Previously...

Todd drove out of the Alton estate at a high rate of speed but when he got clear of the grounds he pulled the car over and got out of it.
“You made a fool out of me Delgado!!!” he yelled. He walked to the back of the car and kicked the tires.
“A DAMN FOOL!!!” he yelled.
“ARGH!!”
And he collapsed, leaning his back against the car and dropping his head between his knees.
“But this damn fool still loves you…” he muttered.

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Llanview, PA
The Country Club…

Susannah Hannen was having lunch with her sister, Nora. Susannah was the therapist who had helped Todd recover from the DID. She had enjoyed her return to Llanview and spending time with her sister.

Nora cracked a joke and Susannah laughed, almost spilling her glass of water on the table.

“SUSANNAH!!” bellowed a loud male voice.

Susannah and Nora turned around only to discover Todd Manning walking toward them. Susannah could tell he was very upset.

Nora frowned.

Todd brutishly walked up to the table.

“Sorry Nora but I gotta’ talk to my shrink,” he said crossing his arms.

“I’m not going anywhere Todd. I was here first. Aren’t you suppose to be in New York?” said Nora.

Susannah put her drink down as she noticed Todd clenching and unclenching his fists, “Nora…normally I would agree with you but…my gut is telling me to talk to Todd.”

Todd nervously smiled. Nora frowned.

“All right,” said Nora, “I’ll be going back to my office.”

“I’ll catch up with you later,” said Susannah.

Nora walked off and Todd sat down, leaning back in the chair that Nora had just vacated.

“Delgado made a fool outta’ me,” said Todd.

Susannah studied him. His body language. Todd appeared angry but she also detected a profound sadness coming from him.

“How did Téa make a fool outta’ you, as you put it?” asked Susannah sipping her coffee.

“She kissed Alton. Her lips were all over his filthy crud,” answered Todd.

Susannah wrinkled her brow, “Why? Did she tell you why?”

“Her kid’s horse died. Her kid was upset. Her kid’s father was upset. She was trying to comfort him. I’m surprised she didn’t…” he stopped abruptly. He was going to say sleep with him but he was convinced she hadn’t done that.

“Didn’t what?” asked Susannah.

“Nothing,” said Todd.

“So how did you find this out if you were suppose to be in New York?” asked Susannah.

“Téa called me last night so I went up to Maine where she was staying with him and as soon as I got there, she fessed up,” explained Todd. He reached over and started picking at Nora’s leftovers.

“I see,” said Susannah.

“What do you see?” questioned Todd.

“I think Téa made a mistake…” started Susannah.

“A mistake? You call kissing another man a mistake?” questioned Todd.

“Well, Todd, it sounds like she was quick to tell you about it. Did she say tings like I’m sorry and forgive me or did you just forget to tell me that part too?” asked Susannah firmly.

“Yeah,” said Todd looking her in the eye, “She said that stuff too.”

“So…?”

“So….what?”

“So, are you going to forgive her?” asked Susannah, “Because it’s very apparent to me you still love her…”

“What? Me forgive her and make a bigger fool outta’ myself? Look, I told her not to go. We fought about her going…” started Todd.

Susannah interrupted, “And what was the outcome of this domestic incident?”

Todd rolled his eyes, “Well Delgado went, didn’t she?”

“Why did you roll your eyes just now?” asked Susannah.

“Téa and I…we…you know…” said Todd blushing.

“You what?” asked Susannah.

“Had sex. Made love. Whatever you want to call it. We’re trying to have another kid. We were trying to have another kid…” said Todd crossing his arms.

“I see,” said Susannah, “Well, you have a few options Todd…”

“Oh really, what?” he asked putting a pickle into his mouth.

“You can talk to her and work this problem out with her. Forgive her…” said Susannah.

“I don’t like that option,” said Todd.

“Or you can choose not to work this problem out with her. You can overreact and serve her with divorce papers…” said Susannah.

“Divorce?” muttered Todd surprised at the mention.

“You want to work things out with your wife or not? Look, I don’t know why Téa did what she did, I wasn’t there but you both have made great strides to be with each other. And now you tell me you’ve been trying to have another baby? You really want to throw it away now?” questioned Susannah.

Todd pouted. His eyes grew narrow.

“Look, Delgado just threw all that stuff out the window…like trust… like…” he started.

“And she’s sorry. That’s got to count for something…” said Susannah.

“You know, I didn’t know what to do so I came to you but I still don’t know what to do,” said Todd. He really was confused. A part of him wanted to forgive her. She had been honest about…it.

“All right Todd, I’ll play your game. Make a decision right now. Do you want Téa in your life or do you want to cut her out of it?” asked Susannah.

“Huh?”

“Téa – in or out?"

“I just can’t…”

“No. No ‘I-just-can’t’ – Téa – in or out?” pushed Susannah.

“In! Damn it!! In!!” exclaimed Todd.

“See…”

“No! No! All right – she’s in but I ain’t gonna’ make it easy for her Susannah. She’s got to show me she’s worth it…” said Todd defensively.

“Todd, do yourself a favor,” said Susannah.

“What?” asked Todd exasperated.

“Let Téa know you want to work it out or she will be out of your life for good,” said Susannah.

Todd took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. He didn’t know what his next move should be.

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The Alton Summer Home,
Kennebunkport, Maine…

Téa wasn’t sure how long she had been out there on the cliff, on her knees crying but after a while she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up into Cameron’s eyes. She wiped her face with her hands.

“I don’t know what to say. Todd left, didn’t he?” asked Cameron.

“Yeah. Todd left,” said Téa.

Cameron helped her to stand up.

“What are you going to do?” he asked.

“I don’t know. He’s mad. He’s angry. He’s disappointed in me and understandably so,” she said.

“You want to go after him, right now, don’t you?” asked Cameron.

“Yeah, a part of me does,” confirmed Téa.

Cameron put his hand in the middle of Téa’s back and they slowly began walking toward the house.

“Don’t do that,” she said to him.

He removed his hand.

“I just want to…reach out to you. I know you’re hurting…” he said.

She sighed.

“Are you going to leave?” he asked.

“Leave?” swallowed Téa.

“I recommend you stay. Samantha needs you now…” he started.

“I can’t abandon her when she needs me most, right? I mean, a good mother would be there…for her,” said Téa trying to hold her head up and compose herself, “Despite my own pathetic problems, right?”

“Téa, look…please don’t do this. I can’t stand to see you beat yourself up over what happened…” he said.

She said nothing and let out another sigh, internalizing her hurt and fear.

“Cameron, I don’t know where I stand with Todd,” she finally admitted.

He turned and looked at her, putting his hands on his arms.

“I’m sorry. I truly am but I wanted to kiss you last night. I want to kiss you right now, but I won’t. You’re confused and I know that and I don’t want to confuse you any more. I’ll back off for now Téa but I want you to know as my daughter’s mother, I will always protect you and I’ll do whatever I have to so Samantha has you in her life…but…” he paused.

“But what?” she asked.

“If Todd is foolish enough to throw away your relationship Téa…” he paused again.

“Then what?” she asked.

“All bets are off Téa. I want you and I’ll do everything in my power to make you Mrs. Cameron Alton,” he said looking into her deep brown eyes.

“I just want your word – and I mean it Cameron – your word!! I want your word that you will give Todd and I the space we need to work this out between us!” she insisted.

“You have it,” he said.

They walked back to the house in silence. She didn’t know how she was going to prove to Todd – how she was going to show him she was sorry but she was going to try her hardest to do just that. She was going to prove to Todd he could believe in her all over again.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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