HOLD BACK THE RAIN - PART SIX
PREVIOUSLY
"I love you…" said Téa.
He pulled her into a passionate embrace – touching – feeling – caressing – gently – intimately – erotically…
"You are so exciting…so attractive…" he whispered between kisses. And she responded – reacting to his…attention…wanting to please him…
His boxers and her nightie didn't stay on long.
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January 2001 The Sun Mid-morning
Kelly Cramer sat behind Todd's desk in his office, reviewing an article, waiting for him to return from the pressroom. She…felt awkward. Two weeks ago she was publishing the Sun and this was her office. Todd had made it clear though she was "second-in-command" and he never contradicted a decision she made or an order she issued. She thought about quitting and then decided against it. After all, where would she go? What would she do? She still had Ian's millions and no clue what to do with them. And this job she had at the Sun…well, she found it rewarding.
Fiona walked in with a folder in her hand.
"Kelly, I've got those pics," said Fiona walking up to Todd's desk. Kelly stood up, took the folder from her and began to go through the pictures. Fiona picked up the pictures on Todd's desk and looked at them. Kelly looked up.
"This must be Starr. She's a little cutie," said Fiona putting it back.
"Starr's a good kid," commented Kelly.
"And this must be the boy. What's his name? Trevor?" remarked Fiona.
"Yeah," said Kelly.
"He looks a lot like his mother," said Fiona putting the picture down, "And this must be Téa. That's a nice floral print dress she's wearing."
"Yeah," said Kelly.
"So, what's Téa like?" asked Fiona.
"She's nice," said Kelly, "Well, she's always been decent to me. And she helps smooth out Todd's rough edges."
"Oh," said Fiona.
"And she's a very good attorney. Remember that case last year, New York verses Boatman?" asked Kelly.
"Who could forget? Only your OJ Simpson received more publicity," commented Fiona.
"Téa argued against the DNA evidence presented," said Kelly proudly.
Fiona nodded her head.
Todd walked in, "Kelly, what are you doing at MY desk?"
"Reviewing an article," said Kelly moving away to the other side of the desk, "It's fine. You can review it if you want. It's on the dock fire."
"I brought the pictures in from yesterday," remarked Fiona.
Todd went to his desk, "And who has been through my pictures?"
Kelly handed Todd Fiona's folder.
"Me," said Fiona making eye contact with Todd.
Just then, Téa walked in dressed in a power suit and carrying a briefcase.
Todd's face lit up, "Hi Delgado."
"Hi Manning. Ready?" asked Téa, "Hello Kelly, Fiona."
"Hi Téa," said Kelly.
"Téa," said Fiona, "By the way – congrats on your new addition to the family."
"Yeah, that's great news," said Kelly.
Todd put the folder on his desk and walked over to his wife.
"Thanks," replied Téa.
"Todd…where are you going?" asked Kelly as Todd and Téa turned to leave.
"If you must know, we have a doctor's appointment," said Todd facing Kelly.
"Ah, what about the employee's meeting at eleven?" asked Kelly.
"Oh, that…" muttered Todd.
Téa's face fell.
Todd saw the potential disappointment in her eyes.
"You handle it Kelly," said Todd, "This appointment is more important."
He put his arm around Téa's shoulders and they left.
Kelly headed for the door herself, "Coming Fiona?"
"Ah, I need those negatives in the folder. I'll be right out," said Fiona.
Kelly left.
Fiona went to Todd's desk and grabbed the negatives out of the folder. Then she picked up the phone and dialed a few numbers.
"Hi, It's me."
Pause.
"Everything is going fine."
Pause.
"Yes, I've met the target."
Pause.
"No. She has no clue."
Pause
"If I have anything further – I'll call later."
Fiona hung up the phone and left the office.
Llanview General, Dr. Clayton's office…
Téa and Todd walked into Dr. Clayton's office. Dr. Clayton got up from behind his desk and extended his hand.
"Hello, Téa."
"Hello, Dr. Clayton. This is my husband, Todd," said Téa making the introduction.
Dr. Clayton briefly shook Todd's hand and motioned for them to sit down. He handed Téa a folder, "Go ahead and review the information. If it needs to b e updated, make the corrections."
Téa nodded her head.
Todd looked over her shoulder.
She handed the folder back to Dr. Clayton, "It's fine."
"Good. Date last period started…" asked Clayton writing in the folder.
"Do you really need to know that?" asked Todd.
Clayton looked up, "Yes."
"What for?" asked Todd.
"Todd," injected Téa, "It helps him figure out the due date."
"Oh," said Todd.
"According to my notebook," said Téa reaching into her briefcase and pulling out her notebook, "Ah, November 18th."
Dr. Clayton wrote furiously in his folder.
It was silent for a few minutes and then he looked up, "I have a working due date of 18 August and you're approximately six week along."
"Now what?" asked Todd obviously interested by uncomfortable.
Dr. Clayton reached for a notepad and scribbled something down on it, handing it to Téa.
"This for the pre-natal vitamins I want you to take."
"All right," said Téa.
"And upon reviewing notes on your last pregnancy – I want to put you on a diet and exercise program. It should help your body deal with the stress…" added Clayton.
"I understand," said Téa.
"What stress?" asked Todd.
"Your wife's last pregnancy was very stressful. I had to confine her to bed rest and she still delivered six weeks early," explained Clayton, "I want to avoid another high risk pregnancy…"
Todd looked at Téa, "Don't worry."
She gave him a slight smile.
"Now what?" asked Todd.
"Well, we'll take Téa's height and weight and draw some blood for further tests. Can you come in for a follow-up in two weeks?" asked Dr. Clayton.
"Sure," said Téa.
Dr. Clayton called in a nurse and Téa accompanied her into the next room. Todd got Dr. Clayton's attention, "When do we get to look at pictures?"
"Pictures of what?" asked Dr. Clayton.
"The kid!" said Todd.
"It's still too soon," said Dr. Clayton, "Maybe in another four weeks or so."
"Four weeks!" exclaimed Todd, "That's an eternity!"
There was an awkward pause.
"Ah, do you test…the kid…for the blood disease?" asked Todd stammering to get the question out.
"You mean hemophilia?" asked Dr. Clayton, "I understand your wife is a carrier."
"Right. That," said Todd.
"No, it's not a life threatening or birth defective disease. I don't like doing an amniocentesis unless I feel there's a medical necessity," said Dr. Clayton.
"How will we know….then?" asked Todd.
Dr. Clayton frowned, "Well, when we start conducting our sonograms, we might get lucky and be able to identity the sex of the child. That will help. If the child is female, the chances are slim that hemophilia will not be active but there's also a fifty-fifty chance the girl will be a carrier. If the child is a boy, well, he'll have the same chances Trevor did…"
Todd's concern was written all over his face as he thought of Trevor's recent scare.
"Mr. Manning, do you know who Queen Victoria was?" asked Dr. Clayton.
"Yeah. Some Brit. Ruled the Island, right?" asked Todd.
"She was a carrier for hemophilia. She had three sons. Only one had hemophilia. The other two, including the Prince of Wales, were normal and had healthy lives," explained Dr. Clayton.
"Oh," said Todd.
Téa and nurse walked back in.
Todd felt a little better.
Later, that evening…
Téa sat on the couch preparing a brief. Todd sat on the floor playing with Trevor and Trevor's fire truck.
"What are you working on?" asked Todd. He pushed the truck. Trevor grinned.
"It's a discovery motion for that case I picked up on Christmas," replied Téa furiously writing.
"You know, Kelly's working a story about those dock workers…something about extortion…" said Todd nonchalantly making a face at Trevor.
Téa's head popped up, "Really? My client mentioned that extortion was occurring down on the docks…"
"I bet that old man Asa is up to no-good," muttered Todd smiling at Trevor, "Can you say no-good?"
Téa paused.
"You know, he isn't the only one up to no-good," remarked Téa.
"Oh? Who else?" asked Todd. Trevor laughed at Todd.
"There's something not quite right with that new photographer…what was her name…Fiona Braxton?" suggested Téa.
Todd looked up at his wife, "Oh? What?"
"I can't put my finger on it," said Téa.
"Why Delgado, methinks you might be a tad bit jealous…" said Todd.
Téa put her pad of paper and pen aside.
"Me? Jealous of Fiona Braxton? I don't think so," said Téa.
"Then prove it to me," said Todd smiling at her. Trevor pushed the truck in front of him.
"Prove what to you? That I'm not jealous?" asked Téa wrinkling her brow. "Yeah," said Todd.
Téa got off the couch and sat down next to Todd. He looked at her intently. She took her hand and drew him into a kiss. A kiss that said – You're mine…And we know it…
"Wow…" he muttered.
She drew back and found his eyes, "What do my eyes tell you?"
"You're not jealous…" whispered Todd.
"Certainly not of Fiona Braxton…" replied Téa.
Todd took his hand and drew her into a kiss – a kiss that confirmed You're mine…
They parted slowly…lingering.
"You know what?" whispered Todd.
"What?" whispered Téa. Their foreheads met…
"We've just kissed…twice now… and guess who hasn't hit me…" suggested Todd.
They both turned their heads towards Trevor. Trevor sat there, staring intently at his parents with a very confused look on his face.
"He wants to hit you…but he's holding back…" said Téa softly.
"How do you know?" asked Todd.
"I see it in his eyes…" replied Téa.
"Should we go for another kiss?" asked Todd.
"I don't think we should press our luck," replied Téa.
"So why hasn't he hit me yet?" asked Todd.
"I think he's finally figuring out what a Daddy is…and what a Daddy does…" suggested Téa.
Todd smiled at his son.
TO BE CONTINUED
