THE CONTRACT - PART THIRTEEN
PREVIOUSLY
"Tea. You should know that this is only the beginning. I've got much more planned for you," Blair says calmly, forming a wicked grin with her mouth.
"Well, whatever you have on your mind, I'm not up for it tonight, Blair. It's going to have to wait for another day. Now, excuse me." Tea tries to walk through the door, but Blair blocks her way. Seeing that any efforts to leave would be futile, Tea looks around and sits down in the nearest chair. She rubs the back of her neck as a dull pain slowly spreads from the base of her head down to her back. She settles in for what she can only assume to be a long night.
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"Well, are you going to say anything or are you just going to stand there trying to scare me," Tea asks angrily. She was tired and annoyed and the last thing she wanted to do was spend the rest of the night fighting with Blair. She had a headache and a back ache and didn't have the energy to defend herself.
"You're in some big hurry? Oh, I get it. You're ready to go to the home you stole from me. The home filled with my family that you're trying to claim as your own."
"Give it a rest, Blair. I didn't steal anything. Just because you're unhappy, you shouldn't blame me."
"Why not? Who's married to my husband? Who's the one who gets to read stories and play games with my little girl? Who's the one who got to move into a fairy tale dream house with that husband and little girl. You did, Tea. That should have been me. And if you weren't around, then it would be me."
"Oh, so you're going to try to get rid of me? Is that your big plan? You're going to torment me until I go running? Well, you tried that already, Blair. Remember? And I'm still here. Pushing me out of a window didn't get me out of your way. What makes you think anything else you try will be able to?" Tea stares defiantly into Blair's eyes. She was terrified of what Blair could do to her, but she wasn't about to show it.
"Well, I guess I'll just have to find a higher window next time," Blair says icily. Her facial expressions turn cold and hard.
Tea panics suddenly as she remembers that same look on Blair's face that night she went out the window. The fear and pain come rushing back as the memories from that night flood her mind. The pain spreads from the pounding in her head and shoots through her body like a shock. She leans over in agony, grabbing her stomach as if to shield the baby from Blair's vicious words.
"Blair! Tell me you just didn't say that!" Blair spins around and is face to face with Dorian, Kelly, and Cassie. They came in just in time to catch the end of Blairs verbal assault.
"Listen, Tea. Blair hasn't been herself lately. I'm sure she didn't mean what she just said," Dorian continues, trying to rationalize Blair's actions to Tea. She knew that those words could come back to haunt Blair one day, and she didn't want Tea to be able to hold anything against her.
Tea doesn't look up. Her only response is a cry, making Blair smile a victorious smile. She was winning. She was pushing Tea over the edge.
"Are you okay, Tea?" Cassie asks with some concern.
"Are you serious, Cassie? You're buying into this act? She just didn't like what I had to say. She knows that her world is about to come crumbling down all around her. And when it does, I'll be there to pick up all the pieces. I'm leaving. Who's coming with me?" Blair pauses momentarily, waiting to see if anyone joins her. When nobody makes a move, she storms out, letting the door slam behind her.
"One of us should go after her," Kelly says after Blair leaves. "She shouldn't be out there alone in the state of mind she's in."
"Fine, you go. I think something's wrong with Tea," Cassie says. "Tea, can you hear me? Are you alright?"
Tea answers with another cry, alarming the other women.
"Something's definitely wrong. Mother, please see what you can do. I'm going to call 9-1-1. Kelly, go get Todd."
All three ladies move quickly to accomplish their assigned tasks. None of them knew what was happening, but they all had a sinking feeling that Blair had gotten herself into deep trouble this time.
"Tea. Talk to me, Tea. I'm just trying to help you." Dorian stands over Tea's chair, gently rubbing her back and trying to get a response.
Tea sits up and looks around. "Is she gone?" she mutters through her sobs.
"She's gone, Dear. Blair left. Are you okay? You've been crying out, like you're in pain or something," Dorain asks her, taking on a doctor's tone. She notices Tea holding on to her stomach and surmises that's the source of her distress. But, she still gets no response from the young woman confirming or denying this diagnosis.
"Tea. You may not know this, but I used to be a doctor. If you tell me what's wrong, I can try to help you. Now, you seem to be having some problems with your stomach. Why don't you come and lie down on this couch? I'm sure you'll be more comfortable over there, and I can do a quick check up on you."
"I . . I can't. I can't move," Tea cries. "It hurts. Dorian, please help me. It hurts."
Dorian's heart melts hearing Tea's cries, pleading for help. This was a sight she wasn't prepared for. Seeing the normally strong and stoic Tea Delgado wimpering in pain in the ladies room of Club Indigo. She didn't know what Blair had done to Tea, but from the looks of things, she definitely crossed a line. Blair's involvement in Tea's current situation made Dorian feel guilty. She decided that she would do whatever she could to help the woman.
"I know it hurts, sweetheart. But I need to know where it's hurting in order to help you. How about we try this?" Dorian looks around for a minute before rushing off to the other side of the room and pulling the sofa cushion over to Tea. "Okay, you couldn't go to the mountain, so I brought the mountain to you," she says, trying to ease the tension from the situation.
Dorian has Tea settled on the cushions just as Cassie re-enters the room, with Todd and Kelly two steps behind her.
"The ambulance is on it's way. They should be here any minute," Cassie insists.
"Ambulance?" Todd asks worriedly. "Who needs an ambulance? What's going on in here? Kelly just said that Tea was crying!" Todd's anger starts to build up as he notices Tea curled up on the floor, clutching her abdomen. He runs over to her side and strokes her hair out of her face.
"What happened to her?" he yells, causing the women to jump slightly. "Did Blair do this?" He looks around the room at the remaining Cramer women, not really expecting them to answer. He knew that Blair was responsible for this. His tone softens, however, when he hears a quiet moan from Tea.
"Tea. What is it?" He wipes the tears from her face and takes her hand. "Are you okay? Is it the baby?"
"Baby! Todd, she's pregnant?" Dorian looks down at Tea and it all becomes obvious. She wonders to herself why she didn't notice the small bulge before. "Tea, I want you to prop your feet up here for a minute. I need to talk to Todd." Dorian stands up and walks towards the door, motioning for Todd to follow.
"Cassie. Kelly. Could you two wait outside for the ambulance? I'm going to have to examine Tea to make sure she's not in labor."
"Labor! How can she be in labor? She's just barely into her 4th month."
"I know, Todd. It wouldn't be good. But if she is in labor, you're going to have to keep her as calm as possible until the ambulance gets here. That means you're going to have to stay calm. Can you do that?"
Dorian watches the expression on Todd's face. She notices the lines of worry furrowing in his brow. She sees the fear and concern of the uncertainty of the situation take over his body and is utterly amazed. Here standing before her is a man whom she thought possessed no feelings or emotions. But to see him this way only added another piece to her mind's puzzle of Todd Manning. She realized that she would probably never figure him out. She was shocked at how much he cared for Tea. But she was even more surprised to realize that she felt something other than hate for him. She actually felt sorry for him. She says a silent prayer for them both, knowing that the next few hours were going to be critical.
TO BE CONTINUED...