| AGAIN BY TORRI |
CHAPTER 21 |
Part 21
I love you,
For loving me
When nobody else would;
Or could.
I love you, for who you are,
And who I have become
Because of you.
I love you
For your independence,
Your passion,
Your desire.
I love you for your generosity,
Your kindness,
Your sweetness.
I love you for your honesty,
Your straightforwardness,
Your integrity.
I love you,
For now,
Forever,
For always.
I love you.
The Manning Estate
Morning
"Wake up sleepy head," says Todd to Tea, planting kisses on her face. She rolls over, with a growl. Taking the hint, he leaves her alone and walks out to the balcony to finish his coffee and reading the paper. As he finishes the sports section, the door to the balcony opens. Tea, still looking tired, stands in the doorway holding her coffee. "I see you finally decided to join the land of the living. You're a grinch."
"You're a vampire," she retorts, revealing the hickeys on her neck. "You know I'm not a morning person." She sits at the table across from him, taking the front section of the paper.
"You would sleep your life away," Todd says as he leans in for a good morning kiss.
"Only when I'm depressed. I see you're keeping up with the news in Llanview," noticing that the paper he's reading is The Sun.
"I have to see what those imbeciles are doing to my paper."
"Remember, you gave it to those imbeciles, it's your own fault."
"Whatever. Speaking of Llanview, what are we going to do?"
"About?"
"Us."
"I don't know." His face drops, disappointed by her response. Wanting to comfort him, she kneels before him, placing her hands on his knees. "I love you so much, I really do. I never thought that we would be like this, but here we are. I want to be with you, there's no question about that, but I'm scared."
"Don't be," he whispers.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
"How come you're able to be with me like this, now, and just a few months ago you were running from me?"
"You mean how come I could have sex with Blair and not you, right?"
"Well, since you put it that way-"
"Come on Delgado, I thought we were way past that beat-around-the-bush stuff." He playfully pokes at her side, but she moves away quickly, clearly bothered by the direction that the conversation is heading.
"It's not just sex. You obviously loved her, but you also loved me, so why is it that you could share yourself with her and avoid me like the plague?"
"Why are we getting into this now?" His voice is starting to rise in frustration, partially upset, partially confused.
"Don't get defensive," she says calmly. "I just want to know what it was about me that wouldn't allow you to get close."
His features soften, as he thinks about how she must have felt. "The thing is, with Blair, and I hate talking about this with you by the way. With her, it was pretty much sex, we didn't expect anything from each other, just a good time. There wasn't respect involved, for each other, or ourselves. Yeah, I did grow to love her, but nothing near what I feel for you. She never demanded anything of me; she was convenient. But you, you're honest and straightforward, and not afraid of anything, and I admire that. Are you afraid that what we have won't last?"
"Any doubts I had, you definitely took away." She leans over and kisses him. "So, to answer your question, I don't care what we do, as long as we do it together."
"You know what I really want to do with you?"
She smiles at him seductively, rubbing her hands against his chest. "What?" She whispers in her sexiest voice.
"Not that, not right now anyway." An idea pops into his head, one that obviously has him excited. Quickly, he abandons his seat, and briskly walks back into the bedroom. Tea follows, puzzled by his behavior.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll be right back. I love you," he says with a quick peck on the lips. Before she can protest, he leaves.
"What are you up to Manning?"
An Hour Later
A Jewelry Store
The store is very quiet, the only sound the bell that rings when Todd enters. A young Hawaiian woman appears from the back room, watching the customer browse. She observes the hansom man, as he peruses her selection.
"May I help you?" Startled, Todd looks around the store, to see if she was in fact talking to him.
"Uh, yeah, I guess. I'm looking for a ring," he runs his fingers through his hair, clearly overwhelmed by the many styles to choose from.
"An engagement ring, a wedding ring, what kind of ring?"
"Uh, an engagement ring, and matching wedding bands."
"And what price range are you looking at?"
"Doesn't matter." She pulls out her keys, and unlocks the case directly in front of him.
"Let's see, we have this," she says as she pulls out a two-carat, marquis cut diamond. He fingers it, imagining it on her finger.
"Naw. It's too plain. I guess I'm looking for something more unique," he gives her the ring back, and checks out the other rings in the case. "See, she's, she's unique, so I want her to have something special. Do you have anything original?"
"Well, I might have something in the back that you might like."
Todd waits impatiently, hating shopping for jewelry. But for her, he would endure it. An eternity seems to pass before he hears the click of her heals, alerting him to her presence. She places before him a black box with a triumphant grin on her face. The box creaks open, revealing the perfect ring.
"Uh, this is a one-of-a-kind?"
"Yes. I designed it myself."
"I'll take it. Uh, now I guess I need a couple of wedding bands." After looking at several possibilities, he finally settled on a couple of plain gold bands, nothing too flashy. "I want these engraved with the word "Forever"."
"Alright. These will be ready for you in a few days-"
"Nope, no good. I need them today. There's an extra grand in it for you if you get it done."
"Sir, that's impossible-"
"Okay, five grand, but I'm not going any higher," he says as he hands her his platinum Visa card, and writes her a personal check for the five thousand. "It's very important that I have these rings in my possession by 4:00. Can you make sure that happens?"
"Yes, sir. This woman must be very special to have landed a guy like you."
"Yeah, whatever."
The Manning Estate
3:30
The blender whirs, as Todd finishes making the smoothies. He had been jumpy all day, worrying that the evening might not go as he had planned. The doorbell rings suddenly, startling them both.
"I'll get it," Todd yells over the blender. "Tea, these are done, could you pour them in glasses."
"Yes," she answers, already retrieving the glasses from the refrigerator.
He ascends the steps two at a time, practically at an all out run. He opens the door and steps outside, not wanting Tea to see them.
"Mr. Manning?" The delivery boy says.
"Yeah, that's me. You have the rings?"
"Yes, sir. Could you please sign here?" Todd signs, and shoves the clipboard back to the boy.
"Thanks," he rushes back into the house, not expecting Tea to be standing on the other side of the door.
"Who was that?"
"Uh, well, it's a surprise." He brushes past her, knowing she would follow, leads her to the bar. He reaches under the bar, and retrieves the bucket of champagne that he had hidden.
"What's the occasion?"
"You'll see," filling two glasses with the bubbly liquid. "Don't drink any yet." He dims the lights, and presses play on the CD player. Luther Vandross' "Here and Now" fills the room, as Todd extends his hand. She moves into his inviting arms, and rests her head on his broad shoulders. They glide across the floor perfect partners, forever.
One look in your eyes
And there I see
Just what you mean to me
Here in my heart
I believe
Your love is all I ever need
Holding you close through the night
I need you...
Yeah...
I look in your eyes
And there I see
What happiness really means
The love that we share
Makes life so sweet
Together we'll always be
This pledge of love feels so right
And ooh...
I need you...
Here and now
I promise to love faithfully
You're all I need
Here and now
I vow to be one with thee
Your love is all I need
When I look in your eyes
There I see
What all that a love should really be
And I need you
More and more each day
Nothing can take your love away
More than ah just a dream
I need you
Here and now
I promise to love faithfully
You're all I need
Here and now
I vow to be one with thee
Your love is all I need
Starting here
Ooh...I'm starting now
I believe
Starting here (I believe)
I'm starting here
Starting now..
Right now
I believe in your love
So I'm glad to take the vow
Here and now
I promise to love faithfully
You're all I need Here and now
I vow to be one with thee
Your love is all I need
-By Luther Vandross
At the end of the song, he drops to his knees and kisses her fingertips. He reaches into his pant pocket, and withdraws the ring. "Tea, will you marry me again? This time, I promise, things will be different between us."
"There is nothing in the world that I want more than to be your wife, forever." He slides the ring onto trembling finger, and kisses the palm of her hand.
He stands up, and pulls her into a passionate kiss. "Okay, I'll meet you out on the beach at dusk. Oh, yeah, in our bedroom, there's a dress hanging on the back of the bathroom door, that's what I want you to wear."
"Todd, what's going on?"
"We're getting married."
