CARELESS MEMORIES - PART FOURTEEN
PREVIOUSLY
“C’Mon – stop it – now. I mean it, Téa. Stop it. Please? I can’t stand to see you like this…” his voice was shaking.
She pulled away to look at him, “It’s just catching up with me Todd. I’m mad. I’m really mad at that woman for what she’s done to this family.”
“So am I,” said Todd. And then he confidently leaned into her, kissing her, trying to make her pain – her hurt – go away. She kissed him back. They got caught up in the intimacy of the moment.
*****************************************************************************************************
August 2001
Bellevue…
Todd sat behind the wheel of his car, a new model BMW. Bellevue was only five miles away. Téa sat beside him in the front seat just staring out the window. She had been pretty quiet on this trip. And he was worried about her. She had gotten very angry that day in the judge’s chambers when he was named Fiona’s guardian ad litem and she had been cold and distant ever since. He wanted his wife back but he didn’t know what he could do or say…
They had only one conversation about Fiona since that day. They agreed to go to Bellevue once every two weeks to check on Fiona and get a progress report from her therapist.
“Hey, Téa…” said Todd softly.
“Ummm, Todd?” questioned Téa slowly as she turned her head to face him.
“I don’t want to be here either,” said Todd. He pulled into the parking lot.
“I know you don’t,” replied Téa.
Todd parked the car, overwhelmed by Téa’s sadness. He turned to face her before getting out.
“What?” she whispered.
Todd intently looked at her, put his hand behind her neck and pulled her into his lips for a passionate, desire filled kiss – full of intensity and emotion. He was pleasantly surprised by the intensity of her lips on his.
“What was that kiss for?” asked Téa as they parted, her eyes not leaving his.
“Courage. Strength. For me – and for you,” said Todd.
“Thank you,” said Téa, “I love you.”
***********************************************************************************************************
Todd and Téa walked into Dr. Myers office at Bellevue.
“Mr. Manning, I presume? Usually I deal with Mr. Buchanan,” said Dr. Myers getting up from behind his desk, “You’re Fiona’s court appointed Guardian ad litem?”
“Yeah,” said Todd.
It was silent between them. Dr. Myers looked at Téa.
“I’m Dr. Myers, Fiona’s therapist,” said the doctor trying to break the ice.
“I know,” said Todd.
Again, Myers looked at Téa.
Téa held out her hand, “I’m Mr. Manning’s attorney…”
“…and WIFE…” added Todd.
“Téa Manning,” finished Téa.
Dr. Myers shook her hand, “It’s nice to meet you.”
“So, how’s the kid?” asked Todd.
“Fiona’s developed a diabetic condition but we’re carefully monitoring it,” said the doctor.
“Oh,” said Todd, “And is she still loony tunes?”
“She’s very…fixated… on you Mr. Manning,” said the doctor.
“You don’t say,” replied Téa, “Dr. Myers I don’t think it’s wise for Todd to see Fiona right now.”
“I agree. I want to discourage her obsessive behavior towards you,” said the doctor.
“Dr. Myers, I’m going to leave our numbers with you in case you have to reach us concerning Fiona’s condition,’ said Téa reaching for a pad of paper on his desk.
“Thank you,” replied the doctor.
*********************************************************************************************************
The Sun…
Upon their return from Bellevue, Todd dropped Téa off at the house and went to the Sun to do some work. As he walked into his office he saw Kelly and Briggs looking at a demo front page for the Sun’s late edition. They were grinning from ear to ear.
“What do you two have to be happy about?” muttered Todd walking over to his desk.
Kelly showed Todd the demo.
Todd looked up, “Asa Buchanan behind his own problems on the Docks?”
“We got him Todd,” said Kelly beaming.
“Real good,” added Briggs.
“We nailed Asa?” asked Todd breaking into a smile.
“Yep. Asa got a little sloppy on his paper trail and Jed’s source came forward with it,” explained Kelly.
“Betcha old man Buchanan is squirming like a worm right now,” said Todd.
“How much you want to bet he comes storming here wanting to buy us off?” asked Kelly.
“That’s a sucker bet Ms. Cramer. What we should bet on is how much Asa is gonna bribe us with,” said Briggs.
Todd and Kelly turned and looked at Briggs.
“Briggs, you surprise me,” said Todd happy as a clam upon hearing the news.
Just then Asa stormed in, furious.
“Manning – you sanctimonious piece of scum! I heard what you’re going to press with. How much?” bellowed Asa.
Todd just grinned, “Sorry old man. Keep your money. I’m keeping my headline.”
“Manning – haven’t you done enough? You got my Goddaughter pregnant – you put her in the loony bin…” started Asa.
Todd saw red, “Look here old man – your…whatever…caused my wife to go into premature labor, assaulted my wife and gave her a black eye, kidnapped my son who now walks with a limp and too boot – she’s not even pregnant with my kid – oh no – your precious little Kevin is responsible for that mess – you’re getting what’s coming to you. So, sit back, relax, and let it happen.”
Asa snarled at Todd, “You print that headline and that cockamamie story and I’ll sue you for libel Manning.”
“Sue me Gramps,” said Todd.
Asa stormed out.
Briggs looked at Kelly and Todd, “Think he’s pissed?”
Kelly and Todd looked at each other then at Briggs.
“Yeah Briggs – I think he’s pissed,” said Todd, “Now go get that headline down to the print room…”
***********************************************************************************************************
The Manning residence…
Todd walked into his house. It was late in the afternoon and he couldn’t help but be in a good mood.
Téa was lying down on the couch holding Taylor up and making faces at her. Taylor was smiling and making girggling sounds. Tyler was squirming in the playpen.
Todd smiled watching the two of them together. Téa glanced over at Todd and then back at Taylor.
“Can you say hi to Daddy?”
Todd walked over to the couch and stood over them.
Téa took Taylor’s little hand and waved at Todd.
Todd’s heart melted seeing his wife and daughter smile at him. He leaned over and kissed Taylor lightly on her forehead. Then he did the same to Téa.
“Where’s Trevor?” asked Todd.
“Blair picked him up. He’s spending the night with Starr,” answered Téa.
Todd sat down in front of the couch, “What ya’ doing?”
“Bonding with my daughter,” said Téa.
Todd rested his arms on the couch and put his chin on them, looking up at Téa, “You know today started out bad but it ended pretty good.”
Téa rested Taylor on her stomach.
“What’s up Todd?” she asked. Taylor turned her head to look at her daddy.
“The Sun got the goods on Asa. He’s pis…ah, mad. Gonna sue me for libel but I don’t care when tonight’s late edition hits the streets all of Llanview is gonna know of Asa’s dirty tricks,” said Todd proudly.
“I’m happy for you Todd,” said Téa.
“For me? For us Téa – I’ve exposed Asa’s hypocrisy. No one is going to hurt my family again,” replied Todd firmly.
Taylor squirmed and tried to reach for Todd with her little hand.
“Yeah,” answered Téa.
“Hey – what’s up Delgado? You’ve been moody since the judge did us dirty,” said Todd, “I want my wife back.”
“Todd, you haven’t lost me,” said Téa reaching for Taylor’s hand. Taylor tried to grasp Téa’s finger.
Todd got up, gently picked up Taylor and put her in the playpen. He sat back down on the edge of the couch over Téa.
He paused before speaking and took his hand gently rubbing his fingers through her hair.
“I want you to laugh with me like you do. I want you to be happy like you were the night we saw each other in the church. I want you to kiss me like you did this morning…” started Todd.
“Todd, I love you,” whispered Téa finding his eyes.
“Do you?” asked Todd, “You’ve been distant…”
“Yes, I do love you,” said Téa putting her hand on his chest, rubbing it over his shirt, “I do. I love you.”
“I know this stuff with Fiona – I know she’s put you through hell – me too – but Téa – don’t do this…” pleaded Todd.
“I don’t want to talk about her,” said Téa, “I don’t want to talk at all.” She took her hand, placed it around his neck and pulled him into a kiss. He savored it. The kiss comforted him.
“I love you Todd. I do. I don’t want to live without you again,” she whispered, “And Fiona made me think…I just might have too…”
“No. Nothing will ever tear us apart. Nothing.” said Todd intensely. He closed his eyes and leaned back over her, placing gentle kisses on her neck.
“I rented that chalet again for next month’s festival…” whispered Todd into her ear.
“You did?” muttered Téa becoming around by his attention.
“I had such a good time in Puerto Rico Téa… I want to go back again…” he said kissing her check and unbuttoning her top. He pushed the shirt aside revealing her soft skin and her bra. He began to rub her stomach.
She moaned.
“Come back to me Téa…come back to me and bring your heart – and your soul…” he said struggling to find the words.
“Todd, I never left. I promise you – nothing and no one will ever come between us,” she replied. She reached up, unbuttoning Todd’s shirt and rubbed his taunt, hairy chest. Todd undid Téa’s buckle and unzipped her pants.
“Todd…the twins…” whispered Téa looking over his shoulder.
He looked back. The twins were looking at them and squirming. His head fell on her chest. His hair tickling her soft skin.
“Let’s put them to bed, huh? I want to make love to you…” suggested Todd.
“Let’s,” agreed Téa finding his eyes as he lifted his head, “I need you Manning. I’m here. I never left.”
Todd seductively smiled at his wife.
“God, you are so sexy,” she whispered biting her lip.
Todd zipped up her pants and helped her up off the couch. They put the twins to bed and retired to their bedroom.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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