The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
AFFLICTION
BY TROG |
CHAPTER
13 |
CHAPTER 13
Tea walked into Carlotta’s room pushing a wheelchair with a bright yellow shopping bag perched on its seat.
“What’s this,” said Carlotta, smiling at Tea’s vibrancy in her long, white sweater and jeans, her hair long, wavy and wild. Today Tea looked alive.
“Today, mi amiga, I’m taking you for a ride. I talked to Dr. Rubin and she said there was no reason for you to stay all holed up in here on such a gorgeous Spring day. And there’s a lovely courtyard on the lower level, filled with crocuses and daffodils and green grass and lots of fresh air and sunshine.”
“But...Tea...I can’t go out like this,” she said looking down at her hospital gown.
“No, you can’t. That’s why I brought you some clothes,” said Tea, smiling away as she pulled some clothing out of her bag. “I bought this lovely blue sweat suit for you. It has these cool break-away pants and zippered top so its easy to put on. I bought you some matching sneakers with zippers instead of laces...the latest thing...so cool. And some underthings and socks...so you see...there simply is no excuse.”
Carlotta laughed at Tea as she spilled the clothing on the bed. Tea was filled with happiness and vitality and it filled Carlotta with joy just watching her lively spirit flittering around the room.
Tea closed the door for privacy, than sat on Carlotta’s bed and began to help her dress with the gentleness of a loving and respectful daughter. She pulled off her dingy hospital gown and pulled out a pretty white, lace bra and panties as Carlotta laughed.
“Tea! I never wear such delicate underthings,” she said as Tea helped her carefully into them not wishing to cause Carlotta any discomfort.
“My mother, Ana, used to buy me beautiful underwear--silky and lacey--even as a little girl. I remember her telling me that growing up in Puerto Rico she had been very poor and her underclothes were rough and homemade, so she always wanted me to have lovely underthings and nightgowns, a habit I still have to this day,” said Tea, tears coming to her eyes. “It’s amazing the things we remember from our childhood, isn’t it?”
Carlotta gave her a hug and sat back as Tea admired her handiwork.
“You have a beautiful body...do you know that, Ms. Vega. When you feel better...I think we need to get you out in circulation. You deserve to be loved again...by a man!”
Carlotta laughed as Tea carefully put the sweat suit and sneakers on her. Then she applied some make-up and brushed her hair. Finally Tea stood up.
“There. You are a vision of Latino loveliness. Muy caliente. Now it’s time to get you out of that bed.” she said as she went to the door and called a nurse.
A sturdy, blond nurse came in to aid Tea and get Carlotta into the wheelchair. Tea pulled Carlotta’s legs gently off the bed and the nurse put her arms around Carlotta’s waist and helped her into a seating position. Reaching for the wheel chair, Tea pulled it beside the bed then she and the nurse each put an arm around Carlotta and maneuvered her into the chair. Carlotta winced a little at the stiffness and soreness of her body, having laid in bed for so long.
“Are you okay?” asked Tea with some concern.
“I’m fine, mija, just a little sore.”
Tea kissed her lovingly and with a smile and a wink she rolled her out of the room and headed for the elevators as the nurse waved good by to them. They entered the elevator, rushed passed the nurses’ station on the first level and within minutes Tea pushed the wheelchair through the sliding doors into a beautiful courtyard filled with newly sprung bright, yellow daffodils and lavender crocuses.
Carlotta smiled, breathing in the cool, fresh air for the first time in a week and let Tea spirit her around the long, winding, brick pathways of the courtyard until they came to a wooden bench at the end. Tea braced the brakes of the wheel chair and sat down beside Carlotta watching other patients strolling around and listening to the birds as the morning sunlight warmed their faces.
“This is just what I needed, mija...thank you,” said Carlotta, reaching over and taking Tea’s hand. “What has gotten into you today...you look so happy...so lovely.”
Tea flashed her a beautiful smile.
“I’m gloriously happy...but enough about me...let’s talk about you. You’ve said so little about this, Carlotta. How are you really feeling?”
Carlotta’s smile faded a little.
“This disease that has invaded me...this cancer...it has changed me, mija. It has forced me to take stock of how I’ve been living...taking so much for granted...specially time. Time. I thought I had so much...I kept putting things off because I thought I had so much more time.”
Tea kissed her hand.
“I don’t want to hear you talking like that. You are going to beat this thing because...because you are Carlotta Vega...and you are a fighter. But you’re right about how you use your time. You need to jump back into life, mi amiga. Your boys are all grown up and you need to concentrate on you...and the rest of your life. You are such a beautiful woman...and there is some man out there looking to love you and make you happy. I want to see you live again...not whither on the vine...or waste away pouring coffee behind the counter of your beloved diner. You are too young and vital to let that happen. It‘s time for you to be selfish.”
Carlotta watched her and smiled.
“Yes, lately...I’ve been feeling rather lonely...it’s true. I haven’t been with a man since Hank and I broke up. But at my age, querida, it’s rather difficult to find the kind of love you’re talking about.”
“No! It’s not. Just look at Vicki...she and Ben found each other and I’ve never seen a happier couple. I want that for you, Carlotta...I want you to be with someone who makes you feel...alive...and completely loved.”
“Is that how it is for you, Tea?”
Tea looked up at the sky, her mind drifting to this morning when she awakened in her lover’s arms and they laughed and cried together with joyous delirium.
“Yes,” she said, her eyes brimming with tears. “That is how it is for me...now.”
**********
“Todd!”
Todd turned around from the window at The Sun, having been staring at the sunny blue sky and reliving this morning in his head, waking up from a deep and healing sleep, drunk with love for Tea Delgado who lay asleep in his arms. Ben Davidson was standing there staring at him.
“What the hell do you want?” said Todd coldly. Ben Davidson was married to his sister, and he seemed to make her happy, but he had never liked the man. Perhaps it was jealousy, Ben monopolizing all the time she used to spend on him...but there was nothing but polite animosity between them.
“I need to talk to you...it’s pretty important,” said Ben looking around the office and closing the door behind him.
“What could you and I possibly have to talk about?” said Todd walking over to his chair and sitting behind his desk.”
“Tea!” said Ben, walking toward the desk.
Todd shot up angrily.
“Oh, I see...Vicki sent you here, right? To tell me to stay away from her? Well...THE HELL WITH YOU...AND THE HELL WITH VICKI!!” yelled Todd as he walked over to the door and yanked it open violently. “Get the fuck out of my office...and stay out of my life...and Tea’s.”
Ben watched Todd silently. He could never understand Vicki’s irrational love for her brother...he was a major screw-up and a bit of a psychopath, but his feelings for Tea were obvious from his outburst at the mention of her name and he knew he had been right in coming. He walked over to the door and closed it.
“Todd...Tea’s in trouble.”
Todd’s lips parted slightly and his eyes became focused and fearful.
“What? What are you talking about...you don’t even know, Tea?”
Ben walked back into the office and paced a bit nervously.
“No...but I know her husband. Vicki and I ran into the them a few nights back at the Palace bar. When Tea introduced us I thought he looked familiar...and I think he felt the same way, but he didn’t let on. Well, I just couldn’t get his face out of my head...so perfect...so...cold. The next day it came to me...where I’d seen him before.”
Todd walked over to him.
“Where?”
“ Las Vegas. I only saw him once at a...meeting.”
“A meeting? What...a business meeting?”
“A meeting of...crime bosses. I’m sure being a newspaper man you have more than a passing familiarity with my background...and what my father did for a living.”
Todd ran his fingers nervously through his hair.
“He’s a mobster...is that what you’re telling me? Tea’s married to a ...a...some wiseguy, Mafia creep?”
Ben shook his head gravely.
“No. It’s worse than that. He’s a professional assassin...a contract killer. He’s a hit man.”
Todd stared blankly at Ben then started laughing out loud. He was howling as he walked over to the sofa and sat down, holding his sides as he continued to laugh.
“Oh...good one, Ben...for a second there you really had me going. Is that suppose to scare me into staying away from her? Tea is married to a boring businessman named Aaron Blackmoor who sends her roses with baby rattles in them!”
Ben took a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Todd. Todd stared at a black and white image that looked very much like Aaron Blackmoor.
“I made some calls to a few people I know in Vegas and they faxed that to me. The only picture known of...Goldenboy...that’s what he’s known as internationally. He’s lethal...and very expensive...a million dollars a hit...and he never misses.”
Todd continued to gaze at the picture, shaking his head.
“You’re out of your mind! This is not him. Maybe there’s a resemblance....but Tea is married to Aaron Blackmoor.”
“Goldenboy has dozens of identities from what I understand...but he’s of German decent. His real name is Klaus Herzog. His grandfather, Gustauve Herzog was a general in Hitler’s luftwaffe who escaped the U.S. invasion and wound up living in Argentina...then Canada. I think that’s where Klaus grew up...that’s all I know.”
Todd started pacing around.
“Do you have any idea how B-movie this all sounds...how absurd? Tea wouldn’t marry a hit man!”
“I’m sure Tea has no idea what he does for a living. Vicki told me he’s an international business consultant...a perfect cover to go in and out of the country a few weeks at a time without anyone suspecting anything. Todd...I’m telling you that Aaron Blackmoor is Goldenboy. He’s legendary in organized crime circles. Also...I was told that he’s looking to retire...only looking to do a few more hits and then disappear. That’s where Tea comes in. A cold-blooded killer like that doesn’t look to fall in love...so he meets Tea...and now he decides he wants her, he wants a family...he wants out.”
Todd glared at Ben for a moment, processing the information before bolting for the door.
“I have to go warn Tea,” said Todd.
“Are you crazy?” yelled Ben, stopping Todd dead in his tracks. “The only thing saving Tea is that she knows nothing...keep it that way. This guy’s anonymity is his insurance. I only got a look at him because someone was hit and they needed a doctor that wouldn’t talk. I could count on one hand how many people know his true identity. Todd...you can’t tell her...or he’ll kill her.”
“You’re telling me Tea is married to a killer...and I’m suppose to do nothing? Are you out of your fucking mind? What the hell am I suppose to do?”
“I don’t know.”
Todd shoved his hands in his pockets and looked out the window.
“Ben...Tea’s going to leave him...for me. We talked about it last night, I’m ending my marriage to Blair and Tea’s waiting to tell him when he comes back in a few days,” said Todd, turning around to face an astonished Ben. “How do you think...Goldenboy...will take that.”
Ben shook his head slowly.
“This is a man who murders people with the same regard as a dentist filling a tooth. It’s a job to him. Now he’s giving it all up...for a woman. Now this woman is going to leave him? What do you think he’ll do, Todd?”
“Well, do you have any suggestions., Ben...other than killing him myself which I’m perfectly prepared to do.”
“Look, Todd...you said we had a few days till he comes back to town, right? Let me think about this. I’ll come up with something. Just don‘t panic...and don‘t say a word to Tea,” said Ben, heading toward the door.
“Ben?”
Ben turned around. Todd just looked at him for a long time before speaking.
“She’s...EVERYTHING...to me,” said Todd.
Ben just nodded slowly, then walked out.
to be continued...
2002 Copyright by Trog
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