walk out.

Samantha watched her father hang his head. She was confused and didn’t really know what to think. She loved them both deeply and in a way she liked that her father was so protective of her mother. Téa was her mother. And her mother really was a good person. Samantha sighed. She wished it didn’t have to be like this and whatever was going on between her mother and her father would end soon. She turned around, went to her room and cried herself to sleep.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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