STOLEN CHANCES - PART TEN

PREVIOUSLY

"They found out she was . . . ," he pauses and grabs her hands, holding them tightly against his face. She was trembling, in agony over what he was about to tell her. "They found out she was pregnant. She had my baby. I have a son, Tea."

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Tea didn't seem to take the news about Todd's past with Michelle too well. She didn't say much that night. She actually hasn't said much of anything for the past few weeks. Todd was starting to worry. But, he didn't want to rush her to any conclusions. They both needed time to work through this surprise on their own. Todd retreated to his offices of the Sun for a little personal time to deal with things and also to avoid Tea. She's hurt and confused, and he didn't know what to do to comfort her.

Only one thing during this time has brought him joy. Seeing Starr. Although the custody arrangement only allowed him one weekend a month with her, he found a way to see her whenever he wanted. He had to figure out how to suppliment that one visit by stealing a few precious moments with her every morning while she played in the park. This morning was no different. Todd sits in the park alone, his face partially hidden by the early edition of the Sun. He peeks around it every so often to get a glimpse of Starr playing, but tries to remain unnoticed by his daughter and her nanny.

Todd forgets his goal of anonymity and laughs out loud when he sees Starr chasing after a butterfly, trying to catch it. Starr stops and looks over right where he's sitting, but Todd ducks behind the newspaper before being spotted. This direct and blatant disregard of the custody agreement would land him in serious trouble if he got caught. He just had to make sure he didn't get caught.

The nanny allows Starr to chase the butterfly for a few minutes before beginning to gather their things. It was time to go. Todd steals a few last looks at Starr as they leave the park. She's so beautiful, he thinks to himself. And she's grown so much since her last visit. They can change so much when you're not looking. He looks at her one last time before finally getting up to leave himself.

Whoosh. Something flies right in front of Todd, stopping him in his tracks. "What in the world?", he yells, starting to get a little angry when he sees a soccer ball land in the bushes.

"Sorry about that, mister," a little voice yells as Todd is bending over to get the ball.

"You kids need to watch what you're doing. You could really hurt . . .". Todd stops i n the middle of his sermon when he sees the owner of the ball.

"Hey! I remember you. You're my mom's friend. I met you in our hotel room. Mr. Manning, I think," the little boy exclaims, excited to see a familiar face.

"You have a good memory, kid. But you can call me Todd. It's Ryan, right?" Todd asks, thankful that he's holding the soccer ball so the little boy wouldn't see his hands trembling.

"That's right! You remember me?"

"Of course I remember you. I don't think I'm ever going to forget you," Todd tells him. Of course I'm never going to forget you, my son, Todd says to himself. He still was in shock from meeting Ryan that night in Michelle's hotel room. He hasn't even thought about what he would ever say to him when he saw him again. But, there's no time to think now. That moment has arrived.

"What are you doing out here, Ryan? Are you all alone," Todd asks, suddenly feeling a paternal urge of concern for the little boy's safety.

"No, I'm not by myself. My mom's personal assistant runs here in the mornings. I got tired of being cooped up in the hotel and asked if I could come to the park with her today. What about you? What are you doing here?"

"Well, it looks like I'm here just in time. Soccer's no fun with only one person, is it? Mind if I kick it around with you?"

"Sure! That'll be cool. I'm going to go over there," Ryan says, grabbing the ball from Todd's hands and running off.

Todd watched as Ryan ran across the field. He couldn't believe that he was actually in the park, playing ball with his son. This was something he never experienced with Peter. At that moment, Todd realized that no matter what, this boy deserved the best from him as a parent. He knows what it's like not to have a loving father. He didn't want Ryan to have to know what that was like any longer. Whatever role Michelle allowed Todd to have in Ryan's life, he would jump at the chance.

Todd's smile left his face when he saw a stranger in a jogging outfit run up to Ryan. The stranger spoke to Ryan for a few moments, before they both came over to where Todd was standing.

"Hey, Todd. This is my mom's personal assistant, Keisha. I was telling her how we were about to play soccer."

"Hi. Todd Manning. Nice to meet you," Todd says, shaking the woman's hand.

"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Manning. Sorry to cut your and Ryan's game short, but his mother and I really have a busy day ahead of us. We need to get back."

"If you want, Ryan can hang out with me for the day. I don't have much planned."

"That's nice of you, but . . . "

"But, you don't know me from the man on the moon, right? Let me call his mom and ask her. I'm sure it'll be alright."

Todd takes his phone out and dials the hotel. The phone to Michelle's room rings awhile before she finally answers.

"Hello?"

"Hey Chellie. I see you're still a late sleeper," Todd says to her.

"Todd? Is that you?" Michelle's sleepy voice asks.

"Yeah, it's me. Who else calls you Chellie?"

"Actually, nobody but you, Todd," she says laughing, remembering how annoyed her father got whenever Todd called her that. "I haven't heard from you in awhile. Why are you calling now?"

"Well, I'm at the park with Ryan and your personal assistant, Keisha. She says the two of you have a busy day and I offered to let Ryan hang out with me today. Is that alright with you?" he asks, just before Ryan pulls the phone out of his hands to speak to his mother.

"Oh please Mom? Can I go with Todd? I'll be good, I promise," he begs her.

"Alright. But you have to be on your best behavior. Don't give Todd any trouble"

"I won't, Mom. I promise. Thanks a lot," he says giving Todd the phone back. And just like that, plans were made and Todd was about to spend his first day with his son.

TO BE CONTINUED