LONELY IN YOUR NIGHTMARE - PROLOGUE
Prologue
November 1998 St. Catherine's Church, Llanview, Pennsylvania
Todd Manning was not thinking about his recent court case. He was not
thinking of his DID, his re-integration, or his follow up therapy. He was
thinking of the woman in front of him, in her gorgeous gown of white, her
beautiful smile, and her expressive brown eyes…
Sam Rappaport gave Todd the ring.
Todd looked into his bride's eyes and glanced down to reach for her hand.
Téa's bright smile warmed his heart.
In one hand, he took her hand, in the other, he held the ring he was going
to give her.
Sam then placed a ring in Téa's free hand. Father David put his hand over
Todd and Téa's hand.
"Lord, bless and consecrate Todd and Téa, in their love for each other.
May these rings be a symbol of true faith in each other, and always remind
them of their love, through Christ our Lord, Amen," said Father David.
Todd quickly glanced down and slid the ring on Téa's finger saying, "Téa,
take this ring as a sign of my love… and fidelity."
It was Téa's turn now. Taking Todd's hand in hers, she placed her ring on
his finger and finding his hazel eyes she said, "Todd, take this ring as a
sign of my love…and fidelity."
"Lord, accept our offering for this newly married couple, Todd and Téa
Manning. By your love and providence you have brought them together, now
bless them all the days of their married life. Amen. By the powers vested
in me and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I pronounce you husband and
wife," said Father David.
Todd slowly lifted his wife's veil and tenderly kissed her. The kiss was
reminiscent of the first kiss he shared with her, gentle and intimate.
The Priest then handed them two candles and directed them to the lit Easter
candle. Todd grinned at his wife as she lit her candle.
"May the light of Christ fill Todd and Téa's hearts with love and bless
their marriage all the days of their lives," concluded Father David. Than
candles burned bright as their eyes met…
Todd Manning was so very much in love with his wife….
February 1999
Todd paced the den of Llanfair. His sister, Viki Carpenter, was by his
side. He couldn't speak. He just reflected on the recent events that were
swirling around him….
…In December, his best friend, Sam, and Téa, entered into a law practice
together…
…At the request of Delmonico Delgado, Téa's brother, Téa entered into a
high profile court case to defend a family friend accused of murder. On
January 31st, Téa was kidnapped. Téa would be returned to Todd provided he
pay a ransom of 1 million dollars and he would ensure she drop the case.
The ransom had been paid and tonight, at midnight, he was to pick Téa up in
front of Club Indigo. It was only eleven. Another hour to go. He was to
arrive promptly at twelve. Téa's life was forfeit if he arrived earlier….
His nieces, Jessica Buchanan and Roseanne Delgado tried to get him to stop
pacing. He continued to pace….
At Eleven-thirty, there was a knock at the door. Vicki bolted and opened
it. Todd, Jessica, and Roseanne were right behind her.
Viki let Bo and Delmonico Delgado in. Sam Rappaport followed.
"Bo, is something wrong?" asked Viki.
"There's bad news. I'm sorry Manning," said Bo.
Roseanne walked up to her uncle.
"Todd, there's been an accident," said Del.
"What kind of accident?" questioned Todd.
"Todd, the suspect's car which was carrying Téa was hit by a drunk driver.
A fire broke out. The drunk, the suspect who was driving, and a passenger,
we believe to have been Téa, died. The bodies were burned beyond
recognition," said Del softly.
"No, you're wrong. I paid the ransom…" said Todd.
"This was found in the wreckage Manning," said Bo handing Todd a burnt
necklace.
Todd took the necklace and stared at it. It was a small heart with their
initials on the back and their second wedding date. He had given it to her
on their wedding night. She was wearing it when she was kidnapped. His
face became contorted. His lips turned down. A tear escaped his eye.
"You… you're telling me… MY WIFE IS DEAD?" yelled Todd. He made a fist
around the necklace.
"Yeah, Manning. Téa's dead," said Bo.
"Liar. I don't believe it. I can't…" yelled Todd. He bolted out of
Llanfair through the back door. Viki tried to follow but Todd was too fast
for her.
A Week Later
Delmonico Delgado held his sister's hand. She was at Llanview's hospital
recovering from minor injuries sustained in her kidnapping. For five days
after the car accident, he thought she was dead. Forty-eight hours ago he
got a tip that Téa was still alive – still being held at an abandoned
warehouse on the docks of the Susquehanna River. He quickly assembled an
assault team and attacked the warehouse. Téa was alive. The car accident
was a case of mistaken identity….
Téa stirred and turned to face him, "Del?"
"I'm here… I'm right here," said Del.
"Where's Todd?" asked Téa.
"Téa, I… I don't…" started Del.
Téa's doctor walked in.
"Mrs. Manning? I'm Doctor Edwards," he said holding Téa's chart.
"Hi," said Téa softly, "What's my prognosis?"
"Good," said the doctor, "However I'm referring your case to Doctor
Clayton."
"Doctor Clayton?" questioned Téa, "I don't understand…"
"Well, aside from dehydration, you're in good health… however… routine
tests revealed…" Edwards paused.
Téa grew concerned, "revealed what?"
"Mrs. Manning, you're pregnant," said Edwards.
Téa's mouth dropped, "Todd should be here, Del…"
"Téa," said Del, "Todd's missing. Viki's had to file a missing person's
report…"
"What?" muttered Téa. Del nodded his head.
**************************************************************************************************************
Blair Cramer was incensed. She was in her Aunt's house and she was
furious.
"Screw you Dorian! I can not believe… what you have done!!" yelled Blair.
Dorian flinched, "Blair… look…"
"I don't want to look!!" yelled Blair, "My mother almost died!! I though
you were above ANY of that…!!"
"Blair," pleaded Dorian, "It wasn't me… I've been set up by Graham!!"
"No more Dorian. I… am…leaving. I'm…taking…Starr…with…me… and…Addie…"
said Blair with no emotion. She walked slowly out of Dorian's house.
Dorian fell to her knees and cried.
December 2000
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Blair Cramer's phone rang. It was eight o'clock at night and Blair was
bushed. She worked as an editor for a local paper.
"Hello?" said Blair. Starr was watching TV.
"Blair?" came a voice.
"Who is this?" asked Blair. The voice sounded eerily familiar.
"It's Téa."
"Téa?" muttered Blair, "Téa Delgado?"
"Yeah," came the reply.
"Téa Delgado is dead," said Blair. Starr looked at her mother and raised
an eyebrow.
"I assure you, Blair, I'm alive. And I need a favor…" came Téa's voice.
"What?" asked Blair.
"Is that Tee, Mommy?" asked Starr.
Blair made a face.
"My son has hemophilia and my blood isn't compatible to his. I need to
find a compatible blood donor so a clotting factor can be manufactured for
him. I'm desperate, Blair. Can you have Starr tested? It's my son's life
I'm talking about…" came Téa's voice.
"You… have a son?" questioned Blair.
"His name is Trevor, Blair. He's only sixteen months…" came Téa's voice.
"Could he die?" asked Blair. She knew what it was like to lose a son.
"He… could…" said Téa.
"Ah, Trevor… is he… Todd's son?" asked Blair.
"Yes. Trevor is Todd's son," said Téa.
"Oh God, Yes, I'll have Starr tested right away…" said Blair.
"Thank you Blair…" said Téa, "Let me give you a few numbers were you can
reach me…"
Blair grabbed a pen and paper and copied what Téa recited over the phone….
TO BE CONTINUED
*********************************************************************************************************** EDITOR'S NOTE: Concerning Hemophilia Hemophilia is a disorder in which one of the plasma proteins needed to form a clot is missing or reduced. When a person with hemophilia is injured, he does not bleed harder or faster than normal, but will have prolonged bleeding because he cannot make a firm clot. Small cuts on the skin are usually not a problem, but bleeding in any deeper area can be prolonged. Hemophilia is a sex-linked hereditary bleeding disorder transmitted on a gene of the X chromosome. Among the genes and chromosomes we inherit from our parents are two sex chromosomes, labeled X and Y. A woman inherits two X chromosomes, one from her mother and one from her father. This makes her female. A man inherits one X chromosome from his mother and a Y chromosome from his father, instead of a second X. This makes him male. If all of a person's X chromosomes have the hemophilia gene, then that person will have hemophilia. The condition is much less common in women than in men. In some cases hemophilia is "hidden" for many generations if no affected male children are born. The gene for hemophilia in such cases is carried through several generations of females, who, because they have a second X chromosome that is normal, do not suffer from the disease themselves. Most mothers of children with hemophilia, however, have fathers, grandfathers, brothers or other male relatives on the MATERNAL side of their families who were born with hemophilia. If you are further interested in this disease, you can email the authors at BotrinaRocks@hotmail.com.