The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
| SOULMATES BY CAROL |
CHAPTER 51 |
chapter 51
Marissa and Starr are sitting on Starr’s bed. Marissa is crying and Starr is trying to comfort her. Todd decides to listen at the door to gather any information he can that might assist him with dealing with Marissa and her feelings. He also realizes that Starr just got an earful as well. He’s got double the trouble and feels his heart sink yet again.
Starr: Please don’t cry. You’ll be okay. It will all be better in the morning.
Marissa: How do you know?
Starr: Because, that’s what my daddy always tells me. Every time I get sad, which isn’t that often, my daddy tells me it will all be better in the morning.
Marissa: And is it?
Starr: Most of the time. You know, I like having you here.
Marissa: I just want my mommy.
Starr: I know your mommy. She was my mommy for a little while. And I like her too.
Marissa: Why doesn’t my mommy want me?
Starr: I’m sure she would want you if she got to see you.
Marissa: I hate your daddy. He won’t let me see her.
Starr: Don’t hate my daddy. My daddy’s great.
Marissa. I hate him.
Starr: Please don’t hate him. He’s really funny.
Marissa: He is?
Starr: Sure. Remember when he was talking to the bird?
Marissa: Yes.
Starr: Didn’t you think that was funny? A grown man talking to a bird?
Marissa: Yes.
Todd laughs at himself. He loves that Starr can see the good in him. He loves that there is good in him to laugh at and love. How he wishes he could hug Starr right now and thank her for defending him so adamantly to Marissa.
Starr: And you know what else? My daddy doesn’t take people into his house. Usually, I have a sitter and that’s it. He must really like you to let you live with us like this.
Marissa: I don’t think so.
Starr: Sure he does. He must really like you a lot.
Marissa: (whispering) I don’t think he likes anybody but you.
Starr: Well, I know that’s not true. Most of the time, he’s mad at my mommy. And I know it. They yell and scream at each other and they never talk. Even when they try for me, they’re still mean to each other. But not Tee. He loves her. My daddy loves your mommy.
Marissa: Really?
Starr: Sure.
Marissa: Will you be my sister?
Starr: I don’t know. Just because your mommy marries my daddy, I don’t think that would make us sisters. But your mommy taught me a word once. She said she would always be my amiga. Do you want to be my amiga?
Marissa: Is that a good thing to be?
Starr: Sure it is. If Tee says it’s good, then it’s good.
Marissa: Why do you call my mommy Tee?
Starr: When I was a little girl, way back when…
Todd laughs again at the thought of is little girl talking about a long time ago when she was a little girl. But then he thought, ‘I guess you’ll always be my little girl.’ He continued listening to the two girls chatter away.
Starr: I had two mommies. My real mommy, her name is Blair. But since she was my real mommy, I called her mommy. But your mommy, she told me to call her Tea. One day, I called her Tee and she smiled so big. It made her really happy, I could tell. No one else ever called her Tee. And daddy, he always called her Delgado. No one else could ever call her that except him and no one could ever call her Tee but me. We’re special.
Marissa: I want to be special too. What special name can I call mommy?
Starr: Mommy! You get to call her mommy. And no one else can call her that ever. You’re her only daughter, which means you’re the only one who can ever call her mommy. Not me, not daddy, not anybody else. Only you can call her mommy.
Marissa: I want to see my mommy.
Todd: And see your mommy you shall.
Starr and Marissa jump toward the back of the bed. Todd comes in the room slowly and positions himself on the opposite end of the bed. Both girls stare at him, their eyes open and wide, drinking in every word, every look, every thought.
Marissa: Why did you say all those mean things about my mommy?
Todd: I’m sorry you had to hear that. (Glaring at Starr) You weren’t supposed to. (Looking back at Marissa) But your mommy is really sick right now.
Marissa: She is not. I want to see her.
Todd: And you will, but just not right now.
Marissa: See, I hate you.
Todd: Oh, Marissa. Please don’t hate me. I really don’t think I could get through all of this if you hated me.
Marissa: I’m sorry.
Todd: That’s okay. I know you don’t really mean it. I know you just miss your mommy and that makes you sad. I’m sad too, ya know? I miss your mommy too. I miss being able to do all the things with her that I used to do.
Marissa: Like what?
Todd: We used to just sit and talk and it was wonderful just having her near me. I’ve missed her for so long.
Marissa: What about me? Do you like me?
Todd: Of course I like you.
Marissa: What about mommy? Do you like my mommy?
Todd: Very much.
Starr: See, I told you. Daddy always loves Tee.
Todd: That I do.
Marissa: I do too. I want my mommy.
Todd: It won’t be much longer Marissa. I promise. And I always keep my promises, don’t I Shorty?
Starr: Yup. My daddy always keeps his promises. Like I heard him tell my mommy that she would never see me again and I haven’t seen her since.
Marissa: (beginning to cry) He won’t let your mommy see you either?
Todd: Good going there Starr. (He throws her a mocking look of disappointment.)
Starr: Good going there daddy. (She throws his look right back.)
Todd moves closer to Marissa. She backs away at first, but allows him to enter her personal space. He places an arm around her back and pulls her shoulder into the comfort of his torso, almost hiding her inside a protective cave, away from the angers and woes of the world. She sits there for a few minutes, sniffling and trying to bring her tears and emotions back under control.
Todd: Marissa. Starr’s mommy isn’t a nice person. She doesn’t care about Starr. She cares about herself. Do you know what I mean?
Marissa: No.
Todd: Well she’s just a mean meany. Do you know what that means?
Marissa: Yes.
Todd: And it wasn’t good for Starr to be around her. Do you understand that?
Marissa: No.
Todd: But your mommy is great. She’s very nice and kind. You liked being around her didn’t you?
Marissa: Oh YES! (Her eyes brighten for the first time in a while. He can tell the thought of Tea is a good memory for this small little child who’s brain must be filled with twisted and tormented thoughts.)
Todd: So see. I want you to be with your mommy. I want us all to be with your mommy.
Marissa: Does mommy want to be with you?
Todd: I don’t know. But I sure hope so. Still hate me?
Marissa: I don’t know.
Todd: Fair enough. But I bet by the end of this week, you won’t hate me anymore.
Marissa: Okay.
And with that Todd helped the girls get ready for bed. He sat in their room, the two of them sleeping together, arm and arm and told them about Fishbein and the place of second chances. He could see them drifting off to sleep, praying their minds were filled with the hope of a new day dawning. He drifted off himself, slouching in the chair in their room, dreaming of a second chance with Tea.
To be continued…
2001 Copyright by Carol
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