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| LAST CHANCE BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 161 - 170 |
PREVIOUSLY...
Todd: When Blair gets here you know she'll try to take her back. I had the whole weekend with her, Delgado. How could you do this to me?
Tea: Blair's already here. She's upstairs with Starr.
[Todd stares at Tea for a moment. He doesn't say what he's thinking. He doesn't have to. She can clearly see the anger in his eyes. Within seconds, he bolts up the stairs, prepared to do damage control to ensure that he doesn't lose any time with his daughter.]
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
chapter 161:
[After Todd goes upstairs, the silence in the living room is noticeably uncomfortable for both Tea and Viki.]
Tea: Viki, I'm just gonna go...I don't know where yet...but I'll think of some place and then I'll go there. Tell Todd...
Viki: Tea, I think you should stay and talk this out with Todd. He'll understand.
Tea: No, he won't. This will be all my fault. Hopefully, he'll be able to talk his way out of this without losing any of the time he so desperately needs with Starr but if he doesn't...
Viki: Todd will know why you called Blair. You did the right thing for Starr. He'll see that.
Tea: This is all my fault. Last night if we hadn't... He wouldn't have felt like he needed to leave. He would have been here when Starr woke up from her nightmare. This is all my fault.
Viki: It's no one's fault.
Tea: It's mine. Just ask Todd when he comes back down.
[Tea picks up her purse and leaves the penthouse.
Viki stays in the living room, curious about what's happening upstairs but not wanting to interfere. When Blair finally comes downstairs, she and Viki exchange few words before Blair leaves the penthouse.
Minutes later, Todd comes downstairs.]
Viki: I take it you worked things out with Blair.
Todd: Didn't she tell you?
Viki: No. We really didn't say much to each other before she left. Starr's still here so that's good.
Todd: Yeah.
Viki: So, what does that mean exactly?
Todd: It means that I get to spend another night with my kid.
Viki: That's great, Todd. I'm glad you worked everything out.
Todd: Yeah, no thanks to Tea. She almost blew it for me. Where is she anyway?
Viki: She left.
Todd: Good.
Viki: Todd, you need to be careful right now. Blaming Tea isn't the best way to handle this situation.
Todd: She's the one who created this situation.
Viki: No, you did by leaving your daughter.
Todd: Which was Tea's fault.
Viki: I was referring to the months you were away not last night. That is what created this problem. Starr is scared that you'll leave her again and needs constant reassurance from you in both words and actions so she can feel safe trusting you again. That is not Tea's fault, is it?
Todd: Give me a minute. I know I can come up with some way for that to be her fault, too.
Viki: I don't recommend that you do that. Right now your time would be put to better use working on your relationship with your daughter and when Tea returns I would suggest that you not blame her and work on repairing that relationship as well.
Todd: So, she is coming back?
Viki: If you're lucky. You would consider that lucky, wouldn't you?
Todd: Why do I need to repair my relationship with her? Everything is fine between us.
Viki: You just blamed her for doing the best thing that she could do for your daughter.
Todd: By trying to take away any chance I would have at seeing her again?
Viki: You know that isn't what she did. That's obviously not the result either.
Todd: Well, it could have been.
Viki: Blair was upset?
Todd: Blair...Starr...I guess now Tea will be angry at me, too. What about you? Are you angry at me like everyone else?
Viki: No, of course not. I am still willing to help you as long as you take responsibility for your actions and don't expect me to help you transfer blame to everyone else.
Todd: But everyone else is to blame. (responding to her disapproving look) Relax. I'm kidding.
Viki: Well, I suggest that you don't kid with Tea about that the next time you see her.
Todd: That's enough suggestions for one day, okay? If you can lay off the therapist role for a while you can stay and have breakfast, if you want.
Viki: I have to go to the office. I still have a paper to run.
[Todd thinks about telling Viki that he's closer to taking back the Sun but chooses to wait and surprise her after everything is in place.]
Todd: You go ahead and play with your newspaper. I have a date for breakfast with my daughter.
Viki: I'll always be here to give you advice. You know that, don't you?
Todd: Yeah, whether I ask for it or not.
[Viki smiles. She kisses him on the cheek and leaves.]
chapter 162:
[Todd spends breakfast trying to coax a smile out of Starr. She refuses to cooperate or even speak to Todd. She wanted to go home with Blair and is still angry that her feelings didn't seem to matter when her parents were deciding where she would spend her time. She's determined that she will pout and be thoroughly unpleasant to be around until she goes home the next day.
Todd tries every trick he can think of but nothing works and he gets frustrated that Starr would be so unresponsive to him. He even tries to apologize for not being there when she woke up but it does nothing to sway Starr to return to acting normal around him.
Several hours later, Todd finally gets desperate and takes Starr to Viki's house, hoping that being around other people will force Starr to stop her silent treatment.]
Viki (opening her door to her brother and niece): Well, this is a surprise.
Todd: Fine. You don't want us here, we'll leave.
Viki: Of course I want you here. You are both welcome here anytime. You know that. Starr, Jessica is in the kitchen. Why don't you go in and let her know that you're here.
[Starr leaves the foyer and Viki motions Todd into the living room. Todd plops himself down on a sofa. Viki sits opposite him.]
Viki: Why are you here?
Todd: Actually, I'm surprised you're here. I thought you had to go to work.
Viki: I had some business to take care of earlier this morning but now I'm free.
Todd: Business on Saturday, huh? Your competition must be putting a lot of pressure on you. Of course if I were running the Sun again you wouldn't have to worry about the pressure. You'd be out of business after a few weeks.
Viki: You were never able to push me out of the business before, what makes you think that you could do it now?
Todd: Just a feeling.
Viki: Why do I get the feeling that you're just bursting to tell me that you're running the Sun again?
Todd: I'm not running the Sun again...yet.
Viki: I see. You are working on it, though, correct?
Todd: Maybe.
Viki: Well, obviously I won't be getting a straight answer from you, now will I?
Todd: You never know.
Viki: Well, then I'll change the subject and see if I have better luck.
Todd: Take your best shot.
Viki: Where's Tea?
Todd: Don't know.
Viki: She never came back or called you?
Todd: Nope.
Viki: I'm sure she will.
Todd: I'm not so sure. Feel free to change the subject again.
Viki: How is Starr?
Todd: Like everyone but you, she's refusing to speak to me.
Viki: I'm sorry.
Todd: I always said that I hated a lot of chatter.
Viki: I know how hard it is when you have a stubborn child on your hands.
Todd: Yeah?
Viki: Of course. I've been there myself in the past.
Todd: So, eventually...
Viki: Starr will speak to you again. Believe me, in a few years you'll wish you could shut her up.
Todd (quietly): Never.
Viki: She's young. She doesn't know how to handle her anger yet.
Todd: So, treating me like dirt is her way?
Viki: Maybe this is her way of punishing you for hurting her by not being there.
Todd: Well, if it is, she's pretty good at it.
Viki: Or, maybe she's just taking some time to sort things out for herself.
Todd: I liked it better when I got to do all of her thinking for her.
Viki: Believe me, dear brother, you have no idea what you are in for. If you think it's difficult to deal with her now, just wait. She's still learning how to be stubborn, opinionated and unforgiving. She won't become a master at those until she's in her teens.
Todd: Oh, great.
[Viki laughs at Todd, knowing that he is in no way prepared for the next phase in his relationship with his daughter, and knowing that she'll enjoy watching him maneuver the minefield he'll be in with Starr for the next ten years.]
chapter 163:
[Hours later, Todd and Starr are still at Viki's house. Viki is surprised that Todd has willingly spent so much time with her. She knows that part of the reason is because he's uncertain about how to handle Starr and at least at her house Starr has other people she can communicate with while she ignores Todd.
Viki also knows that Todd is hesitant to go back to his own home not knowing if Tea will return or not. She feels certain that Tea will be back but she knows that Todd has doubts that he probably isn't ready to face yet.
After spending some time with Jessica and Starr, Viki goes in search of Todd, hoping to find him in a better mood.
She finds him in the living room, looking out the patio doors.]
Viki: Have you tried calling anyone?
Todd (startled): About what?
Viki: To find Tea.
Todd: Why would I do that?
Viki: Because you miss her.
Todd: She left me. Let her call me.
Viki: Perhaps she did. Have you checked your messages?
[Todd doesn't respond.]
Viki: Have you?
Todd (quietly): Yeah.
Viki: And, she hadn't called?
Todd: If she had...
Viki: If she had...what? What would you say to her?
[Todd gives up on the view and sulks back into the living room.]
Todd: I would ask her why the hell she left me again.
Viki: Do you really believe she left you?
Todd: Well, she's not here, is she?
Viki: She may have gone back to the penthouse. Right now she may be wondering where you are.
Todd: Let her wonder.
Viki: Todd...
Todd: Just drop it.
Viki: Are you really willing to put yourself through this again?
Todd: Put myself through what?
Viki: Being miserable without your wife.
Todd: She's not my wife. She divorced me...twice.
Viki: You are the one who told me, this morning in fact, that you still think of Tea as your wife.
Todd: Well, that was this morning. That was before she tried to destroy my life and ditched me again.
Viki: I know you understand why she called Blair when Starr was so upset. You must also understand why she left.
Todd: Look, if this is the part where you dump all of the blame on me then I'll just take my kid and go.
Viki: Why have you stayed this long anyway?
Todd (sarcastically): I couldn't resist your company.
[Viki gives him a look that wordlessly asks him to be serious.]
Todd: Starr likes it here. She likes you. She likes Jessica. Right now she doesn't like me very much.
Viki: She still loves you. You can be angry at someone and still love them. Which brings us back to your wife.
Todd: Forget about my wife. I'm sure she's forgotten about me by now.
Viki: You don't really believe that, do you?
Todd: I don't know what I believe anymore. I went for a little drive and my whole world got totally screwed up. This really sucks.
Viki: Tea will be back. You'll see.
Todd: You sound pretty confident.
Viki: I am. She loves you. I'm certain of that.
Todd: So, this time you won't be shoving her at any other men?
Viki: I take it you're still upset that I encouraged Tea to find companionship after you left town the last time.
Todd: Of course.
Viki: Then why are you speaking to me?
Todd: Who else would put up with me?
chapter 164:
[Late in the afternoon, Tea finally returns to the penthouse. She had tried calling several times during the last few hours but no one answered. She's been worried that Todd may have lost the rest of the weekend with Starr and then gone on a self-destructive spree.
She finds the penthouse empty. She calls Viki, hoping that his sister will know where Todd is and if he's okay.]
Viki (answering her telephone): Hello?
Tea: Viki, it's Tea. Do you know where Todd is? He's not at the penthouse.
Viki (raising her voice slightly to be certain Todd hears her): You're at the penthouse?
[Todd looks up, knowing that Viki is talking to Tea.]
Tea: Yes. Todd's not here. Starr's not here. Did Todd lose his weekend with her? Did he take off again? Do you know where he might have gone?
Viki: Tea, hold on for just one moment.
[Tea hears what sounds like a scuffle through the phone and then there's silence until she hears Viki speaking from a distance.]
Viki: Talk to her.
[There's silence again as Tea wonders what's going on until she realizes that Todd must be at Viki's. The scuffle must have been Viki forcing Todd to take the phone. He probably doesn't want to talk to her right now. She knows he must be angry at her.]
Tea: Todd?
[Todd listens to the sound of her voice softly speaking his name. He wants to fix things between them because he misses her but when he speaks his words don't come out the way he plans.]
Todd (into the phone): What the hell do you want?
[Todd instantly tries to hand Viki the phone back, knowing that his anger will come out if he talks to Tea right now even though he doesn't want it to.]
Viki: You need to talk to her...without yelling.
Todd: I can't do it. I'll blow it. I want to talk to her and it comes out the way it just did. You tell her.
Viki: Tell her what?
Todd: All of it. All of the stuff that I can't tell her.
[Viki takes the phone back.]
Viki: Tea?
Tea: Put him back on, Viki. I heard what he said. I know that his anger is the strongest emotion he has for me right now.
Viki: Well, I don't know if that's true. It may be the easiest emotion for him to feel at the moment, though.
Tea: Tell him it's okay if he yells at me. I deserve it. It's my fault his visits with Starr have been jeopardized.
Viki: Actually, Starr is here with him.
Tea: Oh, really! That's great! Put Todd back on the phone.
Viki (trying to hand Todd the phone again): Talk to your wife.
Todd: Can't. You do it. You're good at it.
Tea: Viki?
Viki (into the phone): Yes?
Tea: Is Starr still spending the night at the penthouse with Todd? I'll spend the night in a hotel if she is. Tell Todd he doesn't have to worry about a repeat of what happened last night and this morning.
Viki (to Todd): Your wife is offering to spend the night in a hotel.
Todd: Who's she cheating on me with this time?
Viki: Todd...
Todd: See? That's the kind of stuff I would say so you have to be the one doing the talking.
Viki: Fine. What would you like me to tell her?
Todd: Tell her that Starr and I will stay here tonight. She can stay at the penthouse. Assuming you'll let us stay here.
Viki: Of course you can stay here, if you truly need to.
Todd: Why would I stay here if I didn't really have to?
Viki (to Tea): Did you hear that?
Tea: Yes, including his rude comments to you.
Viki: That comment may just get him an extra hour of sibling bonding later tonight.
Tea: I don't suppose Todd will allow me to say good-bye to him, will he?
Viki: I think I can arrange that. I'm glad you called, Tea. And, so is my brother.
[Viki forcibly places the phone in Todd's hand and walks out of the room. Todd slowly places the phone to his ear.]
Todd (angrily): What do you want?
Tea: Did Viki leave the room?
Todd: Yeah. So?
Tea: I understand why you're angry, Todd. I really do. I appreciate that you tried not to talk to me while you were angry. That was very considerate. I'll hang up now. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?
Todd: Yeah...sure...whatever.
Tea: I love you.
[Todd is silent. Tea is grateful that he at least isn't responding with another angry outburst.]
Tea: Bye, Todd.
[Tea waits. There's a long silence.]
Tea: Okay. I'm really hanging up now.
[Tea is lowering the phone when she hears his voice again.]
Todd: Hey, wait.
Tea (returning the phone to her ear): Yes?
Todd: Never mind. It's not important.
[Todd instantly hangs up. Tea smiles. He's angry at her but at least he's speaking to her...sort of.]
chapter 165:
[Later that night...
Todd is pacing in one of Viki's guest bedrooms. He looks around the room in disgust. He doesn't know how Viki expected him to sleep in this room. It's far too disgustingly floral.
There is a bouquet of fresh flowers on the dresser along with several containers of potpourri that are placed throughout the room adding to the smell that with each intake of breath makes Todd sick to his stomach.
The bedspread and curtains have floral patterns. Even the throw pillows on the chairs have a floral design on them. Todd considers tossing them out the window but he knows Viki would be upset with him if he did.
Viki went to bed more than an hour ago. She made it clear to Todd that if he needed to talk he could awaken her. He's tempted to wake her up just to complain about the decor she stuck him with.
He continues to pace back and forth, hating that his life is so screwed up and trying to figure out who to blame for it.
Minutes later...
Tea is lying in bed unable to sleep. She misses Todd and Starr and hates that she has to spend the night alone. She wishes things could be different, that they could be a family without it being so complicated. She would do whatever it takes to reunite her family under the same roof. The only problem is that she has no clue how to accomplish that.
The telephone by her bed rings. She desperately hopes that it's Todd calling her. Even if he were just calling to yell at her, she would be okay with that. She just needs to hear his voice. She also knows that he probably needs an outlet for his frustration by now since he probably wouldn't be able to let much of his anger out while staying at Viki's...well, unless Kevin were there.
Tea lets the phone ring a few times before nervously answering it.]
Tea: Hello?
Todd: Why the hell did you do this to me?
Tea: I'm glad you called.
Todd: I hate it here.
Tea: Why? Did Kevin stop by?
Todd: If my nephew had been here, I'd probably be calling you from jail right now.
Tea: You're not?
Todd: No. I'm in the guest room from hell.
Tea: How bad could it be?
Todd: It smells and looks like a flower shop blew up in here. This is all your fault.
Tea: Not really but go ahead and blame me tonight, Todd. I don't mind.
Todd (surprised): Really?
Tea: I blame myself. I've been lying here thinking about it, though. It's not really anyone's fault. We just have a few serious problems that we need to deal with.
Todd: What kind of answers did you come up with?
Tea: None.
Todd: Then what good are you?
Tea (smiling): I could come over there and show you how good I am.
Todd: That's what got me into this floral mess to begin with.
Tea: Todd, the problems that led to us sleeping in separate parts of town aren't solely because of what we did last night.
Todd: If we hadn't done that...
Tea: Todd, what were the chances that either of us would have been able to resist last night?
Todd: I was doing fine until you seduced me.
Tea: You are the one who came into my room, remember?
Todd: If you're going to try to dump all the blame on me then I'm hanging up.
Tea: I'm not blaming you.
Todd: So, you're admitting it was your fault?
Tea: It wasn't anyone's fault. I wanted to be with you last night. You wanted to be with me. There's nothing wrong with that.
Todd: Then why did everything get so messed up?
Tea: Because it did. Now we need to deal with it.
Todd: How?
chapter 166:
Tea: The easiest problem for us to solve right now is unfortunately the one that we can't solve right now.
Todd: Which problem is that?
Tea: I need you. I miss you. I miss your body pressing...
Todd (interrupting): Okay...okay...I get it.
Tea: I wish I could get it right now.
Todd: I'm sure you could make a few phone calls and have someone delivered to fill your needs.
Tea: You're the only one who can fill my order, Todd.
Todd: You're just trying to torture me, right?
Tea: No. I just wanted you to know how much I miss you and how I'm looking forward to the ten minutes we'll be sharing as soon we're alone again.
Todd: Ten minutes? Try twelve hours.
Tea (laughing): Twelve hours? You sure you can live up to that promise, Todd?
Todd: Well, it doesn't have to be consecutive hours if you don't think you could take it.
Tea: I'll take it, Querido. You're going to need to sleep for twelve days when I finish with you.
Todd: Oh, please, who's bragging now?
Tea: I wish I could help you sleep tonight. Does the bedroom you're staying in have a trellis outside the window? I could come for a visit.
Todd: That didn't help me sleep last night.
Tea: I'm really sorry about everything that happened because of last night. I'm not sorry for what we did, though. We both needed that.
Todd: Maybe that's the problem.
Tea: Is that what you've concluded?
Todd: I don't know. I know it's not totally your fault but I'm gonna blame you anyway, okay?
Tea: I know that you need somewhere to put your anger and frustration.
Todd: So, you're not mad that I toss it at you?
Tea: I think I can handle it. It helps to know that you don't really blame me, even if I do blame myself.
Todd: Maybe you should talk to Viki.
Tea: About what?
Todd: I don't know...me...the stuff we do together...the stuff we don't do together...whatever you need someone to talk to about.
Tea: I thought she was your confidant?
Todd: She is. She can be yours, too. I really don't want you talking to other people about some of the stuff between us.
Tea: So, it's okay if you confide in Viki but it isn't okay if I confide in anyone?
Todd: I just said that you can confide in Viki, too. She already knows all the details anyway.
Tea: Oh, really?
Todd: Well, some of them...enough of them.
Tea: You really trust her, don't you?
Todd: You're not going to get all ticked because I talk to her and not you, are you?
Tea: No, of course not. I'm glad you have someone you trust enough to talk to. It is a little uncomfortable thinking about her knowing the intimate details of our relations, though.
Todd: It's not like I'm saying anything bad about it.
Tea: You compliment me when you talk about us, is that what you're saying?
chapter 167:
Todd: Maybe we should hang up. You probably want to go back to sleep.
Tea: I haven't slept yet tonight. I was just lying here hoping you'd call.
Todd: Why?
Tea: I wanted to hear your voice.
Todd: Why?
Tea: Because I miss you. Because I love you. Because...
Todd (interrupting): Okay, enough of that. You could stop by for breakfast, if you want. Maybe Starr will actually speak to you.
Tea: Is she giving you the silent treatment?
Todd: Yeah. She's really good at it. I don't know where she learned it from.
[Tea smiles slightly recalling what an expert Todd is when it comes to giving someone the silent treatment.]
Tea: It won't last long, Todd.
Todd: So, are you coming?
Tea: I suppose I could. I would like to see Starr again. I'm afraid I didn't handle things very well with her. I wish I could have helped her after her nightmare. I'm glad you were able to work things out with Blair so you didn't lose the rest of the weekend with Starr.
Todd: Not that I've really been with her much. Whenever I walk into a room she's in, she walks right out. She tunes me out when I try to talk to her. Viki thinks that it will probably just get worse because Starr is getting older and learning more about being a woman and how to irritate the hell out of the enemy...you know, men.
Tea: I'm guessing Viki worded it differently.
Todd: Maybe, but I know that's what she meant.
Tea: Maybe we should hang up.
Todd: Because you don't want to reveal any female secrets?
Tea: Because I'm getting tired.
Todd: Lucky you.
Tea: Todd, lie down and at least try to sleep.
Todd: It won't work.
Tea: Certainly not if you don't try.
Todd: There's no point.
Tea: We could stay on the phone together while we sleep.
Todd: You think listening to you snoring will help me sleep?
Tea: Would it?
Todd: Well, you have been wanting us to sleep together.
Tea: I still want that, Todd. Someday I want to be in your arms all night long.
Todd: You wouldn't enjoy it as much as you think.
Tea: I know I will.
Todd: Whatever.
Tea: Todd, lie down.
Todd: I sleep better standing up.
Tea: Try it lying down first. I would tell you to pretend that I'm beside you but, unfortunately, that wouldn't help you relax.
Todd: You don't know.
Tea: So the real thing doesn't work but pretending does?
Todd: Maybe.
Tea: Are you lying down?
Todd: Don't I always do what you tell me to do?
[Tea laughs loudly into the phone, making Todd smile despite his mood.]
Todd: You're lying down, right?
Tea: Right.
Todd: What are you wearing?
Tea: Do you really want me to answer that, Querido?
Todd: No. Why do you keep calling me that?
Tea: Because I like to. It makes me feel good.
Todd: You do call me that a lot while we're...uh...
Tea: Do I call you that during our...uh...joint enjoyment?
Todd: You don't know?
Tea: My mind is kind of occupied with other thoughts...sensations...
Todd: Maybe we should stop this.
Tea: Maybe I should come over there for a...
Todd: A midnight snack?
Tea: Do you think it would help you sleep? I could leave immediately after so it wouldn't really cause any problems, right?
Todd: Maybe we should wait.
Tea: If that's what you want.
Todd: I didn't say I wanted it. Maybe we should, though.
Tea: Okay.
Todd: We should hang up, too. Being on the phone together would make the temptation harder for you to resist.
Tea: Me?
Todd: So, you're coming tomorrow, right?
Tea: Multiple times, I hope.
Todd: What's wrong with you tonight?
Tea: I'm...
Todd (quickly interrupting): Don't even say it, Tea.
Tea: I promise I'll be good during breakfast, Todd. Once I get you alone, though...
Todd: Deal.
Tea: I'll see you in the morning.
Todd: Sure.
Tea: Good night.
Todd: Yeah.
Tea: I love you.
Todd: Okay.
[They wait a few extra seconds before hanging up, each wanting to hold onto the other person's presence for a little longer.]
[Early the next morning...
Tea awakes to the sound of the phone by her bed ringing.]
Tea: Hello?
Todd: Where the hell are you?
Tea: Todd?
Todd: Who else? You were supposed to be here for breakfast, remember? Why aren't you here yet?
[Tea sits up in bed and tries to wake up more fully.]
Tea: Todd, it's not even light out yet.
Todd: So? It's morning. I'm awake. I want breakfast.
Tea: Well, then make yourself something.
Todd: That's your job.
Tea: No, it isn't.
Todd: You've cooked for me before.
Tea: So? You've cooked for me, too...once.
Todd: So, you're not coming?
Tea: I'll be there...at a decent hour.
Todd: What's indecent about this hour?
Tea: Did you sleep at all?
Todd: I don't know.
Tea: How can you not know?
Todd: It's hard to tell sometimes.
Tea: I don't understand.
Todd: Stop the talking and just get over here.
Tea: Are you nervous about what Starr's reaction to you will be this morning?
Todd: Maybe she'll be back to normal.
Tea: I hope so. If not, maybe you should sit down and have a talk with her.
Todd: She's not speaking to me right now, remember?
Tea: She doesn't have to speak, she needs to listen...to your words.
Todd: I hate words. I'd probably say the wrong thing and she'll end up not speaking to me for years, and she'll only speak to me then because she wants me to buy a company for her to run.
Tea: It won't be that bad, Todd. Relax.
Todd: That's easy for you to say.
Tea: Speaking of companies, though, we do still need to discuss some things about the Sun.
Todd: I still need to get Blair's shares away from her.
Tea: How much money were you planning on offering her?
Todd: Don't know yet. How much did Kelly get out of you?
Tea: Maybe we should talk about this later.
Todd: That much, huh?
Tea: Not really.
Todd: Well, you'll have to tell me soon so I can give you the money.
Tea: I don't need it. You already gave me three million, remember?
Todd: But that was for you to keep in a safe place.
Tea: Investing in your newspaper seemed like a safe investment.
Todd: You're not investing in it. You're giving me the shares and I'm giving you cash.
Tea: We should talk about this later.
Todd: I'm going to be throwing things when you tell me whatever it is about this deal that you're trying to keep from me, right?
Tea: I'll make sure all valuables are out of the room when we discuss the details. For now, just forget about business and focus on your family. We'll save the business talk for later when we're alone.
Todd: I thought you had other things in mind for then.
Tea: I do. We'll have to take a break at some point and we can fight about business then.
Todd: It's that bad, huh?
Tea: No.
Todd: But I'll think it is, right?
Tea: Yes. Will you be able to put it aside until later?
Todd: That would give me more time to imagine the worst.
Tea: It really isn't that bad...if you look at it from the right angle.
Todd: I've never been good at that.
Tea: I'll help you.
Todd: So, are you coming over?
Tea: Of course. I'll take a quick shower and I'll be there soon.
[Todd and Tea end their phone conversation. Tea takes her shower. Todd paces in Viki's kitchen, nervous about Starr, whatever Tea won't tell him about the Sun, his future with Tea, his past...basically, everything.]
[One hour later...
Tea arrives at Llanfair. She peers through the curtains into the kitchen, looking for Todd. She doesn't see him. Not wanting to wake anyone, she chooses not to ring the doorbell but instead walks around the house, hoping to find Todd in the living room.
As she approaches the patio doors she spots Todd slouched in one of the chairs. His eyes are closed. Tea doesn't want to wake him so she leans against the glass of the door and watches him.
Less than a minute later, Todd's radar signals to him that someone is near. He opens his eyes and finds before him the sight of Tea pressed against the glass doors on the other side of the room.
Knowing he's awake, she smiles a bright smile at him. She can't believe how giddy she feels. Maybe it's because she hasn't seen him in almost a day. Or, maybe it's knowing that he isn't angry at her the way she expected him to be after the activities of the previous morning. Maybe it's the fact that she woke up this morning to the sound of his voice when he called her and made it clear that he wanted to see her. The reason doesn't matter. She just knows that she's thrilled to see Todd.
As Todd approaches the door, he groans, knowing from the silly look on Tea's face that she's going to be too upbeat and perky for him to handle this early in the morning.]
Todd (opening the door): Stop it, Delgado.
Tea: Stop what?
Todd (pointing toward her): That. All that smiling...that really irritating sound in your voice...all of it.
Tea: What sound? Oh, joy?
Todd (walking back into the living room): Just cut it out.
Tea: Gee, I got the impression when you called me so early this morning and begged me to...
Todd (interrupting): I did not beg. I don't beg. I'm Todd Manning.
Tea: Fine. When you extended an invitation for me to have breakfast with you and your family...
Todd: That's better.
Tea: I thought maybe you'd at least pretend to be happy to see me. I guess that was too much to wish for.
Todd: Guess so.
Tea: Todd, you know, no one else is here...
Todd: People are upstairs.
Tea: But they're not down here. They're probably not even awake yet.
Todd: So?
Tea: So, you could welcome me in a more appropriate manner.
Todd: I don't do appropriate.
Tea: Fine. Inappropriate might be more fun.
Todd: Go away.
Tea: I thought you wanted me here.
Todd: Not if you're going to say things like that...or give me that look.
Tea: What look?
Todd: That look you have when I'm on my back and you're...
[Tea waits but Todd doesn't finish his sentence.]
Tea: Where am I and what am I doing while you're on your back?
Todd: Just cut it out.
Tea: Could we at least kiss hello? It has been almost a day since we've seen each other.
Todd: So?
Tea: So, I missed you.
Todd: So?
Tea: So, I'd like a kiss or an embrace or something...anything. Can you manage just a little affection for the woman you supposedly love?
[Todd extends his hand toward Tea, offering to shake her hand. Tea stares at his hand, uncertain of whether she should accept what he's offering and then push for a more affectionate greeting or reject the offer entirely.]
Todd (pulling his hand back): Fine. I offer you physical contact and you refuse. That's just fine.
Tea: Shaking your hand isn't what I had in mind.
Todd: Too bad. That's the only thing of mine you had a chance to get your hands on. You blew it.
Tea: Why are you being like this?
Todd: Maybe you're having a hard time recognizing me so early in the morning...I'm Todd Manning. This is who I am.
Tea: Well, it was Todd Manning who was extremely intimate with me...in the bedroom, the laundry room, the docks... Shall I go on?
Todd: If you came here expecting a quickie against one of the bookshelves, forget it.
Tea: I came here expecting to find the man I love happy to see me.
Todd: I'm happy. Can't you tell?
Tea: No. You look angry.
Todd: Well, I have a right.
Tea: Why?
Todd: You screwed everything up for me.
Tea: I thought you understood about yesterday morning.
Todd: No.
Tea: You said that you knew it wasn't my fault.
Todd: I also said I would blame you anyway, remember?
Tea: Why?
Todd: Why do you ask so many questions?
Tea: I'm trying to understand. What would you have preferred for me to do in that situation, Todd?
Todd: Something that wouldn't have messed everything up for me.
Tea: Like what? You didn't have a phone with you. Viki didn't know if you were coming home right away or not. Would you have preferred that I allow your daughter to cry and beg for her mother for several hours while I waited to see if you'd show up?
Todd: You knew I would be there. Don't dump this on me like it's my fault.
Tea: I trusted that you were coming back but I had no way of knowing when. It could have been a few minutes or several hours. I couldn't take the chance on allowing Starr to suffer that long. She wanted and needed her mother so I called her. I did the best I could, Todd. I know it wasn't enough. I know that I was completely useless. That's why I called Blair.
Todd: You should have told Starr that I would be back.
Tea: I did. She didn't believe me. Todd, she's scared that one day you won't come back again.
Todd: Right now I don't think she would care.
Tea: That's not true.
Todd: She hates my guts.
Tea: No, she loves you. She probably wishes she didn't, though. I know when my mother left there were times that I actually wished that I had never had any feelings for her. I wished that she had never been kind to me, or held me, or told me that she loved me. If all of my experiences with her had been cold and distant then maybe I would have been glad that she was gone. I could have moved on with my life without any problem. But, I did love her and I did believe that she loved me. Her absence was overwhelming. Every day I was reminded of her. Every day my heart broke knowing that I wouldn't see her, that I wouldn't hear her voice. I spent so many days after she left wondering if she had truly loved me...and if she did, wondering how she could have left me and not come back.
Todd: But, I came back.
Tea: But, you left, Todd. That fact didn't go away when you came back.
Todd: What about you? Are you still angry about that, too?
to be continued...
