PREVIOUSLY

"Hush, mija, hush…" said Carlotta softly. Téa looked up off of Carlotta’s shoulder and found Roseanne staring at her.

"It’ll be o.k…" choked Roseanne.

Cameron stood stoically behind Roseanne and mouthed, "I’m sorry." Téa just nodded her head.

Todd put his hand on her back, "C’Mon, let’s go…"

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

Early May 1999
Llanview General…

“What’s one of the earliest memories you have of your mother?”

Téa fidgeted in the chair as she faced her counselor. She was uncomfortable and nervous. The morning sickness that she had been suffering from lingered into this afternoon session with her counselor. In the waiting room, Todd and Carlotta waited for her. She took a deep breath.

“A smile, I guess…”

“Anything else? What was going on?”

“Her voice…singing…softly in Spanish…” answered Téa.

Recently the daughter she gave up for adoption had come back into her life, a twelve year old girl named Samantha Alton. And when Samantha’s adopted father, Cameron Alton threatened to take Samantha away, Téa had become upset. She had gone to the docks and seriously contemplated taking her life. With Todd’s help and Carlotta’s and Roseanne’s she decided against it. To help her understand and come to terms with her…suicidal gesture, she sought out help. This was the second visit to her counselor, a man named David DaBeirs. He was a colleague and friend of Todd’s therapist, Susannah Hannen.

“What feelings does this memory evoke?” asked Dr. DaBeirs.

“Warm ones, I guess,” answered Téa making a face.

“I’m getting a mixed message…you say warm ones but you’re making a face…” he replied.

“I’m sorry – I don’t feel well…”

“Is this so uncomfortable it’s making you physically ill?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I woke up feeling like this. I’m pregnant you know…”

DaBeirs frowned, “That’s right, I’m sorry…we can do this another time if you want…”

“No. I can do this. I have to do this. I have to deal with what I’ve done and why I’ve done it,” she insisted pushing it down.

DaBeirs smiled, “Now, hearing you say that is a positive sign indeed. We were talking about the feelings the memory evoked…”

Téa closed her eyes as if picturing the memory in her mind, “I was on a bed…I think she was trying to get me to relax…to go to sleep. Her voice was soft, gentle. She lightly rubbed my arm and she smiled while she sang…I remember feeling safe…and secure…and wanted…” Téa paused, “I can’t remember though if we were still in Puerto Rico or had moved to New York.”

“Why did your parents move from Puerto Rico to New York?” DaBeirs asked.

Again, Téa fidgeted, pulling on the sleeves on her shirt.

“My father’s older brother wrote to him saying there were a lot more…opportunities in New York. It was an…advantageous place to raise a family…”

Téa left her head fall back on the rest of the chair and closed her eyes again, fighting her upset stomach.

“Maybe we should stop for now. I can tell the…afternoon sickness is bothering you,” said DaBeirs standing up.

Téa nodded her head and stood up.

“I want you to come back tomorrow if you’re feeling up to it…” he said.

“I will,” she answered.

He escorted her into the waiting room. Todd shot Carlotta a glance and bolted out of his seat.

“Ah, how did it go?” he nervously asked. Carlotta stood up.

“All right. Téa’s not feeling well so I suggested we continue tomorrow,” said DaBeirs.

Todd walked up to his wife and put his hands on her arms, looking deeply into her eyes, “Morning Sickness?”

“More like afternoon sickness,” she replied wearily.

“You mind if I talk to your Doc for a minute? Alone?” he asked.

She nodded her head ‘no.’

“Doc?” he asked glancing at DaBeirs.

“No. C’Mon in…” said DaBeirs. Todd followed DaBeirs into his office. Téa stayed in the waiting room with Carlotta.

“How’s she doing Doc?” asked Todd crossing his arms, his voice full of concern.

“She’s shaky but demonstrates a willingness to talk about her…issues…which is very positive. With a little work, she’ll get better. She wants to get better so that is a positive sign…” said DaBeirs, “And she’ll need your support.”

“Good. That’s good…” said Todd. DaBeirs could tell Todd was worried by the tone of his voice but wouldn’t admit it to him.

“Anything else?” asked DaBeirs.

“No. Ah no,” said Todd. He reached for the door and walked back out into the waiting room.

Téa and Carlotta turned around to face him.

“Ready to go home?” he asked.

She nodded her head, ‘yes.’

Todd’s cell phone rang. He reached into his pocket.

“What?”

Pause.

“Cramer – I told you not to bother me…”

Pause.

“Well, handle it. I’m busy. I trust you…”

Pause.

“…All right, I don’t trust you. Don’t do anything stupid until I get there,” said Todd. He hung up.

Téa looked at him with concern, “What is it?”

“I’m sorry. There’s an emergency at the Sun…” said Todd, his voice full of emotion. Téa could tell his loyalties were torn.

“I’ll take her home. Don’t worry about it Todd. Take care of your problem,” said Carlotta gently but firmly.

Again, Todd stepped into his wife’s personal space and rubbed his hands up and down her arms, “I’ll be home as soon as possible.”

“I understand,” said Téa.

“Yeah,” said Todd softly.

After an exchange with their expressive eyes, Todd walked out. Carlotta took Téa home.

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

The Offices of FutureTech Software,
Downtown, Llanview…

Cameron Alton stood behind his desk listening to a brief one of his vice-presidents was giving. The VP was sitting down in a chair and briefing off his notes. Cameron just stood there, his hands in his pockets, staring at the ground, half-heartedly listening to his VP, his mind clearly on something – someone else. Téa Delgado Manning. The mother of his adopted daughter, Samantha.

Cameron was deeply in love with her and when he had confessed his feelings to her and she rejected him he threatened to take Samantha away. That threat drove the woman he was in love with to contemplate suicide. Currently, Téa was seeking counseling and Cameron couldn’t get over his feelings of guilt, concern, and love…

He had distanced himself from Téa while she sought out counseling, thinking it for the best.

Suddenly, the door to his office flew open and his twelve-year-old daughter, Samantha came flying in…displaying fire in her eyes and passion in her voice.

“Dad, I want to see her. Now,” said Samantha firmly.

The VP stopped talking and Cameron looked up into his daughter’s hot, fiery eyes.

“Samantha, you’re rude. I’m in a meeting,” replied Cameron just as firmly. His daughter, usually well behaved, had been almost intolerable since he had upset her mother.

“It’s been a week and you won’t let me see her. Well, I want to see my mother now and if you don’t take me to see her I’ll go on my own without your permission…” said Samantha coldly.

Cameron shot his VP a look, “We’ll continue this tomorrow morning. Currently, I have more pressing matters.”

The VP stood up, “Yes, Mr. Alton.” He left.

Cameron met his daughter’s defiant stare but blinked first.

“You want me to reward this obnoxious behavior by taking you to see your mother?” he asked.

“Who was rude to who first? What I expect is - for you to live up to your promise and not keep us apart,” replied Samantha.

Cameron said nothing, reached for the phone and dialed a few numbers. It pained him that his daughter was so angry with him but he realized he had brought it on himself.

“Carlotta? It’s Cameron…”

Pause.

“I see. Look, is she up to a visit with Samantha?”

Pause.

“Thank you. We’ll be right over.”

Cameron hung up the phone and looked at his daughter, “Let’s go,” he said.

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

The Manning Estate…

Carlotta opened the door and let Cameron and Samantha in.

“How is she?” asked Cameron putting his hands in is pockets as they walked into the hallway.

“Tired. But she wants to see you. Both of you…” said Carlotta protectively. She smiled at Samantha.

“Hola!” said Samantha confidently.

“Hola!” replied Carlotta grinning, “Learning Spanish?”

Samantha smiled, “A little. It is part of my heritage. Anton’s teaching me a few phrases…”

Carlotta smiled at the mention of Anton’s name.

“I’m going to talk to her first. Alone. Where is she?” asked Cameron firmly.

“Upstairs. Lying down,” said Carlotta turning to face him.

“Dad, don’t say anything stupid to upset her,” said Samantha looking intently at her father.

Cameron said nothing as he shot his daughter a look of disapproval and bounded up the stairs.

“Your father is only human, Samantha. He knows he’s done wrong but that doesn’t mean you can begin to disrespect him…” said Carlotta as her and Samantha walked into the living room.

“I know Carlotta. It’s hard, you know. I don’t want to loose another mother because…because my Dad screwed up…” said Samantha letting out a breath and admitting her fear.

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

Téa heard a knock on the door, “C’Mon in.” She was lying down on the bed. She was tired. And sick. She had just taken her temperature that had revealed she was running a fever.

Cameron hesitantly walked in. It was silent between them. Slowly, he walked over to the edge of the bed and sat down. She leaned up against the headboard supported by pillows. Their eyes searching each other out, wondering what their boundaries were. It was their first time seeing each other since the docks.

“I’m sorry…” he whispered, his eyes tearing up.

“I know,” said Téa gently nodding her head.

“I hurt you. I screwed up. You’re probably mad at me. Samantha’s furious with me. She can hardly stand to be in the same room with me…” he sputtered, his voice choking.

Téa leaned up, fighting off a wave of nausea and cupped his cheek in the palm of her hand, finding his eye…seeing the tears well, inside of them…

“Hey…I’m not mad at you. How could you know…huh? You were true to your heart, I forgive you, Cameron,” she said compassionately.

“Why?” he choked, the tears finally falling down his face.

“Because, I want too. You’re not a bad man. And because Samantha needs us…she needs two parents who get along. I’ve seen first hand the destruction caused when two parents hate each other. It’s not pretty. She needs us to set a positive example for her…” said Téa, her own voice shaking, moved by Cameron’s tears and her own physically weak state.

“Thank you. Samantha’s so mad with me…” he whispered.

“I’ll talk to her…” replied Téa.

Cameron put his hand over hers, “Why haven’t you signed the custody documents yet?” he asked as the tears stopped, leaving his face wet.

“I have to work out a few issues Cam. I have to come to terms with what I did. I won’t sign it until I’m confident I can be the mother she deserves…” replied a shaky Téa.

“I understand,” he said.

There was a silent pause between them. Cameron took his hand, pulled out a hanky and dried his face. Téa dropped her own hand and looked at him with concern.

He stood up after he composed himself, “I’ll send Samantha up.”

“Thank you,” she said lying back down.

He walked out.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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