The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
| SOULMATES BY CAROL |
CHAPTER 55 |
chapter 55
The drive home from the beach was an eternity, compared to how quickly they had seemed to arrive at the beach from the longer distance of the hospital. The drive was tense and the air in the car could be cut with a knife. Todd wanted to break the silence and the distance he could feel building between them with every mile. He could sense that Tea did to, but neither new how to forge ahead. Todd didn’t want to push and Tea didn’t care. She was confused by what had happened at the beach. All she had wanted was playfulness and to forget, and all it did was make her remember. As Todd drove into the driveway of the Oceanside mansion, Tea became visibly upset. She trembled and shook and twisted in the front seat of Todd’s car, staring away in the distance at the water.
Todd: What’s wrong? I can tell something is wrong.
Tea: Why are we here? What is this all about?
Todd: I just wanted a place near the water for you to be at. I thought you’d like being near the water.
Tea: Didn’t they have anything smaller? It’s sooooo intimidating.
Todd: What’s wrong with you Delgado? It’s not like you have to clean it!
Tea: (confused and serious) I don’t have to what? (beginning to come out of the trance-like state she had been in since the beach) Funny, Manning, funny.
Todd: Does that mean you’ll come inside and check it out?
Tea: I’m thinking about it.
Todd: Fine! I can always carry you over my shoulder again.
Tea: (angrily) I’m coming, I’m coming.
Todd: You first.
Tea: Why? Is something going to jump out at me?
Todd: I just like the view from this angle.
Tea: You mean the water?
Todd: (hesitating) Yeah, (sarcastically) I’m talking about the water.
Tea: (quietly) Oh. Todd, look.
Todd: Could we move this inside?
Tea: Move what inside?
Todd: (pointing at the two of them in the car) This. This conversation, this setting, this whatever!
Tea: You’re going to make me go in there.
Todd: It’s either this or the hospital and if you choose the hospital, you’ll be backing out of a deal and I know how much you hate doing that. Besides, you’ll be stuck with that terrible food with no me to rescue you from it.
Tea: I see your point.
Todd: Well, will wonders never cease. Todd Manning was able to move the mountain Delgado.
Tea: (she lowers her head and begins to speak softly) It was easy, really. (She lifts her head, revealing a small smile.) I’m hungry. You appealed to my need (Her eyes glance over to his and finally their eyes lock, she hesitates, almost forgetting what it was she was talking about) my need, for, ah, food.
Todd: Right. Food. Come on. I’ll fix something up for us.
Tea: I’ll fix something.
Todd: Doesn’t matter. Either way will be eating soon. Come on.
Tea: Okay. (She opens her car door and exits the car. She begins slowly approaching the house, almost like she’s having to remind herself to breath. The size of the house is obviously overwhelming her.)
Todd was right. He knew he’d prefer the view from this vantage point. He had his priorities in order, but there was no harm in him enjoying his work, he thought to himself. Besides. He had been no saint any time he had been around her in the past. She had often caught him looking at her in a way that made her know that he found her desirable. It was instinctual. It had nothing to do with love in the beginning. And he wasn’t sure what he was feeling at the moment was either. Love had always been a painful thing for him. It was always a tool to be used, to disable, to hurt. To give the other person an advantage. Most times around her, he felt needles in his chest. He tried to pass it off as just a bad case of Delgado indigestion, but could it possibly be love? Tea had repeatedly told him that what he felt was love. He just knew that it was a positive feeling and everything he had learned growing up with Peter had taught him that nothing good could come from that. How could Peter still continue to invade his world?
Todd: (looking in the rear view mirror) Because you let him, you idiot. Tea is fun.
He let his eyes drop. He now found himself staring at Tea again. She turned slightly looking in his direction trying to see what was keeping him. He looked up in the mirror again, but this time, he was doing the talking.
Todd: I think it’s time I gave Tea’s way a chance. But I’ll need to be easy on the outswing. She’s not a willing participant. Peter would love this. Vulnerable and easy. I’m not Peter. I haven’t been Peter since I went back for Tea. And I’ll never be him again.
Todd got out of the car and walked toward Tea. He placed his hand, fingers spread wide on the small of her back as he reached her and pushed her up the stairs. He went inside. Tea followed close behind.
Todd: Honey, I’m home.
Tea: Todd, who’s here? Who are you talking to?
Moose: Feed the bird.
Tea stares at Todd. She’s stopped dead in her tracks.
Tea: It can’t be.
Todd: It’s not.
Tea: I thought he was dead.
Todd: He is. This is his replacement.
Tea: So is that what you do, Todd? Just buy a replacement when something let’s you down. When something or someone has the bad manners to just go die on you? They’re replaceable?
Todd: (Shouting) No! That’s not what I meant.
Tea: Figures. Truth hurts?
Todd: It does, doesn’t it? (moving toward her, nearing her personal space) Ready for some more truth?
Tea: What are you doing?
Todd: (Continuing to walk toward her, her, backing up as he takes a step closer) I’m done waiting for you to be able to deal with it. Time’s up. Patience has never been my strong suit.
Tea: But I thought you said you’d try.
Todd: (Continuing to back her up) I am trying. But it’s time for both of us to start trying.
Tea: Just a few more days Todd. Just a little while longer. I waited for you.
Todd: (Bending down to put his eyes straight in front of hers) NO! NOW!
Tea: What are you asking me?
Todd: I’m not asking you anything. We’re going to figure out a way to make this happen.
Tea: To make what happen?
He lifts both of his hands in front of him, stretching out both of his pointer fingers and placing both of them softly on the center of her collar bones, one on each side, he presses gently forcing her backwards. Unknowingly, there is a sofa behind her now and she falls with gravity, down onto the couch, Todd following behind her, practically on top of her.
Todd: You’re not going anywhere.
Tea: Fine. I can stay here all night.
Todd: So can I. And we’re going to talk.
Tea: Shut up.
Todd: No you shut up.
Moose: Feed the bird.
Tea and Todd simultaneously scream, looking directly at Moose.
Todd and Tea: SHUT UP!
To be continued…
2001 Copyright by Carol
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