November 2001
Llanview
Alex Olanov leans the phone against her shoulder as she glances around her suite at the Palace. Impatiently, she taps her hand against the small, wooden desk. She's about to hang up when a breathless voice answers the phone.
"Hello?"
"And how's my favorite lawyer this fine evening?"
On the other end of the phone, Téa Delgado rolls her eyes. "What kind of trouble are you in Alex?"
"Trouble, moi?" Alex pauses, chuckling into the phone. "Maybe I'm in a little trouble."
"And you need me. Okay, where are you?"
Alex is silent.
"Alex? Hello?"
"Llanview."
The silence that greets Alex's announcement is not unexpected. She winces, only imagining what's about to come out of her very fiesty lawyer's mouth.
"To quote a man I once knew, I'd rather dig out my small intestines with a cocktail fork than set foot back in that town."
"Speaking of Todd..."
"Did I say Todd?"
"You didn't have to, I can hear him saying that one. Speaking of Todd, he looks just as miserable as you did the last time I saw you. I happened to notice him having lunch at the Palace yesterday."
"Did I ask?"
"No, but you were dying to. So, what time should I expect you?"
"You shouldn't. I'll send you an attorney."
"Téa! I need you, you are my lawyer and you know how to handle Bo!"
"Why is Bo questioning you?"
"Well, he might have the idea that I had something to do with the old cowboy going to the big rodeo in the sky."
"What?"
"You haven't heard?"
"Alex, I don't exactly keep up on Llanview events."
"Asa was murdered."
"Oh my God! Although, I can't say I'm surprised, he wasn't exactly the most loved citizen of that town. But why would Bo suspect you?"
"Well Asa and I didn't exactly have a loving relationship. And..."
"Yes?"
"I may have threatened him when I was in town last May."
"In front of people?"
"There might have been a few people around. But I know you can handle it, so please Téa. You don't even have to see Todd."
"Why do you think my reluctance to come to Llanview has anything to do with Todd?"
"Lucky guess?"
"There are many reasons that I want to stay away from there."
"Look, you can handle Bo in a matter of minutes and then you can go. And, you still have friends here. Carlotta would love to see you I'm sure."
"Oh, that's dirty," Téa sighs, realizing that she hadn't seen her surrogate mother in over a year.
"Come on, it'll be fun! Just like old times."
Téa leans her head back against the sofa, sighing deeply. Hearing this, Alex smiles, knowing she's won.
"Fine. Tell Bo I'll be there around noon. I'm just going to stop by the diner and drop off Jeremy."
"Ohhh how is he?"
"Adorable, of course."
"Of course, I can't wait to see him. Poor little angel. At least, with you, he's got a chance, Téa."
Téa smiles slightly, touched by Alex's compliment. "Thanks. I only hope I don't let him down. Ok, promise me you won't say word one to anyone until you see me."
"Cross my heart and hope to die."
"Ok, I'll meet you at Bo's office around noon."
"Thank you Téa, I really appreciate this. I know how you feel about this place."
"You better," Téa quips, hanging up the phone.
Alex sets down the phone and smiles. Her smile widens as an idea comes into her head. She takes out a little sticky note and picks up the phone again. She dials the number on the paper, startled when the phone is picked up almost immediately.
"What?"
"Charming as ever I see."
"Who is this?"
"Why Todd Manning, how could you ever forget your dear friend Alex?"
Despite himself, on the other end of the phone, Todd grins. Shaking his head, he flops down on the sofa. "Yeah, I heard you were in town."
"And I would love to see you."
Todd rolls his eyes. Well at least he would be entertained for a few hours of his miserable life. "Whatever."
"Is that a yes?"
"I guess I can spare an hour or two. Should I bring my checkbook?"
Alex laughs. "Might not be a bad idea. Seriously, I would just like to see how your doing."
"Fine, when do you wanna do this?"
"Well, unfortunately, I have a little matter I have to take care of at the PD in the morning."
"Oh yeah, I heard Bo was sniffing around you about Asa. Although, that could be a cover. He's had this weird thing for blondes lately. I'd dress in layers."
"And lose my edge?" Alex responds wickedly.
Todd shakes his head, laughing. "Good point."
"So, why don't you meet me at the PD, say, around 1?"
"Oh man, why do I gotta go there?"
"Because you do. So, tomorrow then?"
"Yeah, whatever," he responds, hanging up the phone. Alex grins. She walks over to the sofa and lays herself out on it.
"Alex Olanov as Cupid. Who would have thought?"
*****
New York
Téa leans over the crib, watching her precious son. She smiles, thinking how strange that sounded. Her son. A month ago, if anyone had told her she would be raising a baby in a month's time, she would have laughed in their faces.
But fate intervened, and suddenly she was a mother. Strange, how it was always suddenly with her. First Starr...now Jeremy.
She bites her lip, her eyes filling with tears as she thinks about all this poor baby had been through in his short life. She can't believe that anyone would have just left this little angel out somewhere, abandoned in the scary streets of Mexico. But as hard as it was to believe, that's what had happened, according to her client, who had stumbled across him. After going through the proper channels, Téa had taken him in. She wasn't sure what possessed her to change her life on a dime like that, but when she saw him, she knew that she could make a difference. And have someone in her life that loved her.
Sighing, she leans her chin against the top of the crib. She was dreading tomorrow. Yeah, she could be in and out relatively quickly, but the memories the town brought back affected her. Just being there would remind her of ..him.
Shaking her head, blinking back tears, she stands up.
"That ship has sailed," she says quietly, sadly.
Rubbing the back of her neck, she pulls a small bag out from the closet and begins to pack a travel bag for Jeremy. All the while, wondering how she was going to get through tomorrow.
To Be Continued