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| SOULMATES BY CAROL |
CHAPTER 10 |
Tea unraveled herself from her safe nest on the porch and walked inside. She placed the letters carefully back in their perch and reached for the second stack of letters. As she pushed the stack of letters back and placed Sam’s letter carefully back where she had found it, she noticed that there was a third stack of letters. Knowing that she was running out of time, she quickly pulled out both the second and third stack to see who they were from. The third stack of letters seemed much newer, cleaner, yet still had that ruffled, many times read texture about them. She noticed they were pinned by a child as well, a child of no more than six or seven probably. Each was adorned with stickers and was decidedly female with little hearts over the I's and drawings in vivid colors.
She quickly read from the second stack and realized they were letters from Todd to his mom. A young Thomas Todd, looking for answers. “Come home for me mom. I don’t care what Daddy said to you to make you leave. I’m getting bigger and stronger. I’ll protect you,” the eleven year old pleaded. “We can make it together. I don’t think I can survive without you.”
Tea readily let loose the tears this time. Her heart strings were tugged upon by the pleas of a small, helpless child. She couldn’t move from the antique desk. She was simply heartbroken by the helplessness of this small, desperate boy. “How could Bitsy have refused him?” she moaned. “She must have been terrified of him…of Peter.” Tea collected herself and moved on quickly to the third stack of letters. She could feel her reading time was running out.
The third stack of letters were from Starr. Tea took the chance and began to read one of the letters. Tea heard a noise coming even closer and realized her time truly was almost up. She decided to risk it anyway. There was a little time. Her attention went back to the letter in hand. "I saw Tee today, Daddy. She's still so pretty. Mommy still won't let me talk to her, but today, I was with Nigel and he said I could. Tee was so nice. She gave me a big hug and told me I was getting big. Daddy, why can't you just come home and tell Tee you're sorry? I miss you Daddy. Come home soon! I know she misses you and so do I," Starr had pleaded.
Tea could hear Starr's voice in her own head. She could hear the anguish and the pleas for love. She, too, remembered that day, when she had seen Starr and realized, once again, that dear little Starr was well above her biological age of 8. She could see through to Tee’s heart and knew what was in it. Why couldn't Todd? Couldn't he tell he was doing the same thing to her that Bitsy had done to him? And he should have known that I would forgive him. He should have known that I still loved him. He should have known," she said softly fighting off the tears now forming again in her eyes.
Tea: (softly) He should have known.
Todd: (interrupting abruptly and visibly angry) I should have known what?
Tea: (startled and jumping up from the desk) First of all, you should know better than to startle me. Second of all, how long have you been standing there?
Todd: Long enough. I should have known what? That if I left you here long enough, you'd go snooping first chance you'd get? Should have know that you couldn't be trusted for five seconds.
Tea: It wasn't like that (wiping her tears away).
Todd: Then what IS it like, Delgado? Or should I call you Tee?
Tea: (trying desperately to change the subject) (nervously asking) Where have you been all day?
Todd: Around. I've been taking care of important things, unlike some people who have let the day just escape them without being a part of it. People who, unlike me, were doing things they shouldn’t have been doing…
Tea: I've been a part of it. So what important things did you take care of?
Todd: I got you a few things, I NOW know you don't deserve.
Tea: Give me.
Todd doesn't budge.
Tea: Please?
Todd: Don't think I don't know what you were doing.
Tea: (trying to keep the conversation moving forward) Don't try to change the subject, Manning. I want my presents.
Todd: Most are in the car. I'll be right back.
Tea: Okay, but hurry, please. I'm anxious.
Todd: No. You're obnoxious. But then, I guess I should have known that, too.
Tea: (speaking childlike and spoiled) Can I help you bring them in from the car?
Todd: No! SIT!
Tea: First, you told my hair to stay. Now you're telling me to sit. THIS is progress.
Todd: No. THIS is boring. But wait til you see what I bought you!
To be continued……
