LONELY IN YOUR NIGHTMARE - PART FOUR

PREVIOUSLY

“Téa,” said Viki, “Why don’t you come back to Llanfair with me. You can rest in your old room. You can relax there. Jessie’s there too. We’ll take care of you for a bit.”
“Thanks, Viki,” said Téa, “Will it be all right doctor?”
“Trevor is going to be fine,” said Hart.
Téa smiled and gave her son a light kiss on the cheek, “Te qurero.”

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Early afternoon of a chilly December day…

Todd Manning followed his wife from a distance as she left the hospital. And he was glad she was leaving with Viki. Seeing… that Vincent guy… around her made him… uncomfortable. But she didn’t love him…keep reminding yourself of that…
Téa followed Viki to Llanfair in her car. Todd parked his rental near Viki ’s shed and approached the house. It was a bit chilly out but he was dressed warmly in a long, dark overcoat.
He watched Téa and Viki enter the house through a small inconspicuous window in the den. Téa sat down on Viki’s couch and Viki poured herself and Téa a drink. Téa reached for the drink offered and took a sip. Todd wished he could have made out what they were saying.
He saw Jessica come running down the stairs, all bundled up and carrying a school book. Jessica’s face lit up when she saw Téa and they exchanged a warm, friendly hug. They talked for a few minutes.
Todd heard a car pull up and hid in some nearby bushes. Carlotta Vega and Téa’s niece, Roseanne Delgado, got out of the car and knocked on the door. As they went in, Jessie went out.
Todd went back to the window and peered in.
Téa was lying down on Viki’s couch with her head in Carlotta’s lap.
Carlotta was playing with her hair. Téa’s eyes were closed but she was still speaking and Todd could tell she was about to doze off. He thought back to another time in which she dozed off.


It was his birthday and when he walked through the doors of Llanfair he was pleasantly surprised to see Téa in the den, dressed in a power suit, holding up a cupcake with one unlit candle and a small giftbox.
“Happy Birthday,” she said smiling, trying hard to fight a yawn.
“Where is everyone?” asked Todd. He expected to see Viki, Jessica, and even Joey…
“We have Llanfair to ourselves this evening. Well, at least until the wee hours of the morning,” said Téa.
Todd took the cupcake and gift and placed them aside taking his wife in his arms, “Well, this is a surprise.”
He lost himself in here eyes and then gently kissed her. He could feel her fatigue in the kiss.
“You’re tired,” he said parting from her.
“I’ve been putting long hours into this case,” she replied picking up his gift and handing it to him.
He tore off the wrapping paper and opened the box. It was a leather watch. The one he was wearing now.
He smiled and kissed her again.
She picked up the cupcake, took off the candle and grinned as she forced him to take a bite out of it. Frosting stuck to his lip.
“Having fun?” she asked.
He took the cupcake from her and fed her the rest of it, leaving frosting on her cheek. Tenderly, he reached over and kissed the frosting away – then he began to investigate with his lips – kissing her nose – her forehead – until finally finding her mouth – he could feel her body react to his – she was as much into the kiss as he was. Her arms were around his waist, holding him tight.
Slowly, she parted from him.
“I’m sorry, Todd. I didn’t plan a dinner but I haven’t felt like eating much lately,” she said, “Seems I can’t hold a thing down.”
“Well, when we get hungry we’ll raid Viki’s frig,” he said.
“Would you like a glass of wine?” asked Téa.
“You have some?” asked Todd.
She walked to Viki’s bar and took a chilled bottle of wine from the mini-frig and poured each of them a glass. Todd came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, nibbling on her ear.
Téa lost her balance and reached for the bar to balance herself.
“Are you all right?” asked Todd.
“Ah, your presence… disorientated me,” replied Téa handing him his glass.
They clicked glasses and Téa took a sip. Again, she lost her balance and reached for the bar. Todd put his glass down and took hers out of her hand, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m a bit dizzy. Maybe I should sit down,” said Téa.
He escorted her to the couch and they sat down.
“Téa, you haven’t been feeling good for a couple of days now. Maybe you should see a doctor,” suggested Todd.
She rested her head on his shoulder.
“It’s just the flu, Todd. Sam’s not feeling well either,” replied Téa, “I’ ll be all right in a few days.”
“Maybe you should take a day off. We could go somewhere, you know…” he suggested as he took her feet and placed them on the couch. She rested her head in his lap.
“That would be nice,” she said softly.
He played with her hair and noticed that she was dozing off…

“Uncle Todd!” came a voice.
He turned around, “Jessie?”
The young woman placed her arms around him and gave him a hug. He hesitantly returned the hug.
She broke away from the hug, “What are you doing out here? Why don’t you go inside?”
He made a face, “I…don’t want to… confuse things…”
“Confuse things? How could you? You could clear up a lot of things,” replied Jessie.
Todd went to speak but closed his mouth. He didn’t know what to say.
Jessie raised an eyebrow, “You were the donor, weren’t you?”
Todd nodded his head, “Look, Jessie, you won’t say anything, right?”
“I told my mother about your phone call,” said Jessica.
“Jessie, how could you? Does Téa know?” asked Todd.
“No, she doesn’t. You should tell her you’re here,” said Jessie.
“She’ll be angry with me…” said Todd, “It will just mess things up…”
Jessie pulled out her arm from her coat sleeve and looked at her watch, “I’ ve got to go. I’ve got a final in English lit.”
“Jessie,” said Todd.
“Do the right thing Uncle Todd, and tell Téa you’re here.” said Jessie.
She gave him a quick hug and walked off.
He stood there not knowing what to do. His hands in his coat pockets. The winter chill finally creeping upon him.


Later that evening…

Todd had gone to his car to keep warm. The slamming of car doors had brought him out of his light sleep. He glanced at his watch. It was nine p.m. Téa was leaving. He started his car and followed her at a distance. She drove through Llanview to the Angel Square community parking her car in front of a small two story house with a small yard and brown fence.
Was this where she lived?
As she stepped out of the car he noticed she wore a stylish black winter coat and her scarf… he had given her that scarf for Christmas one year. He raised an eyebrow. She didn’t go into the house. Instead, she began to walk down the street. He got out of his car and began to follow. He didn’t want to see her hurt. She turned the corner. He sped up. He didn’t want to loose sight of her.
Once he turned the corner he recognized his surroundings. She had gone to the church they had been married in. He waited a few minutes before going in. And he used a side door so as not to draw attention to himself. The church was dimly lit in candlelight. Todd kept to the shadows, his dark overcoat enhancing his ability to stay hidden.
She was up front, near the altar, talking to a priest. The priest warmly shook her hand, smiled and left. She went and sat down in the first pew, facing the altar.
Her sadness moved him. He ran his fingers through his hair. She was so beautiful. And she was alone.
This was the church he married her in… he could still smell the incense from that day. Was she really alive? If he told her he was here would she be mad at him? Would she run?
He took a quick breath – clinching and unclenching his fists…
She’s alive…breathing…Would she stay? He could feel his heart beating faster.
“You’re braver than he is…”
“I’ll be in your story…forever…”
“Te amo mí querido…”
He walked out of the shadows slowly, taking quick breaths.
“Téa,” he said softly. Too softly, for her to hear. He was one-fourth of the way down the aisle.
“Téa,” he said again louder.
She turned around. Her mouth fell.
“Todd?” she whispered standing up
. He stopped. He was one-half of the way down the aisle.
“Am I dreaming?” she whispered again staring at him.
“Are you really alive?” muttered Todd pumping his fists.
“Tell me this isn’t a dream…” said Téa.
“It’s no dream…Delgado…” said Todd and upon saying that he quickened his pace into a trot towards her.
Téa began to quickly approach him and they met in each other’s arms, Todd picking her up off the ground, his coat flying out from behind him. The dim light augmented the features of her face.
And slowly, as he let her down, his arms around her, he drew her into a gentle yet desire filled kiss and she responded – her arms around his neck pulling him into her - as he was mutually pulling her into the kiss.
He could barely gasp for air as they parted.
“I thought you were dead,” was all he could mutter.
“Why Todd? Why did you leave?” came her gentle question. Her lips were wet…moist.
“I thought you were dead…” he said again – her sensuous eyes never leaving his – his arms around her, holding her tight, the incense burning, the dim candle light – he was caught up in the moment and he didn’t want to let it go.
She didn’t run away…
“We have a lot to talk about,” said Téa breathlessly. Again, she leaned in close to him – their lips meeting – the kiss long – and passionate. Their bodies reacting to one another.
“I don’t want to talk right now Téa,” said Todd between breaths, “Take me…home.”
“Gladly,” she replied. She took his hand and led him
TO BE CONTINUED