HOLD BACK THE RAIN - PART NINE

PREVIOUSLY

She slid off his shirt and kissed him…passionately…with desire…and he returned that desire…

Their lovemaking last long into the night. It was tender and gentle.

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Late March The Docks…

Todd and Kelly stood a safe distance away from the commotion. Police and emergency crews crawled all over the docks.
"Poor Asa," said Todd sarcastically, "First a strike, then a fire, now a pipe bomb."
"At this rate, the docks will never be re-vitalized," added Kelly. An ambulance drove off, it's lights on and it's sirens blaring.
A reporter walked up to them.
"Initial reports are seven injured, two dead, and severe damage to the newly remodeled boardwalk," the reporter said.
"Where was the bomb planted at?" asked Kelly.
"Police think it was planted in a car parked alongside the boardwalk," replied the reporter.
"Well, go do your job and dig up some more information," instructed Todd.
"I see Blair's here reporting for that new TV station, WLNV," remarked Kelly.
Todd nodded his head. Blair had moved back to Llanview last month and had gotten a job as a TV news reporter.
"Where's your buddy Fiona? Is she doing her job and taking pictures?" questioned Todd.
"Yeah, she's down here taking pics," answered Kelly.
"Manning! Cramer! What are you snakes doing down here?" came a voice. Kelly and Todd turned around. Asa Buchanan.
"Keeping an eye on the slipperiest eel down here," replied Todd, "Sorry to hear about your docks project."
"Manning, your false concern is touching," replied Asa.
"Asa, why don't you go annoy someone else… like the police…" suggested Kelly.
"I'll be back for you two," remarked Asa walking off.
"Pain the ass, isn't he?" questioned Todd looking at Kelly.
"Don't have to tell me," said Kelly.
They continued to watch the chaos unfold.
Fiona Braxton avoided the police line by taking a long route around into the crime scene. She got as close as she could to the car that was blown up by the pipe bomb and started taking pictures with her camera's telephoto lens. The scene intoxicated her as emergency workers tried to control the situation. And for her, half the excitement was knowing she might be caught.
CLICK! Snap!
CLICK! Snap!
She felt a hand on her shoulders and froze. Police?
"Fiona?"
She turned around and smiled, "Asa."
They exchanged quick hugs.
"Are you being careful?" asked Asa.
"The police haven't found me yet," said Fiona.
"I'm not worried about the police. Bo runs the police," remarked Asa.
"How is he? I think the last time I saw him, I was just a kid," replied Fiona.
"He's all right. I'm talking about Manning. He's a snake and you are my favorite Goddaughter," said Asa. He lit a stogie.
"Well, you are my favorite Godfather," said Fiona smiling.
"I'm your only one. I was sorry to hear what happened to your father," said Asa.
Fiona frowned, "After Todd Manning acquired Der Post from him he didn't care about anything anymore Asa – even me."
"Manning's a one man wrecking crew. I would have been there at the funeral but I was having my own problems here," explained Asa.
"I know Asa. My father lived for that paper – to be a newspaperman. Todd Manning took that from him and when he did my father just went on a self-destruction spree that ended in my father's death. I'm here to return the favor," summed up Fiona.
"Yeah, but you're slow, Fiona. You've been here three months and what have you accomplished?" asked Asa.
"These things take time, Asa. I can tell you this – his pregnant wife is jealous as hell, or maybe I should say insecure as hell. There will be trouble in paradise soon," said Fiona.
"Not soon enough for me Fiona," said Asa.
"Well look, Manning, Kelly, and I are going to a conference in NYC in two weeks from now. His wife won't be attending," replied Fiona.
"Spell it out for me Fiona," said Asa, "I just don't see Manning cheating on his wife – his pregnant wife – who he adores…"
"Appearances can be deceiving, Asa," said Fiona, "Even if he isn't willing to go to bed with me – he can be an unwilling participant – especially if I have to drug him to get the photos I want."
"All right, Fiona, I better see some progress in two weeks. His press about my docks projects is killing me," replied Asa.
"Trust me," said Fiona, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some pictures to take."
Asa turned around and left.
Later on that evening…
Téa Delgado Manning left work early. She was feeling tired and needed to relax. When she walked in, Judith was playing with Trevor. Trevor was excited to see her. His smile was bright, and happy. Téa quickly changed out of her power suit and into a set of comfortable casual clothes. She gave Judith the rest of the day off and sat down on the couch next to Trevor.
"Want Mommy to read you a story?" asked Téa.
Trevor nodded his head, "Yes, Mommy."
"O.k. Which one?" asked Téa.
Trevor went to his toybox that was in the corner of the room and grabbed a book, returning it to the couch.
Téa began to read and Trevor listened intently.
Todd opened the door and discovered Téa reading to Trevor.
"…And he huffed…HUFF! HUFF! HUFF!" said Téa making sound effects.
Trevor imitated her, "HUFF! HUFF!"
Todd laughed.
Téa quickly glanced back, "Hi, Todd."
Todd took off his coat and threw it on a nearby chair.
"Daddy!" exclaimed Trevor.
"Hi Guys," said Todd walking over to the couch and sitting beside Trevor.
Téa continued, "And he puffed… PUFF! PUFF! PUFF!"
"PUFF! PUFF!" imitated Trevor.
"But he couldn't blow the house down…" said Téa.
"You know why T.D?" asked Todd.
"No," said Trevor.
"Because it's made of bricks," said Todd making a funny face at Trevor.
Trevor laughed.
Todd began to tickle the boy and Trevor started laughing uncontrollably. Téa giggled as she watched them. Trevor crawled off the couch to get away from Todd's tickles. Trevor found his fire truck and began to play with that.
Todd leaned over and kissed Téa, "You're home early."
"So are you," said Téa.
"Well, I worked hard today…" said Todd, "A pipe bomb went off on the docks."
"I heard," said Téa.
Todd took Téa by her shoulders and guided her head to his lap, smiling at her. She put her feet on the couch and stretched out. He leaned over and they shared a deep kiss.
"Maybe I should come early more often," remarked Téa smiling at him.
"Were you tired?" asked Todd.
"Yeah. The twins were wearing me out," she said softly.
Todd looked at her tummy and gently placed his hand on there. She had a just begun to show.
"How much weight have you gained so far?" he asked, looking deeply into her eyes.
"Ah, six, seven, pounds, I think," she replied.
He smiled, "Someone is wiggling around in there."
"Yeah…they are…" she replied.
"You are the sexiest pregnant woman I know," he said honestly.
"Todd!" she exclaimed blushing.
Trevor looked up, "Mommy's getting big…"
Téa and Todd looked at Trevor.
"T.D., your mommy's going to have two new kids…you know this right?" said Todd.
"Like me and Starr?" he asked.
Téa laughed. Trevor didn't quite understand what was going on…just that his mommy was getting big and he was going to have brothers or sisters or both.
Todd smiled, "Yeah…like you two."
Trevor went back to his fire truck.
"I like touching you here," said Todd addressing Téa.
"I know you do. You do it quite often," she replied.
"You know, I'm feeling like getting some tomato…" he said softly.
"Todd! You know what the doctor said. It's not a good idea. I mean, I wouldn't mind a little tomato either..but…" she started.
"Well, what does the doctor know?" asked Todd.
"I can satisfy you…in other ways…" suggested Téa.
"You just might have too," said Todd.
It was silent between them as their eyes met and then suddenly they found themselves kissing – softly and gently at first and then the kisses got deeper, more passionate. They couldn't stop. They didn't want to…
There was a tap on her shoulder. Todd broke the kiss off and they turned around to look at Trevor.
"Mommy o.k?" he asked.
Téa laughed.
"Mommy is fine, T.D. Why do you always interrupt us?" asked Todd. Trevor made a face. Why did his parents have to do that all the time?
Téa sat up.
"I think we should finish what we started once T.D. goes to bed," suggested Téa.
"I'm greedy. I don't want to wait that long," said Todd smiling at her.
Téa stood up, "I've got to get dinner started anyway."
Todd gave her a playful frown.
"Want some help?" he asked.
"You better play with T.D. You're a menace in the kitchen," she replied.
"Who me?" he asked.
She went into the kitchen and he played with Trevor. Life was good
TO BE CONTINUED

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