PREVIOUSLY

“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.

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

Family Court
Llanview…

Todd couldn’t help but feel anxious as he walked into Judge Allen’s family court chambers. The judge was there along with Blair and Nora. They stared at him without saying a word.

“What? I’m here. I’m on time. Let’s hash this out, huh?” said Todd crossing his arms.

“Where’s Téa, Todd?” asked Blair with a smug smile, “I thought she’d be here.”

Todd gave Blair a quick grin, “She’s not here.”

“Is Téa all right Todd?” asked Nora, “Shouldn’t you have a lawyer with you?”

“Téa’s fine,” said Todd shortly. He sat down across from the judge.

“Ah, Mr. Manning, I am concerned about Mrs. Manning…” began the judge.

Todd looked exasperated, “All right. All right. Téa had a… family emergency in … Puerto Rico. She left last night.”

“A family…?” questioned Nora.

“Well, I hope all is okay. Now. Let’s get down to business. Let’s workout a visitation schedule…” said the judge content with Todd’s answer.

“All right, Ms. Cramer would like to propose that Mr. Manning and her would alternate weekends with Starr…” said Nora.

Todd wrinkled his brow, “Hey, That’s it? I want a couple of weekdays too.”

“A couple?” spat Blair,

“Yeah…” added Todd, “What’s wrong with that?”

The judge just nodded her head in frustration, “All right I suggest every other weekend and one night during the week. Is this acceptable to both parties?”

“I can live with it,” said Todd.

Blair looked at Nora. Nora whispered into Blair’s ear. Blair looked up.

“It’s…acceptable, Your Honor,” said Blair.

“Good. Said custody arrangement to begin immediately…” started the judge.

“Ah…” said Todd, “Can it wait? I’m joining Téa later on in…ah…Puerto Rico today. Can it kick in when Téa and I get back?”

“I see no problem with that. Ms. Cramer?” asked the judge.

“Yeah, sure…” said Blair.

Todd stood up and grinned, “Good. I’ve got a plane to catch.” He paused and turned to look at Blair, his face – a mask of what he was truly feeling, “And Blair – when I come back expect me – and Téa – to be very involved in Shorty’s life.”

Blair sneered at him. Todd walked out.

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

The San Marco Hotel
San Juan, Puerto Rico…

Téa got up early and showered, thinking of the previous days events. Roseanne had accompanied her to San Juan at Todd’s insistence. She was fortunate enough to get Roseanne a hotel room across from hers as all the bigger rooms had been filled. Her and Roseanne had stayed up late talking – about a lot of things – mostly about Téa’s father – Leon. The father Roseanne had always believed…was her grandfather. Leon Delgado had passed away when Téa was in law school. Roseanne had never been close Leon but then she got the impression that he was never really close to anyone.

Once they realized how late it was, they went to bed in their separate rooms agreeing to meet the next morning.

Téa dried off and got dressed. She chose a pain light summer dress. As she went about her morning ritual she couldn’t help but think about Todd – how her insistence to do this without him must have seemed as an arrow…through his heart…how her depression must have…frustrated him to no end. And how confusing it must have been for Samantha – not understanding. She…hated…almost despised…herself for hurting them – praying that when it was over and she had her answers – they would forgive her.

There was a knock on the door and Roseanne walked in, dressed in her comfortable trademark tank top and short skirt.

Téa finished brushing out her hair, “You never could wait for C’Mon in, could you?”

Roseanne shrugged her shoulders, “You know we talked so much about Leon last night we didn’t get a chance to talk about your plan.”

“My plan?” asked Téa finishing up.

“Yeah – like where are you going to go and who are you going to see about your mother?” asked Roseanne sitting on the bed and crossing her arms.

“Well, you would be surprised to know that my mother was the youngest of three siblings. And the only girl. She’s got two brothers, José and Fidel. I know both are still here and I believe José works in San Juan – runs a construction company. Fidel, I believe, works on a sugar cane farm more inland,” explained Téa.

“I am surprised,” said Roseanne, “For someone so secretive – how and when did you find this out?”

Téa grabbed her key and motioned for the door. Roseanne got up and walked out and down the hall toward the dining room.

“Well,” said Téa, “My father – our father, Leon, has a brother still here in San Juan – Delmonico. Wouldn’t talk about him much but Del was named after him. When I figured out I had to do this, I gave him a call and we talked for a bit. He told me about José and Fidel.”

“Now your mother – she was Leon’s second wife right?” asked Roseanne.

“Yeah. His first wife died in a car accident I believe. She was Del’s and Enrique’s mother,” replied Téa. They walked into the dining room. It was a buffet continental style breakfast.

“How did Leon meet your mother?” asked Roseanne, her voice lined with curiosity.

“At a social I think. She was 21 I believe. Leon was 35 or 36. He told me about it once. It was one of the few times his voice didn’t sound so…cold,” said Téa as they went through the buffet line.

“She was young,” said Roseanne.

“Yeah,” said Téa.

“You were four when your family moved to New York, right?” asked Roseanne.

“Yeah,” said Téa, “I don’t have very many memories of Puerto Rico. It was a hectic time moving around, I remember that. I remember our apartment was crowded…”

They sat down at a table.

“So what’s our first stop?” asked Roseanne.

“Uncle…José…” said Téa.

“Téa – would you mind if we saw…Uncle…Del too?” asked Roseanne softly.

Téa paused, “Yeah…sure…no problem…”

Inside, Roseanne was excited at the prospect of meeting some family, but she held it back, her face not betraying her excitement.

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

Llanview Junior High…

When the bell rang, letting out the last class for summer, Samantha Alton bolted to her locker with only one thing on her mind – her New York vacation staring as soon as she went outside and found Anton’s car. Anton and Carlotta would be waiting for her.

“Hey Samantha!” came a cry.

Samantha turned around. It was Andrew Belleiveau, a friend she had recently made in French class.

“Hey Andy,” she said throwing the stuff in her locker into her backpack.

Andy just stood there, looking over her shoulder, watching…admiring how excited and happy his friend was, “Well, have a good time in New York. When are you getting back?”

Samantha looked up at him, “Je ne sais pas, mon ami…” she replied.

“C’est Dommage,” said Andy, “I was kinda hoping we could hang out this summer.”

“We will. I’ll look you up when I get back,” said Samantha.

“You’re…a…different one…” said Andy intensely.

Samantha wrinkled her brow, “Different one? What do you mean?”

“You’re different for a…girl,” said Andy making a face, “You’re like…cool. You’re the only Hispanic chick I know that speaks French.”

Samantha giggled, “Geez, thanks, I guess.”

Andy looked flustered, “Ah…aren’t you going to say something back?”

Samantha let a out a breath and thought about it, “All right – you’re the only guy I know who hasn’t asked me how much my father’s worth.”

“Oh,” said Andy, “Who is your father?”

“Gotta go Andy! Au Revior!” said Samantha sprinting off. Andy just stood there watching the whirlwind that he considered a good friend, Samantha Alton.

Samantha ran outside surrounded by the other kids rushing out of school. She spied Anton’s car and standing beside the car were Anton, Carlotta, and her father.

“I’m ready,” she said with a big smile on her face. Her luggage was all ready in the truck of Anton’s car.

“You look excited Mija,” said Carlotta returning her smile.

“I am,” said Samantha.

“Well, before you go you think you could give me a hug?” asked Cameron. He looked incredibly sad.

Samantha paused, studying her father’s eyes. Impulsively, she reached out and gave him a big hug, realizing for the first time he was sad – hurting – about this.

“I am coming back you know Dad,” said Samantha lightly trying to make him feel better.

Cameron took a breath, “I know…”

“Dad – one thing you taught me is not to run away from your problems. You’ve got to tackle them head on, you always say. I’m coming back to you – and mom,” said Samantha with an air of wisdom to her voice beyond her years.

“I’ll still miss you…” said Cameron, “You’re…my family. You’re my little girl.”

Samantha could feel herself choking up, “I’ll miss you too – you’re my Dad.”

“It will be all right Cameron. We will take good care of Samantha,” said Anton firmly.

“You better go before I decide against this,” said Cameron.

“Dad! C’Mon! I know all about you. And when I come back – I’ll know all about Téa – my Mom too…” said Samantha throwing her locker backpack in her father’s car.

Again, Cameron and Samantha exchanged a hug and with that Samantha hoped in Anton’s car and they drove off leaving Cameron a mix of emotions inside – ranging from pride for raising a smart, level headed daughter to sadness, as it hurt to see her leave him. He hoped this trip would answer and satisfy his confused daughter’s heart.

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

The San Marco Hotel
San Juan, Puerto Rico…

A tall, confident stranger walked into the hotel lobby. He was a bit overdressed for the warm temperatures of the island wearing dress slacks and a blazer, and carrying a duffle bag over his shoulder. His wife was here getting answers about her mother and he would ensure she did. He walked up to the desk.

“You should have a reservation for ah…Lord…ah…yeah…Thomas…Lord.”

The clerk checked the register and gave Todd a key.

Todd held up a fifty, “What room is Téa Delgado in?”

The clerk raised an eyebrow, “Ah, I don’t see a Téa Delgado here. I have a Roseanne Delgado.”

Todd smiled, “All right, try Manning. Téa Manning. And while you’re at it I want Roseanne’s room too.”

The clerk checked the register and looked up, “T. Manning is in room 23 and Roseanne…Delgado is in 26.”

Todd gave him the fifty and checked his key. 31. He grinned and walked off laughing.

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?

TO BE CONTINUED…

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