PREVIOUSLY

“Téa – look – I miss you too. Come home soon all right?”
“Yeah…Todd…”
“Yeah?”
“Te Amo Quierdo.”
“Right back at you Delgado. Whatever that met…”
CLICK.
Téa smiled.
Todd stepped into the shadows and put his cell phone away.

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

Dear Journal,
Anton took me to his community center. It was…a nice place. When I was in Boston my mom would take me for charity events but honestly, I never saw one as run down as Anton’s.

I got mad at Anton yesterday. I still am kinda and I’m trying not to show it. Anton said he didn’t really love Téa. We would never have been a real family. They would have divorced. He was honest though and I appreciated that. Maybe that’s why I’m not so mad. I guess…I guess Anton and Téa were different people back then. Really different from now. Guess they grew up.

I’m trying to imagine it – living in that dark apartment with only her brothers, no mother…wanting more and knowing you can’t have it. It’s hard to imagine honestly - I think my Dad has protected me from a lot of…unpleasant things in life. I mean, I have I everything I want. I do – because Téa gave me up for adoption – hoping – I guess I’d have a better life. That’s unselfish, I guess.

What did Téa do for fun? What does she like? Dislike? Do I like or dislike the same things? Guess I’ll find out. And you know what? I’m glad mom’s found love with Todd. Finally. I wonder if Anton will. I do like him and I want him to be happy too. I wonder what today will bring…”

Samantha stopped when she heard a knock on the door.

Carlotta walked in, “Morning Mija.”

“Good morning Carlotta,” said Samantha putting down her journal, “Where are we going today?”

“Téa’s old dance studio,” said Carlotta, “And we’ll take you to her school. It’s a bit of a distance between here…”

“Distance? You mean she didn’t go to that school near the community center?” questioned Samantha confused.

“No sweetie. Téa was bused to a school in a different area, along with my Antonio,” explained Carlotta.

“Why?” asked Samantha. She wrinkled her brow.

“Téa…and Antonio were bused to a different school because they…were minorities and the school system was trying to facilitate exposure to different cultures…” said Carlotta trying not to make it sound harsh.

“You mean like in the ‘50’s when they bused African-Americans to go to all white schools?” asked Samantha, “We just covered that in Social Studies.”

“Yeah, it’s like that,” confirmed Carlotta.

Samantha frowned, “My mother was treated like a Social studies experiment?”

“That sounds hard Samantha,” said Carlotta.

“It’s the truth! And it’s demeaning! I couldn’t imagine being treated like that. I don’t get treated like that. Why? Because times have changed? Because I’m rich and you don’t treat rich people like that? Because I’m Cameron Alton’s daughter?” spat Samantha.

Carlotta drew Samantha into a warm hug. She felt Samantha’s tears on her shoulders.

“I can’t imagine it Carlotta. My own mother! Living in a dark apartment, being treated like a social studies experiment – how can your heart breathe being stifled like that?” asked Samantha, her voice full of emotion.

“I don’t know…” whispered Carlotta.

Carlotta broke the hug and gave Samantha a tissue from her pocket. Samantha dried her eyes, “Hey – you’ll see today how she would let her heart breathe…a bit…when Téa was a little girl, she danced. She loved to dance…” whispered Carlotta.

Samantha nodded her head.

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

San Juan, Puerto Rico
The San Marco Hotel…

Santiago “Sonny” Cruz sat at a table in the hotel’s restaurant sipping some coffee intently watching the table that Téa Manning and Roseanne Delgado were sitting at. They were eating breakfast and engaged in a lively conversation. He reached for his cell phone and made a phone call.

“It’s Cruz.”

Pause.

“You want me to follow them today?”

Pause.

“There’s some guy down here – told me to leave them alone.”

Pause.

“I can do that. I’ll report back later this evening. They’re getting up. I gotta go!” exclaimed Sonny. He shut his cell phone off and bolted after Téa and Roseanne.

Todd looked on intently from a dark corner, pissed that guy was still pursuing Téa and Roseanne.

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

New York City…

Samantha Alton stood in the back of the dance class, watching the teacher instruct a class, lost in her own thoughts. Carlotta and Anton stood beside her and watched intently. The class ended and the teacher, an older woman, approached Carlotta. Carlotta had recognized her as Patricia Heally, Téa’s old dance instructor.

“Do I know you? You look familiar…” said Patricia as if trying to recall Carlotta’s identity.

“I’m surprised Patricia. Carlotta. Carlotta Vega,” answered Carlotta.

A look of warm recognition passed over Patricia’s face and she exchanged a hug with Carlotta. Carlotta made introductions for Samantha and Anton and as the kids filed out, Patricia offered them seats.

“So, what brings you by Carlotta?” asked Patricia putting a towel around her bare shoulders. She was wearing a light blue leotard.

Carlotta smiled and put a hand on Samantha, “This delightful young girl would like to know what you remember about her mother – Téa Delgado.”

Patricia made a face, “That was a while ago and while faces come and go, Téa’s still sticks out. How’s your mother doing?” asked Patricia, “I am surprised to realize Téa had a daughter.”

“Well, she gave me up for adoption and we’ve only recently gotten to know each other. She’s kinda’ sad right now and it’s been hard to talk to her, so I was wondering maybe you could tell me a little about her,” said Samantha nervously. She looked at Anton who gave her a smile.

“Sure,” said Patricia lightly, “What would you like to know?”

“You said my mom stuck out. Why?” asked Samantha.

“Honestly? Because she was different. Did you see my class? There’s not much difference from all those years ago – spoiled little rich girls, some taking dance lessons because their parents make them, some taking lessons because it was the cool thing to do and everyone else did. Téa took lessons because she liked to dance – and it was because of this reason that the other girls didn’t really accept her,” explained Patricia.

“Did it have anything to do with the fact she was Hispanic?” asked Samantha, “She was different because she was…Latina?”

Patricia gave Samantha a compassionate smile, “Maybe it did for her peers, but not for me. It made me feel good to know I had at least one student who took these lessons because she wanted too and while I think the other girl’s attitudes toward Téa hurt her, because they snubbed her, she didn’t let that stop her from coming to class and learning.”

Samantha turned to Anton, “If Téa was poor, how did she afford lessons?”

“Her father worked a second job for the money,” explained Anton.

“That was nice of him,” whispered Samantha.

It was quiet for a bit.

“Is there anything else you can tell me?” asked Samantha.

“No, not really but there is something you can tell me about your mother,” said Patricia grinning.

“What?” asked Samantha.

“What did Téa grow up to do for a living?” asked Patricia.

Samantha smiled with pride, “She’s a lawyer. She’s a good one too.”

“Téa told me once she wanted to be a lawyer when she grew up. Partly because it paid good and partly because she felt there were people out there, like her, misunderstood and never given a chance because of someone’s prejudice that needed someone to present their case for them,” explained Patricia.

Samantha turned to Carlotta and Anton, “I may not like what I’m finding out but it sure does help me to understand better.”

“The world is more than fancy mansions and material things,” said Anton.

“So I’m finding out Anton,” said Samantha seriously.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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