The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
LIES FEARS & LOVE
BY TROG |
CHAPTER
18 |
chapter 18
TEA'S APARTMENT:
Tea entered her apartment with a great deal of trepidation. Lourdes had phoned her earlier to inform her of Todd’s impromptu visit and her first instincts were to run home and be with them. She had wanted to be there when Todd first laid eyes on his son, but she had “robbed” him of 9 months with his son, as Todd had put it, and she thought she owed him some one on one time. Excitement and fear fought for control of her--she didn’t know what to expect.
As she placed her briefcase on the sofa, Lourdes came out of the kitchen, glancing down the hall before approaching Tea.
“Hi, Lourdes, how is everything,” said Tea in a worried voice.
Lourdes smiled at her.
“Wonderful. Mr. Manning has been with Leo most of the afternoon, playing and getting acquainted. Leo is quite taken with his father. Mr. Manning even changed him,” said Lourdes with great admiration.
Tea smiled, remembering how Todd was with Starr when she was small.
“Todd is incredible with children, “ said Tea, “So, Lourdes, what do you think of him?”
“I find Mr. Manning very...unique... and rather...uh....unpretentious.”
Tea laughed.
“Yes. Todd is always Todd.”
“I’m going to go and finish dinner. I thought you two could eat on the terrace, it’s a warm night.”
“Is Mr. Manning staying?” asked Tea.
“I’m not sure...I just assumed,” said Lourdes.
Tea gazed down the hallway with hesitation.
“I guess I’d better go and face the music,’ she said heading toward Leo’s room.
As Tea neared the doorway she could hear Todd’s voice.
“Leo, where are you...” he said in a silly, high-pitched voice.
Tea stepped in and noticed Todd lying on the floor on his stomach wearing a gray t-shirt and slacks--his jacket and shoes were nearby on a chair. She looked around quickly but did not see her son. Suddenly she heard a crunching sound and saw movement inside a brown paper bag that laid on the floor and as Todd opened it slowly, Leo’s head poked out from inside it. As Todd pretended to be surprised, Leo laughed and crawled back inside. Tea’s heart burst at the sight of the two of them playing--so moved she could barely speak. This fantasy had played out in her head so many times that it hardly seemed real to her.
“Hello, querido,” said Tea.
Todd turned quickly. She was standing in the doorway and he wasn’t sure if she was addressing him or Leo.
His hazel eyes scanned her from head to toe as his body awakened to her presence. She was wearing a fitted navy suit with a rather short skirt and navy high heels and her hair was swept up away from her face. She looked sophisticated and professional, very New York, and very sexy.
As soon as Leo heard her voice, he came charging out of the bag and seeing her, giggled with excitement as he crawled in her direction. Tea picked him up in her arms and hugged him tightly as Leo’s little arms went around her neck. She planted little kisses on his face and he accepted them eagerly with obvious delight at his mother‘s touch.
Todd stood up and Tea opened her eyes to find him looking into her face, but he quickly looked away and began to put his shoes and jacket on.
“Todd, you don’t have to go...I didn’t mean to interrupt your time with him, I just wanted to say hello. I miss him when I’m at work all day,’ she said as Leo watched her and pulled at her hair.
Todd couldn’t keep his eyes off of them--they looked so beautiful together. A painting from Picasso’s blue period flashed through his mind, a mother holding a child against a blue background, like this blue room, like her blue suit. He was breathless, and for an instant he felt like everything he ever wanted was right before him and an overwhelming desire to take them both in his arms consumed him, but he fought it back.
“I...uh...think I wore him out. He’ll probably needs to sleep for a while,” said Todd .
Tea looked at Leo and indeed his eyelids were half closed and heavy with sleep.
“Did your Daddy wear you out, mi hijo?”
Tea headed for the crib and laid him down gently. His eyes closed almost immediately as Todd came up beside her and leaned over the crib, watching him fall asleep. Todd reached down to the floor, picked up the stuffed parrot and placed it next to Leo as Tea stared at him with amusement.
“Moose,” said Todd shrugging his shoulders, as Tea smiled and shook her head.
They were both quiet watching Leo sleep.
“He’s incredible,” said Todd.
“He’s perfect,” replied Tea, her eyes welling up with tears.
They watched quietly for a few minutes when Tea finally moved and picked up the toys that Todd had brought along with the bag. She picked up the football with a smile and checked out the car. When she saw the vanity plate --Leo Rex, King Leo--she started laughing. Placing them all on a shelf against the wall she turned around and found Todd watching her quietly, then looking away again.
“These toys are great,” she said awkwardly.
“Yeah, but I think the bag was his favorite,” answered Todd looking down at his feet.
“He seems to have a preference for anything noisy and easy to rip, tear down or destroy. Your son loves to destroy things,” she said.
“Just like his father,” said Todd, looking up into her eyes.
Their eyes connected for a moment before they both turned away nervously.
“I have something for you, in the living room,” she said heading out the door of Leo’s room.
Todd took one last look at his son sleeping and followed her out.
Lourdes came out from the kitchen and intercepted them. She addressed Tea.
“Will Mr. Manning being staying for dinner.”
Tea looked at Todd shyly.
“You’re welcome to stay, Todd, unless...you have somewhere else you need to be...I’ll understand,” Tea said quietly.
Todd looked at Tea, her beautiful dark eyes beckoning him to stay as their gaze connected. Lourdes felt the powerful intimacy between them as she looked from one to the other and started to feel as if she was intruding on them--their attraction to each other so palpable she wondered how they could hide it from anyone, least of all themselves.
“Uhm-uhm,” Lourdes cleared her throat politely to break the tension in the room. Todd looked at her, suddenly noticing her presence, then back at Tea.
“Yeah...I could eat something,” he said nervously, “only none of that spicy, Spanish grub, Delgado, you know I can’t handle that junk.”
Lourdes noticed Tea laughing at him. She was a different woman in his presence, all the sadness in her eyes disappearing--her face glowing with happiness. And he too seemed different, less intimidating, more casual...almost boyish.
“Very good. I’ll serve it out on the terrace in a little while,” said Lourdes on her way back to the kitchen.
Todd watched Lourdes suspiciously.
“Who the hell is this woman, Delgado. She takes care of my kid, right? Have you had her checked out?”
“S-s-s-s-h-h-h, Todd, she’ll hear you. Lourdes is wonderful. She’s been with me since before Leo was born, and yes I did have her checked out. She came highly recommended.”
“Yeah, well...I don’t trust her.’
“That’s only because you don’t trust anybody.”
“And I’m usually right,” said Todd.
Tea walked away from him not wanting to engage in conversation about trust. Her deception over keeping Leo from him was still between them and he was making her aware of it. She reached into the drawer of a tall, antique armoire and pulled out a green, leather-bound photo album.
When she turned around quickly she noticed Todd’s eyes trailing down her body and landing at the hem of her short skirt and on her very exposed thighs.
“What is that, Delgado, you’re Ally McBeal look?” he said with undisguised annoyance.
Tea flashed him a wicked smile, and a sharp spasm of excitement ran through his lower body.
“Well, if you must know, I had to be in court this morning and the presiding judge happens to like my legs, so I thought I’d use them to their fullest advantage.”
“And did you win?” he asked.
“Yes, I did.”
“So, what, now you’re using sex to defend your clients?” he said, trying to control his obvious jealousy.
“You know me, Todd, I do anything to get my client...off,” she smiled devilishly.
He tried to suppress a smile, but he couldn’t help loving her quick wit. She was the only woman he’d ever known who could match him brain cell for brain cell and it aroused him tremendously.
Tea walked to the sofa and motioned him to join her. Todd walked over hesitantly and sat beside her, keeping a safe distance, but she scooted closer and placed the album on his lap.
“What’s this?” he asked without opening it.
“It’s a photo album of Leo. I kept it for you. Every page has seven pictures in it comprising a week. I took a picture of him every day since he was born and put them in this album for you.”
Tea reached over and flipped it open to the first page and Todd noticed the hospital baby pictures of his son’s first day of life--all white and wrinkled with his eyes shut tight. Each picture had the date neatly printed beneath it.
“I know it’s no substitute for the real thing,” she said with quiet humility, “ but I thought, maybe, you’d like to see him in his first few months.”
Todd stared at her then went back to the book.
“Man, look at the hair on that kid...he‘s like the missing link!”
“Yeah, the doctor was amazed. He said he’d never seen so much hair on a newborn. It also explains why he was always tickling me when I was carrying him--it was all that hair,” she said laughing.
Todd looked up at her strangely.
“Did it hurt....you know, the birth?”
“No, I didn’t feel a thing. My water broke two weeks early and they couldn’t induce labor because Leo wasn’t turned properly, so they performed an emergency Caesarian section and I didn’t feel a thing. But I was conscious through it all ,so, that was cool. I saw him being born. It was so amazing Todd, I wish you could have.....”
He looked up at her accusingly.
“Been there? I would have you know.”
“I know. I’m so sorry. That was the worst decision I’ve ever made and I wish I could take it back.”
Tears filled her eyes as Todd watched her.
“Hey, forget it. I didn’t exactly make it easy for you. And I sure as hell haven’t made the best decisions lately, either.” he said quietly.
Tea was astounded by his words. It was as close to an apology as she had ever gotten from him. She got up wiping her eyes.
“I’m going to go and change out of this suit, while you look at the album,” she said walking away and disappearing down the hall.
Lourdes set a table out on the terrace as Todd flipped slowly through the album. A smile coming to his face now and then.
Todd looked up from the album when Tea returned. She had taken her hair down, letting it hang loosely over her shoulders, and put on a crimson colored, silk, tank dress with deep slits on either side so that most of her legs were visible as she walk in low-heeled sandals. Her only accessory was a delicate choker of garnets around her slender neck. He pretended not to notice her but her appearance affected him deeply.
“Do you like it?” she asked softly standing before him.
Todd looked up at her and looked down at her dress.
“Yeah, nice dress, Delgado...although I think they forgot to stitch it up the sides,” he said staring at the smooth skin of her bare thigh.
“I meant the album, Todd,” she said smiling.
Todd looked down with embarrassment.
“Yeah...it’s cool.”
Thankfully Lourdes interrupted this awkward moment to announce their dinner was ready and they proceeded out to the terrace.
The terrace was not large, but it had a stunning view of the city with the sun just beginning to set. It had a slate tiled floor and a white metal railing with a wide ledge that held numerous terra-cotta pots with colorful pink geraniums. There was a small table and chairs set with white linens, china and silverware with a candle burning under a glass dome in the center.
“I’ve opened some wine for you and I’ll bring your dinner after you finish your salads,” said Lourdes as she disappeared inside.
Todd looked around.
“This place must have set you back, Tea. Can you afford this?”
Tea poured them some red wine and handed him a glass, joining him by the railing.
“I bought it with the rest of the money from our...first marriage. All I pay now are maintenance fees.”
Todd watched her sipping her wine elegantly, her lips glistening with the red liquid as she pushed her hair back with her hand.
“Not bad for the Puerto Rican janitor’s daughter,” he said smiling at her, and toasting her.
Tea smiled proudly, lifting her glass and lightly tapping his. They both drank. “And what about Lulu, in there. She cooks, she cleans and she cares for Leo. What is she costing you?”
“Lourdes is worth twice what I pay her. And besides that, I’m a lawyer, Todd. I make a very good living.”
Todd looked at her and gulped half of his wine down.
“I want to help. I’m going to set up an account here that you can draw from when you need to.”
Tea looked offended.
“No! Absolutely not! I don’t want your money, Todd,” she said emphatically.
Todd looked angry and drank down the rest of his wine. He walked over to her pointing inside.
“That’s half my kid in there and I want to support him! You can at least allow me that can’t you? I want to be a part of this....let me do this.”
Tea turned away from him. She understood he had this right, but after their marriage/deal, she promised herself she would never take money from him again.
“You’re right,” she said turning to him, “You do have that right. And we can work something out for Leo, but not for me. I’m not Bl....”
“Blair?”
Her name sent a shiver through Tea and she strolled away from him, leaning over the terrace, sipping her wine. Todd watched her quietly. Pouring himself another glass of wine, he went and stood beside her.
“I know you're not Blair.”
“I guess I’m still a little sensitive about that particular subject. Look...why don’t we just eat.”
They sat down and ate their salads as Lourdes brought out the rest of their meal. They ate as Tea tried to limit their discussions to Leo. When Lourdes left them, after serving some pastries with coffee and brandy, Todd looked over at Tea who had grown very quiet. His night with Blair had hurt her deeply and he wished he could take it back.
“I’m going to leave her ,” said Todd , looking straight into her eyes.
Tea poured out brandy for both of them and set the bottle down, avoiding his eyes.
“You can’t leave her, Todd. She’s pregnant.”
He ran his fingers through his hair and closed his eyes.
“I’ll support her and the kid. I’ll give her whatever the hell she wants--she can have all my goddamned money, for all I care, Tea,” he said as he reached across the table and took her hand in his. “I don’t want her...I just want....I want my life to be with you...and Leo.”
They stayed like that for a while, just looking into each other’s eyes across the table. For so long he denied himself this and now he couldn’t take his eyes away from hers, watching the candlelight flickering in their dark depths he was spellbound by the love he saw reflected in them. Pulling her hand to his lips he kissed the inside of her palm passionately and laid it against his scarred cheek, closing his eyes, breathing in her essence and her warmth.
“What are we going to do, querido?” Tea asked sadly.
Lourdes came out on the terrace and witnessed the tenderness between them.
“Mr. Manning, you have a phone call. It is your pilot, Mr.Dan Butler.”
Todd reluctantly let go of her hand as he got up and went inside.
“Lourdes, everything was wonderful, tonight. Thank you for all this.”
Lourdes began clearing away some dishes.
“It was wonderful to have someone with such a hearty appetite to cook for, since you eat like a bird.”
Tea smiled as Todd came back with a gloomy expression. He looked over at Tea.
“I have to go, or I won’t be able to leave until morning. They have to clear a runway or something.”
Tea nodded sadly and walked over to him, taking his hand and walking with him inside. Todd went to say good by to Leo as Tea waited in the living room, her arms wrapped around herself. When he came back he looked despondent. He picked up the leather-bound photo-album and headed for the door where Tea was standing.
She was quiet as Todd moved closer to her. Taking her hand in his, he rested his forehead against hers and whispered to her.
“Tell, Lulu, I liked the grub.”
“I will, and her name is Lourdes,” she laughed.
“Give Leo a kiss for me and tell him....tell him I love his mother,” he said as he reached down to kiss her.
At first he just moved his lips around her face, feeling the smooth skin of her cheeks, nuzzling her nose and brushing them lightly against her soft luscious ones, the tip of his tongue just peaking out to lick her lower lip slightly. They hesitated knowing that the moment their lips met it would awaken their bodies to a desire that could not be satisfied tonight. His warm breath flooded her face as they resisted their passion until Todd finally succumbed and surrendered his mouth to hers.
They kissed slowly. Their lips and tongues melting into one another’s as their hands slipped around their backs and bound their bodies together. Her body pressed against him and he felt its every curve through the thin, silky fabric as his manhood reacted and advanced against her--pressing and yearning. Todd pulled away and groaned into her shoulder in frustration as she pulled away breathlessly, not wanting to arouse him anymore, and caressed his face gently, trying to sooth him. He looked deeply into her eyes as his fingers played with her hair.
“I want to take you right against this door...” he whispered, as she smiled up at him.
“I want you so much, mi amor...when can we be together ....” she whispered back.
“Tomorrow...I’ll send the plane for you....I’ll call you tomorrow,” he whispered and kissed her forehead lightly, avoiding her lips, as he opened the door and walked out.
As he walked down the hallway toward the elevator he felt like everything that he wanted was behind him and he wanted to turn around and go back but if he did it would all disappear--like Orpheus.
to be continued...
2001 Copyright by Trog
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