PREVIOUSLY

He lowered his head, looking at the ground, “You go then Téa. You go now. You get out of this house now before I change my mind…” he muttered.

She took her hand, titled his chin up and found his eyes giving a tender but gentle desperate kiss, much like the one he had given her, “I will be back Todd. And I do love you.”

With that, she turned around and went upstairs to pack. Todd followed her with his eyes, his lips trembling. He had to do something! He was determined that she would not go alone.

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-Tears of rage I cannot fight – I’d be the last to help you understand – Are you strong enough to be my man?

-Nothing’s true and nothing’s right – so let me be alone tonight – you can’t change the way I am – Are you strong enough to be my man?

-I have a face I can not show – I make the rules up as I go – It’s try and love me if you can – Are you man enough to be my man?

When I’ve shown you that I just don’t care – When I’m throwing punches in the air – When I’m broken down and can not stand – Will you be strong enough to be my man?

Lyrics & song written by: Crow, Bottrell, Baerwalk, Gilbert, Ricketts, & MacLeod.

Late June 1999
Carlotta’s diner…

Todd was upset. His wife had just told him she needed to go to Puerto Rico – without him to find out about her mother. And well, he was going to be damned if Téa was going alone. He strode into the diner with a purpose. Determined. Focused. He boldly walked up to the counter, “Carlotta! Junior!” he cried.

Carlotta came out from behind the back wiping her hand in her towel, “Todd? Is everything all right?”

“Peachy Kean. Where’s Junior?” he spat.

He felt something. Someone. A presence next to him. He looked over – into the wide eyes of a twelve year old girl. Téa’s eyes…

“Todd? Is my mother all right?” asked Samantha.

Todd opened his mouth and quickly closed it, taking a second to compose himself.

“Téa’s fine. She’s fine. My business is with Roseanne,” said Todd more calmly.

Carlotta let out a sigh of relief, “Roseanne will be here shortly. Her last class just let out.”

“Good,” said Todd. He turned to Samantha, “So, how are you doing?”

“Okay. Tomorrow is the last day of school. As soon as school lets out Anton and Carlotta are taking me to New York,” said Samantha with a smile on her face.

Todd motioned for them to sit down in a nearby booth. They did so.

“Why are you going to New York Samantha?” asked Todd seriously.

Samantha looked at the table and than back at Todd, “To understand my mother better…”

“Oh,” said Todd, “That makes sense. Does Téa know you’re going?”

“No. I don’t think I’ll have a chance to tell her either…” said Samantha.

“That’s kinda good I guess,” remarked Todd all of a sudden feeling uncomfortable.

“Something is up. Something involving Mom,” said Samantha picking up on Todd’s hesitation.

“Yeah. She’s going to Puerto Rico for a few days. Nothing serious. Family stuff…” said Todd not wanting to say too much.

Samantha looked hurt, “Oh. She never talked much about her family or her parents…”

Todd let out a quick breath, “Samantha, this is good. For you and for her. Trust me.”

“It is?” asked Samantha.

“Yeah,” said Todd. He let a smile escape from his lips, “Samantha, Téa…” he paused.

Samantha hung on his breath.

“…Téa loves you.” finished Todd.

“I know,” said Samantha nodding her head, “Todd?”

“Yeah?”

“How did you meet my mom? Like the first time?” asked Samantha.

Todd leaned back in the booth.

“There was nothing special about it. I needed a lawyer and she was the only one in town who would take my case,” said Todd, “No romantic girlie-girlie looks or anything like that,” said Todd honestly.

“Did you think she was pretty?” asked Samantha.

“I dunno. I guess. I mean her looks wasn’t what I initially was attracted to…” stammered Todd.

“What was?” asked Samantha.

“I dunno. I guess her smarts or her tenacity,” said Todd.

“When did you know you were in love with my mother?” asked Samantha.

“I was in jail for a crime I didn’t commit and she came to me…in the jail…she didn’t doubt. She knew I didn’t do it and she was talking about how to defend me…I knew…right then and there I was in love with her…” explained Todd, “Except I didn’t know how to say it- or how to tell her…”

There was an awkward silence between them.

“Todd?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you have picture of her? Maybe one I could have?” asked Samantha, “I want…a picture of my mother,” she said firmly.

“Sure,” said Todd. He reached inside his blazer and pulled out a billfold. There were only two pictures in his billfold. Téa and Starr. Without hesitation, he pulled out Téa’s picture and gave it to Samantha. Téa was smiling and in a floral print dress. It was his favorite picture.

“Is it your only picture of her?” asked Samantha with concern.

“No. I can get another one,” said Todd.

Just then Roseanne walked in and walked up to the counter.

Todd shot up out of the booth, “I gotta’ talk to her all right?”

Samantha nodded her head.

Todd came up behind Roseanne and grabbed her arm with his hand escorting her back outside the diner.

“What? What are you?!” exclaimed Roseanne shrugging him off.

“Your sister needs you…” said Todd reaching into his blazer. He pulled out an envelope and gave it to her. She took it and looked inside.

“What’s this?” asked Roseanne, “Plane tickets? Money?”

“Listen up Junior – Téa thinks if she goes to Puerto Rico and finds out about her mom that will help her out – make her sane. But when I said when were WE going – she insisted on going alone. Without me. So fine. No Todd. But you’re going to start acting like her sister and you’re going with her! That flight leaves in an hour and you’re going to be on it,” explained Todd firmly.

“Me? What about my classes?” fussed Roseanne.

“Your sister needs you right now…” said Todd, “Now C’Mon…I’m going to give you a ride to the airport.”

Again he grabbed her arm and escorted her to his car. She didn’t fight him and got in the passenger seat.

“What do you expect me to do? Report to you everyday promptly at nine pm?” asked Roseanne sarcastically.

“No. Don’t call me. You just hangout with Téa. Make sure she’s all right. I don’t want her to be alone right now so you stay with her like glue,” explained Todd driving toward the airport.

“Yeah – sure – all right. But won’t she be pissed if I show up?” asked Roseanne.

“As long as she’s pissed with you and not me I don’t give a shit,” said Todd, “Look – Junior – I just think …Téa – will say…okay to you.”

“You better hope she does,” muttered Roseanne.

The rest of the ride was quiet between them. Todd remained lost in his thoughts, praying that Téa would welcome Roseanne’s presence. He drove up to the airport parking lot and accompanied Roseanne inside. Téa’s flight was on Caribbean Air, Flight 16. The flight had just started boarding and Téa, carrying a backpack on her shoulder was at the end of the line. Todd shoved Roseanne toward the line and stayed out of sight behind a series of lockers.

Roseanne looked at Téa shuffle toward the door. Finally she found her voice, “Téa!” she yelled briskly walking forward. Téa turned around, her face looking confused. She stepped out of line and approached Roseanne wondering how it was possible.

Roseanne held up her hand with the envelope that contained her tickets, “Todd.”

Téa looked shocked, “Todd? Todd sent you?”

“Yep,” said Roseanne, “Said he didn’t want you going alone. He found me at the diner and brought me here.”

“I should have known! How could he?” Téa’s voice revealed her anger.

“Look. He’s just worried about you. He cares about you. He just wants you to be safe. And I think you really upset him by foolishly insisting on going along on this Puerto Rican find myself tour.”

Téa looked taken aback and slowly dropped her head, looking at the ground. She knew she had hurt him but she didn’t realize until now how deeply she had hurt him. The least she could do…was accept Roseanne. She looked back up at her, “You’re right. I’ve hurt him. I’ve been doing nothing but hurting him since…our wedding. But I can’t stop hurting him or myself – until I do this.”

“So are we getting on that plane or what?” asked Roseanne.

“I really do love him Roseanne. I love…him,” said Téa, “I pray…he can forgive me.”

“So? What? You don’t want to get on the plane now?” asked Roseanne trying to figure her sister out.

“No. Let’s go,” said Téa as a wave of tremendous sadness overcame her.

“Forgive me…quierdo…” she whispered as she turned in her boarding pass. She waited for Roseanne to turn hers in and walked onto the plane.

Todd stepped out from behind the lockers, drained. This was upsetting to him letting her go like this. His lips trembled as he watched her disappear down the walkway. He reached for his cell phone and dialed some numbers.

“Lou? I want the jet ready tomorrow morning. After nine,” he instructed.

Pause.

“San Juan, Puerto Rico. Make reservations for the same hotel my wife is in under the name of Thomas…ah…Lord. Yeah. Bye,” said Todd.

He went to the window and watched the plane she was on. Watching her struggle with her demons was taking its toll on him.

“I’m not leaving you Téa. Not ever again…” he whispered.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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