Chapter Twenty-Eight

Several hours later, the flight attendant came and roused them from sleep with news that they were ten minutes from the Albuquerque International Airport. Orlando thanked the woman and Teresa got up to go clean up. Fifteen minutes later, they were walking through the terminal. Teresa had told her family that she and her friend would get their own transportation since they would not be burdening them with a place to stay, but would be at a hotel instead. As they headed through the terminal, they got many double takes from the passing crowd.

They hailed a cab outside and went to the Windham Gardens hotel, a central location between the residences of Teresa's parents and Adrian's parents. Orlando had never visited New Mexico before, and after such a long flight, though they had both slept most of the way, they were hungry and weary. They called down to the front desk and requested a cab. A half hour later, after they had both showered and dressed, the front desk called up to say the cab had arrived. They went down and took the cab to dinner. They ate at Copeland's, a Cajun restaurant at which Adrian and Teresa had visited only once because it was so expensive. Orlando let her choose where to go and did not mind that the prices were so high.

After dinner they called another cab and returned to the hotel. That night, they lay in each other's arms as sleep took them. Theresa had never felt safer since Adrian was alive. She hoped that Orlando was right, that Adrian wanted her to be happy again. She had never cheated on Adrian, though their private life had been nonexistent since James was born. Yet Orlando was almost always in her thoughts.

The next morning, they lay abed for a while and ordered room service. After eating their fill, they called a cab which they took to the car rental and acquired their own transportation. With that matter taken care of, Teresa took Orlando sightseeing. They visited the museums, and the zoo, then ate a wonderful lunch at a small café in Old Town of Albuquerque when they took leave of window-shopping for a break.

"Have you thought about what to say to your family?" Orlando asked curiously while they strolled through the other shops and boutiques of Old Town.

Teresa nodded. "I've thought of hardly little else," she admitted. Orlando figured this to be true for though she was glad of his company, she had seemed distant and distracted. Sighing heavily she said, "How am I ever going to face them?"

He moved behind her then, and wrapped his arms about her waist pulling her to him. "You will not be facing them alone, my love. Remember that," he whispered into her ear as he held her to his body firmly. He bent his head down slightly then, and kissed her on her temple.

They returned to the hotel later that evening after spending three hours wondering through Cottonwood Mall. Orlando left her alone for a while by spending some time out on the balcony of their room. While he was outside, Teresa picked up the receiver with a shaky hand. The phone rang three times before it was answered.

"Hello?" Naomi's voice sounded on the line. Teresa's throat went dry and she swallowed hard over the lump that formed in her throat. "Hello?" Naomi asked again. "Who's there?"

Finally Teresa found her voice. "Naomi?" she asked and the line was silent for a moment. In the background Teresa heard her mom ask Naomi who it was.

"Teresa?" Naomi said finally. "Teresa is that you? Where are you? Are you alright?" Naomi asked in a rush.

"Yes," Teresa answered. "I'm in town and I'm fine. I'm staying at a hotel with a friend."

"A friend?" Naomi asked puzzled. "Oh, yes. Mom said that you called them night before last to tell them you were coming. They said something about a friend coming with you. So, who is it?"

Teresa laughed lightly in spite of herself. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you, you will just have to wait and see," Teresa answered simply.

"Resa?" Naomi whined. "You know I don't like waiting…remember?"

Teresa laughed at her sister's childishness. Yes, she remembered full well Naomi didn't like to wait for anything. "Yes, I remember. However, that's too bad. You will just have to wait anyway," Teresa said as she smiled.

"Come on, Teresa," Naomi asked. "Please?"

Teresa laughed again, but caved. "Oh, alright," she said. "But I warn you, you won't believe me...but before I do, you have to swear that you won't mob him when we visit tomorrow. Promise?"

"Ok," Naomi said. "I promise. Now, who is this friend of yours?"

Teresa took a deep breath. "Orlando Bloom," she said matter-of-factly.

"Get out!" Naomi shrieked her voice filled with both excitement and disbelief.

"Now, Naomi," Teresa said in a condescending tone. "You promised not to mob him, remember?"

"Yeah, yeah. I know," Naomi said flatly. "What did you mean by visit though? Aren't you staying here?" Naomi asked confused.

"No, Naomi," Teresa answered. "I'm not staying. I'm returning to London with Orlando at the end of the week."

"Oh," Naomi said quietly. "You know mom and dad will be upset about it, not to mention Adrian's family."

"I know," Teresa said sadly. "But I think Adrian would want me to get on with my life, and not dwell on the past. I think he would want me to find happiness again."

Naomi knew that Teresa was right. Adrian had loved her sister. She couldn't have found a better man…except for Orlando, she thought with a smile and she knew Teresa too well. Her little sister had found love. That was why she had not wanted to stay with the family, but instead stayed at the hotel with Orlando Bloom, she now realized. "When are you coming?" she asked Teresa finally.

"The day after tomorrow," Teresa replied. "He has never been to New Mexico and I promised to show him around before we go back to London. You know sightseeing takes some time…we want to get as much done as we can before he has to be back."

Orlando came back into the room when she hung up the receiver. She rose from her chair when she saw him, though she remained where she was. Orlando crossed the room to her but stopped with mere inches between them. "How did it go? Well?" Teresa nodded and he smiled. "When do we go?" he asked.

"Day after tomorrow," she answered and tears formed in her eyes. Orlando looked at her in bewilderment as he reached up and caressed her cheek. "I still don't know how I am to get through this," she cried.

Orlando sighed as he closed the distance and took her into his arms. "I know, sweetheart," he said as he kissed her forehead. "I know. But, I'll be there for you. Just remember that. All you have to do is look beside you, and I'll be there. Remember also that Adrian would want you to be happy. You will not have to stay here," he said as he lifted her chin so that she gazed into the chocolate depths of his eyes. "I'll take you home. This has to be done though. You know that, my love. If the melding is to be completed, you must do this." She nodded slowly and he lowered his head and kissed her gently.

Two days later, both Adrian and Teresa's family met at a park that Teresa had requested, and shortly after they arrived, Teresa and Orlando drove up. "I don't know if I can do this," she said and Orlando reached over and squeezed her hand gently.

"I'll be right there with you," he said reassuringly and she nodded as she steeled her resolve. They stayed and she talked with her family for a few hours. Naomi truly couldn't get over the fact that Teresa had actually met Orlando. She thought that she had believed her sister before, but now Naomi realized that she had not until he was standing in front of her. Teresa told them all about what had happened after Dr. Jackson had sent her to London.

When they returned to the hotel, Teresa was in tears once more. Adrian's brother, Michael had really torn into her about leaving so soon after Adrian and James' death, and he didn't buy that she had not remembered anything about her life when Dr. Jackson had sent her to London. Orlando had nearly gotten into a fight with him over it.

After apologizing to her family, Orlando and Teresa left the park and Orlando drove back to the hotel. He carried her up to their room and laid her gently on the bed. He lay down next to her and took her in his arms but try as she might, he couldn't shelter her from the pain she felt and she cried herself to sleep.