HOLD BACK THE RAIN - PART SIXTEEN
PREVIOUSLY
“The brakes on your car failed and your wife was involved in a traffic
accident. She’s been taken to Elliot Hospital. At this time, her condition
is unknown. I’ll escort you…” said the cop sympathetically.
Todd’s face was white. He was speechless.
“I’ll come with you Todd,” said Viki.
Todd began to follow the cop blindly and Viki trotted behind them.
“Oh, God… Téa…no…”
***************************************************************************************************
Evening of July 18th…
Elliot Hospital…
New York City…
As soon as the police car pulled up in front of the emergency room, Todd
flew out of the car. Viki followed him inside. The emergency room was full
of busy people, doctors and nurses hurrying about – Todd looked around
franticly trying to catch a glimpse of his wife. Officer Belton came up
behind him and motioned for Todd and Viki to follow him. They did. Todd
loosened his tie and the officer took him to emergency room three.
“Téa!” he cried as he spotted his wife on a bed. Doctors hovered around
her. She was hooked into two IV’s and a fetal monitor.
He saw her look at him but her eyes were glassy. She moved her lips but
Todd didn’t hear what she said with all the noise going on in the
background. A doctor approached him.
“I’m Dr. Curry. I take it you’re Todd Manning, Téa’s husband?” the doctor
inquired.
“Yeah. How is she?” asked Todd. Viki took Todd’s arm.
“From what we can tell she’s not seriously injured. A few minor scrapes
and cuts. She does have a mild concussion…”
“And the twins?” asked Todd.
“The accident has induced labor…” began the doctor.
“They’re coming now?” questioned Todd, his voice shaking with fear.
“And your wife is no condition to go through a natural childbirth. If you
give me permission, now, to perform a C-Section, it will ensure the safety
of the twins and your wife. Of course, no procedure is risk free but I feel
an immediate C-Section is the best bet right now for all three of them,”
explained the doctor.
Todd turned to Viki, his eyes looking for guidance.
“It’s your decision Todd,” said Viki softly.
“Do it,” instructed Todd.
“A nurse will be by shortly to have you fill out the necessary paperwork,”
said the doctor turning away, “Prep OR Number Two! Get Lenz on the Prep
team!” shouted the doctor issuing instructions.
“Now what?” asked Todd turned to Viki.
“I need to ask you a few questions Mr. Manning?” came Belton’s voice.
Todd turned to face the cop, “What?”
“When was the last time you drove the car that was in the accident?” asked
Belton.
Todd could barely think straight, “Ah, we’d parked it at the garage about
thirty minutes before Téa took it out…”
“And the condition of the brakes?” asked Belton.
“They worked fine. Why are you asking me this stuff?” demanded Todd.
“Our traffic officer on the scene discovered the car’s front brake lines had
been tampered with…” explained Belton.
“You mean, someone did this on purpose?” questioned Viki full of concern.
“We believe so,” said Belton.
Viki wrinkled her brow, “Todd, I’m going to make a phone call. I’ll be
right back.”
Todd nodded his head. A nurse approached him, “Mr. Todd Manning?”
“Yeah?”
“I need you to sign this written consent form for your wife’s operation. We
can’t begin without your signature,” explained the nurse.
Todd took the clipboard and signed his name. Looking up, he saw hospital
signs directing him to a chapel. He returned the clipboard to the nurse and
bolted in the direction of the chapel, leaving the officer and the nurse to
stare at each other.
********************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Todd rushed into the chapel. His hair flowing out behind him, his collar
open. The chapel was small, sparse, and poorly lit.
“Look, we gotta cut a deal…” said Todd firmly. He began to pace the center
isle.
“You just gotta save Téa and the twins, you know – they just gotta be o.k…”
Viki walked in. Todd looked at her – his eyes full of fear.
“Where did you go?” asked Todd.
“I had to make a phone call. I asked Clint to examine the spot where your
car was parked. Maybe… he might find a clue…” suggested Viki.
“Clint?” questioned Todd.
“He’s a good newspaperman,” stated Viki, “Are you worried?”
“Worried? Viki – I’m scared as hell…” muttered Todd. He paused, still
pacing, “They just gotta be o.k.”
“You did the right thing – you did,” said Viki attempting to reassure him.
“When will I know something?” he asked continuing to pace.
“Todd, it’s going to take a while,” said Viki, “Why don’t you sit down?”
“And do what? Twiddle my thumbs? I swear to you Viki, I am going to find
out who has done this…” he spat.
“And do what Todd?” questioned Viki.
“Whoever it was who did this is going to pay for hurting my family…” said
Todd icily.
Viki made a face.
Several minutes passed by. Todd continued to pace, running his hands
through his hair…waiting for
something…anything…nervous…scared…anxious…feeling absolutely helpless…and he
didn’t like it.
The doors to the chapel opened. Viki and Todd spun around. It was the
doctor.
Todd swallowed, “Well? Is she all right? The twins…are they all right?”
“Everyone is going to be fine, Mr. Manning,” said the doctor taking a
breath, “Congratulations – you have a healthy daughter and son.”
“I do? They’re really healthy?” muttered Todd.
The doctor nodded his head.
“…’cos Téa…you know… she’s a carrier for hemophilia…” muttered Todd.
“I did not know that…but the boy…he’s fine…” replied Dr. Curry, “The
children can be tested but I recommend you wait until they get a little
bigger. They’re a bit small right now.”
“Ah…how small?” asked Todd looking at Viki, worried.
“Your daughter is four pounds, fourteen ounces and your son is five pounds
one ounce,” said the doctor.
“Ten fingers and ten toes?” asked Todd.
“And a healthy set of lungs too,” added the doctor.
“Téa?” he asked.
“Your wife is in recovery. She’s a bit groggy but doing all right. We had
to use a local analgesic but she tolerated the procedure well,” explained
the doctor.
“When can I see her?” asked Todd, his voice shaking.
“Maybe in another thirty minutes….it depends. In the meantime, do you want
to see your twins?” asked the doctor smiling.
“Not without Téa. I’ll wait for Téa,” said Todd staring at Viki, firm in
his conviction.
The doctor nodded his head and left. It was a long thirty minutes.
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Todd anxiously followed the nurse down the hall. Viki was right behind
him. The nurse opened the door to Téa’s room and he went inside, pausing.
Téa moved her head towards him slowly and smiled. The nurse and Viki stayed
in the back of the room as Todd approached Téa. He stood beside her and
took her hand in his, holding it gently, his face full of concern.
“How are you doing Delgado?” he asked softly, gazing into her tired eyes.
She smiled feebly, “I feel like I’ve been pistol whipped by an Irish
terrorist.”
“That’s not funny Delgado,” said Todd smiling, “I was worried.”
“Oh, you too?” she muttered.
“Stop cracking me up,” he said seriously.
There was silence in the room.
“I’ll be all right, Todd,” she said softly.
He nodded his head.
“How are the twins? Have you seen them?” she asked.
“No, I was waiting for you,” he replied.
“Mr. Manning, do you want me get them for you?” asked the nurse.
Todd nodded his head ‘yes.’ The nurse left.
“The doc says they’re small but healthy,” said Todd.
Téa feebly smiled, “A boy and a girl, right?”
“Right,” said Todd, “Doc says they should wait to be tested.”
Téa nodded her head.
“I’m glad you’re all right,” said Todd softly. He leaned over and gave her
a gentle kiss on the cheek.
“What happened Todd?” she feebly asked.
“Cops say the brakes failed,” replied Todd, clutching her hand, gazing
lovingly into her eyes… wanting to touch her…
The nurse opened the door and pushed in a double hospital bassinet. She
picked up a baby and placed him in Téa’s arms. The baby was small and
squirmed. He was wrapped firmly in blankets and softly coo’d. Téa admired
him.
“Who do I have?” asked Téa.
Todd beamed at them.
“The boy,” said the nurse.
The nurse then grabbed the girl and placed her in Todd’s arms. She too,
was wrapped firmly, squirmed, and coo’d. Todd couldn’t stop smiling. The
little girl felt so good in his arms. He was overwhelmed to be holding his
child…conceived in love… with the love of his life…
Todd turned to Téa, “They’re so tiny…”
Téa smiled at Todd. Viki stood next to Todd, smiling at the girl.
“So, do you have names picked out?” asked Viki.
“We didn’t really discuss it,” said Todd rocking the small girl in his
arms, “Téa?”
“Well, let’s name them,” said Téa softly. She was smiling at the small boy
in her arms and lightly rubbing his arms.
“Where do we start?” asked Todd looking into his wife’s eyes.
“How about with the “tee’s?” suggested Téa.
“O.k,” said Todd, “Who first?”
“How about this guy here?” said Téa softly.
Todd sat down in the chair next to Téa’s bed, “Got any suggestions?”
“Trent?” asked Téa.
“Nah,” said Todd.
“Timothy?” suggested Téa.
“Nooooo,” said Todd.
“Tyler?” suggested Téa. It felt so good to hold him in her arms.
“Tyler? That sounds cool,” replied Todd gazing at the boy in Téa’s arms.
“How about this,” said Téa smiling at her son, “Tyler Thomas Manning?
Thomas for his father.”
“Not quite,” said Todd.
Téa looked at Todd, “What’s missing?”
“I like Tyler Thomas Delgado Manning better,” finished Todd smiling at his
wife.
Téa looked down at her squirming son, “I’m your Mommy…little one...It sure
is nice to meet you Tyler Manning…”
Todd took a breath as he looked at his daughter then to Téa, “Ready?”
Téa looked up into his eyes, “Ready.”
“Tiffany?” suggested Todd.
Téa nodded her head ‘no’.
“Tammy?” asked Todd.
“No,” said Téa.
“Taylor?” suggested Todd looking at his daughter. He sure did wish she
would open her eyes… just for a second.
Téa smiled, “Now, that sounds nice.”
“O.k,” said Todd, “Taylor Téa Delgado Manning.”
“Téa? Really?” muttered Téa.
“After her mother,” said Todd softly.
Téa smiled at him.
Todd softly addressed his daughter, “I’m your daddy, Taylor Manning…”
There was a knock on the door and Kelly stuck her head in, “Hi.”
“Kelly!” exclaimed Todd, “Come on in.”
She did so, “Everyone o.k? We were worried.”
“Yeah,” said Todd, “Everyone is o.k. Meet Taylor Téa Delgado Manning,” he
said showing off his daughter. Kelly peeked at the small girl in Todd’s
arms.
“And Téa has Tyler Thomas Delgado Manning,” said Todd with pride in his
voice.
Kelly walked over to the bed and smiled at the small boy in Téa’s arms.
“Wow. They’re tiny…” remarked Kelly.
“They sure are,” confirmed Todd, “They squirm a lot but I haven’t heard
them cry yet.”
There was silence for a minute.
“Ah,” spoke up Kelly, “Fiona got that photography award. Kevin got the
journalist award for investigative reporting.”
“That’s great,” said Téa smiling weakly at Kelly and then at her son.
“Todd, Tyler’s squirming again,” Téa remarked.
“So is Taylor,” replied Todd. He stood next to her bed and they lost
themselves in the glow of their children.
“I’ll tell the staff outside that everyone’s o.k,” said Kelly.
“All right,” said Todd.
Kelly left.
Todd found his wife’s eyes again, “Delgado, I’m two for three…”
“What?” asked Téa.
“She’s got my eyes,” he said smiling.
Téa lightly laughed, “Tyler has my eyes, Todd.”
It felt so good to know Téa was all right and to hold Taylor in his arms.
He was overwhelmed by his family.
Viki smiled at them.
TO BE CONTINUED IN THE SERIES "CARELESS MEMORIES"
