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CHAPTER 25 |
PREVIOUSLY:
Todd closes his eyes as he listens to their conversation. He can tell that Del is angry at his presence. He smiles, enjoying how ticked off Del sounds. Even more, he enjoys the sound of Tea's voice as she speaks beautiful sounding words as she defends him to her brother. Todd doesn't know for certain what Tea is saying about him but he senses that she isn't agreeing with whatever horrible things her brother is saying about him. It makes him feel good to imagine that Tea is back on his side, defending him again just like she did so many times in the past.
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chapter 25:
[When Todd awakes, several hours later, he's startled to realize that he fell asleep while lying on Tea's bed. He opens his eyes and looks around Tea's room, finding it empty. He quickly gets off the bed and looks in the bathroom, also finding it empty.
For a moment he stands alone in the room, wondering if Tea had Del take her away somewhere and he'll never find her again.
Todd rushes out of Tea's room and down the hallway.
As Tea turns a corner, approaching her room, she briefly sees someone that she's certain was Todd turning the corner at the other end of the hall. She quickly wheels herself toward the doorway of her room and looks in. Finding her bed empty, she knows that her suspicion was correct.
She wheels herself, as fast as she can, down the hallway, wanting to stop Todd before he has a chance to do something stupid...or, even worse, before he leaves and never comes back.
As she finally catches up with Todd, she finds him pounding on the counter in front of him as he demands that the nurse on the other side of the counter tell him where Tea is.]
Tea: Todd?
Todd (angrily): Where the hell were you?
Tea: I'm sorry. You were sleeping. I didn't want to wake you.
Todd: I just closed my eyes.
Tea: Yes, and then you fell asleep. Come with me back to my room.
[Todd reaches into his pants and pulls out his wallet. He removes several hundred dollars and slaps it onto the counter as his way of ensuring that the nurse won't report him to anyone who might use his angry outburst as a reason to keep him from Tea.
Tea and Todd return to her room, as the nurse pockets the cash, a wide smile on her face as she contemplates what she'll spend the money on.
In her room, Tea is the one who breaks the uncomfortable silence.]
Tea: I thought you didn't want to leave my side?
Todd: You're the one who ditched me...again.
Tea: I meant, if you keep paying off the staff so generously, you'll have to leave to replenish your supply of cash.
Todd: I'm loaded. Money comes to me, whenever I want it to.
Tea: I forgot. It's been a while since I've been a millionaire, you know.
Todd (reaching into his pocket): How much do you need to put you back in the millionaire ranks?
Tea: More than you could possibly be carrying on you.
Todd: I probably carry more than you think.
Tea: You should be careful. There are some areas near here that aren't safe.
Todd: Maybe I should stay here with you...just to be safe.
Tea: I don't think that would be a good idea.
Todd: Because of your brother?
Tea: I can control my brother.
Todd: Where is he, anyway? Using his government connections to get me deported...or, whatever they do around here when a federal agent hates your guts?
Tea: Actually, he's visiting our grandmother.
Todd: Why didn't you go with him?
Tea: I can't.
Todd: You haven't been to her grave yet?
Tea: No.
[Tea looks away for several moments. Todd decides to change the subject.]
Todd: Why are you damp?
Tea: I was working out.
Todd: I wanted to go with you. I need to ask your physical therapist some questions.
Tea: Like what?
Todd: I need to know what kind of equipment to get so you'll have what you need when we move into our new place.
Del: What new place?
[Todd and Tea both look toward the doorway where Del is standing with a facial expression that lets them both know that he isn't pleased about what he just heard.
As Del steps further into the room, he approaches Tea and turns his back toward Todd.]
Del: You told me you were through with this maniac.
Tea: Del...
Todd (interrupting her): She's through being miserable without me.
[Del turns toward Todd.]
Del: She was miserable with you. She offered you her heart and you spit on it.
Todd: You should step outside. I was just about to remove all of Tea's clothes and give her a sponge bath...a very thorough sponge bath.
[Before Todd has time to react, Del's fist makes contact with his chin.]
Tea: You jerk!
[Todd raises his hand to his face, checking for blood. He doesn't find any.]
Todd: Yeah...you jerk!
Tea: You, too.
Todd: Me? The guy just punched me with no provocation. Tea, it looks like you're back on duty. I want you to handle the lawsuit.
Tea: Shut up, Todd.
Del: You're his lawyer again, too? I knew the accident messed you up but I didn't think you were this bad off, or hard up, for that matter.
Tea: You can shut up, too. You can both shut up and leave my room. I'm not in the mood for either of you.
Todd: You can't blame this on me.
Tea: Why not?
Todd: Because I didn't do anything.
Tea: How would you feel if a man made a crude remark about giving your sister a thorough sponge bath?
Todd: We're not talking about me. I'm not the one who threw the punch. I'm the one who got punched. I'm the injured one here.
Del: You deserve more than a punch for what you did to Tea.
[Todd looks at Tea, wondering what exactly she told her brother about their past together. Knowing what he's thinking, Tea turns from his gaze and looks at her brother.]
Tea: You don't have to like each other, but neither of you will be allowed to see me anymore if you continue behaving like this. I don't want to waste my energy trying to referee the two of you.
Todd: I should get to at least punch him once before you stop all our fun.
Tea: Fine. Go outside. Beat each other up. And, then make arrangements to return to the mainland, because neither of you will be spending any more time with me.
[There is silence in the room for several moments as the occupants each try to calm themselves.]
Todd (to Del): Was she always this bossy?
Del: Always. She's also always been incredibly stubborn. I guess if she wants to waste her life on a disgusting loser like you, there's nothing I can do about it...nothing legal, anyway.
Todd (sarcastically): That was such a beautiful welcome to the family. Is this the part where we hug and call each other bro?
Del: Don't you ever call me that.
Todd: Would you prefer being called Delmonico?
Del: I'd prefer never speaking to you again, but if my sister won't throw you out of her life, like she should, I guess I'm stuck with you.
Tea: You can both go out into the hallway now and continue your male bonding...preferably without bloodshed. I need to change my shirt.
Todd: You need help, right?
Del: I'll do it.
Tea: No, you won't.
Todd: I should do it. I'm her husband.
Del: Ex-husband. I'm her brother.
Todd: But, it isn't creepy if I see her naked.
Tea: Neither of you is going to see me naked. I can change my shirt on my own. I just need both of you to leave and give me some privacy.
Del: Come on, Manning, we'll find you some ice for that big bruise I gave you.
Todd: Like you could punch someone hard enough to leave a bruise.
[Tea watches as her brother and ex-husband exit the room together. She hopes that they'll at least be civil with each other but dreads the idea that they could become friendly, especially if either of them reveals things to the other that she'd prefer they not know.]
to be continued...
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