PREVIOUSLY

Téa drifted off into sleep.
Todd stepped out of the shadows from her balcony and softly walked into her room. He watched her for several anxious minutes. He picked up her journal and brought it to the moonlight and read her latest entry.
“I love you too Delgado and trust me – I find you INFURATING at times too…”
She stirred.
He returned the book and left the same way he entered, shutting the door behind him.
*************************************************************************************************

Somewhere in Puerto Rico…

Téa enjoyed the breeze that flowed through her hair as she drove her rented convertible down the Puerto Rican back road. Roseanne sat in the passenger seat, her hair in a ponytail. Both were wearing sunglasses and light summer dresses. It was a sunny day and they were driving inland to find Téa’s uncle, Fidel. José had given them directions and a map on how to get to Fidel’s sugar cane plantation. Téa and Roseanne had rented a fashionable convertible earlier that day and were enjoying the ride.

Roseanne looked at Téa, “So, what do you expect Fidel to tell you? The same thing José did? How wonderful your mother was?”

“I honestly don’t know. Maybe he’ll be more objective than Uncle José was but Uncle José…” started Téa. She paused.

“What?” asked Roseanne.

“He said something I’ve been thinking about a lot. Take the good stuff and build on it,” finished Téa keeping her eyes on the road.

“Makes sense,” said Roseanne grinning.

“Yeah. Now I’ve just got to figure what was good, you know. I’ve got to look past José’s rose colored glasses you know?” said Téa.

“Sure,” said Roseanne, “Look Téa…” she started.

“What?”

“You know I wasn’t too thrilled to be sent on this tag along with Téa holiday, so I just wanted to say…” continued Roseanne pausing.

Téa briefly looked at Roseanne, “Spit it out will you.”

Roseanne let out a sly smirk, “Hey! Give me a chance! I’m trying to say it’s been cool hanging out with you and I’m glad we did this.”

Téa laughed, “Well, I wasn’t too thrilled about it either but I think…I think Todd did the right thing.”

They passed a farm and observed a few grazing cows.

“So why didn’t you want Todd to come with you? Why did you have to do this without him?” asked Roseanne wrinkling her nose.

Téa got serious, “I lost…touch with myself, I guess. So I had to…do this…without him. My life…shouldn’t revolve Todd. I don’t want to sit around waiting on him. I’ve lost my sense of independence and this…trip is helping me regain that. I want to get back to the strong, independent woman I know I can be. I need to get back my confidence…I dunno…is this making sense?” asked Téa hesitantly.

Roseanne shrugged her shoulders.

“Roseanne, it’s very important to me to be a good mother – to succeed at being a good mother. Starr showed me that I can you know. But Samantha’s unconditional love for me and the miscarriage shook my…belief to the core and I need to know without a doubt that I am and will be a good mother for Samantha and for any child that Todd and I might have and this trip is all about that,” finished Téa firmly.

“So, are you finding it’s possible?” asked Roseanne seriously.

Téa smiled, “I think, I have a lot of good stuff to offer and build on.”

“So, you are getting something out of this?” asked Roseanne.

“I think so,” said Téa.

POP!

Téa felt the car pull left. She tried to compensate. Thankfully they were the only ones on the backward country road.

“Téa!” exclaimed Roseanne feeling the car pull.

Téa said nothing struggling to get the convertible under control, finally getting the car to pull over on the opposite side of the road.

“Dios…” she whispered as the car stopped. Sweat ran off her brow.

“What?” asked a scared and shaken Roseanne.

“I think we have a flat…” muttered Téa.

“Oh. Shit,” said Roseanne, “Now what?”

Téa got out of the car and Roseanne followed suit. Téa surveyed the car and spotted the front left tire. Flat. She cursed in Spanish and kicked the flat.

Roseanne let out a breath, “You know Téa, that isn’t going to solve anything.”

Téa frowned, “Yeah, no shit. Well, we’re two intelligent women. We can change a tire between the two of us, right?”

“Oh, yeah. Sure,” said Roseanne. They walked to the trunk and pulled out the lug wrench, jack, and spare tire.

Just then a car pulled up and stopped in back of them. Roseanne and Téa looked up…and Santiago Cruz walked out of his car.

Téa looked at Roseanne and they just nodded their heads.

“Need help?” he asked.

“We should have known you’d be along…” said Roseanne crossing her arms.

“I’d hate to disappoint,” he grinned.

Cruz grabbed the tire and rolled it over to the hub. Téa and Roseanne said nothing as they grabbed the jack and lug wrench. With no words spoken between them, Sonny changed their tire. After several dirty minutes, the new tire was on and the old tire off. Sonny returned the equipment to the trunk.

“Your welcome,” he grinned at them.

“Whatever,” said Roseanne.

“So, how much of a headstart are you giving us?” asked Téa crossing her arms.

Sonny grinned at her, “Oh, I don’t know. How much do you need?”

Roseanne slinked off while Téa held his attention.

“How about ten minutes? Sound fair?” suggested Téa.

“Sounds Fair,” said Sonny.

Roseanne bounced up and hoped in the passenger seat, “Ready Téa?”

Roseanne grinned.

Téa got in the car, “Sure. Adios Sonny,” she waved at him and drove off. Sonny returned the wave and watched them drive off.

Téa and Roseanne said nothing as they drove off. Suddenly, with no provocation, Roseanne startled giggling.

“What?!” said Téa glancing at Roseanne.

Roseanne, with a devilish grin held up a set of car keys, “Don’t think Sonny is going to be following us.”

“Oh, you’re bad,” giggled Téa. She continued driving.

*********************************************************************** Sonny walked back to his car as Téa and Roseanne drove out of sight checking his watch. His smile turned to a frown as he spied his car’s ignition. The keys were missing! He just started laughing. He began to hear a car drive up behind him. The car pulled up behind him and Sonny’s frown got wider. Todd hoped out of the car and walked up to Sonny.

“What did I tell you about those two?” asked Todd sauntering up to Sonny.

Sonny crossed his arms and said nothing.

“Fine. Who are you working for?” asked Todd, his eyes blazing with fury.

“Who do you think I’m working for?” asked Sonny sarcastically.

“I’m not doing this,” said Todd. With lightening quickness, Todd lashed out and struck Sonny with a closed fist in the face. Sonny fell down and Todd grabbed his arms behind him and dragged Sonny to his car. Reaching in, Todd grabbed a roll of duck tape and tapped up a struggling Sonny. Todd threw tape on Sonny’s feet and shoved Sonny into the backseat of the car he was driving.

Cruz spat at Todd in Spanish but Todd ignored him and drove off. Finally, Todd looked into the rear view mirror, “Want me tape you your mouth too? Shut up unless it’s to tell me who you’re working for,” said Todd.

“If I don’t call in, he will come looking for me…” insisted Cruz.

“Goody,” grinned Todd, “Can’t wait to meet your a$$hole boss.”

“Where are you taking me?” yelled Cruz.

“Back to the hotel where I can keep an eye on you. Besides, I think that’s where he’s going to start looking for you,” said Todd grinning to himself.

“He won’t bother you anymore Delgado….” whispered Todd pleased with himself.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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