CARELESS MEMORIES - PART ONE
PREVIOUSLY
Todd found his wife’s eyes again, “Delgado, I’m two for three…”
“What?” asked Téa.
“She’s got my eyes,” he said smiling.
Téa lightly laughed, “Tyler has my eyes, Todd.”
It felt so good to know Téa was all right and to hold Taylor in his arms.
He was overwhelmed by his family.
Viki smiled at them.
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July 19th
New York City…
Téa lay in her hospital bed, holding Taylor and Todd sat down a chair next
to her bed with his feet up and resting on the end of her bed holding Tyler.
The nurses had just finished feeding the twins and they were resting in
their parents’ arms.
“I got a hold of Carlotta and Blair. And Del,” said Todd softly, “They’ll
be up with T.D. and Shorty shortly.” He smiled at his new son, Tyler, who
just lay there in Todd’s arms.
“I can’t wait to see them. I’m just worried about T.D.,” said Téa softly,
rubbing Taylor’s arm lightly, smiling at her daughter.
“Why? He’s a good kid. He’s got manners – you know – like you – he’s well
behaved – he adores you – he even looks like you…” said Todd in a teasing
tone of voice.
“Todd, these are big changes in his life. It was just he and I for a quite
awhile. Then he got a father, he found out he had a sister, and now he’s a
big brother. I don’t want him thinking… we’re abandoning him,” said Téa
with concern in her voice.
Todd looked up at his wife, “Well, that will never happen. That kid will
always know we love him.”
“Yeah,” replied Téa softly, “The doctor wants to keep me another two days
for observation.”
“I’ll stay with you. We’ll ask Carlotta to keep T.D. until you get you
out,” said Todd. Tyler looked at him and opened his eyes briefly. Todd was
amazed how his eyes were as deep as Téa’s were.
Téa made a face. She really didn’t see where they had a choice but it was
stuff like this that might make T.D. feel left out.
There was silence for a bit.
“This guy is so cool,” muttered Todd.
“Todd, why did the brakes on the car fail? They were working fine when we
parked it,” said Téa quietly.
Todd looked up at Téa, “I don’t know why. All I know is that they were
tampered with.”
“I saw Fiona walking up from the parking garage as I was going down the
stairwell,” said Téa.
“Oh. That’s interesting,” said Todd.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” asked Téa.
“You mean, is it possible Fiona had something to do with it?” asked Todd,
“I thought about it. And I don’t know.”
Taylor began fussing.
“Oh, little one…what’s wrong?” asked Téa gently, “Do you have…to burp?”
Todd raised an eyebrow, “What are you doing asking a kid that?”
“You know Manning… I can’t wait till I get to watch you change diapers.”
Todd made a face. He hadn’t thought of that.
Between Llanview and New York City…
Del was driving and Blair sat next to him in the front seat. Trevor sat in
a child seat in the back next to Carlotta and Starr. And once again, Trevor
was worried about his mommy.
“Trevor, you’re awfully quiet,” said Del looking at the boy through the
rear view mirror. Del couldn’t help but notice how downtrodden the boy’s
facial expression was.
“Are we almost there Unca Del?” asked Trevor with concern in his voice.
“Soon, T.D.,” said Del.
Blair looked into the backseat and tried to smile, “Hey Little Tee – your
Mom is all right and you and Starr have a new brother and sister. Aren’t
you excited about that?”
“I’m excited, Mommy,” said Starr. She smiled at Little Tee. She didn’t
understand whey little Tee was sad.
“I just want my Mommy to be o.k.,” said Trevor sadly.
“Trevor, your Mommy is o.k. She is. You’ll see,” said Carlotta firmly
taking the boy’s hand in hers.
Blair looked at Del and whispered, “That kid is wicked sensitive…”
Del glanced at Blair, “Don’t go there, Blair.”
“Del,” she whispered.
“That kid is also an hemophilic – and that’s what makes for such a strong
bond between him and Téa,” whispered Del.
“You’re not going to mad at me now are you Del?” whispered Blair.
Del made a face and slightly smiled, “No, I’m not going to be mad at you.”
“Good,” said Blair gently rubbing his arm and smiling at him.
New York City…
Todd and Viki were looking at the twins through the clear glass of the
OB/GYN ward were the new babies were kept. It was early in the afternoon
and Téa was resting. Todd expected Del and his gang soon.
“Well, it’s good to see that Téa will be fine,” remarked Viki.
“Yeah,” said Todd smiling at her, “I worry about Tyler though. He’s still
too small to be tested.”
“You know – it took Téa a while to discover Trevor was a hemophilic,” said
Viki, “If Tyler is, there’s a good chance you won’t find out about it right
away.”
“Oh,” said Todd.
There was silence between them.
“What else is bothering you Todd?” asked Viki.
“Téa says she saw Fiona coming from the parking garage as she was going to
the car,” said Todd tightly.
“There’s something going between you, Téa, and Fiona isn’t there?” asked
Viki.
“Yeah,” said Todd.
Viki put her hand on Todd’s shoulder, “If you need to talk about it…”
“I don’t know Viki,” said Todd frowning at her, “You may not want to hear
it.”
“Since when did that ever stop you?” she asked lightly.
“Well, since you want it that way. Fiona claims to be expecting my child,”
Todd said laughing at Viki.
“Oh. Of course we know better. Anything else?” asked Viki.
“If she is pregnant at all, it’s Kevin’s…” added Todd.
Viki made a face, “I see.”
Todd turned to Viki. His face was cold and hard, “I swear to you Viki… I
swear… I am going to find out who put Téa’s and Taylor’s and Tyler’s lives
at risk… and they will pay.”
Again there was silence.
“Todd, I haven’t heard those types of words or that tone of voice from you
in quite a long time,” said Viki firmly.
“What are you saying Viki?” asked Todd turning to face the twins.
“Let it go Todd. Don’t become consumed with revenge. This is a time to
enjoy your family,” said Viki choosing her words carefully.
Again, Todd turned to Viki. His face cold and hard.
“I can’t let this go… I can’t let Fiona get away with this…”
“Daddy!” came a young girl’s voice. Todd and Viki turned around. Starr
ran into her father and gave him a warm and affectionate hug. Todd looked
past his daughter’s shoulder and saw Del, Blair, Carlotta, and Trevor.
Trevor was holding Carlotta’s hand and he looked very scared.
“Shorty, I gotta talk to T.D., all right?” said Todd softly into his
daughter’s ear.
“Little Tee is sad,” replied Starr.
Todd nodded his head and put Starr down. He walked over to Carlotta and
Trevor and knelt to face his son.
“Hey, T.D.,” started Todd.
Trevor just reached up and put his arms around Todd. Todd returned the
hug.
“Trevor,” said Todd firmly looking into his son’s eyes, “You know your Mom
and I love you…very much.”
“Love you too Daddy. Just don’t want to see Mommy hurt anymore,” said
Trevor.
Todd turned to look at Viki.
“I don’t want to see your Mommy hurt anymore either…”
Todd turned back to Trevor and picked him up, “Well, why don’t we go see
your Mommy, huh?”
Trevor’s face lit up.
“Viki – show everyone Taylor and Tyler,” said Todd briskly walking away.
Viki smiled.
Téa sat up on the edge of her bed with her legs dangling over the side
wearing a robe. She felt very sore but she’d felt this bad before and she
knew it would pass.
Her door flew open and Todd came rushing through holding Trevor in his
arms. She smiled at her guys.
“This little guy had to see you,” said Todd.
Trevor’s face lit up. So did Téa’s. Todd placed Trevor next to Téa.
Trevor put his arms around her and held her tight. Téa returned his hug and
looked into the young boy’s eyes. His father’s eyes.
“You were worried about me, weren’t you?” she asked.
He nodded his head.
“Well, I think it’s suppose to be the other way around. I’m supposed to
worry about you. I’m fine, Trevor, fine,” she said lightly but firmly.
“Love you Mommy,” he said.
Her smiled made him smile, “I love you too.”
Llanview…
Fiona Braxton walked into Asa’s study.
“Well, Fiona. I heard Manning’s wife was in a car accident, went into
labor and now there are new little Mannings running around. How could you?
Wasn’t Manning suppose to be in that car?” demanded Asa.
Fiona sat down in a chair across from Asa and sulked, “He was supposed to
be in the car. Not her.”
“Now what? I heard Manning fired you,” said Asa.
“I still have a trump,” said Fiona.
“Oh. What?” asked Asa.
“By claiming to be pregnant with his child,” said Fiona.
“Are you?” asked Asa dragging on his cigar.
“You don’t need to know the answer to that question. I know none of
Llanview’s press will report the event so I’m getting an outside paper to
report it. It’s coming out in tomorrow’s NY Times,” said Fiona, “I’m going
to make their lives hell.”
“Good. You just keep him pre-occupied with that while I deal with my docks
project,” said Asa, “I’ve got those workers right where I want them and I
don’t need Manning stirring up my dirt again.”
“Oh, I’ll keep him plenty pre-occupied,” said Fiona in an icy tone of
voice.
New York City…
Téa and Del were sharing a private moment in her hospital room. She was
resting on her bed. Del sat down in a chair next to her bed.
“Have you found out anything about Fiona?” asked Téa.
“Her parents were British. Diana and Theodore Braxton. Her father owned
several newspapers, fell on hard times and it left him with only one paper,
Der Post. Todd acquired Der Post. Teddy committed suicide shortly after
that. Fiona grew up in boarding schools. She became a photojournalist
because a desire to please her father and make him happy,” explained Del.
“Is she pregnant?” asked Téa.
“Yeah, she’s pregnant,” said Del, “This girl knows what she’s doing, Téa.”
“I think she tampered with the car’s brakes Del,” said Téa.
Del paused.
“I’ll find out if she did, trust me,” he replied.
They shared smiles.
TO BE CONTINUED
