PREVIOUSLY

“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…

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September 2001
Late in the evening…

Téa listlessly walked into the house and turned on the lights. She felt empty, drained, sad, and lonely. The house was empty. Todd and her children were staying over night at Llanfair. She let out a breath and ran her hands through her hair, looking through her living room and down the hall. With no energy, she walked down the hall and looked into Trevor’s room. Empty. And right now, more than anything, she missed her son. She glanced into her bedroom, not having the heart to go into it without Todd. She went back into the living room. Todd wasn’t coming home tonight…and she didn’t understand why. She thought she’d said all the right things. She thought she’d done all the right things. Told Todd she believed in him. But this time, it wasn’t enough. Something had occurred between Todd and Fiona. Something that upset him greatly. So greatly, he couldn’t share it with her.

With tear filled eyes, she looked around. Flowers adorned the house – all roses. She finally noticed the air in the house was sweet and fresh. And she finally observed the strategically unlit candles. She wandered into the dining room noticing the cold, catered dinner. On a plate, she observed a rose, a key, and a small wrapped jewelry box. She picked up the key and looked at it. The key to her new house, she supposed. A tear fell down her cheek. Todd wouldn’t have done all this if she wasn’t…pregnant – would he?

“Is that what all this was for Manning? Were you trying to tell me that I was pregnant again?” she asked outloud, “Why couldn’t you just tell me? What happened between you and Fiona?”

She wrapped her arms around herself and leaned up against the table.

“Damn. I’m pregnant. Again,” she muttered, a million emotions flooding over her from fear to anger to a mild sense of joy. While neither of her previous pregnancies had gone well she had to admit she enjoyed having Todd’s children. But what if this child was a boy? What then? Did she have enough courage for him if he was a hemophilic too?

Téa walked over to the couch, made the sign of the cross and prayed for strength before crying herself to sleep.

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Llanfair…

Todd walked in and went straight up the stairs without saying a word. Jessie, who was chatting in the living room with Joey, noticed. They both made faces at each other like they didn’t understand. Shortly after that, Viki walked in and noticed them in the den. She joined them.

“What’s with Uncle Todd?” asked Jessie.

“He’ll be staying the night,” answered Viki allowing herself the luxury of fixing herself a drink.

“He have a fight with Téa?” asked Joey with concern.

“Not quite,” replied Viki.

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Todd opened the door to Trevor’s room. He was sleeping peacefully. He thought of Starr. How he missed her. He was thankful the weekend was coming up. With Blair and Del going off to Vegas to get married, he would have her for the weekend.

He watched Trevor snuggle up next to his teddy bear. How adorable he looked in that bed. So much like Téa. Trevor was quite a handful for his age and quite a blessing for him. In his own way, Trevor had brought his parents back together again and Todd would always be thankful for that. He closed the door and went to check on the twins.

Tyler was sleeping. He smiled at them. They had both grown so much within the last three months and he couldn’t wait until they were older so he could get to know them better.

Taylor was awake and squirming. He raised an eyebrow, wondering why she was up so late. He checked her diaper. Wet. He made a face and changed it, glad there was no one around to see him. The smile on her face after he changed the diaper was all the reward he needed. He picked the little girl up in his arms and smiled at her, amazed by her. She had Téa’s nose and cheekbones. Taylor tried to imitate his smile and awkwardly clapped her hands together. Slowly, he walked out to the spare room with his daughter in his arms and laid down on the double bed, placing her on his stomach. She awkwardly raised her head so she could look at the funny man making faces at her.

“You look a lot like your Mom – but you’ve got my eyes…aw…and my chin. I bet you’re going to grow up just as pretty as her. You and Starr are going to have it rough though. No dating until you’re thirty,” laughed Todd.

Taylor beat her tiny hands on his chest and tried to imitate his laugh.

“So – where’s your Mom, you ask? Yeah – I know. The chick who changes your diapers in the middle of the night? She’s not here. I can’t see her right now…” started Todd. Taylor’s smile became a serious stare as she listened to the tone of his voice.

“You know, you and her have a lot in common. You’re gonna be okay – you won’t have bleeding problems like T.D. but when you have kids…you could give it to them – like how your Mom gave it to you…and Trevor…” said Todd intently.

Taylor wrinkled her nose and he grinned at that. She was listening to him.

“I never realized just how much that bothered her. All I cared about was having more kids with her ‘cos your Mom – she’s a good Mom, you know?” he paused for her reaction.

She lightly beat her hands on his chest again, grinning, as if to say, “Yeah, I know.”

“Your Mom – is an incredible woman to make love too. We can’t get enough of each other. But she’s not pregnant and I think she’s not too hip about getting pregnant again, so I wanted to do something really special for her…kind of like getting her into it…flowers, dinner…that kind of thing…” said Todd pausing.

Taylor opened her mouth and went “Blah…” He laughed at that.

“But Fiona had to ruin it by coming on to me and I…hurt Fiona…I pushed her so she hit her head. Got a concussion,” he stopped to take a breath.

Taylor stopped fidgeting.

“It bothered me that I hurt Fiona like that. I didn’t think I could do that…to a woman…” said Todd, “At least your Mom didn’t walk on while we were kissing.”

Lightly, Taylor tapped his chest as if to say, “It’s okay…it’s going to be okay…”

“I really wanted tonight to be special for me and Téa. I wanted to see her reaction to all the mushy stuff. I needed to see her reaction so I knew if I could talk her into having another kid, you know. I wanted her to look at me the way she does. I wanted to hold her hand…whisper in her ear…and now I can’t do that. Now – how do I tell your Mom she’s not pregnant and take away or at least ease her troubled mind about getting pregnant and the hemophilia? You got any ideas Taylor?” he asked.

Taylor rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes.

“Fell asleep on me, huh? Figures…” he whispered, “What do I say to her when I see her again? You know what? I kinda miss her all ready. I definitely don’t want to spend another night without her.”

Todd placed his daughter down beside him on the bed, put a gentle, protective hand over her back, and allowed himself to go to sleep.

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The next morning…

Todd stirred. He felt Taylor fussing and rolled over.

“Yep. She’s fussing,” said Todd outloud. He looked at his watch. It was six. He checked her diaper and quickly changed it. She continued fussing but not as loudly.

“Now what? Hungry?” he asked the baby fussing on the bed.

She looked at him with sad, hungry eyes.

“Okay girl…” he said picking her up and turning toward the door…

Téa was there at the doorway, holding a bottle, wearing yesterday’s clothes, looking tired. Their eyes met and they shared looks of confusion, apprehension, and relief that they were…together again.

“Want some help Manning?” she asked, her voice drained.

“Yeah,” he said just standing there not breaking eye contact.

She walked up to him and took Taylor from Todd’s arms and smiled at the fussing girl as she fed her the bottle. Todd’s heart was flooded by an overwhelming feeling of love for both of them.

She looked at him, “We need to talk Todd.”

“Yeah – we should talk,” he said. He sat down on the bed motioning for her to join him. She sat down next to him and they faced each other.

“Todd, don’t ever take the kids from me again. I went home to an empty house last night. And I didn’t understand why,” she said firmly but with a tone of hurt in her voice.

“I would never take the kids from you. They need you. They need their mother,” he replied just as firmly and just as hurt.

She adjusted Taylor’s bottle.

“I think she missed you,” said Todd.

“I missed her too. What about you? Did you miss me?” she asked.

“Yeah, I did,” he replied.

“What do you have to tell me?” she asked softly.

He was silent.

“Talk to me…” she said, “The house is adorned with flowers. There’s a cold catered dinner in the dining room…and this…” she said awkwardly reaching into her pocket pulling out his small, wrapped gift.

He took the gift out of her hand and held it in his own.

“Yeah…I did all that…” he started, nervous and apprehensive.

“How does Fiona fit into the picture? Why was she kissing you?” asked Téa softly, adjusting the bottle to Taylor’s squirming.

“She claimed she wanted to apologize – for what, I don’t know…” he started.

“Is that when you pushed her?” she asked.

“No. She was hounding me – following me around the house. When she wouldn’t leave I grabbed her and tried to throw her out…” continued Todd.

“I see,” said Téa trying to understand.

“Yeah – Téa, I didn’t want any of this to happen last night,” he said. It felt good to watch Téa and Taylor together.

“We’ll file a restraining order today. I’ll serve Nora personally,” said Téa pausing, “I don’t think you wouldn’t have done what you did to the house if I wasn’t pregnant Todd. That’s it, isn’t it? I’m pregnant again?” she asked seriously. Taylor squirmed. Todd was looking at her intently.

They shared a moment of silence between them.

“No, you aren’t,” he confirmed.

A tear of relief fell down her cheek.

“See? I ruined it for you. For us,” he said crossing his arms, nervous.

Téa saw Taylor was full and put the bottle aside, content just to hold her young daughter in her arms.

“I was so scared. Thank God…I don’t think anything is ruined Todd,” she whispered.

“You didn’t want this, did you?” he started, so hurt.

“You’re right. I wanted to wait. I really do, Todd. I want us to wait,” she answered.

He uncrossed his arms and nodded his head.

“What about Fiona?” asked Todd.

“What about her?” said Téa. She could feel Taylor snuggling into her, getting comfortable.

“It doesn’t bother you?” he asked intently.

“Yeah, it bothers me Todd. She bothers me. But…I trust you Todd. When I see look at me and see you with the kids…I know it’s us you want. Us and our family,” she answered.

Without a word, he leaned into her aggressively finding her lips. The kiss was light and comfortable. He leaned back to look at both of them.

“Téa, just so you know…I enjoyed that kiss with you right now.” he started.

“Todd, just so you know…I will forgive you anything just like I know you will forgive me anything. Do yourself a favor…and forgive yourself,” she replied firmly.

There was silence between them as he let her words sink in.

“What about…how do you feel about getting pregnant again and the hemophilia?” he asked after the pause.

“I’m scared about it, Todd. Two out of three of my children have inherited it. And while I know Trevor can grow up to be a happy and healthy adult, it still doesn’t take away the pain of knowing I might as well have given him that limp he has now. I don’t want to hurt another child Todd…” she said softly.

Taylor fell asleep.

“Neither do I. But think of the benefits. Two parents and brothers and sisters who will love him or her greatly. Don’t…let…our love…for each other…be hindered…by this…” he said, struggling to find the right words.

A tear fell down her cheek. He wiped it away with his thumb as he inched closer towards her.

“Promise me you’ll think about it Delgado,” he said.

“I will,” she answered.

“So, are we okay now?” he asked.

“We’re okay,” she whispered, visibly moved by his presence and his words.

He held up his hand, “I want you have this.”

She paused, moved by his gesture. Gently, she put Taylor down the bed, close to her and took Todd’s gift. Taylor squirmed a bit.

He watched with eager eyes as she opened it. Her face lit up as she discovered a necklace. Attached was a heart and in the middle was a small diamond.

“Todd, it’s beautiful…” she whispered.

“Look on the back,” he said.

She did. The initials TD and TM were entwined.

They became lost in each other.

“Oh Todd, thank you…” she whispered.

“I’m taking the day off. Let’s go home and hang out…with our kids,” he said as he took the necklace and placed it around her neck.

She nodded her head as he gently stroked her face.

TO BE CONTINUED

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