HOLD BACK THE RAIN - PART TWO
PREVIOUSLY
Todd went up to his wife and kissed her on the cheek.
"Ditto Delgado," he said softly before walking out with Roseanne and Joey.
Téa went up to Trevor in his playpen and smiled at him, "Guess what T.D?"
"What? Mommy?" said T.D. smiling at her.
"We got the best Christmas gift of all this year. We got your Daddy."
Trevor smiled.
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Christmas, 2000
The light came through the window and Téa rolled over into the strong, masculine arms of her husband. Todd snuggled her hard. She rubbed her eyes and looked out the window. It was cloudy. Maybe it might snow. She looked at the clock. Eight o'clock. She smiled. She was excited to have Todd back in her life. He made hers and Trevor's life complete. Todd especially made her physical, sexual life complete. However, she couldn't help but worry. She was a carrier for hemophilia, the disease Trevor had. She was scared to get pregnant again…but Todd was here…if it happened…he would be here this time…
She thought she heard Trevor moving around in his room across the hall. She wiggled her way out of Todd's snuggle and got up. She put on her robe and walked out.
Todd opened his eyes hoping she'd come back.
"She's alive…she's really alive…" he muttered reminding himself of that fact as he stared up at the ceiling. He thought back to the plane – their intimate time on the plane…
He heard her in the hall and closed his eyes. She walked in with Trevor in her arms. She sat down on the bed and placed Trevor down on the bed between her and Todd.
"Go on Trevor," said Téa softly, "Wake up Daddy and wish him a happy Christmas."
He kept his eyes closed. He could smell her perfume in the air. And then he could feel small hands on his chest and a young boy crawling up to him. "Daddy! Wake up!" said Trevor.
Todd could feel a young boy's face on his chest. He tried not to smile. "Happy Cris-mass Daddy," said Trevor.
Todd cracked a smile.
Téa giggled.
Trevor tried to pry Todd's eyelids open. Todd opened his eyes and took Trevor into his arms.
"Merry Christmas Trevor Delgado!" said Todd lifting the boy into the air.
Trevor squealed.
Todd turned to Téa who was smiling at them, "Merry Christmas, Téa."
She gently caressed his cheek, "Merry Christmas – Feliz Navidad Todd."
Todd brought Trevor down to his chest.
"I've got coffee brewing and the tree lights are on. Take your time with T.D. and then come down and we'll open up our gifts," said Téa getting up.
"We'll be down in a bit," said Todd
Téa left. Todd began to tickle Trevor who smiled and laughed. Trevor hit Todd lightly in the face.
"This is fun, huh, T.D?" asked Todd smiling.
Trevor made a face at Todd.
"Your mommy is someone special, isn't she?" asked Todd sitting up and holding the boy in his arms, "You've got her complexion you know…and her nose…her cheeks…but you've got my eyes!" Todd laughed. He got up, put on some boxers and a robe and picked Trevor up in his arms.
"C'Mon," said Todd, "Let's go check out the tree and see what loot Santa left." Todd walked out into the hall.
"Loot!" said Trevor smiling.
He walked into the living room and saw Téa sipping coffee while sitting on the couch.
"Mommy!" exclaimed Trevor. Téa turned around and smiled. Todd put Trevor down and he toddled over to Téa. Todd grabbed his cup of coffee and sat down by the tree. Todd then passed out the gifts.
Téa sat down on the floor next to Todd and Trevor sat in her lap. Téa started a rip in Trevor's gift and he took over from there. He peeled off the wrapping paper revealing a stuffed frog.
"Oooohh," said Trevor hugging the toy.
Todd and Téa smiled at him.
Todd grabbed another gift and gave it to Téa.
"For me?" she asked.
He nodded.
It was small package and Téa peeled off the wrapping.
"Wow. Todd," muttered Téa. She had received matching pearl earrings and a necklace, "Thank you."
He leaned over – his lips inches from hers. He paused.
"So, ah, are you going to kiss me or are you going to tease me?" asked Téa.
"I'm waiting for him to smack me first," said Todd softly.
She glanced at Trevor. He was playing with the frog.
"I don't think it's coming," said Téa.
"O.k.," said Todd moving in for the kiss. Todd's lips met Téa's in a gentle kiss. It lingered. They nuzzled.
Whap! Trevor's hand found Todd's cheek.
"Trevor. No." said Téa trying not to laugh. Todd backed off.
"Maybe we shouldn't have nuzzled," said Todd.
"Trevor," said Téa firmly, grabbing his attention, "It's o.k. for Daddy to kiss Mommy. It's part of his job."
Trevor looked confused, "Mommy hurt."
"Mommy is fine," said Téa.
Todd laughed, "Gets his jealous streak from me I bet."
"You Manning men!" exclaimed Téa in a teasing voice, "Todd, open my gift.
It's the box on the right."
Todd grabbed the package and ripped off the wrapping paper.
"Téa!" exclaimed Todd, "Silk blue boxers!"
"Thought we'd try a different color on you," giggled Téa. She put Trevor down and got up, "I'm going to start Christmas breakfast. Stay here and play with Trevor, o.k?"
She left.
"Sure," said Todd taking Trevor's small hand in his, "Look, T.D. we gotta make a deal. You gotta stop smacking me when I kiss Mommy o.k?"
"Deal?" Trevor giggled.
Todd reached for the phone, "We're gonna call Starr and wish her a Merry Christmas, O.k.?"
Trevor nodded his head.
Todd dialed Viki's number.
"Viki, it's Todd. Starr there?"
pause.
"Hey Shorty, Merry Christmas," said Todd. Trevor picked up his frog again. pause.
"We'll be over in a bit," said Todd.
pause.
"Sure, hang on," said Todd putting the phone up to Trevor's ear, "Say Merry Christmas Shorty."
"Merry Cris-mass Short-Tee," said Trevor.
pause.
Todd took the phone back, "Your mom will be back today. We'll see you soon. Tee? O.k."
Todd stood up and took Trevor in his arms and walked into the kitchen. Téa was making eggs and cooking toast.
"Shorty wants to wish you Merry Christmas," said Todd, "I'll take over."
Téa raised an eyebrow and took the phone.
"Hi, Star. Merry Christmas." said Téa turning her back on Todd and Trevor.
pause.
Téa giggled, "Feliz Navidad."
pause.
"Yes, we'll be there Starr."
pause.
"We love you too. Bye." Téa hung up the phone. She turned around.
"Todd! The toast! It's burning!" exclaimed Téa.
"Huh? What toast?" asked Todd.
"Shoo," said Téa saving the eggs just in time. She salvaged the eggs and threw out the burnt toast.
"We'll sit at the table and just wait," said Todd sitting down at the table, "We should have had Shorty over last night."
"I agree," said Téa, "But we'll be there soon and Blair should be back today."
"Yeah," said Todd.
"Daddy! Play!" said Trevor. Todd turned his attention towards Trevor.
Todd made faces at Trevor.
Téa finished up and served up breakfast. Todd placed Trevor in his high chair and Téa feed him. Todd hungrily chowed down on his meal. Téa took a few bites of her eggs as she fed Trevor.
Todd watched as Téa feed Trevor. Téa finished up and wiped off Trevor's face.
"Téa, aren't you hungry? You've barely touched your eggs," said Todd drooling over them.
"No, the coffee did me. I'm not much of a breakfast person," said Téa.
"Well, I'm starving. Mind if I finish up your breakfast too?" asked Todd reaching for her plate.
"Go ahead," said Téa smiling. She picked up Trevor and went to get him ready for Viki's party.
Todd finished her eggs and got ready himself.
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Todd, Téa, and Trevor pulled up to Viki's about the same time Blair and Del pulled up. Téa held Del back while Todd, Trevor, and Blair went into the house.
"Something going on between you and Blair?" asked Téa.
Del smiled, "Why Téa? You care?"
"She's a…a…viper, Del," said Téa.
"She's all legs too," said Del smiling.
"Del!" exclaimed Téa, "Be careful."
"It's nice to know you care, little sis," said Del as they walked inside. After Christmas dinner everyone gather around the Christmas tree to exchange gifts. Todd sat next to Téa and Trevor sat between them. Blair, Starr, and Del sat across from them. Kevin, Cassie and River sat next to Blair. Todd and Kevin had been civil towards each other. Joey had been designated Santa and began passing out Christmas gifts. Jessie and Roseanne gave everyone a glass of their homemade Christmas grog.
"This one is for Starr from Daddy, Tee, and little Tee," said Joey handing Starr a gift.
Starr smiled as she took the gift.
Blair took a sip of the grog, "Oooh."
Blair made a face, "Who made the grog?"
"I did," said Jessie sitting down, "Roseanne helped."
Todd took a sip, "Wow, Jessie, strong stuff. Just the way I like it."
Joey had a sip of his grog, "Ewewew…" he said making a face.
Téa had a sip and her face instantly got flush.
"Téa. Are you all right?" asked Del noticing Téa's reaction to the grog. "Well, the grog is a tad bit…strong," muttered Téa clutching her stomach. "All right, we get the hint. The grog sucks," said Roseanne sitting next to Joey. She had a sip and made a face herself.
"Oooooh! Daddy!" exclaimed Starr marveling at the necklace he have her.
"Starr, it's lovely," said Blair.
Todd smiled but it was tight smile, "Glad you like it Shorty."
Trevor looked at Téa, "Mommy awl right?"
She brushed the bangs out of his eyes, "I'm fine, T.D. Just don't drink cousin Jessie and Roseanne's grog."
Todd looked at her concerned.
Joey passed out some more gifts.
"Yeah… you're too young… I can't drink the grog either," said Starr.
Joey gave Trevor a gift, "From Starr and Blair."
Trevor giggled, "Bear!" he said.
Téa stood up, "Excuse me."
"Téa?" asked Todd.
"Stay with T.D. and help him with his gift… I'll be back," said Téa quickly leaving the room.
Roseanne got up and started collecting the grog glasses, "Here, I'm recalling the grog."
"Egg nog anyone?" asked Viki.
Jessie got up and helped Roseanne, "I didn't think the grog was that bad!"
Viki motioned to Jessie and whispered into her ear, "I know you all worked hard on the grog…but… it's that bad."
Joey continued to pass out gifts.
Trevor tried to open his gift but couldn't get the wrapping. Todd
absentmindedly started the rip in the wrapping for him while looking out the den, waiting for Téa to return.
Trevor tore the gift open, "Ooooh!" he exclaimed. It was a toy fire truck. "Maybe I should check on her," muttered Todd.
Del was pleasantly surprised to observe Todd's concern and smiled at Blair. Téa walked back into the den looking a bit better and sat down next to Trevor and Todd.
"Are you all right?" asked Todd.
"I'll be o.k. Todd," said Téa still looking a little pale.
"Sorry about the grog Aunt Téa," said Roseanne coming back into the room, "Egg nog anyone?"
"Sure," said Téa smiling at Trevor, "Blair and Starr got you a fire truck, huh?"
Trevor nodded his head.
Téa turned to Blair and Starr, "Thank a lot you guys."
"Your welcome," said Blair.
Todd breathed a sign of relief. She was fine. He smiled at her. Aside from Kevin's presence, this was one of the best Christmas's he'd ever had. He continued to watch Starr and Trevor open more gifts and the holiday continued late into the night.
TO BE CONTINUED
