PREVIOUSLY

He paced the living room, anxious for Téa’s arrival, as he played with his hands. The doorbell rang. Damn caterers! What did they forget? He swung open the door, coming face to face with…Fiona.
With an air of confidence, Fiona sauntered past him into the house.
Todd sneered.

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September 2001
The Manning House…

Fiona walked into the living room and looked around. The flowers. The candles. The dinner table. She was impressed, “For your wife, Todd?”

“Yeah, it’s for my wife. Now get out of my house,” said Todd firmly holding the door open.

“I think you want to hear what I’m going to say,” said Fiona crossing her arms.

Todd left the door open and walked past Fiona into the dining room. He tried to go about his business and ignore Fiona. He took two wineglasses and filled them up, “I don’t want to hear a thing you have to say. Get out of my house before my wife comes home.”

Fiona walked into the dining room and stood close to Todd, “Screw you Todd. I’m not leaving until you hear what I have to say.”

Todd immediately walked away from her and back into the living room, clenching and unclenching his fists, “All right, damn it Fiona. Hurry up and say what you’re going to say and then get out.”

Fiona followed him into the living room. Todd was pacing, anxious, nervous, and upset.

“I’m sorry,” said Fiona looking at the ground.

“What?!” yelled Todd incensed, “You’re sorry? Now?! You’re sorry!? I don’t buy it Fiona. Not for a minute!”

Fiona’s head snapped up and a strange eerie grin crossed her face. Without a word, she went into the kitchen and came back holding a glass of wine in her hand.

“You know what? I came here to honest to God apologize to you but now I don’t give a shit. You don’t believe me? Fine. I don’t care. You’ll be sorry you didn’t,” said Fiona taking a deep sip of her wine. She put the glass down and took a deep breath.

Todd stood still watching her, “Get out of my house now. You’ve said what you wanted to say.”

Fiona slowly walked toward him, hauntingly, and got into his personal space, “What are you going to do now Todd? Are you going to believe me now?”

Todd could feel the anger churn inside the pit of his stomach. His breathing became labored. He didn’t like it when Fiona taunted him. About his wife. His family. His sexuality.

“Don’t touch me, Fiona.” he commanded.

“Or what Todd? Are you going to grab my wrists the way you did that day in your office? Force my body next to yours? I aroused you that day and you know it,” she goaded.

Todd took action. He lunged at Fiona’s arm with his hand and tightly squeezed her bicep. Fiona winced from the pain and he forcefully dragged her across the living room and to the door. Fiona tried to struggle but he was too strong. Just as he was about to fling her out the door, she turned into her and leaned up into his face grabbing his lips with her mouth, instigating a deep kiss with him. Todd grew furious for kissing her, brought his other arm up on hers and forcefully shoved her from him, wiping his lips on his sleeves, spitting out her scent.

“Todd!”

He turned around, only to see Téa running up the driveway.

“Oh God, no!” he muttered as his expression fell.

Téa walked into her house. Her eyes grew wide. Fiona lay on the floor, unconscious, blood seeping from her nose. Téa’s stomach grew ill. Her whole body tensed up. She brought her hands up to her chest as tears began to flow down her face.

“Todd…what is she doing here? In my house? What happened?” said Téa raising her voice, “Is she…dead?”

“Téa…oh God…no…she…” Todd choked up as he hovered over Fiona.

Téa fell to knees and in disgust, got close enough to Fiona to determine she was still breathing, “Thank God,” she muttered as she looked up toward Todd, “We need to get her to the hospital.”

“Did you see what happened Téa?” muttered Todd, his voice cracking.

“I saw her in your arms Todd. And I saw you shove her…” said Téa through her sobs.

Todd choked.

“We have to get her to the hospital Todd before she dies on us!” exclaimed Téa.

Todd, filled with disgust himself, picked Fiona up in his arms and they took her to Llanview General. The silence between them spoke volumes of the fear they felt. Fear that Fiona may be seriously hurt. Fear that Téa…wouldn’t understand and fear that Todd really did tease Fiona into that kiss. God, no! She thought.

God, no! He thought. She just had to understand. Fiona was being Fiona and he just wanted her to stop.

They pulled into the hospital and had Fiona admitted. Téa placed an uncomfortable phone call to Nora. It was all Todd could do to watch the swirling maelstrom around him. Shocked. Simply shocked. And worried – over Téa.

Minutes passed as Todd and Téa silently paced the emergency room halls. Asa and Nora arrived first. Kevin arrived with Viki.

The doctor walked out after examing Fiona. Everyone gathered around. Todd stayed off to the side.

“Fiona will be all right. She is conscious. She sustained a mild concussion,” said the attending doctor.

“Thank God,” muttered Kevin.

“That’s good to hear,” muttered Asa glaring at Todd.

“What happened between her and…Todd?” asked Nora trying to retain her objectivity.

Todd hung his head. Téa wrapped her arms around herself. Afraid. So afraid. For her and her family.

“Fiona doesn’t want to press charges. She says she had instigated Mr. Manning verbally and Mr. Manning tried to shove her away from him and used too much strength. It was an accident,” explained the doctor, “That is what occurred Mr. Manning?”

Todd nodded his head ‘yes’, “Yeah that’s what happened.”

“You Bastard! Can’t you leave her alone!?” yelled Kevin getting in Todd’s face.

Téa, clearly incensed, shoved herself between Kevin and Todd, “You stop it! You get her to leave Todd and me and our family alone!”

“Téa?! Why are you defending him? He’s betrayed you yet again!” exclaimed Kevin.

“I did not betray my wife!” shot out Todd.

“Expect us to file for a restraining order Nora. Immediately. Against Fiona. I want her to stay at least 100 feet away from my family at all times – including my husband!” yelled Téa. Nora nodded her head. She could understand Téa’s position, recalling Georgie Phillips…but something was different with Fiona. Nora had spent some time with Fiona recently and something about her…was complicated.

Then Téa directed her attention toward Kevin, “And you – Your damn girlfriend is a stalker, Kevin! She’s nothing but a damn stalker and I’m going to make her stop!”

“Whatever,” said Kevin turning away. He went into Fiona’s room.

Viki looked up into Todd’s tormented eyes and could see the anguish in them.

Nora and Asa walked off leaving Todd, Téa, and Viki in the hallway.

Téa turned to face Todd and wiped her face with her hand. She searched out his eyes. He didn’t want to look into her eyes but did so.

“Why?” Téa whispered, her voice full of doubt and insecurity.

“I…don’t know why Téa…I don’t know why she was kissing…me…” he muttered full of shame, tearing his eyes away from hers. So hurt, “She wanted…to apologize…but I wouldn’t listen. I insisted she leave.”

Téa took a deep breath and ran her hand through her hair.

Todd turned around and walked away.

Shocked, Viki turned to Téa. She could see Téa’s body torn – trying to decide if she should go after Todd or not, and finally Viki saw doubt. Téa had doubts – Téa’s body was wracked with fear and doubt.

“I should go…after him,” whispered Téa, “He shouldn’t be alone.”

“No – wait. Let me talk to him for a bit,” said Viki, “You need some time too.”

Téa tearfully nodded her head and watched Viki go after Todd.

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Viki found Todd in the hospital chapel. Todd, defeated, was on the floor, on his knees, in pain, his head in his hands. Viki ran to his side and cradled him in her arms.

“I didn’t want to hurt her Viki! I just wanted her to leave me alone!” lamented Todd, “Will she be all right? You gotta’ believe me – I didn’t want to hurt her…”

“I think Fiona will be just fine,” said Viki firmly.

“Physically? She’s fine?” asked Todd, his body shaking.

“Yeah, Todd,” said Viki calmly.

Todd let out a deep breath and Viki could feel a tremendous amount of tension drain from his body.

“I hurt Téa today. I mean, I really hurt her…” muttered Todd gaining his composure.

Viki game him a quick smile.

“…you know, I was waiting for Téa to come home, Viki. You know…I had plans..” he continued.

“I know you had plans Todd – you told me…” said Viki comforting him.

“…you know…we…me and Téa…we thought she was pregnant again but it turned out…she wasn’t…and I wanted her to be…so bad Viki. I did! I wanted it! So I was going to talk her into it you know…gently…you know…I got the flowers and the gifts and the dinner and it was going to be special Viki…and now – I don’t know how to tell her – I don’t know how to face her…” cried Todd in despair.

“Oh Todd, you can tell Téa anything…” whispered Viki, “You know that…”

Todd and Viki heard the door open and Téa walked in. Her eyes found Todd’s. Both were full of sadness and confusion. Todd stood up, wiping his face on his sleeves and faced her.

“Talk to me…” whispered Téa walking into his personal space.

“What do you want me to say?” he asked.

“Anything. I want you to say anything. Don’t close…your heart to me…” she said softly wrapping her arms around herself.

Todd remained silent.

Téa closed her eyes briefly and then opened them again, “It doesn’t matter all right. It doesn’t. I know what Fiona is capable of. I know you didn’t instigate her to do what she did. We’ll file for a restraining order okay. That will help. I know how you feel. I know you love me.”

Todd reached out and cupped her cheek in the palm of his hand, “I…love…you…Delgado but I can’t do this…right now…I need time…to myself…”

“Todd, no…”

Todd turned to Viki while still touching Téa, “I’ll be staying over your house tonight.”

He turned to Téa and again found her eyes. He mouthed, “I do love you,” and walked out.

Téa watched him leave, a jumble of emotions, “Viki?”

“Téa, something Todd wanted badly to have with you tonight…was ruined for him and he needs his space – so he can figure out how to fix it,” explained Viki.

“But I need him. He doesn’t have to do this alone,” she whispered, “And I don’t want to go home…alone…without him or the kids there…”

“Téa – give him the space he needs. Give him tonight. And then first thing tomorrow, be at Llanfair…” said Viki pulling her sister-in-law into her arms.

Téa sobbed in Viki’s arms, not understanding what was going on in her husband’s mind…

TO BE CONTINUED

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