PREVIOUSLY

“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.
*************************************************************************************************

New York City…

Samantha Alton said goodnight to Anton and Carlotta at the door and walked into her hotel room. It was late and time to go to bed. The day had drained her. Not emotionally as previous days, but physically. She expected another emotionally hard day tomorrow though. She couldn’t help but feel incredibly sad for her mother. Her heart went out to Téa.

Samantha pulled out her PJs and got ready for bed. As she finished, she got into bed and used the remote to turn the TV on. She kept the volume on low and reached over for the phone, dialing a few numbers. Ii rang a few times before picking up.

“Hello?”

“Hi Dad. It’s Samantha.”

“What’s up Sam? You sound a little sad. What did you do lately?”

“We went to Mom’s old dance studio yesterday and I met her old dance teacher. Her teacher was nice. Today we took a bit of a break. We went to see the statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Anton said him and Mom used to hang out a lot there. I got some cool pics,” said Samantha.

“I can’t wait to see them.”

“Dad, do you know how Mom’s doing in Puerto Rico?” she asked playing with her hair.

“She’s been pretty busy down there Sam.”

“Oh. That’s good, I guess,” said Samantha, “Do you know when she’ll be back?”

“No, I’m sorry. But I…I know…”

“Know what, Dad?” asked Samantha.

“I know she’s working hard to get the answers she needs. She spend a lot of time on the hotel patio late at night, writing in her journal.”

“She’s keeping a journal? Cool! So am I!” said Samantha excited at the thought, “Well, it’s good to hear she’s doing okay Dad. I miss her.”

“Yeah. I’m sure she misses you too. It’s good to hear you’re okay too. You’re my number one girl you know.”

“I know. I’ll call you tomorrow Dad. I miss you,” said Samantha.

“Miss you too, Sam. Oh! And Sam…!”

“Yeah, Dad?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too Dad.”

Samantha hung up the phone, turned off the TV, and snuggled into bed.

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

Cameron Alton hung up the phone in his study. He paused, took a breath, and leaned back in his chair, putting his feet up on his desk. He ran his hand through his hair and picked up the file from work he was reviewing before Samantha’s phone call.

He couldn’t focus. He put the file down, worried that something might be wrong because his contact in Puerto Rico, Santiago Cruz, hadn’t called him.

He hired Cruz to keep tabs on Téa. He was worried about Téa and wanted Cruz to follow her, help her out if need be, make sure no one harassed her or got in the way of finding out what she needed too. He was not pleased that she didn’t tell him about her trip to Puerto Rico. But then why would she? He was only Samantha’s father. The man who was giving half of his parental rights up in a joint custody agreement to his daughter’s biological mother who gave her up for adoption. There was no point in getting mad. Besides, he thought he could never get mad at Téa. She was his daughter’s mother. And…and…try as hard as he might, he couldn’t help but care for Téa deeply.

Yes, Téa was Samantha’s mother now and he had to look out and take care of her to ensure Samantha still had a mother. It wasn’t like he was divorced from Susan and she would be a presence in Samantha’s life. No. Susan was dead. Cancer. Something he had no control over. Well, he was going to do everything in his power to ensure Samantha had her mother in her life. And well, that he had Téa in his life too. Téa’s presence in his life was a breath of fresh air. She made him feel again after Susan’s death and he didn’t want her to leave. Oh, he knew that Téa didn't love him. A man named Todd Manning had her heart. Learning to live with that wasn’t easy but he was trying. And Blair Cramer was a definite help.

He looked at the phone almost willing it to ring. Cameron swallowed. If he didn’t hear from Cruz soon, he would go down to Puerto Rico himself.

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

Puerto Rico…

Téa drove up to the small building on the fringe of the sugar cane plantation and parked it.

Roseanne turned to her, “I’m shocked. Where’s Sonny?”

Téa laughed, “Who knows?”

She got out of the car but before she could go knock on the door, the door opened and an older man, tanned, in short jeans and a t-shirt stood at the door.

“You’re dressed too nice to be out here…” he said.

“You can say that again,” said Roseanne.

“I’m Téa Delgado…” said Téa walking up to him, holding out her hand, “I’m looking for Fidel Ramon.”

“I am Fidel. Delgado, huh?” he said wrinkling his brow.

Roseanne got in his face, “Yeah – you’re her mother’s brother.”

Téa flashed Roseanne a frown.

“Anna? Anna’s daughter?” he muttered.

“Yeah…” whispered Téa.

“Come inside,” said Fidel.

Téa saw more wrinkle lines in his face compared to Uncle José’s but there was a very obvious family resemblance.

Téa and Roseanne followed him inside and he offered them seats at a table.

“What brings you out here? To see me?” he asked looking intently at her.

“Well, I was wondering if you could tell me about my mother. I never really knew her,” said Téa.

Roseanne fidgeted in her seat.

“Maybe it’s for the best that you don’t know her,” said Fidel seriously.

Téa raised an eyebrow.

Roseanne’s attention span picked up, “You mean – Anna – wasn’t perfect?”

“I am sorry. I don’t think we have been introduced?” said Fidel glaring at Roseanne.

“I’m sorry. Uncle Fidel, Roseanne is my sister. We have the same father,” explained Téa.

“I see. Anna drove him away no doubt,” remarked Fidel.

“Typical Leon. Always a player…”

Téa swallowed, “What…what do you mean by that?”

“Anna was a nag. When we were little, Anna would nag me to play with her. Then, she would nag me about boys – what do boys like Fidel? No doubt, her constant nagging drove Leon loca,” explained Fidel crossing his arms.

“I’m not a nag,” thought Téa.

“What else was she like?” asked Téa, surprised by Fidel’s comments.

“You really want to know?” he asked.

“Si. I do,” said Téa firmly.

“Your mother was more interested in boys than school. Following them around. She always wore the latest fashions to entice them. She learned to dance to impress them. She was an insatiable flirt, dropping one boyfriend for another. Only she couldn’t drop Leon. Her infatuation with him resulted in a pregnancy and she had to marry him,” continued Fidel.

“I see,” said Téa, thrown for a bit of a loop.

“Umm. But Anna was cold with her feelings. She hoarded things. She wasn’t generous with her possessions. She had talents but was too lazy to use them to her benefits,” said Fidel.

“Wow,” said Téa, “Uncle José just told me…”

“José? Our brother adored her and couldn’t see her for the hard, cold, insensitive, manipulative woman she was,” said Fidel frankly.

“Well, it’s obvious you didn’t adore her,” remarked Roseanne who had been listening intently.

“I saw Anna for the person she was,” said Fidel.

“You paint a very different picture of her than I thought you would. It’s just taken me a bit by surprise, that’s all,” said Téa, a swell of emotions stirring up in her – in the pit of her stomach.

“You wanted to know. So tell me Téa Delgado, are you like her?” asked Fidel. His tone of voice was very no-nonsense.

Téa ran her hand through her hair, surprised at his question.

“I…I…” she stammered.

Roseanne spoke up, “For a long time, Téa thought she was a lot like her mom but I know this, she’s not cold or hard but wants people to think that at times. And Téa’s generous – she’s smart – and she doesn’t chase boys. She’s married you know – to a guy who cares about her a lot and I oughta’ know. Téa didn’t marry him because she was pregnant.”

Fidel looked at Roseanne and laughed, “Well, that’s good to hear.”

Téa stood up in an incredible rush to leave, “Thank you for meeting with us Uncle Fidel.”

“It was my pleasure. It is nice to hear you are a good woman Téa Delgado. I would like to stay in touch with you,” said Fidel warmly.

“Same here,” muttered Téa, walking toward the door.

They exchanged good-byes and Téa and Roseanne walked out of the building. Téa threw the keys at Roseanne, “You drive.”

Roseanne caught the keys and got in the driver’s side. Téa slid into the passenger seat. Roseanne started the car and drove off. Quickly, she glanced at Téa, wondering why she was so quiet.

Téa had her arms wrapped around her with tears streaming down her face.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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