PREVIOUSLY

Munching on the cookie Starr had offered, Todd could hear, very faintly, the groaning and moaning of the bedsprings as Tea shifted in her sleep. He had to hurry; he didn't like to leave her alone for too long.
He was sure his heart stopped in his chest when he heard her call his name; a pained, terrified sound.
"Tea!" he screamed, ripping off the Santa beard and taking the steps three at a time.
His half-eaten cookie lay upside-down on the floor, a frightened Starr left to wonder what had happened.

**************************************************************************************************

Part 7: Beyond

Todd ran into the bedroom to see Tea writhing on the bed in the throes of great pain, the sheets and blankets beginning to soak with blood.
He tried to think quickly.
It was Christmas Eve. Although it was already past 10:00, people would still be out doing their last minute Christmas shopping, or on their way to visit relatives.
The roads would be jammed.
An ambulance would take precious time they couldn't spare.
Hauling her into his arms, he paused only to pull his cellular phone out of the pocket of the coat that was draped across the chair. Dialing furiously, he told the hospital to be expecting them.
He ran down the stairs as fast as Tea's weight would allow him and yelled to Starr to follow behind him.
Sobbing, Starr obeyed.
Neither stopped to grab a coat.
Hurrying down to the parking garage, Todd unlocked the car doors and placed Tea, now completely unconsious, in the back seat.
"Starr, baby, come sit up front," Todd said breathlessly, and she did as she was told, the padded feet of her light purple sleeper already soiled.
"Put your seatbelt on."
He started the car and roared out of the garage and into the snowy night.

***********************************************************************************************************************

Todd paced the hospital waiting room, still wearing the ridiculous Santa suit. The snow-white cuffs and buttons were now stained with Tea's blood.
Starr sat in a chair nearby, sniffling now and then, stealing frightened glances at her father. Seeming to notice his daughter for the first time since their arrival, Todd attempted a smile, his lips quivering, and he picked her up out of the chair, holding her tightly in his arms, the not quite dried blood from his suit streaking onto her pajamas.
The elevator doors opened and Viki stepped out, heading toward them, a look of both shock and sympathy tainting her features.
"What happened?" she asked, her eyes widening when she spotted the blood.
"I...I was putting the gifts under the tree when I heard her...she called my name. I--I ran up the stairs and found her just lying there....bloody...." he trailed off, fresh tears beginning to slip quietly down his cheeks. "The docs said that....she's gone into labour. They still don't know what triggered it or....if the baby's okay."
"Oh, Todd..." Viki breathed. "I'm so sorry."
"Yeah. Me too," he whispered. "Tomorrow....she was looking forward to Christmas...."
Viki pressed her lips together in sympathy.
"Starr?" she said gently. Starr lifted her head off of her father's shoulder. "Would you like to come with me? I'll buy you some juice, okay?"
"I want to see Tee's baby," she said.
"Baby's not here yet, Starr. I'll come get you when...when it's born, okay?" Todd said, needing some time alone.
She nodded and Todd handed her to Viki, watching them disappear into the elevator.

***************************************************************************************************************************

Four hours passed. Five. Six.
Todd saw the sun beginning to rise through the small curtained windows.
To Todd every minute seemed like an eternity.
Viki had taken Starr to Llanfair and for that he was glad. He didn't want Starr to know that anything was wrong and, selfishly, he didn't want to be the one to break the news to her if anything happened. He grew more agitated by the minute. He knew that his baby, if it was alive at all, would be terribly premature.
He hated being in the hospital, where a haze of death clung to everything like a shroud. It reeked of antiseptic and sterilized rooms, blankets, needles, people.
Todd breathed deeply, trying to rid himself of the horrible claustrophobic feeling that was strangling him. He was sweating profusely underneath the Santa suit.
Just as he felt about to snap, the doctor rounded the corner. He smiled and extended his hand.
"Congratulations, Mr. Manning. You have a beautiful, healthy baby girl."

TO BE CONTINUED

....