PREVIOUSLY

She took his hands in hers. "Please, Todd. I feel fine now. I can help you take care of Noelle. Please. Let me die with dignity. Let my little girl know at least as much of her mother's love as I can give her before I go."
Todd nodded slowly, closing his eyes. "I'll....get the release papers."
"Thank you, Todd," Tea sighed, squeezing his hands lightly.
"Thank you."

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Part 10: Extraction

My dearest Noelle,

The first day I saw you, sweet little Noelle, I was filled with a magnitude of joy and happiness and love of which I'd never experienced before. The first day I held you, those feelings were magnified tenfold.
The day I found out I was going to die, all I could think of was you. Of how I'd never be able to see you grow up. I know that now, your eyes are blue, but will they turn brown, like mine, or hazel, like your daddy's? Will you have brown hair, too? I hope you don't have my big ears, love. If you do, I'm sorry. Are you going to like chocolate ice cream or will you prefer vanilla? So many questions that I will never find the answers to.
I wish I could be there when you take your first steps. Or on your first day of school. Or the day you graduate. Or your wedding day. I know you'll make a beautiful bride, love. Ask Daddy to show you pictures of our wedding day. You'll love them.
Your father is taking us home today, my love. I can't wait until I can show you your nursery, rock you in the chair Daddy bought just for us. I can't wait until you can meet your big sister, Starr. You two will get along well, I'm sure.
I had so many hopes and dreams for you, Noelle. Dreams that will now be left to fate and chance as I will not be here to see them through.

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"This is for the pain," Dr. Lancaster said quietly, passing Todd a small vial of pills. "If it gets too extreme, give her one pill every six hours; no more. And she will need oxygen during the final few days. I'll have a nurse come out and set up a tank and a mask."
Todd blinked rapidly, keeping his tears inside. "Is that all?"
The doctor nodded. "I'm sorry," he said simply, squeezing Todd's shoulder in sympathy.
Todd watched Tea cradling Noelle through the small window beside him and his jaw tightened in anger and grief.
He composed himself and pushed through the doors, securing a smile of false cheer as he said, "You two ready?"
Pulling Noelle's tiny pale green hat further down her forehead, Tea nodded, beaming happily. Todd knew she had been dreaming of this day ever since she discovered she was pregnant and for her sake, he attempted a shaky smile. His face felt like it was going to shatter into a million pieces.
With the baby in her car seat hanging securely from his left arm and the other around Tea's shoulders, the family stepped into the elevator amid the smiles and waves from the doctors and nurses. And Todd Manning took his wife home to die.

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"Tee never opened her present, Daddy," Starr said, pointing to the one present still under the tree. "The one I helped you pick out."
Todd's face paled and he said, "Now's not the time, Starr."
"Come on, Todd!" Tea exclaimed, "You two have been keeping this a secret for too long! I'm curious! Let me open it."
Starr scampered over to the tree and pulled it out from amidst an array of dying orange spruce needles.
"Here!" she said excitedly, putting it on Tea's lap.
Tea's eyes sparkled as she carefully peeled away strips of red and gold wrapping paper.
Under the paper was a pale yellow box. Lifting the top, she exclaimed quietly, "Oh!" and pulled out the most exsquisite musical snow globe she had ever seen.
It sat on three beautifully carved, brass-coloured legs and turning the knob on the bottom, it began to play "Rock-A-Bye Baby". Inside the dome was a woman, sitting in a wooden rocker, cradling a baby in her arms. The chair rocked slowly back and forth in time to the music. She shook it gently, and pink and blue-coloured sparkles floated around and then glided softly to the bottom. Todd saw a look of profound sadness flash across Tea's face and he regretted ever letting Starr talk him into buying it.
He was at a loss for words and was glad when he realized none were needed.
"It's beautiful." Tea's eyes shone with tears. "I just love it. It's very thoughtful."
Starr smiled proudly and Todd tried to gauge Tea's reaction. He decided she was sincere.
"Starr saw it in the window at Logan's and decided then and there that you had to have it," Todd said.
"Well then, thank you, Starr. It's the perfect gift."
"You're welcome, Tee."
Tea closed her eyes. "I'm....feeling a little tired. I think I'm going to take a nap," she said, standing and clutching the edge of the end table to steady herself as a wave of dizziness washed over her.
She ascended the stairs slowly, each step shooting tiny stabs of pain up her legs as though she'd climbed a hundred.
Todd came in a little while later and stretched out on the bed beside her. Looking at his sleeping wife, it wasn't hard to see she wasn't well. There were large, dark circles under both eyes and her face retained a pallor that could not be disguised by any amount of makeup. He recognized that look. He'd seen it many times before: on Suede Pruitt, his father, and on Patrick Thornhart. Right before they died.
It was a pallor of death.
Shivering, he slipped his arms around her. She shifted, her eyes fluttering open. "Todd?"
"Mmm hmm."
"Where's Starr?"
"I convinced her she was tired and put her down for a nap." He could feel her grin against his chest. He swallowed. "I love you, Delgado," he said suddenly.
"Love you, too," she replied sleepily.
And in that moment, Todd knew that no force--earthly or not--could separate them. Not even death.

TO BE CONTINUED

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