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Chapter 20
The dying light peaked through the hotel window as Todd lay tangled in Tea’s arms, his scarred cheek warm and cushioned against the soft swell of her breast. His body was spent, its natural urges exhausted, his mind felt tranquil and rested as his conscience enjoyed the peacefulness of a penitent sinner. His lover had forgiven him…there was nothing more to ask for.
“I want to die like this…with you,” he said, watching the sun descend, its rays flickering feebly in the presence of the conquering darkness.
Tea smiled, staring up at the ceiling…her fingers combing his long, silky hair.
“I never want to die…I want to live forever like this…with you.”
Todd raised his head and looked up at her.
“I’m sorry…for everything that happened, Tea.”
“I know. Blair tried to hurt us…and she failed. She can’t hurt us anymore…she’s used up all her arsenal,” said Tea.
Todd slid up to her pillow, his lovely eyes wearing a troubled expression.
“Don’t be too sure. You didn’t see her when I left her place…she was a raving lunatic. I just want her away from Starr.”
“I know you do…but, how do we keep Starr away from her?”
“Yeah…I’ve been thinking about that. I think we should move…out of state.”
“What?”
“I was thinking maybe…New York. Starr loved it when we went to visit your grandmother. You love New York too, that’s where you grew up…and it would be great for Starr and Alma to grow up there instead of this narrow-minded, one-horse town…don’t you think?”
“Well…yes…I don’t know…but, what about our lives here…your paper, my practice?”
“You’re a great lawyer…you can work anywhere. And…I’m a rich man…I can buy another paper. Actually…I’ve been kicking around this idea of an interactive newspaper on the net…maybe I’ll try launching it in the Big Apple. So…what do you say?”
Tea sat up, clasping her knees to her chest.
“I don’t know, Todd. Starr’s whole life is here…and this is a rough age for her. And…”
“And what?” asked Todd, sitting up beside her.
“Well…it feels like we’re running away.”
“Not running away…moving forward. I’m sick of this town…and Blair…and I don’t want her around Starr. More and more I see Blair’s ugliness in Starr…it makes me sick. I need to put some distance between them. Starr…she blossomed while Blair was away. Short of taking out a hit on Blair, which…by the way I’m not adverse to…I don’t know what else to do, Tea. Blair’s not going to stop trying to recruit Starr into her twisted fairytale world. I think moving is the only solution.”
“Are you serious, Todd?”
“Yeah. You know…there was a time when I had something to prove to the people in this town. They all knew what I had done…and they took turns kicking me around and spitting on me. You want to know the truth? I wanted their respect, Tea...I don’t think I ever admitted that out loud or even to myself…but I did...I wanted it so badly. I wanted Bo to respect me…I wanted Nora to admire me…I wanted Vicki and Sam to be proud of me. I needed that…validation from them…but…not anymore. Starr finding out about my past has released be of that responsibility…that burden. I realized over these last few weeks that the ones who mean anything to me…they love me knowing everything I’ve done…and everything I am.”
Tea smiled and nodded silently. Tears welled in her eyes as she listened to his words. After so many years with him, finally he believed he was truly loved and this simple revelation overwhelmed her. It was as if they reached the summit of their struggle together…they were indeed ready to move forward.
“I want to live somewhere where I’m not constantly running into my past, and bumping into these same sanctimonious hypocrites who need to keep reminding me of all my mistakes so they can feel…superior. I want to move on…someplace new…with you. I’m ready to move forward. What do you say?”
“Well…okay!
They both sat there grinning at one another. Todd pulled her to him and Tea flew into his arms as they laughed and wrestled around on the bed together like two happy children without a care in the world.
“But when, amor? I think we need to at least let Starr finish her school year, don’t you?”
“I didn’t want to wait that long…but, yeah…okay. So…4 to 5 months from now…in the Spring?”
“That’s doable…I’ll have time to set Antonio up in the practice…and you can sell the paper. But…what about our house? I love that house, Todd.”
“We can keep it. Come back in the summer…or to visit Vicki…Carlotta…Wolman…whoever.”
Amor…are you absolutely sure about this?”
Todd caressed her arm and kissed her bare shoulder.
“Totally. In six months…we’ll have a whole new life that’s all our own…we’ll be free,” said Todd, as he reached over and began kissing her lips softly. “I want to be free. I want us to be free. I want to give you that…more than anything.”
“Wouldn’t that be wonderful, amor…to be free of all this…malignity.”
“Yeah. Now…enough talking, the clock’s still ticking…I’m paying you a thousand bucks an hour for your legal expertise, Delgado…so, how about I lay back while you ravish my habeas corpus…”
* * * * *
Cherry felt her shoulder snap as Blair slammed her against the dark, mirrored wall of her bedroom. The glass shattered loudly and a shower of glass rained over her head.
“NEVER COME TO ME STONED…I WARNED YOU, CHERRY,” she screamed, as the tiny bits of jagged glass littered the floor.
“Sorry, baby…I…I promise…no more…” whimpered Cherry, holding her aching arm and wiping the blood from her swollen lip where Blair had slapped her. Looking up, Cherry saw Blair coming toward her again and covered her face with her arms defensively. “Please…don’t hurt me…I’ll be good,” she whimpered childishly.
Blair stopped. Backing away from Cherry, she rubbed her forehead, suddenly aware of her recklessness, her utter loss of control. Insanity had always been her biggest fear and at these moments she felt her sanity slipping away…and it frightened her.
“I…uh…sorry, Cherry…I don’t know what came over me. I’m so pissed at Todd…I guess…I’m just taking it out on you. I didn’t mean to…but, you make me so mad sometimes. Come here,” she said, smiling and holding her arms out as Cherry slowly inched her way toward her. “There….there…see…I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m just so crazy since Todd took Starr…I need to get her back, Cherry. You’re my sweet baby…I’d never hurt you…I love you…I’ll always protect you. And when I get Starr back…we can all live together…like a real family. You want that, don’t you?”
Cherry nodded slowly as she sniffled in Blair’s arms like a small, wounded child. Blair stroked her brightly colored hair and kissed it softly.
“What am I going to do, Cherry? Todd…that bastard…he humiliated me…again…and he took Starr. I need to get her back…she’s mine. I need to get rid of Todd Manning once and for all.”
“I’ll help you, Blair…I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll do anything…”
“Anything?”
“Yeah…anything. I’ll do anything for you, baby.”
“Yes…that’s good, Cherry, cause what I have in mind…well, I’ll definitely need some help. Maybe one of your friends at the club…can help me out…”
“I’m you’re slave, mistress…you know that. I’ll do whatever you want.”
2003 Copyright by Trog

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