HOLD BACK THE RAIN - PART SEVEN
PREVIOUSLY
"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.
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Late January The Sun Mid-morning…
Kelly, Todd, and Fiona were in Todd's office. Todd was pacing.
"Todd, we've got good news and bad news," said Kelly.
"Let's hear it," remarked Todd.
Fiona stood next to Kelly, arms crossed.
"Our undercover reporter has finally managed an 'in' down at the docks and has gotten some great information…" started Kelly.
Todd raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"
"First, the dock workers on strike are dealing with an extortion problem, however it's hard to pinpoint just who is doing the extortion…" continued Kelly.
"Anything else?" added Todd.
"Yeah. He says he's got concrete proof Bobby Patino didn't kill Carlos Smith," finished Kelly.
Todd turned to face Kelly. Bobby Patino was Téa's client, "Let's go to print with that…"
"Ready for the bad news?" asked Kelly.
"What?" questioned Todd.
"If we go to print with this right now we'll blow his cover and sign his death warrant," said Kelly firmly.
"Oh. I hate it when that happens," remarked Todd, "Do I have to do the right thing?"
"I know it's hard for you Todd…" started Kelly.
Just then Briggs walked in, "Breaking news at the Llanview jail…" Kelly, Fiona, and Todd turned to face Briggs.
"What?" asked Todd.
"There's been a murder attempt on Bobby Patino," said Briggs.
Todd's mouth dropped.
"My God…" muttered Kelly.
"Kelly, I want you to cover that personally," instructed Todd.
Kelly nodded her head and grabbed Briggs by the arm. They walked out.
Todd stopped in front of his desk and turned to face Fiona, "Shouldn't you go with her? Do your job? Take some pictures?"
"I will – in a moment," said Fiona walking towards Todd.
"What's holding you up?" asked Todd crossing his arms.
"You," said Fiona.
"Me?" questioned Todd.
"You're a very fascinating man, Mr. Manning," said Fiona stepping into his personal space.
Todd tried to back up, "Are you flirting with me, Miss Braxton?"
"What if I were?" asked Fiona, inches away from Todd. Her hands on his crossed arms.
"I don't think… I like it," said Todd moving away from her on the side.
She turned to face him, "I live life on the edge, Mr. Manning, don't you?"
Todd walked behind his desk and grabbed a piece of paper holding it up, "See this? Know what this is?"
"No," replied Fiona.
"It's my circulation figures. Seems they're up and award winning Fiona Braxton has something to do about that," started Todd, "And I would hate to see them go down because I had to fire her…for making a pass at me."
"Is that a threat, Mr. Manning?" inquired Fiona.
"What you just did – make a pass at me – don't do it again – or I will fire you," said Todd firmly.
"You'd break poor Kelly's heart if you fired me…" said Fiona.
"Screw poor Kelly's heart…" replied Todd.
There was an awkward silence.
The phone rang. Todd answered it, "WHAT?"
Pause.
"Sam?"
Pause.
"I'll be right there."
Todd put the phone down, grabbed his coat and rushed out without saying another word.
Fiona stood there, arms crossed, "My you are quite the challenge Mr. Manning…"
The Law Office… Mid-morning…
Téa sat in her office, her head on her desk. She groaned. Her stomach couldn't stop doing flip-flops.
"Téa?" came Sam's voice over the speaker phone.
There was a pause.
"Téa?" came Sam's voice again.
She groaned.
There was another pause and Sam opened the door to her office.
She lifted her head off the desk.
"You look like shit," said Sam walking up to her desk.
She flopped weakly back into her chair.
"You're pale. You're sweating. You're shivering, and…" paused Sam looking at the wastebasket next to her desk, "Today's breakfast is somewhere it's not supposed to be. If you were feeling this sick, why did you even come in today?" asked Sam.
"Sam," muttered Téa, "I didn't feel like this when I walked in."
"You need to take the rest of the day off," said Sam.
"I'll be fine. What were you buzzing about?" she muttered.
"Seems someone tried to kill your client, Bobby Patino at the jail. He's in the jailhouse infirmary under guard," explained Sam.
"I should go…" muttered Téa.
"You aren't going anywhere. I'll go to the jailhouse and check on Patino," directed Sam. He picked up the phone, "I'm calling Todd."
"Sam…don't…" muttered Téa.
"Todd."
Pause.
"I think you need to get down here immediately. Téa's sick. too sick to work…"
CLICK.
Sam looked at Téa, "He's on his way. Now do yourself a favor and go home and rest."
Lunchtime…
Todd held Téa's waist as he opened the door to their house. Slowly, they walked in. Judith and Trevor were playing. Judith looked up. Trevor saw his mommy wasn't feeling well.
"Is everything all right Mr. Manning?" asked Judith.
"Mrs. Manning isn't feeling well. I'm going to take her into the bedroom to lay down," said Todd.
They walked into the bedroom and Téa laid down on the bed. Todd took off her shoes and then loosened the buttons on her shirt.
"Feeling any better?" he asked gently.
"My stomach's still upset," she replied.
He went into the bathroom and brought out a damp, cool, washcloth, whipping her face.
"This is the first time I've seen you…this sick," he whispered sitting close to her.
"It gets worse…" she mumbled.
"Don't scare me, Delgado," he replied. He gently caressed her face. It was quiet between them. Todd got lost in her eyes.
They could hear Trevor fussing in the background.
"Go check on T.D. all right?" asked Téa.
He nodded his head and left. Within minutes he came back with Trevor in his arms. The boy stopped fussing as soon as he saw his mother. He reached out to her but Todd held him tight.
"I gave Judith the afternoon off. I figured T.D. and me could take care of you," replied Todd. He lay down on the bed and put Trevor between them. Téa feebly smiled at Trevor.
"Want some crackers or ginger ale?" asked Todd, "I read about that…
pregnant women should eat them…" He rested on his arm facing her, looking into her eyes.
"I don't think I could hold it down," replied Téa.
"Aspirin?" asked Todd.
"No aspirin, Todd. Bad for the pregnancy…" muttered Téa.
Trevor reached out for her and snuggled right against her, putting his small little arm over her chest.
"Mommy sick. Like T.D.," he said.
Todd put his big hand on the small boy's shoulder, "T.D., we should let Mommy rest."
"It's all right Todd," said Téa, her voice weak, "He needs to do this – for me."
Todd frowned, "Well, I just don't want you…or him…"
"He's just being protective, Todd. Like I am of him. It's o.k.," replied Téa.
"What can I do?" asked Todd. His look of concern touched her.
"Just hold my hand, all right?" she asked quietly.
"After all…" said Todd, "That's what husbands do, right?"
He moved closer to her and snuggled next to Trevor, taking her hand.
Her eyes found his and thanked him.
TO BE CONTINUED
