LONELY IN YOUR NIGHTMARE

LONELY IN YOUR NIGHTMARE - PART ONE

PREVIOUSLY

"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….

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Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
December 2000

Blair listened to everything Téa had to say and copied down the phone numbers Téa gave her. If at first Blair wasn’t convinced she was talking to Téa Delgado, she was by the end of the phone conversation. A million things ran through Blair’s mind… Téa and Sam, successful criminal defense attorneys…Téa, a mother, with an hemophiliac son… And Todd…with no clue that Téa was alive… Téa, with no clue that Todd was alive… and the mother of Todd ’s son… The TV droned on in the background.
“Starr, sweetie, can you get Mommy’s address book from the kitchen?” asked Blair reclining in her chair. Starr got up and did what Blair had asked.
“Mommy, I thought you said Tee went to Heaven….” said Starr giving the book to her mother.
“I guess… I guess… I was wrong,” said Blair opening the book. She got a number and dialed the phone. Starr watched her mother intently.
“Hello, Doctor Walton? Blair Cramer here… No, nothing’s wrong with Starr, however, I kind of do have an emergency…”
Blair paused.
“It’s a long story. I’ll try and keep it short. My ex-husband’s second wife has a sixteen month old son by my ex-husband. The boy has hemophilia and they can’t find a compatible blood type to manufacture a clotting factor. I’d like to see if I can have Starr tested to determine if she is a compatible match…” said Blair.
Once again, Blair paused.
“O.k., thank you. Yes, I’ll wait here by the phone. Thanks again,” said Blair. She hung up.
“Mommy, does Daddy know that Tee is still alive?” asked Starr.
Blair wrinkled her eyebrow, “No sweetie…he doesn’t…”
Starr went back to watching her TV show and sulked in her chair.
The phone rang five minutes later. Blair arranged to have Starr’s blood drawn at 7:30 tomorrow morning. The doctor would have the lab prioritize the findings and Blair would have the results by noon.
“Mommy, why do I need tests?” asked Starr. She turned around from the TV and looked at Blair. Blair motioned for Starr to sit in her lap and she did.
Blair took a breath, “You know, Starr, Tee has a baby. You have a baby brother who is very sick. And you might actually help him get better,” she explained.
Starr smiled, “What’s his name? Can he talk? Does he play with bunnies? Can I see him…” questioned Starr.
“Ah, Starr,” said Blair, “You’ve got a lot of questions…. I’ll try to answer them tomorrow all right. Now go get dressed for bed.”
Starr nodded her head and skipped off to her room.
Blair took another breath. The right thing to do was to call Todd…

Berlin, Germany December 2000

The streets of Berlin were crowded – even on this winter day. It was cold and overcast. Typical. However, Todd Manning found the crowds couldn’t take away the emptiness he felt inside. He walked into “Der Post”, the newspaper he owned. His building was on the Kurfestendam near the Kaiser Wilhem Memorial Church. He walked into his office and was greeted by his managing editor.
“Herr Manning, the circulation numbers are in,” said Herr Giest.
“Up or down?” asked Todd.
“Up,” said Giest.
“Good. Now leave me alone,” said Todd. He kicked his feet up on his desk and lost himself in his nightmare….
He had won his court case. And Téa was there by his side. Re-integration hadn’t come easy but it had come. He could still feel Téa next to him, laughing, smiling, and intimate… He could still feel her beside him…. he unzipped her gown… her figure… Oh God! How lovely his wife was… They were remarried in a traditional Catholic wedding ceremony. Téa was Catholic after all, and this time… this marriage… would be for life…
Todd bit his lip. Blood trickled down his chin.
Téa took a high profile case on her brother’s request. A family friend had been charged with a high profile murder. It didn’t bode well. Téa was kidnapped. Todd paid the ransom. Téa died in a car accident. The kidnapper was returning Téa to Todd when a drunk driver struck the car Téa was in.
Todd was stunned. He’d only had…what? Three, four…. months with her after the trial? He couldn’t get her out of his mind. Her scent still lingered…We need Delgado, she’s like medicine, he could remember saying to Moose…her piercing brown eyes still penetrated his soul…
It had been two years since that horrible accident and his way to deal with it was to run away. And run he did. To Europe, to Germany. He wanted no reminders of Llanview and the happiness that he found there with Téa. Todd’s phone rang. He answered it.
“Herr Manning, you have an international phone call from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania…”
“Put it through,” muttered Todd.
“Todd?” came a voice.
“Blair?” replied Todd, “Is something wrong with Starr?”
“Ah, no…not with Starr…” said Blair slowly.
Blair helped Todd establish himself overseas. Starr came to stay the summers with him.
“Todd, you are not going to believe this,” said Blair.
“Believe what?” asked Todd.
“I just found out myself…” said Blair.
“Found out what Blair?” asked Todd.
“Todd, your son has hemophilia. He needs to find a matching blood donor. I’m having Starr tested…” started Blair.
“MY SON?” exclaimed Todd, “I don’t have a son.”
“You do, Todd…” said Blair.
“Blair – you’re a quack. Who is my son’s mother?” asked Todd sarcastically.
“Téa, Todd. Téa is your son’s mother,” said Blair softly.
“Téa is dead, Blair,” said Todd. He could feel his anger rising.
“Téa is alive Todd. Her son is sixteen months old and he’s very sick. He might die,” said Blair.
“Don’t F*CK with me Blair,” said Todd incensed that Blair could play such a cruel joke on him.
“I don’t know how Todd, but Téa wasn’t in that car. I TALKED to her myself. You know I moved to Harrisburg after you left. I had no idea she was still alive…” replied Blair.
“YOU ARE LYING BLAIR!” said Todd.
“Todd, you might be a compatible match for your son,” said Blair.
“Shut up Blair!” yelled Todd, “SHUT UP!” He flung the phone down. Was it possible? Was Téa alive? And the mother of his son? He had to know…
He pressed the buzzer on his intercom, “GIEST! GET IN HERE!”
Within seconds Giest walked in, “What is wrong Herr Manning?”
Todd flung a piece of paper at him, “Call this number. It’s an international one to a hospital. Ask if there are any patients named Manning or Delgado who have been admitted.”
Giest took Todd’s phone and dialed the number.
“My name is Giest. Has patient named Manning or Del-ga-do been admitted?”
Giest’s English was horrible and accent was worse.
Todd paced while Giest paused.
“I see. Can you give me that information?” said Giest.
“Ah, I can test… ah, Danke,” said Giest. He hung up.
“Well? What?” demanded Todd.
“A boy named Trevor Delgado Manning has been admitted for hemophilia. A compatible blood donor needs to be found,” said Giest, “Is he a brother, Herr Manning?”
“No,” muttered Todd remembering Blair’s words, “He’s… my son.”
“You have son?” asked Giest.
“Giest – get my private jet fueled and ready to leave in an hour.
Destination: Llanview, Pennsylvania, America,” commanded Todd.
“Who will run the paper?” asked Giest.
“You,” said Todd walking out.

Téa Delgado Manning paced the halls of Pediatric ICU at Llanview General.
Viki Carpenter stayed with her.
“Where’s Trevor?” asked Viki.
“Doctor Hart took him for tests. He should be back soon. His knee is very swollen. It’s very painful for him,” said Téa, “I can’t lose him, Viki. I can’t lose Trevor too…”
There was silence for a minute.
“I can’t believe my blood type is incompatible with his and… I can’t believe gave him this disease. I had no idea I was a carrier…” said Téa.
Viki gave Téa a hug, “You’ve got to think positive Téa.”
“Yeah, I finally tracked down Blair. I talked to her earlier tonight. She ’s going to have Starr tested,” explained Téa, “Where’s Vincent?”
“He went to get something to eat,” said Viki. Vincent Reyes was a friend of Téa’s she’d known since law school.
“There’s a chance,” said Viki.
“Yeah,” muttered Téa. She turned away from Viki and lost herself in her nightmare….

The kidnappers didn’t want to let her go. Todd paid the ransom but they didn’t release her. Her memories were hazy of the incident. A week later, Del and a team of FBI agents freed her. Téa went to Llanview but Todd was gone. Nowhere to be found. Viki filed a missing person’s report. And then Téa found out she was pregnant. Téa tried hard to find what happened to Todd but she couldn’t. The pregnancy was difficult on her and the high profile case was stressful. Sam stepped in to take some of the stress off of her but it was too late. She delivered early and her son, Trevor Delgado Manning was born six weeks premature. And Trevor had been plagued with health problems ever since. Téa believed it was all her fault – the stressful workload, trying to find Todd. Todd… It had been what? Two years? She could still picture him…his broad chest… his gentle hazel eyes… his warm smile. She wanted no other man in her life if she could not have Todd…

Jessica Buchanan ran down the stairs of Llanfair and hoped to answer the phone before it stopped ringing. She was hoping it was her mother with news of her cousin..
“Hello?”
“Jessie?” came a voice.
“Uncle…TODD?” muttered Jessie. Was it possible?
“It’s a long story, but yeah, it’s me,” said Todd.
“Then you know…” said Jessie.Why else would he call?
“Is it true, Jessie? Is Téa alive? Do I have a son?” asked Todd. His voice cracked and she could barely hear him over a loud hum in the background.
“His name is Trevor,” said Jessie, “Téa named him Trevor…”
“OH GOD NO…” yelled Todd.
“He needs you Uncle Todd…they both do…” said Jessie.
“OH GOD NO. How could I have been so wrong?” yelled Todd.
It was late at night. Téa sat next to her son in his hospital bed. He was tossing and turning, tears falling out of his eyes. He ran a fever and his right knee was badly swollen. With one hand, Téa clutched Trevor’s and with her other hand, she used a damp washcloth to keep Trevor’s forehead cool. Trevor’s small face turned toward her, “Mommy…”
“Mommy’s here, sh…sh… Trevor….I know… it hurts,” she said softly. He screamed out in pain, “Mommy!”
“Oh, Trevor, Mommy’s so sorry… I’m so sorry I hurt you like this…” muttered Téa.
Again, Trevor cried out as he squirmed. Téa made a fist as her guilt consumed her. Then, suddenly, Trevor lost consciousness from the pain. A nurse walked in and put her hands on Téa’s shoulder, in a gesture of comfort. Téa couldn’t stop her tears or the overwhelming guilt she felt in giving her son this disease. If only Todd were here… If only Todd could have met his son…
Vincent Reyes, an attractive Hispanic man approached Viki as she stood outside Trevor’s room debating whether or not to go inside. Vincent was a friend of Téa’s since law school and just recently, they had renewed their friendship. He held up a small bag, “It’s not very nutrious but it’s food.”
“What is it?” asked Viki.
“Burgers,” said Vincent, “Téa needs a bite to eat.”
“She’s with Trevor right now,” said Viki, “She’s lucky to have a friend like you.”
Vincent smiled, “She’s a good person…”
“She must have been pretty focused in law school,” commented Viki. She had only recently met Vincent and wanted to get to know him better.
“She was. Toughest moot court criminal lawyer I knew,” said Vincent.
“You’re a lawyer for the Sparman firm, right? I think Téa mentioned that,” said Viki.
“I am,” replied Vincent.
“You’re firm deals with the entertainment and sports law community, right?” questioned Viki, “And it’s a very busy one?”
“Yes, they’re very busy but they owe me. I landed them Jerry Finn –one of the best offensive linemen of the NFL. They can afford to give me some time off so I can lend a supportive hand to an old friend,” explained Vincent.
Viki thought Vincent’s features reminded her of Christan Vega, her daughter ’s boyfriend. Vincent seemed nice but she feared that his interest in his old friend might be more than platonic… and she knew Téa had no desire to have another man in her life. Viki knew Téa’s heart belonged to her brother, Todd.
Todd was the one man that Téa could never get out of her soul. There was no room in Téa’s life for anything or anyone else except her work and her son.

TO BE CONTINUED