Chapter 10

Friday, November 18, 2004

1100 EST

Warehouse District

San Francisco, CA

"Thank you, Bud, that's what I wanted to know. How are things going at the office? Any problems I should know about?"

"No, Sir, the Colonel has everything covered. Did you want to speak to her?"

"No, Bud. I trust all of you to take care of things. I will be back as soon as I can, thank you again." He hung up the phone and turned to Tessa, asking her if she would come over to the couch. When they had sat down he told her what Bud had found out. He knew this had to come as a shock to her, thinking one thing all these years and finding out that her whole life had been a lie.

"Does that really prove it was my mother?" she asked desolated. "Could it be someone that mother knew and not her?"

"Tessa, it makes sense, if your mother needed to hide because she was expecting you and my sister offered her the use of her identity...Damn it!" he exclaimed.

"What's wrong, AJ, did you think of a way to prove who my mother really was?" she grabbed his hand and held on tightly.

"Yes! I am an old fool! The answer was right there in front of me all along!" he flipped open his cell phone again and dialed his sister's number. When she came on the line he asked, "Adele, was your friend's name Martha Anderson?"

"Yes, Martha May Anderson. Did you find her and her daughter, AJ? Remember your promise to me and don't force them to do anything they don't want," she answered with an order.

"Adele, your friend passed away recently. I am here with her daughter, and you were right, she is an artist. Her paintings are amazing."

"Martha May is dead? Oh my, that's so sad to hear. Send my regards to her daughter. So little Tessa has become quite the artist, has she? You'll have to buy one of her painting and send it to me," sighed Adele. "I'm going to miss hearing from Martha May, maybe Tessa will write me once in a while."

"I will tell her that you would like to hear from her, Adele, but I don't think that I will send you any of her paintings!" AJ laughed at the thought of his sister seeing one of Tessa's works.

"Well why in the world not, AJ? What an awful thing to say! You said she was good at what she did, why not send me one to admire? I love good art as much as anybody," scolded his sister.

"I just don't think there would be a place that you could display it there, Adele. And I am not sure how comfortable you would be with her subjects."

"You could give me a chance to find out for myself. You don't know what my taste are, goodness you haven't been to visit in eight years, I'd probably love one," insisted Adele.

Giving Tessa an uncomfortable grin since she was right there and able to hear his side of the conversation, he said into the phone, "Adele, she paints nudes...MALE nudes!"

"Oh, my goodness, really. Does she have any small ones?" whispered his sister. "You know like maybe a 5X7 that would be nice in my room."

"ADELE CHEGWIDDEN! MOTHER SUPERIOR OF THE LITTLE SISTERS OF SAINT MARY! I am ashamed of you!" AJ tried to keep the laughter out of his voice. He could not believe what his sister the SISTER had just asked him.

"Oh, it's just as well I'd probably end up lusting after it and have to do penance," Adele sighed.

"Well, I will tell you what, sis, Tessa has asked if she could paint me...I will have her do a small one for just you!" AJ could not keep the laughter from his voice now

"No thanks, brother, I've seen your naked tush many times before, when we went skinny dipping as kids," laughed Adele. "I wanted to see what a real man looked like."

"I will have you know that I have NEVER had any complaints, sister dear!"

"Tell Tessa hello for me and remember your promise, AJ. She is to go nowhere she doesn't want to. Have to run, we have an important guest arriving. Get your butt back here to see me soon. Love you little brother. Bye."

"Goodbye sis, I hope that we can visit again soon."

Adele, too choked up to say any more, simply hung up her phone. She hoped AJ would keep both his promises. He wouldn't force Tessa to leave a home she was happy and he would come back soon and she her. She missed him very much.

To be continued…