| SMALL BLESSINGS BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 126 - 130 |
SMALL BLESSINGS
chapter 126:
[As Tea enters the hallway, she's surprised to find her former step-daughter crouched on the floor, clearly eavesdropping.]
Tea: Starr Manning!
[Starr is so startled at being caught, she looses her balance and falls against the slightly open door, causing it to open fully.
Inside the room, Todd is also startled, realizing that his private conversation with Little Enrique wasn't private after all.]
Todd: Fuck!
Little E: Fuck!
[Despite the tension of the moment, both adults smile at the one word their nephew seems to have favored repeating. Todd looks at the little boy in his arms with pride.]
Todd: That's my kid!
Starr: He's not your kid. I am.
Todd: I know you're my kid. He's my kid, too.
Starr: No, he's not.
Todd: I'm adopting him. Pretty soon he'll officially be your brother.
Starr: No, he won't.
Todd: I'm your dad. I'm going to be his dad, too. Pouting won't change it. Kicking me won't change it. Pretending you'll never love me again unless I do whatever the hell you want me to do won't change it. Grow up and deal with it!
Starr: You never talked to me like that before she started telling you what to think.
Todd: I don't need anyone to tell me to think that you're acting like a spoiled brat.
Tea: Todd...
Todd: Stay out of this.
Starr: Yeah! Stay out of our lives, too.
Todd: Don't think you'll ever be able to do anything to make that happen. Me and Delgado have been trying to screw things up between us for years. If we can't do it, you don't have a chance.
Starr: I'll run away again.
Todd: I'll send you to boarding school again.
Tea: It's late. Let's all get some sleep. We'll calmly discuss everything in the morning.
Starr: I won't be here in the morning.
Todd: You're not running away.
Starr: If you're adopting that brat, then I want Uncle Max to adopt me.
Todd: I know I suck as a dad, but even I'm a better father than that loser.
Starr: Not if you choose her and that brat over me.
Todd: Why won't you give Tea another chance? She's never done anything but love me and do her best to love you, even when you're treating her like dirt.
Starr: She deserves it.
Todd: Because Blair told you a bunch of lies about Tea not wanting to be your mom anymore?
Starr: She was never my mom. She was only my nanny.
Todd: Like, hell!
Tea: Todd...
[Todd hands the baby to Tea.]
Todd: Not this time. This time Starr is going to hear the truth from me. She won't have to spy anymore to figure out what's going on with her screwed up family. I'll tell her everything she needs to know face-to-face. Let's start with Blair whining to everyone in this loser town about how I wasn't letting her spend enough time with Starr. When I finally gave her more time, what did she do? She instantly ditched her with us again so she could run off with Holden.
[A clearly upset Starr rushes from the room. Todd starts to follow her. Tea stops him.]
Tea: Don't, Todd.
Todd: She can't keep treating you like you're dirt and acting like Blair's a saint. She has to know what Blair's done.
Tea: I think she knows more than anyone realizes. I found her downstairs crying just a few minutes ago. If she's eavesdropping on you, maybe she eavesdropped on Blair and Max before they disappeared. Maybe she knows where they are and why they left her behind.
Todd: You think Blair ditched her on purpose again?
Tea: Maybe it's the abandoned child in me that thinks I recognized those tears and the look in her eyes when she first saw me, before she retreated back into her anger. She looked like a scared little girl who felt completely alone in the world.
Todd: If Blair bailed on her, she can come live with us. She knows that.
Tea: Maybe you need to use the words I know you have inside you to explain that to her. But, they need to be words that aren't filled with anger and bitterness from the past.
Todd: I'm through letting her think you bailed on her and Blair never did.
Tea: It doesn't matter now why I wasn't there. All she knows is that I'm one of several people that she thought she could trust to remain in her life forever who suddenly disappeared, making her feel unimportant and unloved.
Todd: You're better at the words. You should tell her. I'll just screw it all up by calling her a brat again.
Tea: You and I both understand why she's misbehaving.
Todd: It's obvious. Living with Blair screwed her up.
Tea: Todd...
Todd: Don't give me that look. You know how screwed up I was after I got out from under the Cramer claw.
Tea: Starr needs your understanding right now.
Todd: She's a girl. I've never been good at understanding girls.
Tea: You understand me.
Todd: Not really.
Tea: You know how to hold me and take away my fears.
Todd: Since when?
Tea: Since you began to really try. Now you need to try with your daughter.
Todd: What if she spits at me?
Tea: Don't spit back.
[Todd takes a deep breath.]
Todd: Why do I let the chicks in my life put me through hell?
Tea: Because you love us.
Todd: Love sucks!
[Todd leaves the bedroom, feeling completely unprepared to be the kind of father he wants to be to his daughter in this moment, but determined to genuinely try.]
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SMALL BLESSINGS
chapter 127:
[Todd paces up and down Viki's hallway for several minutes, trying to find the right words to say to his daughter, in the hopes that she'll stop acting like a brat and accept that he and Tea are getting married and adopting Tea's nephew.
Todd finally gives up his search for the perfect words, knowing that they'll never come. With determination, he approaches the door of the guest bedroom Starr is staying in. His heart aches as he hears the muffled sound of crying. He hates himself for being the one who made her cry.
Hesitantly, he knocks on the door. Starr doesn't respond. He knocks again. She again doesn't respond.]
Todd: I'm coming in.
[As Todd slowly opens the door, he's startled as a glass object hits the door inches from his head.]
Todd: Starr!
Starr: Get out!
Todd: We need to talk.
Starr: I don't want to talk to you. I don't want to see you. You're not my father anymore.
Todd: I'll always be your father. Believe me, I understand why that sucks for you, but you can't change that.
Starr: I hate you!
[A concerned Viki enters the room, followed by Tea.]
Viki: What happened here?
Todd: Everything's fine. We're just having a conversation...Manning style.
Starr: I don't want to be a Manning anymore, either. I'm changing my name.
Todd: No, you're not.
Viki: Perhaps we should all get some sleep and discuss matters in the morning, when everyone is calmer.
Todd: No more putting this off. My kid and I are having this out right now.
Tea: Todd, maybe you should wait.
Todd: I know what I'm doing...I think. Go back to our room and hang out with Little E.
Tea: He's asleep.
Todd: Then, get some sleep yourself. We have to get up and check his blood again in a couple of hours.
Tea: Are you sure?
[Todd looks toward Starr, who is sitting on the bed with her arms crossed in front of her and a determined look on her face.]
Todd: This ends tonight...one way or the other.
[Todd motions for both Tea and Viki to leave the room.]
Todd: Go on. Go back to doing that sleep thing you both are always trying to convince me to try.
Viki: What about this mess?
Todd: Starr broke whatever ugly thing it was, she'll clean it up.
Starr: No, I won't!
Todd: She's paying for it, too.
Starr: You can't make me.
Todd: I won't have to. Your Aunt Viki will guilt you into it. Won't you, Vic?
Viki: It had been in our family for generations.
Todd: Trust me. It's better to pay the cash than have to sit through some boring story about boring people holding onto boring stuff for boring reasons.
Starr: Whatever!
Todd (to Tea and Viki): You two can go now. Todd the Dad is taking care of this.
Viki: I'm proud of you.
Tea: So am I.
Todd: I'm going to puke.
Starr: So am I.
Tea: Like father, like daughter.
[Tea and Viki leave the room. Todd walks further into the room and sits on the edge of the bed.]
Todd: She's right. We are alike. You don't have any idea how much.
[Todd takes several deep breaths, ignoring his instinct to flee this conversation, knowing that it will be worth whatever discomfort he has to endure to ensure a better relationship with his daughter.]
Todd: I don't talk much about when I was a kid. I hate talking about it. I hate thinking about it. That's how you know this thing between us is more important to me than anything, because I'm willing to talk about some of it with you.
Starr: More important than Tea and that brat?
Todd: He has a name.
Starr: Little E is a stupid name.
Todd: It's a nickname. I think it's cool.
Starr: You're too old to know what's cool.
Todd: I'm not that old. We're getting off track. You know that Viki and I have the same father, right?
Starr: But, you never met him.
Todd: That's right. And, I'm glad I didn't meet him because the guy was scum. But, the guy who adopted me was also scum. The lady who adopted me wasn't scum, but she was married to scum and she hated it. She wanted to get away from him because he liked to hurt her.
Starr: Why would he like that?
Todd: Why do you like saying all that lousy stuff that you know hurt's Tea's feelings?
Starr: I don't like it...not really.
Todd: You act like you do.
Starr: That's how Mommy acts when she says that kind of stuff about Tea.
Todd: She's not acting. Blair really does hate Tea.
Starr: Did your mommy hate your daddy?
Todd: Definitely.
Starr: Do you hate mommy?
Todd: I hate most of the things she does, just like she hates most of the things I do. That's how it will always be.
Starr: We'll never be a family again?
Todd: No.
Starr: What happened with your mommy and daddy?
Todd: My mom took off and left me behind.
Starr: Why didn't she take you with her?
Todd: I've asked myself that question a lot. I'll never know the answer.
Starr: Were you sad that she left?
Todd: I'm still sad that she left. I never wanted you to feel that way. I know it hurt you when I took off and stayed gone for over a year. I swear I didn't do it to hurt you. I know that doesn't make it okay. I was just too screwed up to be your dad back then. I'll never be perfect at this but I'll never take off on you again. And, I know you don't want to believe it but Tea never wanted to split on you at all. She never had a choice.
Starr: She could have seen me, if she really wanted to.
Todd: She wanted to. Blair wouldn't let her.
Starr: You always find a way to see me, even when Mommy won't let you.
Todd: Tea's different. She follows the rules...most of the time. She could have fought in court so she could see you but she knew you'd end up getting hurt if she did, so she hurt herself instead by staying away from you.
Starr: If you and Tea get married again, what happens to me?
Todd: Whatever you want. I mean that. I have custody of you. I could make you live with us, but I won't.
Starr: Because you don't love me anymore?
Todd: I'll always love you. You, and Tea, and Little E are my family. I want us to live together.
Starr: I can't leave Mommy now. She needs me. I'm all she has.
Todd: She has Max and his spawn.
Starr: Not anymore.
Todd: Did Max dump her already?
Starr: He's still around. It's the baby they're giving away.
Todd: What do you mean they're giving him away?
Starr: I heard them talking about taking the baby to live with Uncle Max's other kids.
Todd: He's not your uncle. Why wouldn't they keep their kid around?
Starr: They said he'd get in the way of their plans.
Todd: What plans?
Starr: I don't know. I didn't hear that part. I just know they were really happy about something and said they'd never have to worry about money again if their plan works.
Todd: Are they coming after my money?
Starr: Mommy would never do that. She knows it will be my money someday. She would never steal from me.
Todd: I'll never let anyone steal from you.
Starr: If you adopt another kid, won't he be stealing my money?
Todd: It's my money. You'll both share it, along with whatever kids Tea and I end up having.
Starr: I'm getting even less?
Todd: Is my money all you care about?
Starr: No, but I still want it all.
Todd: Trust me, sharing doesn't suck as much as you think it does.
Starr: Do I get more because I'm older?
Todd: Money isn't what's really important.
Starr: What is?
Todd: You've got a family, if you want one. I'll be straight with you, if you live with us, it won't always be easy. You can't say bad stuff to Tea anymore. I won't be bribing you anymore. You'll actually have to start going to school every day. The good part is that you'll always have people around who love you and you'll never have to worry about any of us splitting on you ever again.
Starr: What about Mommy?
Todd: You can see her whenever you want to.
Starr: Do you really mean that this time?
Todd: I'm done putting you in the middle of my battles with Blair. If you want to live with her, I'll let you, not because I want you to, but because I want you to be happy. Your being happy is the most important thing to me.
Starr: What if Tea doesn't want me around after the things I said?
Todd: Tea's really good at forgiving people after they screw things up. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about.
Starr: Did you forgive your mommy for leaving you?
Todd: I haven't decided yet.
Starr: I forgive you.
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SMALL BLESSINGS
chapter 128:
[More than an hour later...
Todd returns to the bedroom he's sharing with Tea and Little Enrique. Seeing that Tea's asleep on the bed, he walks over to the crib and looks down at his soon-to-be nephew. Assured that the baby is fine, Todd moves toward the bed and slowly places his body onto it.]
Tea (groggily): Todd?
Todd: Go back to sleep.
Tea: How did it go with Starr?
Todd: I was trying not to wake you when I came in. If you don't go back to sleep right away you'll be screwing up my one attempt at doing something decent.
Tea: You do decent things all the time. You're a wonderful man.
Todd: You're confusing reality with some fairy tale you're in the middle of dreaming.
Tea: Is Starr still upset?
Todd: You won't drop this and go back to sleep, will you?
Tea: I need to know if we're decorating the spare bedroom for her.
Todd: Liar! You just want the dirt.
Tea: I want to know that you have your relationship with your daughter on solid ground again.
Todd: What about your relationship with her?
Tea: I'll do my best to understand why she's behaving the way she is.
Todd: I think she might be done with that junk.
Tea: Your talk went well?
Todd: I told her that Blair is a pathological liar.
Tea: You didn't!?
Todd: She already knew anyway. She's a smart kid. She takes after me. The only thing she's stupid about is me. She takes after you, for that part.
Tea: She loves you. That's not stupid.
Todd: She told me she forgives me for bailing on her.
Tea: I'm glad.
Todd: Do you think she was telling the truth?
Tea: She could never stay angry at you.
Todd: I sort of told her about my mom splitting on me when I was a kid. She asked me if I've forgiven her.
Tea: Have you?
Todd: I don't think so. Did you ever forgive your mom?
Tea: I thought, maybe, I had come to at least understand what could lead someone to feel they needed to vanish from their life. Then, I fell in love with being a parent to Little E. Now, I'm back to total confusion.
Todd: I split on Starr the same way your mom split on you. Maybe someday she'll change her mind about forgiving me.
Tea: You returned to her.
Todd: What I really don't get is why people put themselves through any of this anyway?
Tea: Love is worth it.
Todd: How? When? This feels lousy all the time.
Tea: When your daughter told you she forgave you, did every struggle feel worth it in that moment?
Todd: That's one moment. All the others suck.
Tea: Not all of them.
[Tea rests her head on his chest and closes her eyes.]
Todd: We can't do it here. Our nephew's in the room and my kid and sister are nearby.
Tea: I wasn't suggesting anything more scandalous than cuddling until we both fall asleep.
Todd: If anyone ever found out I let someone even use that word around me, my reputation would be ruined.
Tea: No one will know, except the two of us, how much you enjoy cuddling.
Todd: The kid could tell everyone. It's a lie, anyway.
Tea: He can't talk yet.
Todd: He's working on it.
Tea: Let's just go to sleep. We have to get up again soon to check on Little E.
Todd: Tea?
Tea: Yes, Querido?
Todd: Why do you like doing the 'c' word with me?
Tea: I enjoy cuddling with you because...
Todd: Call it -- the 'c' word. That way, when people bug our conversations in the future, they won't know what the hell we're talking about.
Tea: I thought you were working on bringing your paranoia down to a more manageable level.
Todd: I let my guard down for you and our kids. You can't expect me to let everyone else have an easy shot.
Tea: I enjoy the 'c' word with you because, in the past, when I tried to be physically close to you, you would always put an immediate end to our contact. Now that I'm allowed in your personal space, I intend to take advantage of every opportunity.
Todd: That still doesn't explain why you like it.
Tea: Why do you like it?
Todd: I don't. I'm only putting up with it to make you happy.
Tea: I am happy. You make me happy. Being in your arms makes me feel safe in a way that I've never felt before.
Todd: That doesn't make any sense.
Tea: I belong here. For the first time in a long time, I have a family that I feel secure in loving, and being loved by. That feels good. Loving you feels safe, as scary as that is to admit to you.
Todd: You don't have to be scared. I'm in this for real this time. No more bailing. This time I won't let anything stop me from getting everything I want...you, my kid, our nephew, you quitting your job.
Tea: I'm not quitting my job.
Todd: You're going to ruin my fairy tale?
Tea: This isn't a fairy tale. You can't snap your fingers and have everything magically align the way you want it to.
Todd: I'm giving up stuff for you. Shouldn't you give up something for me?
Tea: I am...my sanity. Now, go to sleep.
Todd: Go ahead. I'll watch you.
Tea: You need to sleep, too, Querido.
Todd: Later. You like the 'c' word. I like watching you sleep. This way, we both get what we want.
Tea: I love you.
Todd: Yeah...whatever.
[Tea smiles as she cuddles closer to him, enjoying the certainty that, no matter what struggles they may face in the future, they each will from now on choose to struggle together, rather than apart.]
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SMALL BLESSINGS
chapter 129:
[The next morning...
As Todd takes a shower, Tea enters Viki's kitchen with Little Enrique in his baby carrier. She places the carrier on the table and places his bag next to him. After giving him a toy to distract him, she begins preparing his bottle for him.
Moments later...
Starr runs down the stairs and enters the kitchen.]
Starr: Where's daddy?
Tea: He'll be down in a few minutes. After I feed the baby, I'll make breakfast. What would you like?
Starr: I don't know...whatever.
Tea: Do you still like pancakes? Would you like me to make you some?
Starr: You don't have to.
Tea: I'd like to.
Starr: Why are you being nice to me?
Tea: Because I'm hoping we'll be able to be friends again.
Starr: You're not mad at me for everything I said to you?
Tea: I didn't like some of the things you said but I know how much you've been hurting. I think we can put the past behind us, don't you?
Starr: Mommy and Daddy always say you should never forgive anyone who fucks with you, or they'll just keep fucking with you forever.
Tea: That language isn't appropriate for you, or in front of the baby.
Starr: What's the big deal? Daddy swears all the time when he thinks I can't hear him.
Tea: You're too young to talk like that.
Starr: I talk like that at school and no one cares.
Tea: Do you really?
Starr: When I feel like going to school.
Tea: Your teachers don't object?
Starr: I have too much dirt on them.
Tea: Do you think it's appropriate to blackmail your teachers?
Starr: Why not, if it gets me what I want?
Tea: You may not always be able to use blackmail against every person who challenges you.
Starr: If that doesn't work, I can just buy them off, like Daddy does.
Tea: Your father doesn't buy people off, not always.
Starr: He bought you, didn't he?
Tea: He most certainly did not. I love your father. That's the only reason I agreed to marry him again.
Starr: But, he bought you the first time you got married. I know he did. I remember hearing you and Daddy fighting about it when I was a little kid.
Tea: We may have begun our relationship as a lawyer and client but we did fall in love. I do love your father very much, not his money.
Starr: Will you sign one of those things saying you'll keep your hands off our money?
Tea: Whether or not your father and I will have a pre-nuptial agreement this time is between your father and myself.
Starr: It's my money, too.
Todd: Not until I'm dead.
[Tea and Starr both look toward the sound of Todd's voice as he descends the final steps into the kitchen.]
Todd: Even after I'm dead, it's no guarantee, so don't get any ideas.
Starr: You're giving it all to that brat?
Todd: I thought we had an understanding last night.
Starr: You said I'd have to share. You didn't say anything about giving it all away so I end up with nothing.
Todd: I used to be broke. Sometimes I think that's not such a bad thing.
Starr: You're kidding, right?
Todd: Money might mean more to you if you earn it yourself.
Starr: Money means a lot to me already. I don't need to work to figure that out. You always told me you'd make sure I'd never have to work for anything. Did you lie?
Todd: I changed my mind.
Starr: That's not fair.
Todd: Life isn't fair. Get over it. (to Tea) Where's the grub?
[Tea hands him Little Enrique's bottle.]
Tea: Feed the baby. I'll make breakfast.
Todd: That's chick work. Starr, you're a chick, you feed the kid.
Tea: I'll feed him. You can make breakfast.
Starr: I can do it. I won't hurt him.
Tea: I didn't think you would.
Starr: Yes, you did. Even if he is getting all my money, I still won't hurt him. I promise.
[Todd removes the baby from his carrier and places him in Starr's arms. Both Tea and Todd cautiously watch Starr's first real interaction with Little E.]
Todd: You know, I never said you wouldn't get some of the money. I just think you both should earn it.
Starr: Does Tea have to earn it, too?
Todd: She already did.
Starr: For being your lawyer?
Todd: For putting up with me.
Starr: I have to put up with you, too.
Tea: Could we stop talking about money, please?
Starr: What else is there to talk about?
Todd: We could talk about our wedding.
Tea: That can wait.
Todd: No, it can't. We're getting hitched today.
Tea: Now isn't the right time.
Todd: What's wrong with now?
Tea: Little E just got out of the hospital.
Todd: We should celebrate. Weddings are a celebration. Okay, none of mine have ever really been anything to celebrate, but this one will be different. No Buchanans allowed!
Tea: Your past weddings weren't disasters because of the Buchanans.
Todd: I won't screw this one up.
Starr: I won't ruin this one like I did the last one, either.
Tea: That wasn't your fault.
Starr: I thought Daddy would like my surprise. I ruined everything.
Tea: Your daddy and I had problems that had nothing to do with you.
Starr: I thought you stayed away because you were mad at me for ruining your wedding.
Tea: You didn't ruin our wedding. It was beautiful. It was even more special because you were there and you were so happy we were getting married again.
Starr: I wanted us to be a family again.
Todd: If you still want that, you can still have it. Only now, we've got an even bigger family.
Starr (to Tea): If I wanted to live with you and Daddy, would that be okay?
Tea: Of course it would, as long as we agree on the ground rules.
Starr: Daddy already told me I'd have to go to school, and be nice to you, and all that stuff.
Tea: Do you really want to live with us again?
Starr: Daddy promised he wouldn't leave again. Do you promise?
Tea: I promise that I'll work as hard as I can to make sure none of us loses our family again.
Starr: Okay.
Todd: We have a deal?
Starr: I guess.
Todd: Forget breakfast! As soon as the kid finishes sucking down his grub, we're getting out of this hellhole and finding somewhere to make this family thing legal, before anyone changes their mind.
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SMALL BLESSINGS
chapter 130:
Starr: Don't you want to get dressed up and have a fancy wedding, like the last time?
Todd: Hell no!
Tea: We could compromise.
Todd: I get what I want and you both have to be happy about it?
Tea: You'll have to learn the true meaning of compromise if you want me to marry you again.
Todd: You're not really going to put me through that public hell again, are you?
Starr: I thought it was fun, until I ruined everything.
Tea: That wasn't your fault. We did have fun, didn't we, Todd?
Todd: No Buchanans! I'm the man. I'm putting my foot down about that at least.
Tea: I think we can all agree on that.
Todd: Good! You tell Viki that her kids aren't invited.
Tea: Not even Jessica?
Todd: Okay, one Buchanan, but that's it. What I say goes for everything else.
Tea: This is a marriage, not a dictatorship.
Todd: What's the difference?
Tea: You will be sorry you said that, mister.
Starr: Are you fighting because of me again?
Tea: We're not fighting. We're just teasing each other.
Starr: It sounds like fighting.
Todd: This is how Delgado and I have fun. Enough fun! Let's get our stuff together, get out of this hellhole and get hitched.
Tea: I would like my grandmother to be at our wedding this time.
Todd: We'll pick her up on the way.
Tea: On the way to where?
Todd: I don't know. Pick a place.
Tea: I pick here.
Todd: Why?
Tea: Because your family is already here. You can send your jet to pick up my grandmother, brothers and niece.
Todd: No way! If you have all those people here Viki will force me to invite my nephews. No deal!
Tea: I don't think my brothers would come even if we invited them, and Roseanne was at our last wedding so I'll agree to limiting my side to just my nephew and my grandmother. Is that acceptable?
Todd: I guess. Viki will insist we invite her boy toy.
Starr: What's a boy toy?
Todd: It's something that rich chicks play with when they get old and desperate.
Tea: Todd...
Todd: What?
Tea: Viki, Ben, Jessica and my grandmother will be the guests. Little E will be the best man. Starr, I was hoping you would be my maid of honor.
Starr: Really? You're not still mad at me?
Tea: Sometimes when we're hurting we say and do things we later regret. I understand.
Starr: I didn't really mean any of those things I said. I didn't even know what some of it meant.
Tea: It's in the past now.
Starr: Do I get to go shopping and buy a new dress?
Tea: Of course.
Starr: Will you take me?
Tea: I would love to.
[Todd reaches into his pocket and places a large quantity of cash on the table. He then takes Little Enrique from Starr.]
Todd: You can both go right now and do whatever girl things you need to do. Us guys have some manly things to do before this wedding thing happens tonight.
Tea: We can't get married tonight.
Todd: Why not?
Tea: There are certain legalities...
Todd: Little E and I will take care of it. Paying off the right people is a guy thing.
Tea: Todd...
Todd: Do you want this to happen tonight, or not?
Tea: We can wait.
Todd: I don't know how to do that.
Tea: Learn.
Todd: Trust me, Tea. Go and do your girl things with Starr. Everything will be ready when you get back.
Tea: What about my grandmother?
Todd: I'll take care of everything. Trust me.
Tea: Why does it scare me that you keep saying that?
Todd: This won't be like the last time.
Tea: I'm counting on that. No coffins this time?
Todd: You don't want to keep that tradition?
Tea: I just want a simple ceremony. No theatrics.
Todd: Whatever you say, Tea.
Tea: Now I really am nervous. Seriously, Todd, the last time I left the wedding detail in your hands...
Todd: No coffins. I promise.
Tea: Okay. I'm trusting you.
[Tea kisses Little E on the forehead.]
Tea: I'm counting on you to keep your uncle from doing anything stupid today.
[Tea and Starr leave the kitchen. Todd holds the baby up in front of him.]
Todd: I promised a long time ago that if your aunt chose me I would surprise her. Tonight she won't know what hit her.
to be continued...
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
2004 COPYRIGHT BY TIMA
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