HOLD BACK THE RAIN - PART TEN

PREVIOUSLY

Téa stood up, "I've got to get dinner started anyway."
Todd gave her a playful frown.
"Want some help?" he asked.
"You better play with T.D. You're a menace in the kitchen," she replied.
"Who me?" he asked.
She went into the kitchen and he played with Trevor. Life was good

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Mid-April….

The alarm clock went off. Todd rolled over and shut it off. Then he rolled back over and snuggled his sleeping wife. He was wearing his silk blue boxers and she was wearing only a flannel top unbuttoned.
He began to lightly kiss her neck and shoulders and he reached over with his hand and caressed her breasts. Today he had to go to New York City for a conference and he wanted to make love to his wife before he went.
“Uuuummm, Todd,” whispered Téa, “That feels nice.” She rolled over onto her back and his mouth engulfed her – his hands roaming her body – especially her protruding tummy.
“I want these kids to know how much I love you. I want you to know…” he whispered, his lips trailing down her neck.
“Oh Todd…we know…” she whispered. Her hands reached down and began fondling him through the boxers.
He desired her. He had to have her. His lips caressed her breasts.
She moaned.
“Let me make love to you Téa…Let me make love to my beautiful pregnant wife…” he whispered.
She was enraptured by his caresses – his touches…
“Yes…Todd…” she whispered.
“I recommend you begin to abstain from sex…I’m concerned…Téa’s system is especially delicate now that she’s carrying twins…”
The doctor’s guilty words rang in his ears and slowly he looked up into her eyes…
“What is it Todd?” she whispered.
“Oh, Téa…I keep hearing…the doctor…” he muttered sitting up.
“I can please you…in other ways,” she replied softly.
He raised an eyebrow, “Really?”
“Yeah,” she said smiling at him, “Sit up.”
He did. She slid off her top revealing her body.
“You know, you look…so sexy…” he whispered.
She blushed. She sat next to him, facing him, and began kissing him, his mouth – with teasing, passionate kisses – her hands caressing his chest and she trailed her lips to his neck – her hands going lower, rubbing, caressing his abs…
His lips were trembling as she brought her face to his chest and her tongue teased his nipples. His sensations were reeling. Her lips went lower to his abs and then to his waistline, kissing him through his hair…
“Oh, Téa…” he mummered.
She slid off his boxers and gently fondled him, her tongue teasing him until finally she took him.
“Oooohhh….” he moaned. He looked at her intently – and took his hands and began running them through her hair.
His mind was spinning…out of control…
And then firmly he put his hands on her cheeks and pushed her away, “No – not like this…” he whispered.
“How?” she asked.
His eyes pleaded with hers. She wanted it too…
Slowly she positioned herself on top of him and he slid so easily into her.
She was tight, moist, and firm.
His moan was deep and intermingled with hers. He struggled to sit up – one hand bracing her back up against him – the other hand on her tummy – and his lips on hers and he came inside of her.
“You’re shivering,” she replied as her sensations faded away.
“So are you. I love you so much Téa…I know we shouldn’t have…” he said softly, as she parted from him.
Her hands caressed his cheek, “I love you…It will be o.k. I’ll be o.k. I just wanted to please you. I had to.”
She lay back.
He nuzzled her, “I’ve got that overnight conference in New York…I don’t want to go…I don’t like leaving you…”
“It’s just for one night Todd,” said Téa softly, “I’ll be all right.”
“But I won’t,” he replied. He looked at the clock, “I’ve got to get up.”
“Stay. Hold me just a little longer,” she said.
He readily complied with her request.

Later on that day, New York City…

Todd and Kelly were recommending Fiona and a reporter, Jed Allen, for a regional newspaper award. The nomination process was going to take place at a two-day conference in New York City. They got to the hotel where the conference was being held at around noon, signed in, and were in meetings from one until five in the afternoon. Since Fiona had familiarity with “the city”, she recommended an Italian restaurant for dinner. They all agreed and arrived at the restaurant around seven. Todd didn’t like the atmosphere of the restaurant. It was too…intimate…for him. They ordered. Todd got a beer and everyone else ordered wine. Todd sat with Kelly on his left, Jed on his right, and Fiona sat across from him.
“Jed,” said Kelly addressing him, “You’ve been smiling all day. What’s up?”
“My wife told me yesterday she was excepting. It’s going to be our first child,” replied Jed.
“That’s great,” said Todd.
“Congrats,” said Fiona.
“Cool. Todd’s wife is expecting too,” added Kelly.
“Twins,” said Todd looking at Jed.
“Wow,” said Jed.
“This is funny. The guys are married and the girls are single,” remarked Fiona.
“Miss Cramer,” said Jed, “You’re a smart intelligent woman. I’m surprised you’re not taken.”
“I just haven’t found my Prince Charming,” remarked Kelly.
“I’m not looking for Prince Charming,” remarked Fiona.
Kelly looked at Fiona, “Oh? What are you looking for?”
Fiona smiled, “A scoundrel. A man who likes to live on the edge like I do.”
Todd took a sip of his beer and looked away.

Later that evening… 10:00 p.m…

Todd walked into his hotel room and threw his coat on an adjacent chair. He left his cell phone in his office at the Sun. He reached for the phone to see if anyone had left him any messages when he heard a knock on the door.
He went to the door and opened it. Fiona barged in holding a bottle of wine and two wineglasses.
“What are you doing?” asked Todd putting his hands in his pockets.
Fiona sat down on the couch and poured the wine, “A nightcap.”
“What are we nightcapping?” asked Todd.
“The Sun’s accomplishments,” said Fiona handing him a glass. He took it and sat down on the opposite end of the couch. Fiona slid closer.
“Are you looking for a scoundrel, Miss Braxton?” asked Todd. He took a sip of wine and put his glass down.
“I’ve found him,” said Fiona.
“No, I don’t think you have,” replied Todd firmly.
It was silent for a minute. Fiona leaned over and pulled him into a kiss.
He broke it off immediately and stood up.
“Get out!” he demanded raising his voice.
“I don’t think you want me too. I felt you respond,” said Fiona getting in his face.
“Get away from me now,” he replied.
The phone rang.
Fiona didn’t budge.
“Get out!” said Todd picking up a wineglass and throwing it across the room.
RING! RING!
Fiona didn’t move.
Todd reached for the phone.
“What?” His tone of voice was hard.
Pause.
“Viki? Where are you?”
Pause.
“Oh my God. Where’s Trevor?”
Pause.
“Good. I’m leaving right now. Stay with her.”
Pause.
“It’s at the office.”
Pause.
“No…I was going to check but I got…deterred…”
Pause.
“I’m leaving now!”
He hung up the phone. His face was serious.
“What’s wrong?” asked Fiona sensing his urgency as he grabbed his coat.
“MY wife is in the hospital. I’m going back to Llanview right now,” said Todd flinging open the door.
“What am I going to tell Kelly?” asked Fiona.
“I don’t care what you tell Kelly,” he said walking down the hotel halls. Fiona, frustrated, picked up the other wineglass and threw it across the room.
Todd drove like a madman back to Llanview.

Llanview General, 1:15 a.m.

Todd rushed through the open doors of the hospital’s emergency room and quickly approached the nurse’s station.
“Where’s my wife…Téa Manning?” he demanded.
“Visiting hours are over,” said the nurse dryly.
“Look…I was in New York. I just found out…” he stammered.
“It’s all right nurse,” came a voice.
Todd turned around, “Dr. Clayton.”
“Come with me,” said Dr. Clayton. Todd followed him through the halls to his office.
“I thought we were going to see Téa?” questioned Todd.
“First, we’re going to have heart to heart,” said Dr. Clayton. Todd followed him into the office.
As soon as they were in the office Dr. Clayton turned on Todd.
“What did I tell you two?” demanded Dr. Clayton.
Todd stammered, “To…abstain…”
“Did you think I told you that for YOUR health?” demanded Clayton.
“No…”
“Téa almost lost those twins today. Now I mean it – does it take a scare like this to get the hint?” demanded Clayton.
Todd swallowed.
There was a knock on the door.
Todd and Dr. Clayton paused.
Viki Carpenter opened the door, “May I?”
Clayton nodded his head. Viki walked in.
Todd turned to Viki.
“Jessie’s at your home watching Trevor,” started Viki.
“What…happened?” asked Todd.
“Téa and Sam had just finished jury selection…it was around dinnertime and she passed out. Sam noticed she was spotting and took her to the hospital.
He called me. We couldn’t get through to you. No one answered your cell phone and I guess you didn’t check your hotel messages…” explained Viki.
Todd made a face in an attempt to hold back tears, “We screwed up…”
Clayton changed the pitch in his voice, “Look, I…I…have a lot of respect for you Mr. Manning. You’re concerned…at every appointment…but yeah…you screwed up. Look, I’m going to keep her tomorrow for observation, but she’s out of the woods now. I saw her go through one difficult pregnancy…I didn’t want to see her through another.”
“I understand. Can I see her now?” requested Todd.
“Sure,” said Clayton.
“Thanks for everything Viki,” said Todd.
Viki put her hand on Todd’s shoulder, “Hey, I’m here. I always have been.”
Todd followed Clayton to Téa’s room. Dr. Clayton stayed outside while Todd went in. She appeared to be sleeping in the bed. Todd began to pace… a million things were going on in his head… a million things to be said… he took a deep breath, paused, and turned to face her.
“I thought it was different with you…you know… before you… sex always screwed things up for me… and I thought I didn’t need it… I didn’t want to be anymore screwed up than I all ready was…” he began.
She stirred and turned to face him.
“You’re up?” he asked.
She nodded her head, “How did I change things for you, Todd?” she asked quietly.
He made a face, “It wasn’t about… love… it was about hurting, you know… sex…hurt… but you… you changed all that… you made me see past that…it could be about love too…” his voice was cracking.
“Sit down, please?” she asked.
“I hurt you today, Téa… with sex…” he continued to stand and looked away from her as he said it.
“Stop it Todd!” she said firmly, “Look at me…”
He turned to face her. His facial expression downtrodden.
“It’s not all your fault, o.k. I wanted what happened between us as much as you did. It was mutual – consensual – it wasn’t about sex, Todd, it was about making love…” she said firmly, capturing his gaze.
He sat down in the chair next to her bed.
“What’s the difference?” he asked sincerely.
“Our feelings,” she replied honestly, “Give me your hand.”
Todd put his hand in hers and she in turn rested his hand on her protruding tummy.
“They’re squirming,” he said cracking a slight smile.
“Yeah… and they’re making my stomach do flip-flops,” she added and then her tone became serious, “How do you feel about them? Do you love them?”
“Of course I do!” said Todd, “I don’t get it…”
“That’s the difference Todd. Sex didn’t bring the twins to us – our love did – our love making did,” finished Téa.
Todd nodded his head as Téa’s words sunk in. It was silent between them. “Téa… you still… almost lost them today…” said Todd softly, not removing his hand.
“I know… next time… we’ll show our love for each other… we’ll express it differently… until the twins are born…” she replied.
He smiled at her. He was still upset but she had helped put it in perspective for him.
As for Fiona, now was not the time to tell Téa about Fiona’s little stunt – but he would tell her – as soon she got out of the hospital. He would have no secrets between them and he was not going to let Fiona Braxton come between what they shared.
“I’m sorry, Téa,” he said finding her eyes.
“I’m sorry too, Todd,” she replied.
“For what?” he asked.
“I hurt you today too Todd… with this scare…” she explained.
“It was nothing,” he said and then he said firmly, “I don’t want to live without you again.”
“Ditto, Manning,” she replied.
He smiled at her, “I’m going to hold your hand all night long. Like a good husband is supposed too.”
She returned his smile.

TO BE CONTINUED

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