HAZY SHADE OF WINTER - PART TWENTY THREE
PREVIOUSLY
“Ah,” spoke up Téa, “Anton, Cameron is her father. You can’t take that
away from her. But you can be her friend. First and foremost – just be her
friend. That works. Trust me. I know.”
“I will try my best Téa,” said Anton taking her words to heart.
Téa reached out to him and cupped his cheek in her hand, “I’m sorry. Twelve
years ago I took your daughter away from you without asking. The least I
can do now is try to give her back to you.”
Anton put his hand over Téa’s and closed his eyes.
“Thank you,” he replied.
******************************************************************************************************************************************
March 1999
Saturday morning…
Todd rolled over and threw out his arm. It flopped down on Téa’s side
of
the bed. He rolled onto his back and rubbed his eyes.
“Téa?” he muttered. He could feel the early morning rays of sunlight
on
his face.
“Yes, Todd?” came her voice.
He looked up. She was standing next to the window with her nightie on,
watching the sunrise. Todd was naked underneath the covers.
“Come back to bed,” he instructed.
She smiled at him and walked over to the bed, sitting up behind the
covers.
Todd sat up too, revealing his broad, muscular chest.
He turned to look at her and she grinned back at him, adoring his
attentive
look. Aggressively, his mouth overtook hers and he placed a hand on her
tummy gently rubbing it through the silk of the nightie. She kissed him
back with equal passion as she brought her hand to his shoulder. He
broke
the kiss off so they could come up for air.
“Wow. That was incredible,” said Téa.
“No kidding,” he said. He glanced at her tummy, “So, you think we got
ourselves a little Manning yet?”
She giggled, “It’s only been a week, Todd.”
“Yeah, but it only takes once,” said Todd with a wicked grin, “I really
want you to have my child.”
“I really want to as well,” replied Téa, “I’ve never seen you this
anxious.”
“I just want something that bonds me and you together – intimately,”
said
Todd continuing to lightly rub her tummy through the silk.
“Todd, I’d say we have a pretty intimate connection, even without a
child,”
said Téa smiling at him, enjoying his attention, his presence…
“Yeah…but a child tells the whole world we belong to each other…” said
Todd
through a sexy grin.
“Something is bothering you Todd? What is it?” asked Téa, her voice
becoming serious.
Todd leaned back on his pillow and withdrew his hand, “Yeah…I have
worries…just like you have worries…”
“Tell me what they are…” she said softly.
He turned to look at her intently, “You’re single now. And Anton and
Alton… they’re guys who have a place in your life that I want. I want
to be
the Dad. I want us to have that bond. I want to be the Father of your
child…” said Todd nervously.
Téa held up her hand making eye contact with him, “First off – I’m not
single. I’m engaged. To you. And I love you – not Anton or
Cameron.
Todd, I want to conceive a child out of love…not jealously…” said
Téa.
“Agh!” said Todd frustrated. He wrinkled his brow and returned her
intense
eye contact, “I want to conceive our kid out of love too but sometimes I
can
’t help but be jealous and I can’t fight it either. Look, Téa…you have
my
heart,” said Todd pointing to his chest, “And you have my soul…” he said
pointing to his head, “And now I want you to have a part of me…a special
part of me… I want you to have a special combination of my heart and
soul…
my kid…” said Todd placing his hand on her tummy again.
“Todd – I want that too. You have my heart and soul…” she
whispered.
He closed his eyes briefly, “So why do you keep saying, ‘Don’t leave
me?
You’re mine Todd?’ I don’t understand… Why are you so insecure?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because everyone I’ve ever loved…leaves me…”
she
whispered.
“I’m not leaving. I’m not,” said Todd firmly.
She nodded her head and a tear escaped down her cheek. She turned her
back
to him.
“Look, don’t cry,” he said. He placed his chest tight against her back
wrapping one arm around her waist, resting that hand on her tummy. He
brought the other hand up, against her cheek with the tear and brushed
it
away. He placed his lips softly against the nape of her neck, “Don’t
cry.
I just want more… I want more than to leave schoolboy hickeys on your
neck…”
He lowered his hand slowly to the hickeys on her neck, brushing against
the
three slowly fading ones and the new one he left last night, “I just
want to
love you…” he said kissing the back of her neck, tenderly at first, and
then
his kisses grew deeper until he was sucking her neck again.
His other hand dropped to caress her breasts and the hand around her
waist
continued to rub her tummy.
“I love you Todd… I do…” she said clearly becoming aroused by his
attentions. She turned into him and they continued their lovemaking.
*************************************************************************************************************************************************************
9:00 a.m…
There was a knock on the door and Téa opened it with a smile. She was
wearing a casual pair of pants and a turtleneck. Samantha and Cameron’s
warm smiles greeted her.
“C’Mon in,” she said. They walked in and she exchanged a warm hug with
Samantha.
“You guys want something to drink? I made a pot of coffee but didn’t
feel
like drinking it. Todd had a cup though. I’ve got orange juice…” asked
Téa
smiling.
“I’ll have orange juice,” said Samantha, “Dad will have a cup of
coffee.”
Cameron playfully frowned at her, “O.k., but just a quick cup. Where’s
Todd?”
“He had to go to the paper. We’ll be going there to pick him for
lunch,”
said Téa walking into the kitchen. They followed her into the kitchen
and
sat down at the table. Téa poured the drinks and she joined them.
“This is a nice décor…the Spanish theme,” said Cameron making
conversation.
“I’m glad you like it. Todd and I get to move into the house on Monday
so
I’ll probably give the apartment to Roseanne if she wants it,” said
Téa.
“That’s the girl who spit on you?” asked Cameron with concern in his
voice.
“Ah, yeah. She’s since apologized,” said Téa.
“Well, that’s good,” said Cameron.
Téa turned to Samantha, “After lunch we want to go furniture shopping.
I
know it sounds dull but Todd and I want to get you the things you’d like
for
your room…”
Samantha’s face lit up, “Great!”
Cameron made a face.
“…for ah, when you stay with us,” finished Téa.
There was a pause between them.
“So, Cameron, what are your plans for the weekend?” asked Téa sipping
her O
J.
“Today, Anton and I are going to see a basketball game. The 76’ers and
the
Knicks. Tomorrow, I’ll be spending time with Blair and Starr,” answered
Cameron.
“Oh. Blair,” said Téa civilly.
“Don’t you like Blair?” asked Samantha innocently.
Téa bit her lip, “Samantha, I’m going to be honest with you. Blair and
I
don’t get along. Now, that’s not to say you can’t get along with Blair
if
you want to…”
Samantha made a face.
“What I’m trying to say is I can’t pick and choose your friends and
neither
can your Dad. Only you can do that. And if Blair is your friend, I’ll
do
nothing to come between that,” finished Téa.
“I understand,” said Samantha letting the words sink in.
Cameron put his chin in the palm of his hand and rested his elbow on
the
table, “That’s pretty good advice for being so new to the parent
game.”
She imitated his gesture, “I have had some practice. Starr is my
Stepdaughter.”
And for a moment, their eyes met.
Téa turned away, “Ummm…”
Cameron stood up, finished his coffee and put his hands in his pockets,
embarrassed by the sudden rush of color to his face, “I better go.”
Samantha caught the look her parents had exchanged but said
nothing.
Téa and Samantha escorted Cameron to the door and watched him
leave.
*************************************************************************************************************************************************************
The Sun…
“So Todd, what do you think?” asked Kelly showing Todd a proof. Todd
stood
up from behind his desk and grinned.
“Not bad Cramer. You’ve got potential,” said Todd.
“Todd Manning, did you just give me a compliment?” asked Kelly.
Todd got flustered, “No. I don’t think so.”
“I was worried there for a minute,” said Kelly.
Téa and Samantha walked into Todd’s office. Todd’s face lit up like a
Christmas tree. He put the proof on his desk and walked over to Téa,
rubbing his hand on her arm, “Hi.”
“Hi,” she said. They exchanged a quick kiss, oblivious to everyone
else in
the room.
“Hi Samantha,” said Todd smiling.
“Hi Todd,” replied Samantha.
“Ah, Kelly…” said Téa politely, “I’d like you to meet my daughter,
Samantha.”
Kelly walked over and shook Samantha’s hand, “Wow. You look like Téa.”
“I get that a lot,” said Samantha smiling.
“Todd, I’ll take the proof to printing,” said Kelly.
“O.k.,” said Todd. Kelly left. Todd turned toward Samantha.
“So – you want a tour of the place? See what it’s like to run a major
paper?” asked Todd putting his hands in his pockets.
Samantha’s face lit up, “Yeah! That would be cool.”
Téa and Todd exchanged bright grins and Todd took them on a tour of the
paper. Samantha enjoyed every minute of it.
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
The Palace…
Viki joined Todd, Téa, and Samantha for lunch. Renee seated them,
trying
hard not to stare at Téa and Samantha.
“It’s nice to meet you Samantha,” said Viki smiling at the young
girl.
“It’s nice to meet you too Ms. Carpenter,” replied Samantha
politely.
The waiter came and took their drink order.
“Todd says you run a paper too…” said Samantha, excitement in her
voice.
“Yes, I do,” said Viki giving Todd a quick look, “I take it you enjoyed
his
tour?”
“It was cool. The printing presses were huge!” exclaimed Samantha.
Todd and Téa were happy over Samantha’s excitement.
The waiter returned with the drinks. Coke for Todd, Téa, and Samantha,
coffee for Viki.
Téa caught a whiff of Viki’s coffee and her face became flush, she put
her
hand to her forehead. Todd took her hand, “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I just got a little queasy, that’s all,” replied Téa.
Their eyes met and slowly big grins grew on their faces as they
mutually
realized something.
Viki and Samantha looked at each other and shrugged their
shoulders.
“Todd, Téa, do you have a secret?” asked Viki. Her and Samantha looked
on
intently.
“Maybe…” said Todd grinning at Téa.
“You know Samantha, you just have to get used to this. Your mom and
Todd
have a habit of getting in lost in each other and tuning everybody else
out,” said Viki lightly, “I think it’s called love.”
Samantha just nodded her head.
Todd and Téa didn’t say anything as they continued beaming at each
other
like Cheshire cats.
TO BE CONTINUED
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Copyright information: Copyright by DimWitt. Originally published on “Violet ’s TnT FanFiction Website”. Copyright owner provides the information on this server to anyone but retains copyright on all text and graphic images. This means you may not: distribute the text to others without the express written permission of the copyright owner.
Todd Manning, Téa Delgado, Blair Cramer, Kelly Cramer, and Viki Carpenter are characters owned by “One Life To Live” and ABC Daytime. Cameron and Samantha Alton are characters owned by “DimWitt”.
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