The Lines We Wouldn't Cross (Queen of the South)

Part 2- She Is Really All Alone

Teresa stood in the middle of the corridor for a second and thought that she owed amends to everyone, just that her relationship with James was the most complicated one, it would have to wait.

She found herself in front of Pote and Kelly Anne's suite and disregarding the late hour, knocked. The door opened almost immediately and Kelly Anne in sweats and a loose top, hair in a pigtail, shily smiled at her while stepping aside for her to enter.

"Everything ok?" Kelly Anne said in a low voice.

"Yeah...", Teresa didn't know how to start but as she heard running water again, she knew Pote wasn't joining them, which was good as she wanted talk to her friend alone.

"I came to say that ...ahh...I didn't mean to be so curt and snappy with you today....", Teresa struggled for words as a direct apology somehow wasn't coming out. "I just am not ready to call it quits here ...despite the problems that we have...and may have as we grow the business".

Kelly Anne nodded briefly and sat down on the chair she had been occupying before, eyes fixed on Teresa.
"And...ahh...now that I know you guys are expecting...I understand why you may be hesitant to take risks, believe me I get it!", she finished fast daring Kelly Anne to say something.

As she only lifted the glass of juice from the table and took a slow sip, Teresa added: "Please, tell me you understand."

"I do", Kelly Anne said with a sad expression, "I'm the easy one to ..ahh...be made to understand...you shouldn't worry about me... Pote is already making plans to send me away...I mean I can work the legal matters from anywhere...it's the men you need to ensure understand the risks...", her voice trailed off and Teresa had the distinct feeling that she had said 'the men' but she had meant one of them, as the other one, would certainly follow her with no questions asked.

"Is Pote also upset with what we did tonight?" Teresa said, just to verify her hunch.

"Pote...he...gets upset when there's discord among us...you see?...He said James was very down when he left for the hit." Kelly Anne's face didn't hide her sadness.

"What exactly does 'down' mean?" Teresa's English was better than at any time before, but sometimes Americans really confused her with the use of general phrases which could mean ten things!

"You'll need to talk to Pote himself...as he saw James out, not me ...or maybe firsthand to James ...", Kelly Anne sighed as it was clear this conversation was not easy on her: "I'm not giving you personal advice...I'm just worried about you ...and us...all of us."

"I know", Teresa felt a tiny bit lighter as it was clear that Kelly Anne didn't hold a grudge, as well as that she would readily ship to wherever Pote would send her, if the situation escalated again.

Teresa felt she had gotten some understanding that only partially qualified as forgiveness, but the stakes at the top remained high and she felt more alone that ever! She felt she was biting her lower lip hard as she closed the door on her way out.

Kelly Anne stared at the closed door after Teresa for a full minute without blinking.

It had cut like a knife when her friend had snapped at her today but telling Teresa the truth was not a place Kelly Anne was willing to go to. She had almost cost this woman her life a year ago and had been taken back in the family; she had been a traitor and deserved to be made to feel down; her only option was to bury it and hope her friend would find her way with the other members of the family. The thought of the family breaking down terrified her, but the thought of putting herself and her unborn child in danger terrified her more.

A few minutes later Pote came out of the bathroom, towel around his middle, water still glistening in the hair on his chest and head.

"What was this about?" his voice was grumpy.