HOLD BACK THE RAIN - PART ELEVEN

PREVIOUSLY

“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.

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April 2001

Todd juggled his time between spending time with Téa in the hospital and Trevor at home. Blair even brought Starr to visit Trevor once. He had no time for the Sun. Kelly called from New York expressing her concern but he had been rather tight lipped with her.
That afternoon Téa was released from the hospital and given a week’s rest at home. As they walked through the door of their home, Trevor, who was watching a kiddie cartoon while Judith sat at a table doing homework for school, looked up. His eyes grew wide upon seeing him mommy. He quickly got to his feet and went barreling toward Téa, clutching her leg.
“Is Mommy awl right?” he asked looking up at her.
She knelt down to his level, “I’m fine now, T.D. Did you miss me?”
He nodded his head ‘yes’, and put his arms around her in a big hug. She returned the hug and gave him a light kiss on his cheek.
“It’s good to see you’re better, Mrs. Manning,” said Judith walking toward them.
“Thank you, Judith,” replied Téa smiling at the young woman.
“You can take the rest of the day off Judith,” said Todd, hands in his pockets.
“Thank you Mr. Manning,” replied Judith gathering her things. She left.
Téa made her way to the couch and sat down. Trevor followed her and sat down beside her. Todd sat down on the other side of Téa.
“It’s good to be home with my two favorite guys,” she said smiling.
Trevor frowned, “Your lap – too big!”
Téa brushed the bangs out of his eyes, “Well, I’ll tell you what, you may not be able to sit in my lap anymore but you can rest your head there if you want.”
He smiled and lay down on the couch resting his small head in her crowded lap.
“Love you Mommy,” he said as she lightly rubbed his arm.
“Love you too, T.D.,” she replied.
“You know that kid adores you,” remarked Todd looking at Téa.
“I hope he isn’t the only one,” she said in a teasing tone of voice.
“I don’t want you get a swell head, Delgado,” replied Todd.
She raised an eyebrow at him.
“All right, maybe I do too,” said Todd.
She laughed.
Trevor squirmed and got comfortable.
“Téa, I gotta tell you something but you gotta promise you’re going to have a relapse,” said Todd finding her eyes, his voice firm.
“All right, I promise – no relapse,” she said lightly.
“Fiona came onto me in New York,” said Todd taking her hand in his.
“Oh,” Téa didn’t know what else to say.
“Oh? That’s it – oh?” replied Todd still holding her hand.
Téa choose her next words carefully, “Todd, you know I trust you. And I know you rebuffed her and told her don’t do it again. I always suspected she had an agenda. I just didn’t want to believe it was you.”
“Oh,” he said.
“Oh? That’s it – oh?” she replied.
“You’re cool with this?” asked Todd.
“No!” said Téa adamantly, “I’m not cool with this – with another woman coming onto my husband but I trust you did the right thing,” said Téa.
He brought his hand to her face and pulled her into a kiss, “You know, you’ re the one?”
“Yeah, I know,” she replied, “Are you keeping her on staff?”
“She’s freelance. She can come and go as she pleases… I need to talk to Kelly about what happened…” replied Todd.
Téa nodded her head, “Yeah, do that.”
He drew her into another kiss, “You know what?”
“What?” she whispered.
“This is going to be hard… not being able to make love with you…” he said softly.
“You’re not kidding,” she replied.
Trevor wiggled and looked up at his parents, creasing his brow, worried for his mommy.

A Week Later…

It was Téa’s first day back in court. Her and Sam were finishing up jury selection for the Patino trial. Upon consultation with Patino, it was agreed that Sam would take over as lead attorney and Téa would work more in a research role and rebut only that material she was familiar with. Since it was the last day of jury selection the courthouse was packed with spectators and press. Fiona and Jed were there from the Sun. Mel was covering for the Banner and Blair was covering for her TV station.
The judge called a twenty minute recess. The jury candidates were filed out and the press filled the courtroom.
Hank Gannon approached the press and began an impromptu press conference. Sam approached Hank and Téa stayed at the defendant’s table talking to Bobby Patino.
She felt a tap on her shoulder and looked up.
CLICK! Snap!
“I don’t think the boss will mind,” said Fiona forwarding her film.
“I need to talk to you,” said Téa, “Do you mind Bobby?”
“Nah, Ms. Manning – go ahead. I ain’t going nowhere,” replied Bobby.
Téa escorted Fiona to a corner of the courtroom.
“What?” asked Fiona.
“Todd told me what occurred between you two in New York,” stated Téa.
“And?”
“I don’t like you, Fiona. Stay away from my family. My son. Me. My husband,” said Téa firmly.
“Or else what?” asked Fiona.
“No or else,” replied Téa, “Just do it.”
“Well, it’s too bad you can’t please him in the condition you’re in. A man like Todd Manning is VERY demanding,” remarked Fiona.
Téa laughed, recalling to mind her first marriage to Todd that lasted sixteen months without sex…
Fiona crossed her arms, “What are you laughing at?”
“You,” said Téa giggling, “And you think you can ‘please’ Todd?”
“I know I can,” added Fiona.
“Riggght,” said Téa, “You’re a joke, Fiona.”
“Ah, Ms. Manning?” came a voice. It was Bobby Patino walking up to her, “Mr. Rap says recess is almost up. You gotta come sit back down.”
Téa left Fiona and followed Bobby Patino to the table. As she looked up she saw Todd in the back of the courtroom being filed out with the rest of the press.

That Evening…

Todd and Téa had made arrangements with Blair to pick Starr up at Viki’s.
Starr was going to spend the night with them.
Todd held Trevor in his arms as Viki opened the door.
“C’Mon in,” said Viki, “Do you have a few minutes to visit?”
Todd looked at Téa.
“Sure, Viki,” replied Téa.
Starr came running up to greet them, “Hi Daddy! Hi Tee! Hi Little Tee!” she said smiling.
“Hi Shorty.”
“Hi Sweetpea.”
“Hi Starr.”
Todd put Trevor down. Starr took Trevor’s hand and led him into the other room. Todd and Téa followed Viki into the den.
“How are you feeling Téa?” asked Viki.
“Better,” replied Téa.
“Got a beer, sis?” asked Todd.
“In the kitchen,” said Viki. Todd walked out.
“Téa, I know this pregnancy hasn’t been easy on you but neither was Trevor’ s. Has Todd’s presence helped to make a difference?” asked Viki.
Starr chased Trevor around the couch. They giggled.
“It has Viki. He’s been really supportive,” said Téa, “Trevor – Mommy wants you to be careful, o.k.?” She was watching them out of the corner of her eye.
“Yes, Mommy,” he giggled, slowing down. Starr did too.
Todd walked back in the room, “Hey Sis, who did you nominate for those regional awards?”
He stood over the couch where Téa was sitting.
Téa spied an untied shoelace on Trevor as he walked around the couch. His foot stepped on the lace…
“TREVOR!” yelled Téa as they boy fell down flat on his face. He began crying immediately.
Téa was instantly by the boy’s side helping him up, trying to wipe his tears away, “Ssshhhhh, it’s all right T.D…”
“Hurt Mommy!” he wailed.
Todd joined Téa’s side and Starr ran up to him. Todd put his arm around her.
“Where does it hurt Trevor?” asked Téa calmly.
“Hurts Mommy!” he cried. Téa quickly felt his arms and legs for spots of tenderness, swelling and contusions. She could feel none.
“Hurts Daddy!” he continued to wail looking at Todd.
“Téa, his mouth…” said Todd.
Téa looked up into her son’s face and noticed blood trickling out of the side of his mouth.
“Ssshhhhhh, it’s going to be o.k. Trevor…” said Téa softly.
“I’ll get a cloth,” said Viki getting up.
“Hurts Mommy…” wailed Trevor.
“I know, Trevor, I know…” she said soothingly.
“Is little Tee going to be all right?” asked Starr.
“I don’t know, Starr,” he replied.
“Daddy, you’re shaking.”
Viki came back in with the cloth and handed it to Téa.
“Trevor, Mommy’s going to try and find out where it hurts, o.k.?” she started, “I need you to open up your mouth and be a brave boy for me and try not to cry, all right?”
Trevor nodded his head.
Téa wiped the blood out of his mouth.
“Is it under the tongue?” asked Viki.
“No, thank goodness. It’s on the inside of his mouth near his upper lip,” said Téa, “Trevor, hold still while I keep this here for a few minutes.”
Trevor looked into her eyes with acknowledgment as tears started to flow slowly down his cheeks.
“What’s this thing with the tongue?” asked Todd.
Viki turned to Todd, “Mouth bleeding is common in toddlers and if treated immediately we can get the bleeding to stop. However, if the bleeding is coming from under the tongue, it’s hard to stop and he should be taken to the hospital.”
Téa began to gently sing to Trevor in Spanish so as to calm him down. Trevor appeared to be reacting to it. Téa continued to hold the cloth firmly on the cut.
“Tee, it little Tee going to be o.k?” asked Starr.
“I think so,” replied Téa.
“I’m sorry Daddy. I didn’t mean for little Tee to get hurt,” added Starr.
“It’s not your fault, Starr,” said Téa gently smiling at the girl.
“It’s mine…” she thought quickly looking at the ground and closing her eyes. A tear escaped down her cheek and she knew she couldn’t allow it – not in front of Trevor.
Todd noticed the tear.
Trevor began to squirm and Téa looked up.
“Ready?” she asked.
He nodded his head.
She removed the red-stained cloth. The bleeding had stopped.
“He’s better! T.D! You’re better!” exclaimed Todd.
Trevor reached for Téa and she pulled him into a hug.

Later That Night…

Todd and Téa walked into their bedroom after putting Trevor and Starr to bed.
The first thing Todd did was to put his hand on her arm, stopping her from moving. Slowly, she turned around to face him. His lips were trembling. So were hers. Gradually they made eye contact – their look – intense. She reached up with her hand, taking a step closer into him and brought her fingers to his cheek and slowly to his shaking mouth and then down his neck. He imitated her gesture and drew her into a kiss, a warm and tender kiss.
“Uuummm, Delgado…Téa…” he whispered.
They bumped foreheads, their noses touching.
“…I got…”
“…scared too,” she finished.
“What’s happening around us? To us?” he whispered, reaching up, giving her a light kiss on the nose.
“It’s as if we’re standing in the middle of a storm and the rain is falling down all around us…” she said softly imitating his nose kiss.
“Can’t we have a moment’s peace? Can’t we…hold back the rain?” he whispered.
He began to rub his cheek against hers.
“We can try…” she replied.
Slowly, they made their way to the bed, falling asleep in each other’s embrace.

TO BE CONTINUED