The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
AFFLICTION
BY TROG |
CHAPTER
31 |
CHAPTER 31
“Oh mija, look at this place,” said Carlotta as she walked through the door. Her home had been transformed by vases of pink roses all over her livingroom. Tea helped her walk to the sofa and put her suitcase down beside it.
“I just wanted your homecoming to be extra special. And there’ll be a visiting nurse coming every morning to help you get washed and dressed...and I’ll be around so you don’t get too bored,” she said as she pulled out bottles of medication and lined them up on the table. “How are you feeling? Are you in pain because it’s almost time for you to take another painkiller.”
“I’m fine Tea. Just being home takes away my pain. Come over here and sit down beside me,” she said , holding out her hand and pulling Tea down. “Tea...how can I ever thank you for your kindness? A daughter could not be more loving and respectful than you’ve been to me. I missed out on having a daughter even though I love my boys....I think a bond between a mother and daughter is so special. Thank you for making me feel as if I have one...the most wonderful daughter a mother could ever hope for.”
Carlotta embraced her as Tea wiped her eyes.
“I too missed out on that relationship...on having my mother around. I’m so glad your in my life, mi amiga...I couldn’t ask for a more loving and understanding mother.”
Carlotta smiled but it quickly faded when she noticed Tea was not wearing her wedding rings.
“Tea...where are your rings?”
Tea stood up and looked down at her bear hand.
“I...I removed them. Aaron and I...we’re not together right now,” she said quietly.
“Oh, no, Tea! You’ve only been married a few months...and he’ crazy about you...how can this be?”
Tea stared at her without speaking, knowing how she felt about Todd. The last thing she wanted to do was upset her and endanger her recovery. Tea sat down beside her again and took her hand.
“Listen...Aaron and I hardly knew each other when we married. It was impulsive...and not very smart. I just need some time to rethink everything but in the meantime...I don’t want you to worry about me. Please...I can handle this.”
“I knew it. I knew there was something wrong when you first arrived...you didn’t look happy to me Tea! But lately...you seem like your old self. Does this have something to do with Todd Manning...I saw the way he was looking at you at Ben’s funeral.”
Tea was about to tell her but a knock at the door interrupted them and Tea went to answer it. When she opened the door Larry Woleck was standing there looking shy and uncomfortable.
“Larry! How nice to see you,” said Tea, turning and winking playfully at Carlotta who looked nervous and flustered. He walked in carrying a large bunch of daffodils in the crook of his arm.
“I hope I’m not interrupting...” he said.
“No...we just got in. Carlotta...Larry Woleck is here to visit.”
Tea escorted him in and Larry stood in front of Carlotta who smiled up at him.
“Larry...how kind of you to come by.”
“Well...I was on my way to the hospital and I knew I’d miss your release. Oh...I bought these daffodils for you from my garden...the first of the season.”
“How lovely...thank you. There my favorite flower,” said Carlotta.
“Let me take those for you and put them in a vase,” said Tea, disappearing conveniently as Larry sat beside Carlotta.
“I hope you don’t mind me stopping by...I...I just wanted to see how you were doing?”
“Do all your patients get such special treatment?”
Larry smiled at her.
“No not all my patients...just the ones I really like. Listen Carlotta...when you’re better...I mean when you feel up to it...perhaps....I mean maybe you and I...we could have dinner.”
“I’d like that.”
Carlotta blushed and smiled as Larry looked away shyly as Tea walked into the room with the daffodils in a crystal vase. She walked over and placed it on the coffee table beside them as Larry got up.
“Well...I’d better be going. I’m running late as usual. Tea you make sure that she doesn’t overdo it...and keep her away from that diner,” joked Larry as he headed for the door.
“Oh, don’t worry...I will.”
Larry turned and smiled at Carlotta.
“I’ll call you soon...okay?”
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
When Larry left Tea hurried over.
“What did Dr. Larry mean by that?”
Carlotta started laughing.
“He asked me to dinner while you were in the kitchen.”
Tea started jumping around the room playfully.
“I knew it! I just knew it! He has a crush on you, mi amiga...every time he’s around you his little blue eyes just sparkle.”
“Mija...I think he’s just being a good friend.”
“Oh, no...I can tell his intentions are not all together honorable,” she laughed.
Both women laughed when a second knock came to the door. This time it was a nurse named Emily who came to look in on Carlotta.
“I’m going to leave you in Emily’s care...and Cristian will be up soon if you need anything, Carlotta. You have my cell phone number if you need me, okay?”
“Alright, mija...but we haven’t finished talking yet. I‘m worried about you...you and that impetuous heart of yours.”
Tea gave her an anxious look before kissing her and walking out quickly.
**********
It was dark as Tea walked along the docks. A chilly April wind flew off the water and whipped her long hair around her face as she pulled her blazer around her tightly for warmth. Todd had been missing all day...since his appointment, and she had looked everywhere for him...at The Sun, the penthouse, Vicki‘s...she had even driven by Dorian’s, but his car wasn’t there. The session had not gone well...she could feel it inside her as she searched around for him. In the past he’d always come down to the Llantano River when he needed to think...when he needed to consult with his demons.
She could see a shadowy figure in the distance, leaning over the railing like something failing and wilted. As she got closer she saw him staring out at the dark water, listening to the lonely whistle of a lone barge making its way along the river in the distance...a sad and hollow sound.
“Todd?”
His mind was lost in the past...old, buried memories surfacing and submerging like the occasional otters that lifted their pointed noses out of the river for a second, then disappeared again in the expansive blackness. Blinking for a moment, he focused on Tea’s image...so lovely...so peaceful...so out of place in the midst of all his ugly, violent thoughts.
“Tea?...What are you doing here?”
As she came closer she put out her hand to touch his arm, but he pulled away.
“Querido...I’ve been searching everywhere. Where have you been?”
“I...took a long drive...then I wound up down here.”
They stood silently for a while before Todd looked away from her.
“How did things go with Dr. Woolf?”
“Fine,” said Todd abruptly.
Another long lapse of silence made Tea nervous as she listened to the lapping water clicking against the wooden planks of the dock. They had experienced one week of perfect happiness, of compete candor and honesty and suddenly it was over...he was pulling away from her. There was a great space between them and Tea felt like someone outside the gate...outside Todd’s dark kingdom with its high, impenetrable walls...knocking and shouting and clawing to get in.
“What did you talk about?”
Todd sighed deeply, and looked up with annoyance.
“Oh the usual psycho-babble crap....sex...mothers...fathers...Blair.”
“What about Blair?’
“I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS, TEA...THAT’S WHY I CAME DOWN HERE,“ he shouted. “Can’t you just leave it alone for once? I just don’t feel like SHARING with anyone right now.”
“I’m not just anyone, Todd...or am I!” she shouted back, hurt and angry. “I thought we had gotten to the point where we shared everything...what the hell is going on here. Are you upset that I asked about your session...or that I dared to ask about Blair?”
“Blair, Blair, Blair...what is this obsession you have with discussing Blair. I left her for you...isn’t that enough? WHAT THE HELL MORE DO YOU WANT FROM ME!”
Tears sprang to her eyes at his harsh tone as she came toward him.
“I WANT YOU TO TRUST ME! DAMN IT, TODD!” she shouted, wiping her eyes. “It’s the one thing I have with you that Blair doesn’t! She has your name...she has your children...what the hell do I have, Todd! Why are you doing this....why are you wrecking everything? If you want Blair...than just say it...but don’t you dare treat me like this...like I’m just ANYONE to you!”
“Tea...” he whispered, suddenly contrite, reaching out for her.
“NO! Don’t touch me right now!” she said angrily, stepping back away from him. “You can’t fix this with a kiss...or a quick fuck! I won’t accept being disrespected by you like this...never again! I don’t deserve to be treated like your occasional whore and that’s exactly what I feel like right now!”
“Oh come on, Tea...I didn’t mean that,” he gasped.
“No? What did you mean, Todd? That I demand too much from you? Unlike Blair...who demands nothing but somehow manages to wind up with everything? What the fuck did you mean, Todd, by referring to me as ANYONE! Is that what I am? Was that a Freudian slip left over from your therapy session?”
“YOU’RE EVERYTHING TO ME! WHY ELSE WOULD I PUT MYSELF THROUGH THIS FUCKING HELL IF IT WASN’T FOR YOU?”
“Oh...I see...Blair wouldn’t put you through this...is that what you mean? She just accepts you as you are, right...no questions asked...no pesky demands like honesty and respect...unlike me! I’m the relentless nag that just can’t leave well enough alone...is that it? Well...I‘ll tell you what, Todd. You can have Blair and all her infinite understanding. You‘re free of me! We had a good time...a grand affair...it was great fucking you. But don‘t worry...I won‘t hold you to anything. I won’t demand anymore from you. YOU‘RE FREE,” she screamed before turning and running away from him.
“TEA! TEA!” he shouted as he started running after her but as he tripped over some crates, he lost site of her around a dark corner.
“TEA!” he shouted into the silent darkness.
to be continued...
2002 Copyright by Trog
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