After his swim and a short nap to sleep off the effects of the tequila, Todd had again taken her out on the town, buying her dinner this time in a small, out-of-the way restaurant just off the plaza mayor. Téa had tried pollo con mole, chicken in a chocolate-chile sauce. It sounded strange but was absolutely delicious, if incredibly filling. Todd didn't eat much, and spoke even less, although he seemed to enjoy watching her dig into her food. Téa had chattered a lot--her way of covering up her nervousness. Her emotions were in turmoil, alternating between anticipation at the thought of what the evening might bring and terror that Todd would retreat from intimacy after their mutual massage session that afternoon. He often pulled away at times like this, as though he was frightened of taking their relationship to the next level. It could be very frustrating to say the least.

Although he remained quiet, Todd held her hand as they again joined the festive crowd around the front of the cathedral. She noticed him watching for the little girl and her father that they had seen the evening before. When he spotted her in a group of other girls, he had stared a long time, lost in thought. Then without another word, he had pulled Téa toward one of the side streets and they began the long trek back to the villa. Téa held her breath, worried that Todd would react to his obvious longing for his daughter with an explosive outburst of his temper. They arrived back at their home without incident. After they both had a snifter of Presidente brandy, Todd suddenly announced that he was going to bed. Téa stared after him as he climbed the stairs, raging inwardly at the thought of spending yet another night alone. She had secretly harbored hopes that the affection Todd had shown her that afternoon might lead to something else.

After another brandy, she had changed into a short cotton nightgown and settled into the massive bed with her book. But the frustration of the day's events and the boring plot had soon conspired to destroy any chance at rest she might have had. Pacing back and forth on the rug, she felt her stomach begin to rebel at the heavy meal she had consumed earlier. She felt bloated and uncomfortable. Finally, feeling as though she might explode, literally and figuratively, she left her room to search for some relief for her stomach and her restless mind.

As she made her way down the walkway toward the stairs, she couldn't help staring resentfully toward the door to Todd's room. A faint crack of light was visible at the bottom. So he's awake, thought Téa, her lips settling into a tight line. At least she had the satisfaction of knowing that he couldn't sleep either. As she passed by the heavy wooden portal she stopped dead, sniffing the air. Smoke! There was the distinct smell of smoke and it was coming from Todd's room. Suddenly her fears for his safety wiped out any rancor she felt toward him. Remembering her fire safety training, she felt the door. It was cool, but with the heavy wood it was impossible to tell if there was a fire behind it or not. Gingerly, she tried the knob. The brass wasn't hot either. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door a crack and peered inside. She gasped aloud at what she saw.

Todd was stretched on top of his bed wearing an undershirt and pajama bottoms. The doors to the veranda stood wide open, allowing entrance to several large moths that flitted against the shade of the bedside lamp. But Téa spared not a thought to how sexy her husband looked or the pests that the bright light had attracted. All she could see was the source of the smoke. Todd was smoking a cigarette!

He looked up in surprise at her indrawn breath. "Delgado?" His eyes roamed over her body as he checked out her skimpy nightgown. But as his glance moved up to her face, he was in no doubt that he was in big trouble. After a brief pause, Téa let loose with a string of shouted Spanish. Todd couldn't understand the words, but he could guess what it was about. He quickly stubbed out the cigarette in a nearby ashtray. "Look, it's no big deal, OK? I just smoke one once in a while to relax. I'm sorry the smoke disturbed you."

Somehow, his words seemed to set her off even worse. She stomped over to the bed and snatched the offending ashtray. "How could you?" she said, tears of rage standing in her eyes. "How could you even get near one of these cancer sticks?" She marched to the balcony, angrily flinging the contents of the ashtray out onto the lawn. Whirling around, she fanned the air in front of her face. "How could you after I told you about my Papi, how he died from those things?"

Todd crossed his arms over his chest defiantly. "You're making way too much of this, Delgado. I'm not addicted or anything. I just like to smoke once in a while, and I thought I was doing it in private."

Téa sneered at him, putting her hands on her hips. "Oh right--just to relax. Well I can think of a lot better ways to get relaxed, Todd Manning, and none of them are lethal!"

His face fell at her words. "Look, Téa, I thought you understood, I…"

"No! I thought you understood! I almost lost you in that desert and I'm not going to stand by and watch while you knowingly wreck your health!"

"One cigarette…"

"Don't give me that!" she shouted, grabbing for the pack on the bedstand. Todd was quicker and snatched them away before she could destroy them. Téa was incensed and began pacing back and forth shouting at him in Spanish. Todd stared at her, feeling resentful that she was over-reacting so much to discovering him with a secret vice. He could feel his temper rising to match hers. This was his room and he had a right to do as he pleased. He wasn't going to be pushed around. Scooting to the edge of the bed, he prepared to stand up and confront Téa. She was on a real roll now, getting red in the face and flapping her arms like a chicken as she continued to berate him. Creasing his forehead into an angry frown, Todd was opening his mouth to put her in her place when she suddenly stopped her pacing. With a gut-wrenching groan she clutched her mid-section and doubled over.

"Delgado, what's wrong?" cried Todd, immediately replacing his anger with concern. He stared helplessly as Téa collapsed to her knees and put her forehead against the rug. He sank to her side, his eyes wide. He could see the beads of perspiration on her neck, and the sound of her teeth gnashing together was clearly audible over her groans of pain. He put a hand on her arm, but she flinched away. "That's it," he said jumping to his feet. "I'm going for a doctor!" He was almost to the door when he heard Téa call his name. He went back and squatted down next to her. She was lying on her side, holding her stomach and breathing hard. She opened her eyes a tiny bit and looked at him.

"I don't need a doctor, Todd. It's…it's just my stomach. I ate too much at dinner and….and…it didn't agree with me." Todd looked at her mid-section.

"Does it feel like you're going to explode?" he asked.

Téa groaned. "How did you know? My stomach is so bloated…it hurts." She whimpered. Gingerly, Todd reached out a hand and felt her abdomen through the thin cotton of her nightgown.

Chuckling, Todd said, "It feels like you swallowed a basketball." Téa glared at him through her pain, obviously unmoved by his attempt at humor. Without another word, he slid his hands under her body and lifted her easily in his arms. He hesitated a moment, looking down into her eyes. When she grimaced again he set her gently on the bed. She rolled over and he could hear her stomach rumbling. Pulling away, he disappeared into the bathroom.

Téa roused herself from her pain as she felt a cool washcloth on her forehead. Todd was sitting by her side. He gave her a little smile and held up a couple of tablets. "What's that?" asked Téa suspiciously. Todd clucked his tongue.

"Just take it," he ordered, offering a bottle of water. Téa sat up and stared at the medicine for a moment. She could feel another pain coming and quickly snatched at the pills and washed them down with the water. Todd watched her settle back against the pillows and adjusted the washcloth on her on her forehead. "You should feel better in a few minutes," he said in a comforting tone. Their eyes met and Todd shrugged self-consciously. "What? You don't live in Mexico for a year without stocking up on gas pills."

"Gas? Is that all this is?"

"Either that or an alien is about to gnaw its way out of your gut." Téa laughed, quickly grimacing with the pain. Todd smoothed some hair from her cheek. "You know, Delgado, I realize we almost starved a little while ago, but maybe you should take it easy on the chow for a while."

"I have been making a pig of myself, haven't I?"

"Nah. I like watching you enjoy your food, but take it from me--some of this Mexican stuff can be lethal."

"I'm finding that out the hard way." She lapsed into silence, closing her eyes.

A short while later, Téa found Todd in the same place by her side. In the moment before he realized she was looking at him, she saw that he was staring at her body. She quickly closed her eyes and groaned. When she sat up, Todd was doing his best to look nonchalant. "How're you feeling?" he asked.

"Better. Thank you." She took another sip from the water bottle. Her stomach grumbled. She was self-conscious, realizing she was in Todd's bed. "I'm sorry, Todd, for disturbing you. I shouldn't have gone off on you so badly."

"It's no big deal. You told me a long time ago that you don't like cigarettes. Look, I won't smoke them around you anymore." He noticed the expression on her face. "OK, no cigarettes at all." Satisfied, she settled back on the pillows. Todd studied her a moment, then took a deep breath. "Delgado, this wasn't just about the smoking was it?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're pissed at me because I didn't…because this afternoon I couldn't…I left you out by the pool." He looked away, dejected.

"Todd I understand…you need to take your time. That isn't why I'm upset."

"I'm sorry I left you high and dry like that." Téa smiled.

"Trust me, I wasn't 'dry'." Todd looked uncomfortable and Téa reached out a hand to stroke along his arm. "Todd, I really liked what we did by the pool. You touched me, you let me touch you. It was nice."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. But after that you shut me out again. You barely said two words to me all evening. I hate it when you close yourself off like that."

"Sometimes I don't feel like talking. I just like being with you."

"Then why did you run away from me when we got home? Why hide out in here smoking cigarettes instead of spending some time together?"

"You ask too many questions. Look, it's late and I've had enough lectures for one night, Delgado. What do you say we call it a night?"

Téa plucked at the bedclothes nervously. She looked up at Todd through her eyelashes. "Todd, would it be all right if I stay here tonight? I feel ridiculous in that big bed in my room."

Todd looked surprised. "Uh, sure. I'll sleep in one of the other rooms."

Rolling her eyes in exasperation, Téa said, "No, Todd. I meant I want to share a bed with you. We don't have to do anything, I just want to feel you next to me."

"That isn't a good idea, Delgado. If I have a nightmare, I might thrash around and hurt you."

"Todd, I held you while you had convulsions from the scorpion sting. If I can survive that I can survive anything." She settled comfortably against the pillows and patted the covers next to her. "Besides, I need you near me in case my stomach acts up again. I may need more medicine." Todd hesitated a long time. Téa held her breath, wondering if she had pushed him too far. But after a minute or two he moved to the other side of the bed and stretched himself out on top of the covers, looking very uncomfortable. Téa clicked off the bedside lamp and scooted closer to him. She leaned her head against his shoulder. After a few minutes, she said, "Todd, I know this is a lot to ask, but could you please brush you teeth? You smell like a cigarette."

"You've got to be kidding! With your stomach problems, I'm the one who should be worried about noxious smells!"

Téa pulled away, staring at him in horror. "What are you saying?"

Todd chuckled. "Well where do you think all that gas is going to go?" Looking mortified, Téa prepared to get out of bed.

"Maybe staying in my own room tonight isn't such a bad idea after all," she said, avoiding eye contact. Todd grabbed her arm, pulling her back against him.

"Forget it, Delgado. This is what married people do, right? They stick together even when everything isn't minty fresh. Besides, you got smelling pretty ripe out there in the desert and I managed to put up with it. A few farts don't scare me."

"Oh yeah? Well you didn't exactly smell like roses either, mister. But we're back in civilization now and we have access to basic hygiene. Go brush your teeth."

With a weary sigh, Todd got out of bed and headed toward the bathroom. "Chicks," he mumbled. "You let them sleep in your bed and the next thing you know they want you to smell nice and junk." Téa heard the sounds from the bathroom as he brushed his teeth. When he returned, he leaned over and breathed heavily in her face. "How's that?" he said in an annoyed tone of voice. "Or do I have to gargle with lye or something to satisfy you?"

"I think that will do fine," said Téa, amused. Todd got back into bed and Téa settled against his shoulder again. "This is nice," she murmured sleepily.

"Easy for you to say. I could get a leg blown off or something."

"Todd? Thank you."

"For making fart jokes?"

"Yes, in a way. For not pushing me away again, even when I'm not exactly pleasant company."

"Just returning the favor, Delgado."

Soon, they were both asleep, lured to slumber by the sweet smell of the jasmine creeping in from the garden through the open doors on the veranda.

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