Téa walked over to her bed and sat down on it looking at the package.
Slowly, she opened it and found a handwritten note on top.
"Delgado, Blair and Max giving you a hard time? Well you're smart…"
"Hope you had a good time in Chicago…"
"I like to give you things Téa…things you never had…I like to see your face
light up when I give them to you…"
"Valentine's day is coming up – Rodd would get you something mushy…I'd keep
it simple…"
"Don't worry about getting me anything just remember your promise – to make
this work…"
Téa put the note aside. She fumbled through the package revealing the 2 of
hearts playing card.
"It's the emergency substitute card – it lets you do over anything in your
life you didn't get right the first time…"
"Are you asking me for another second chance?" whispered Téa.
She lay down on her bed, clutching the card in her hand.
The next day…
Téa had a working lunch with Hank and Bo and was in the Palace's dining
room with them. She picked at her salad.
"…so, Barbara and Sykes took the offers…yada…yada…yada…"
"God, I am so stupid! I forgot to check the postmark again…but it's
upstairs…I could excuse myself," thought Téa.
"…Graham's lawyer wants a deal…yack, yack, yack…"
"I could research DID treatment clinics on the East Coast…" thought Téa.
"I didn't like what…" droned on Hank.
"What if I find Todd and the DID is real…what do I do?" thought Téa.
"Téa?"
"Huh?" said Téa looking up from her salad.
"Téa, your opinion?" asked Bo.
"Oh, I'm sorry. What was the question?" asked Téa focusing on Hank and Bo.
"Graham trying to strike a deal – what do you think about it?" asked Hank.
"Oh. No deals. What comes around goes around you know," said Téa taking a
sip of her water.
"Téa – you're ruthless," remarked Hank.
"And pre- occupied again," added Bo.
Téa frowned, "It's just been a busy day, that's all."
"I'm with Téa, no deal. Let's take him to trial," said Bo.
Téa stood up, "Excuse me, I forgot something in my room. I'll be right
down." Téa walked off.
"Téa's been pretty spacey lately Hank," said Bo.
"It hasn't effected her ability to perform," remarked Hank.
"Yet," said Bo.
Téa walked into her room and grabbed the package of Todd's latest package.
She searched for the postmark.
"Providence, Rhode Island?" muttered Téa.
Her phone rang. She answered it.
"Téa Delgado."
"This is Hank Bottoms from Milton Reality…"
"Yes?" asked Téa anxiously.
"Your husband did indeed purchase a house…"
"Where?" asked Téa feeling like she had gotten somewhere.
"On Llantano Mountain outside of town. It's still in the process of being
built…"
Téa was definitely surprised, "The house isn't built yet?"
"It's not complete yet…another month it might be ready…"
"Thank you Mr. Bottoms. Goodbye," said Téa.
She hung up the phone and smiled. Todd wasn't lying about wanting a
house…! She went back downstairs.
Téa joined Hank and Bo again.
"You o.k., Téa?" asked Hank.
"Never better. Now where were we?" asked Téa.
Blair Cramer walked over to Téa, Hank, and Bo's table and threw her drink
on Téa. Téa shot up out of her seat and Hank got between them as Téa lunged
for Blair.
Bo grabbed Blair, "What was that for?"
"Téa…don't you EVER go near my little girl again. Do you need yet another
reminder who her real mother is?" yelled Blair.
Téa took a napkin off the table and wiped her face.
"Maybe you need to ask Starr…if she wants to see me, her STEPMOTHER,
instead of forcing your restriction on her…" spat out Téa.
"My little girl wants nothing…" started Blair.
"Blair, you just assaulted Téa," said Bo, "If I were you…I'd hope Téa didn't press charges…it would be a shame if Starr had to go visit her mother in
jail…"
Blair sneered at Bo. And at Téa.
"Well, Téa?" asked Hank, "Are you going to press charges?"
Téa paused, giving it some thought.
"Yeah…" whispered Téa, "Yeah…I want to press charges."
"What?!" said Blair, "Do you want your STEPDAUGHTER to visit her mother in
jail?"
"I want you to know you can't get away with what you did Blair – Starr is
not suppose to be your scapegoat after the fact. You should have thought
about Starr before you threw that drink in my face," replied Téa.
Bo escorted Blair out of the palace.
"Hank. I need to go change…" muttered Téa.
"Yeah, sure. No problem. Meet me at the police station," said Hank.
Téa walked upstairs.
Todd's room…
Todd walked into his room and turned on the light. He had just come from
an appointment with Dr. Rhodes. And it had frightened him. Pete
frightened…even him. He threw copies of the Sun and the Banner on his bed.
He sat down on the bed, took out a deli sandwich he had in a little brown
bag and started to eat his dinner.
The Sun's headline was about Senator Graham's problems and mentioned ADA
Téa Delgado.
"That Téa – she's exquisite, no?" came Rodd's voice.
"Delgado is…all woman," said Todd outloud.
"I'd like to have her Todd, like I had Marty…" came Pete's voice.
"No!" yelled Todd, "Not Delgado. You'll never have her – she loves me –
not you. And I know that…"
He took a deep breath and reached for the phone quickly dailing numbers.
"Dr. Rhodes? It's Todd Manning. I've just had an episode…I was thinking
of my wife…I love my wife, you know…"
Dr. Rhodes talked Todd through the episode – calming him down. There was
still work to be done.
To be continued....