CARELESS MEMORIES - PART SEVENTEEN
PREVIOUSLY
“Stop it now. There’s a baby’s life at stake. You two have got to work together to save it,” said Viki decisively.
Todd turned to Téa, “C’Mon, let’s go get down to the hospital.”
Téa frowned and took a deep breath. After asking Jessie to keep an eye on Trevor and the twins, Todd and Téa walked out. Viki and Kevin followed them.
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September 2001
Llanview General…
Todd and Téa walked into the emergency room, a strange sight, still dressed in their wedding clothes. Kevin and Viki were all ready there. They were talking to a doctor. Todd and Téa hesitantly approached them.
“You must be Todd Manning, the court appointed guardian ad litem. I’m Dr. Jervis. I’m Fiona’s attending OB/GYN,” said Jervis introducing himself.
“Where’s the shrink?” asked Todd.
“Who cares?” asked Kevin crossing his arms.
“Dr. Myers will be here shortly,” said Jervis.
“What happened and where is Fiona now?” asked Téa.
Jervis looked at her and raised an eyebrow, “Who are you?”
Todd put his arm around Téa’s waist and drew her into him, “She’s my wife…and my attorney.”
“Dr. Jervis, Téa Manning,” clarified Viki.
Jervis raised an eyebrow, unaware that the guardian ad litem had…a wife. He paused before continuing.
“Fiona’s helicopter will be landing shortly. A worker at Bellevue had recently mopped the floor but forgot to put out the slippery when wet sign. Fiona was coming from the rec room when she walked down the hall, lost her balance and took a hard fall. It caused her to go into labor…” explained Jervis.
“That poor kid…” muttered Todd.
“Fiona’s only into the second trimester, right?” asked Téa coldly.
“Fiona’s twenty-five weeks, counselor,” said the doctor.
Kevin swallowed, “That’s not good odds, is it?”
“No,” said the doctor.
“Do you have to do a C-Section?” asked Todd.
“Fiona’s too far into the labor for that. What I want to do is deliver the child and get it into an incubator as soon as possible,” said Jervis, “For there to be any chance at all. Most likely the baby’s lungs will be…very underdeveloped.”
“Sure – no problem. Do whatever you have to save the kid,” said Todd softly but firmly.
“Dr. Jervis! The helicopter just landed. Braxton’s scheduled for OR number three!” came an anxious nurse’s voice from down the hall.
“I’ve got to put on my scrubs,” said the doctor walking off.
“We’ll wait outside the OR,” said Kevin, his voice shaking.
Viki gave him a brief hug and they made their way down to the OR. Todd clung to Téa for support. Téa, honestly, didn’t know what to feel.
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Kevin paced outside the OR. Viki was sitting on the couch playing with her hands. Todd stood behind Téa as she looked out a window. They had a view of the Llanview skyline. Gently, he put his hands on her shoulders, and placed his cheek next to hers, “Thank you.” he whispered.
Téa just nodded her head. This wasn’t easy for her.
Suddenly the door burst open and a team of doctors rushed an incubator unit out of the OR. Jervis came out exhausted, sweat on his brow.
Viki, Kevin, Todd and Téa surrounded him.
“Well?” muttered Kevin.
“It’s a boy. Two pounds. His lungs aren’t developed as I feared. I don’t think he’ll make it…he’s very weak…” whispered the doctor as if in a trance.
“But, he’s alive now?” asked Kevin choking on the words.
“Yes,” confirmed the doctor.
“And Fiona?” asked Viki.
“She’s hemorrhaging. We’re trying to stop it now. She’s receiving a transfusion,” explained Jervis.
“Fiona could die too?” asked Téa coldly.
“If we don’t get the bleeding under control, yes, counselor, Fiona will die,” answered the doctor.
“When can I see her?” asked Kevin.
“Now is not the time,” said Jervis.
“Dr. Jervis! We need you back here Stat! There’s a drop in the patient’s vitals!” came a nervous nurse’s cry from the doorway of the OR.
Jervis frowned and rushed back into the OR.
Kevin looked to Viki for strength. Just then Asa burst in with Renee rushing behind him to keep up.
“I came as soon as I heard,” said Asa running up to Kevin, ignoring Todd, “How is she? How’s my Goddaughter?”
“It’s bad Grandpa. Both the baby and Fiona’s life are in danger,” said Kevin somberly.
“Asa, the baby is small and the lungs aren’t fully developed. Fiona’s hemorrhaging and they haven’t been able to stop the bleeding,” explained Viki.
Asa turned to Todd, “Damn you Manning! You’ve ruined that woman’s life!”
“Me?” exclaimed Todd, “What about what she did to my life? Besides, I wasn’t the one who knocked her up!”
Asa lunged at Todd and grabbed the lapels of Todd tux.
Todd began eerily laughing, “And what if I did knock her up old Man? Call it sweet revenge for all hell she’s put me and my family through…now I’m getting back at you and your family…”
Asa sneered, “Don’t!” He paused and raised a finger, “You’ll pay for this Manning. And my libel suit is only the first step.”
“Get out of my face old man,” said Todd evenly, trying to keep his anger in check.
“Asa, let go of Todd now or I’ll have you brought up on Assault charges,” said Téa standing next to Todd, her arms crossed, her eyes blazing with anger.
Slowly, Asa let go of Todd. Kevin walked up next to Asa, “C’Mon Grandpa, let’s go see Fiona’s son. Don’t forget, that boy could be my son.”
Asa turned around.
Todd took a step back, his fist clenched.
“I’m going to see that boy,” said Kevin, “Are you coming Todd?” his glare found Todd’s. Todd sneered.
“Kevin, let’s give Todd and Téa some time,” suggested Viki putting her hand on Kevin’s arm.
Kevin looked away and walked out. Viki, Asa, and Renee followed him.
Todd turned around, away from Téa, and slammed his fist into the wall. He left blood on it, and he cried out in pain, “Damn her! And him!”
“Todd!” exclaimed Téa rushing to his side.
Their eyes met. His face contorted in pain. She went down the hall to the nearest nurse’s station and picked up some bandages and dressings. When she returned, Todd was sitting on the couch, wincing in pain. She sat down next to him, gently taking his hands in hers and cleaned his bloody knuckles, delicately bandaging and dressing them.
Todd’s pleading eyes found hers, “I’m sorry Téa. I’m just angry – angry for letting her into our lives…”
“I know,” she replied. Her eyes softened his anger.
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Kevin looked through the glass at the small baby. Tubes, wires, and needles were delicately placed in his body. His tiny fingers wiggled. He looked weak. Kevin was visibly moved. Viki stood next to him. Asa and Renee stood behind him.
“What would Fiona want to name her son?” questioned Kevin choking on the words.
“Theodore, after her father,” said Asa softly.
“That’s fine with me,” said Kevin, “We’ll call him Ted.”
“Kevin, didn’t this affair with Fiona put the nail in your coffin to your marriage to Cassie?” asked Renee.
“Yeah,” said Kevin.
“Too bad Fiona didn’t love you,” said Viki dryly.
“Yeah, it’s too bad,” whispered Kevin, “I could have loved her…”
Todd and Téa walked into the hall. Todd left his bandaged hand in his pocket.
The attending nurse began to rush around in the ICU. Another nurse and doctor ran down the hall and flew into the ICU. Everyone peered into the window. Anxious. Nervous. Todd and Téa stood on one side of Viki and Kevin on the other side. After several minutes the doctor and nurses looked up. They waved their heads sadly. Tears ran down Kevin’s cheeks. Todd cleared his throat.
“Well, I guess it’s over,” said Viki somberly, “I’m sorry Kevin.”
“Yeah,” said Téa, “It’s over.”
“Not yet,” said Kevin, “Not until I know…”
He bolted down the hallway. Viki ran after him.
Asa walked out without saying a word to the Mannings and Renee followed him.
“I suppose we should make funeral arrangements,” said Todd, “I am the guardian ad litem.”
“Yeah,” whispered Téa, “It’s the right thing to do.”
Todd looked back into the window, watching the doctors and nurses intently.
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Hours passed. Viki had stayed with Kevin as he waited for some word concerning Fiona. Asa and Renee waited too. Finally Jervis walked out of Fiona’s room.
“I’m sorry to hear about the child,” said Jervis, “Fiona will make it. She needs her rest.”
“No more hospitals for Fiona. She’s coming home with me. I’ll arrange for the finest care and if need be, her shrink can stay at the mansion with us,” said Asa firmly, crossing his arms.
“How is Fiona?” asked Kevin.
“Fiona’s conscious but weak. She’s asking for you Kevin,” said Jervis, “And she knows…about her son.”
Kevin nodded his head, swallowed, and walked into Fiona’s room. It disturbed him to see the various tubes and IV’s stuck into Fiona.
“Kevin…” muttered Fiona weakly, “It was an accident. I’m sorry…”
“Don’t you want Todd here?” asked Kevin politely sitting down next to her.
“Is he here?” asked Fiona.
“He’s been here for hours. He’s made arrangements for your son…Theodore,” explained Kevin.
“Theodore. After my father,” Fiona choked.
There was silence between them.
“No, I don’t want to see Todd. I’m not in any condition to spar…with him…” muttered Fiona taking a deep breath.
“We could have been so good together Fiona – with your pictures and my words…” he said choking out the words.
“Maybe we still can…if you give me a chance…” whispered Fiona.
Again, there was another moment of silence as Kevin’s eyes found Fiona’s tired eyes.
“Asa said he’s taking you in. You’ll be staying with him,” said Kevin. He took her weak hand in his.
“I understand,” said Fiona.
“Fiona…is Todd the father?” asked Kevin, his eyes moist, his question sincere.
“Kevin,” Fiona paused, a weird look crossing over her face, “I don’t know. I…honestly…don’t know who fathered my child. But I knew this…” Again, Fiona paused to catch her breath, “I wanted to hurt Todd, like he hurt me. I wanted him…I wanted him to lose his family – like I lost mine. And I was willing to go any extreme…” again, Fiona paused to catch her breath. Kevin squeezed her hand.
“Fiona…I need to know…could the baby have been mine?” muttered Kevin, tears flowing down his face.
“Yes. I never planned to get pregnant. It just happened. I thought the pregnancy would convince people that Todd had slept with me…that we’d had sex…that he’d ‘f*cked’ me…and I could use it as a way to drive Téa from him – only Téa didn’t believe me. And she chose to stay with Todd. No one believed me…” explained Fiona.
“Fiona – My uncle – doesn’t give his heart easily to people and he’s less – how can I explain this…? The way Todd is…no one would ever believe he would cheat on his wife -–he's – I dunno…my uncle has never been comfortable with sex…he wouldn’t just sleep with you Fiona…he wouldn’t just ‘f*ck’ you…as you’re implying he has. What you did was pretty shitty Fiona. You’re screwed up in the head Fiona,” replied Kevin through tears squeezing her hand even harder, “But…I…want to…love you…”
“I’m sorry Kevin…” muttered Fiona through fresh tears.
“We could have been so good together…” whispered Kevin. He leaned over and his trembling lips planted a tender kiss on her lips. Their tears intermingled.
“Maybe…we still can?” she muttered.
The Front Desk…
Todd finalized Fiona’s paperwork. He said nothing thinking only of a small baby who had the unfortunate luck of having…Fiona Braxton…as his mother.
Téa walked behind him, placing her hands on his arms, “You’re very attentive Todd… to this child. Very generous…” she whispered… “I…”
He turned to her suddenly, “You what?”
“I…admire how generous you are to children – even children not your own…” she replied, “But our children – need us, now…”
He looked at her, “Our children…Trevor…the twins…I would never…Téa – you know I would never give my heart to another woman…” Desperately, he pulled her into him and began nuzzling her face, “You…you…are the only woman in the world who has my heart…only you…”
She nodded her head in acknowledgement.
Their kisses were tender and brief.
“You’re right…” he whispered, “It is time to go home – to our children…”
TO BE CONTINUED IN THE SERIES, “I TAKE THE DICE”.
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