HOLD BACK THE RAIN - PART THREE
PREVIOUSLY
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.
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December 26, 2000
RING. RING.
Téa Delgado Manning stirred. She was warm and cozy in her bed.
RING. RING.
Téa opened her eyes. Six o'clock in the morning.
"Don't answer that," said Todd, his naked body against hers, snuggling her hard.
RING. RING.
"It might be important Todd," said Téa reaching for the phone on her nightstand.
Todd reached around her, gently caressing her breasts.
She winced.
"Hello?"
Pause.
"Slow down Carlotta…" said Téa, lying on her back. She closed her eyes as her body reacted to Todd's attentions.
"You feel so soft…" mummered Todd nuzzling her breasts.
She could barely concentrate on what Carlotta was saying.
"What? You're kidding?" exclaimed Téa.
Todd looked up into his wife's eyes.
"I'll be there shortly. Tell him not to say anything until I get to the police station. Bye," said Téa.
Todd frowned, "What is going on?" He put his arms around her waist so she couldn't get up.
"There's been a gang shooting. Carlotta has a friend whose son has been arrested as the suspect. I told her I'd go check out the crime scene and meet him at the police station," explained Téa.
"You've got to go today? Now?" questioned Todd teasing her with gentle kisses on her lips.
"Ah…" muttered Téa obviously aroused by his attentions, "Ah…yeah…Todd… I need…to go…now."
"Stay here a few minutes," he said between kisses.
"I…can't Todd…" said Téa softly.
He got up, "Well, I'm going with you."
Téa got up, closed her eyes, trying to shake off her arousal, and went to the bathroom, "Todd you don't have to. Who will watch Trevor?"
"We'll call Judith," said Todd, "Besides this might be news… and I need to go back to work."
"What about Kelly, Todd?" asked Téa washing her face.
"Well, if she's any good I'll keep her on staff," said Todd smugly.
Téa frowned. Todd needed to go back to work, she knew that… she just didn' t want Kelly to get a raw deal.
Todd and Téa walked into the parking lot of the department store where the crime scene was. Police were all over the scene. Bo and Hank were giving orders. Carlotta was standing off to the side. Téa exchanged a quick hug with Carlotta and then walked up to Bo and Hank. Todd followed, arms crossed in front of him.
"Merry Christmas counselor," said Hank frowning.
"Opposing counsel?" asked Bo.
"Yes, I'm representing Bobby Patino," said Téa firmly.
"He can't be here…" said Bo pointing to Todd. Todd feigned shock.
"Well, I see Kevin Buchanan is here – in fact, he's all over this crime scene, no doubt reporting for the Banner. Todd's here doing the same for the Sun," said Téa.
"Touché, Counselor," said Bo.
"So, Manning's got his job back at the paper?" asked Hank, "What about Kelly?"
"Yeah, what about Kelly?" asked Kelly walking up with a photographer.
"I'm back to work at the Sun, Kelly," said Todd smiling smugly at her, "And I'm here to ensure the Sun gets coverage of the story."
Kelly looked aghast, "But…I…"
"I'm back. I still own the Sun, of course, if you want to remain on staff…" started Todd.
"I can't deal with this right now…." said Kelly in shock.
"Look," said Téa addressing Bo, "Can I see the body? Do we have an I.D.?"
"Body's been identified as one Carlos Smith, a.k.a. "Tee-Loc," said Hank.
"This way," said Bo. Téa nodded her head and followed Bo and Hank. The name did not ring a bell. Todd talked to Kelly and the photographer.
"You know Téa, no matter how much you work with the gangs down here somethings never change," said Bo.
"You made a difference with the Jones boy," said Téa.
"We both did," said Bo.
Todd turned his head. Téa…and Bo working together to help kids in gangs?
He gave his orders and went to catch up to Hank, Bo, and Téa.
"Oh God…" muttered Téa as they came to the body. It was a young African-American boy – and he had been stabbed, repeatedly, violently, to death. It was graphic.
"It's not pretty," said Bo.
Téa turned her head aside and threw up.
Todd rushed to his wife's side.
Bo grabbed Téa's arm, "Are you all right?"
Todd pushed Bo away from Téa, "Don't touch her!"
Todd reached around her and Téa leaned against him, still shaking.
"Are you all right?" demanded Todd.
"I'm all right," said Téa, "I just had a natural reaction…"
"What's this about you an Bo working with gangs?" questioned Todd.
"Manning, can't you see Téa's…" started Bo.
Todd sneered at Bo, "Yeah…Téa just lost her cookies…so what? Don't touch MY wife."
Hank gave Téa a towel to wipe her mouth.
"Todd! Stop it!" said Téa regaining her composure.
"What's going on with you and Bo? A little tomato on the side?" demanded Todd.
Téa grew incensed, "How dare you? While you were gone I did some community service work through a program the police department sponsored – that Bo implemented."
"You always had a thing for Buchanan men!" yelled Todd, his temper rising.
"Manning, shut up! There is nothing going on with Téa and myself." said Bo.
Téa's eyes burned with fire, "I am not even going to dignify your outburst with a reply. Now I've got to go to the police station and meet with a client. If you're still in this foul mood – don't even think about coming home tonight!"
"Téa!" exclaimed Todd frustrated.
Téa walked off followed by Bo and Hank.
Todd reached over to the photographer standing next to him and grabbed the camera – throwing it to the ground.
Later, that afternoon….
Viki opened the door to Llanfair and Todd walked in, saying nothing, and went straight to the den.
Viki raised an eyebrow and followed Todd into the den.
"Something bothering you, Todd?" asked Viki.
Todd poured himself a drink.
"Did you and Téa have a fight?" asked Viki crossing her arms.
Todd grunted, "Shorty here?"
"No," said Viki, "Blair took her to Dorian's."
"So what now? Blair getting along with big momma Dorian?" demanded Todd.
"She's working on it," said Viki.
Todd paced the den then threw his drink across the room, "I hate this!"
Viki held her ground, "After you're done picking up your mess, I might listen to what is bothering you."
"Aw, Viki," said Todd softening, "Yeah…Téa and I got in a fight…"
"About?" questioned Viki.
"Her working for Bo's community gang service program. I flipped. I just flipped. The thought of her and Bo…even working together…" started Todd.
"Suck it up," said Viki, "It's a good program. Téa and Bo have made a difference in Angel Square."
"Viki!" yelled Todd.
"What?" said Viki.
"I hate this! I…I…don't want to fight with Téa…" said Todd his voice cracking.
"Then deal with the fact Téa had a life while you were in Berlin. Téa and Bo get along. That's it," said Viki firmly.
Todd sat on the couch and sulked.
"Do yourself a favor. Cool down and then go apogilize to your wife," said Viki sitting next to him.
Slowly he turned to face her, frowning and raising an eyebrow. Viki knew the look.
Later, that evening…
Todd walked in the door of…their house. The only lights on were the Christmas tree lights. Téa was lying on the couch, Trevor snuggled up next to her, both asleep. Téa's makeup was smired. She'd been crying. Slowly, Todd lifted up Trevor and took the sleeping boy to his room. He went back out to the living room and knelt down in front of the couch gently kissing Téa's face.
She stirred.
"Todd?"
"Uh huh…" said Todd.
"Don't, Todd…" muttered Téa.
"I'm so sorry, Téa. I don't want to fight…" he whispered.
Téa sat up but Todd continued to kneel before her.
"Todd, you just can't…" started Téa.
Todd made a face, "I love you Téa…I was…I behaved…poorly…"
"Oh Todd," whispered Téa, "How could you accuse me…with Bo? We're not friends nor are we enemies. We're two people with a mutual respect for the other."
Todd's look was pleading, "When I saw you get sick, I freaked o.k. I just freaked."
She reached out with her hand taking the palm of her hand and placing Todd' s cheek into it, "Todd, I thought I was prepared to look at the body. I wasn't."
Todd took a breath, "….forgive me."
She took her other hand and cupped Todd's face in her hands.
"I don't want to fight, Téa…" whispered Todd.
"I don't either…" she replied leaning into him, pulling him into a kiss – a soft, gentle kiss – one that said, "I forgive you…"
He brought his hand up and placed it through her hair, responding to her kiss.
"Is this the part where we kiss and make-up?" whispered Todd through their kisses.
"I think so," said Téa.
Todd picked her up in his arms and carried her to their bedroom.
TO BE CONTINUED
