The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
| ONE LAST TIME BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 49 - 51 |
ONE LAST TIME
chapter 49:
[That evening...
Simon Donner is eating dinner alone in his apartment when he's startled by a loud, insistent pounding on his door.
He looks through the peephole at the man standing in the hallway outside his apartment. He notes the scar on the man's cheek and instantly knows who his visitor is.
When he opens the door, he leaves the safety chain on, uneasy about why his ex-girlfriend's ex-husband is pounding on his door.]
Simon: Todd Manning, I presume.
Todd: Presume whatever the hell you want, just stop blowing it with Tea.
Simon: My relationship with Tea...
Todd: Unless you want me to decorate your door with my vomit, shut up about Delgado.
Simon: Tea isn't here. Why are you?
Todd: I want you to go back to doing that thing you do for Tea.
Simon: I thought you didn't want to hear the intimate details of our private relationship.
[Simon doesn't feel good about it, but he does enjoy the look of repulsion on Todd's face in response to his remark.]
Simon: Why have you come here?
Todd: I'm not getting into a lot of heavy stuff with you. I know you're a shrink. I know you get off on that kind of stuff. I don't. But, Tea needs that kind of junk. And, her kid needs someone who won't screw everything up, and won't make her ashamed to have anyone know who her dad is.
Simon: You don't want to be the baby's father?
Todd: Fathers...good fathers...are supposed to do what's best for their kids, right? That's not me.
Simon: What about Tea?
Todd: I twist her up. You untwist her. She deserves to feel untwisted.
Simon: Am I understanding you correctly...you're giving me Tea and the baby?
Todd: Yeah.
Simon: I don't think Tea would agree to this arrangement.
Todd: If you tell her, you're an idiot. I'll go back to Llanview and blow it big time with her. Trust me, I'm good at that. You do that swooping down on her like a vulture, or a shrink, or a phony perfect guy, or whatever.
Simon: You're willing to give up both of them?
Todd: I would give up everything for them. So, yeah, I'll give them up.
[Todd reaches in through the crack the door is open and grabs Simon by his neck.]
Todd: If you ever do anything to make Delgado cry, or if you ever hurt my kid, I'll know about it and I'll make sure you regret it.
[Todd casually removes his arm from Simon's apartment.]
Todd: My accountant will be in touch.
[Todd walks away. Simon quickly closes the door.
Immediately Simon retrieves his telephone and dials a familiar number.
In Llanview...
Tea is lying on the bed in one of Carlotta's guest bedrooms. She hears the muffled ring of her cellphone deep inside her purse on the other side of the room. She rushes to it, hoping the baby won't awaken from the sound.]
Tea: Hello?
Simon: Do you want the good news, or the bad news?
Tea: Simon?
Simon: Good! You're still speaking to me.
Tea: I was going to say the same thing to you. I thought you might never forgive me.
Simon: I never needed to forgive you. I was never angry at you. I was hurt.
Tea: I'm so sorry. I never wanted to cause you pain.
Simon: I know. You still haven't answered my question -- good news, or bad news?
Tea: Good.
Simon: Todd was just here. The bad news is...Todd was just here.
Tea: Did he want you to confirm the test results?
Simon: He didn't seem to have any doubts about who the baby's father is, or who he wants it to be. He told me that he's giving both you and the baby to me.
Tea: He's giving you us?
Simon: I knew you liked bad boys, but I didn't know you went for the Neanderthal type.
Tea: Only Todd.
Simon: I thought you should know.
Tea: That Todd just gave me away? It doesn't surprise me. I wish it did.
Simon: You got what you wanted.
Tea: I never wanted him to give us away like possessions he had tired of.
Simon: You wanted him to be more than your lover. You wanted him to also be your friend. In his own way, I think that's what he was doing. He was sacrificing his own happiness for yours, and the baby's.
Tea: Did he say that?
Simon: He said that I'm the one who untwists you and that he wants you to have that.
Tea: He said that?
Simon: I know how much it meant to you when he told you that you untwist him.
Tea: You didn't tell him that I told you?
Simon: Of course not.
Tea: He really said that he wanted me to have that?
Simon: He's willing to give you up so he can give you what he must view as something of immense value.
Tea: He could give me that himself, but he won't.
Simon: Even if he tried, I suspect you wouldn't let him.
Tea: Maybe you're right. What should I do?
Simon: Only you know the answer.
Tea: It would be easier if I didn't risk it.
Simon: But, do you want to?
Tea: I don't know. Before coming here again, I promised myself that I wouldn't allow that kind of relationship with Todd this time. I want to be strong for Valencia.
Simon: How is she?
[Tea senses the sadness in his voice and is again filled with guilt for causing him so much pain.]
Tea: She's perfect.
Simon: Of course she is.
Tea: I'm so sorry.
Simon: You and I both know that in your heart you wanted Todd to be the father all along.
Tea: Maybe. But, in my head, I wanted it to be you.
Simon: I'm glad that your heart won...for your sake.
Tea: What about you? Do you still feel that you can't be a part of our lives?
Simon: Not right now. It's too painful knowing that I'm not her father anymore. Unless, you've decided to allow Todd to give you and the baby to me.
Tea: He needs her in his life. I know that you do, too. I've made a mess of everything and hurt everyone that I love. I wish there were a way for me to make this right for both of you.
Simon: Be happy! That's all I ever wanted for you.
Tea: If I could go back...
Simon: You would do everything the same, except maybe the time you spent with me.
Tea: That's not true. I'm grateful for our time together. You gave me more than you'll ever know.
Simon: But, I broke my promise to you. I fulfilled all your worst expectations by needing to distance myself.
Tea: I understand.
Simon: If the baby wasn't another man's...
Tea: But, she is, despite Todd's attempts to change that. I know that losing her broke your heart. I'm so sorry.
Simon: I can't stop myself from loving her, or you. Maybe, with time, I'll be able to see her without feeling the pain. Now that I've met Todd, I'm even more certain that you need someone you can trust.
Tea: I trust Todd.
Simon: The man threatened me if I ever hurt you, or the baby.
Tea: He's protective.
Simon: Possessive, perhaps.
Tea: That's just how Todd is.
Simon: If you were one of my patients...
Tea: But, I'm not, Doctor. I hope I am still your friend. I never seem to have enough friends to tell me how horrible Todd is and how I should get far away from him.
Simon: I would never be foolish enough to try. I know how determined you can be about getting what you want. Clearly, you want Todd.
Tea: I can't have him. It's a disaster whenever we try. For Valencia's sake, we'll have a relationship as co-parents. Nothing more.
Simon: How many days do you think you can stick to that?
Tea: Considering the fact that Todd just tried to give us away, and I assume will come back here and try to push me away to complete his plan, I think I'm safe this time.
Simon: If you can't trust him with your heart, how safe are you really?
Tea: As safe as I can be with Todd.
Simon: When I thought about the lessons I wanted to teach our child, one was that you should never regret following your heart, even if you get hurt along the way. Love is worth the risk. It's worth whatever pain it may bring.
Tea: It's different with Todd.
Simon: It is fascinating to me that, of all the people you could have chosen to risk your heart with, you chose the one you knew would cause you the greatest heartache.
Tea: He's not the only one.
Simon: I know that I disappointed you. But, I don't think that I broke your heart, because I don't think that your heart was ever invested in our relationship.
Tea: You're wrong. Maybe I couldn't love you the way I love Todd. Maybe I didn't need you the same way. But, I did need you. I always know that Todd will leave me. I expect it. I count on it. Even when he says all the right words, I expect him to take them back within moments...and, usually, he does. I thought you were different.
Simon: I love you, Tea. But, you and I both know, Todd is the one you want to love you unconditionally. Maybe he's finally proven that he does.
Tea: He's just afraid to open his heart again...to Valencia, not me.
Simon: It sounds like you're afraid, too.
Tea: I'm practical. Valencia comes first. I want her to have stability. I've done a terrible job of that so far, but I'm determined that, from now on, she will have the stability I never had, and that Todd never had, either.
Simon: But, not as a family?
Tea: We'll be a family...in our own way. You thought it was possible when...
Simon: When...she was my daughter. You're right. But, you and I were never as volatile as you and Todd appear to be.
Tea: He'll calm down. He'll accept her. And, he'll love her. I know he will.
Simon: Good luck, Tea!
Tea: I'll need it.
Simon: Be happy!
Tea: Tell me this isn't the last time I'll ever speak to you.
Simon: That's up to you. I suspect once you finally open your heart fully and allow Todd to share his heart with you, you'll stop needing me.
Tea: That will never happen.
Simon: You opening your heart? Todd sharing his? Or, that you'll stop needing me?
Tea: All of the above.
Simon: You always wanted Todd to be the one who fulfilled my role in your life. Give him a chance. It would make me happy to know that you're finally allowing yourself to feel loved the way that you deserve to be loved.
Tea: I wish it were possible, but it isn't...not with Todd.
Simon: I hope you're wrong.
Tea: So do I, but I know I'm right.
to be continued...
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ONE LAST TIME
chapter 50:
[Later that evening...
Tea places her sleeping daughter in the old crib that Carlotta set up for her when Tea asked to stay with her for a few days. As Tea lies down on the bed next to her daughter's temporary crib, she stares at the ceiling for several minutes, wondering where her ex-husband is and what he's planning. She knows he's planning some way to keep her, and their daughter, out of his life. She's too exhausted, though, to plot any counter attacks right now. She rolls to the other side of the bed and turns off the lamp on the nightstand, determined that she'll sleep now and face the frustrating reality of dealing with her ex-husband in the morning.
Across the street from Carlotta's home...
As he watches the light go out in the bedroom he knows his ex-wife is sharing with their infant daughter, Todd slumps in the seat of his car, preparing himself for another long night guarding both of them.
In the morning...
Carlotta is retrieving the morning newspaper when she notices a suspicious car with a suspicious looking man slumped in the driver's seat, his head pressed against the side window. Carlotta quickly retreats back into her home.
In the kitchen, she finds Tea cooing to the baby in her arms.]
Carlotta: Is Valencia done with her breakfast?
Tea: She's been fed and had her diaper changed. Now, she's ready to take on the day.
Carlotta: Is she ready to take on her papi?
Tea: I know you're not happy about Todd being Valencia's father. I hope you'll come to accept it. I don't want her to feel any tension concerning Todd.
Carlotta: You were vague last night about how Todd took the news.
Tea: I told you, he was surprised.
Carlotta: Was he happy?
Tea: I think Valencia wants to be changed out of her pajamas.
Carlotta: I'll take care of that while you're outside waking her papi and inviting him in for breakfast.
Tea: Todd's outside again?
Carlotta: I noticed his car when I went outside to get the newspaper.
Tea: Are you certain it was his car?
Carlotta: It's hard not to remember that silly looking sports car he's always driving. What I don't understand is, if he wanted to be with you and your daughter, why didn't he have both of you spend the night with him?
Tea: If he had asked, I would have turned him down. Todd and I share a daughter, that's all, from now on.
Carlotta: You don't sound very convincing.
Tea: Todd isn't interested in living with me again. That much I'm certain about.
Carlotta: Apparently, he isn't interested in sleeping away from you, either. If it were anyone other than Todd Manning, I might find his sleeping arrangements enchanting.
Tea: He must have wanted to be near Valencia. I'm certain it has nothing to do with me.
Carlotta: For your daughter's sake, perhaps it's time to stop running from your feelings.
Tea: You're confusing me. Do you want me to reunite with Todd, or don't you?
Carlotta: If I could have what I want, that man would never have been a part of your life.
Tea: Without him, Valencia wouldn't be here.
Carlotta: She's the only good that has ever come from your relationship with that man. But, how I feel about him isn't what matters. You're still in love with him.
Tea: I'll always care about him, but...
Carlotta: Save your energy. I already know the truth. You'll need all your resolve to fight your feelings for that man once you're face-to-face with him again. I've seen how you melt when you're near him.
Tea: I have never melted over a man in my life.
Carlotta: Except Todd Manning, for reasons I'll never understand.
Tea (smiling): Todd does have his charms.
Carlotta: Are they worth the way he hurts you? He's never done anything but cause you pain, and cause you to doubt yourself. You deserve better, and so does your beautiful daughter.
Tea: Todd's a wonderful father.
Carlotta: I've seen what became of his other daughter. And, I know what he did to the boy he thought was his son. I don't want to see you go through the kind of pain that he will cause you, if you let him.
Tea: He would never try to keep me from our child. I know that.
Carlotta: Don't you think his other ex-wife felt the same way, before he did just that?
Tea: You don't know Todd the way I do.
Carlotta: You're right. I'm not blindly in love with him. I see all his flaws. I see his patterns. I see him hurting you again, this time deeper than you ever imagined possible.
Tea: I'll take Valencia. We'll stay at a hotel.
Carlotta: Because you don't want to hear the truth?
Tea: Because I don't want her anywhere that her papi isn't welcome, or where she'll sense any animosity towards him.
Carlotta: I meant what I said earlier, you can invite him in for breakfast. I'd rather have him where I can keep an eye on him.
[Carlotta takes Valencia upstairs. Tea looks down at her own attire. She considers going upstairs and changing out of her oversized T-shirt and faded jeans and into something more impressive but decides that her attire is perfect for her next meeting with Todd. She intends to have a friendly relationship with him, for their daughter's sake, and nothing more. She may still be in love with the man, but she's intent on protecting herself, and her daughter, from the volatility of her previous attempts to have a romantic relationship with him.
Outside...
Tea slowly approaches Todd's car. She can't prevent herself from smiling as she watches the man she loves slumped over, asleep. With any other man, she would find it disturbing to learn that he had spent the night in a car across the street from where she slept. But, since it's Todd, she finds it endearing. She knows that it was really only his daughter that he wanted to be near, but his presence comforts her anyway, in an odd way.
When Tea knocks on the window Todd's head is resting against, he jumps, startled awake.]
Todd: What the fuck are you doing here, Delgado?
Tea: Don't you think that should be my line right now?
[Todd looks around, re-acclimating himself to his surroundings as he runs his fingers through his hair.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a check. As he opens the window, Tea backs away, not as prepared as she thought she would be for his upcoming rejection.]
Todd: Come on, Delgado, don't make this worse.
Tea: How can it get worse than you abandoning your daughter?
Todd: That's a low blow.
Tea: It's accurate, if you have no intention of being a part of her life.
Todd: I'll be a part of her life. I'll be the part that signs all the checks.
Tea: You spent the night out here because you don't want to be a part of her life?
Todd: I just got here.
Tea: You slept here.
Todd: No, I got here a little while ago. I thought you'd be pissed if I woke you up to do this. I was being thoughtful, like you always wanted, by waiting to do this until you were awake.
Tea: Come inside and meet her. You'll change your mind. I know you will.
Todd: I already saw her, remember?
Tea: But, you didn't hold her. If you do, you won't be able to do this.
Todd: I have to go. Take the money, Tea. Do the right thing for your kid.
Tea: She's our daughter.
Todd: She's yours. Go back to Simon. Let her be his.
Tea: He called me.
Todd: I knew he would. He's a total loser. He might bore the hell out of you, but at least he can give you everything you want.
Tea: I want...
[Tea stops herself from blurting out that it's him that she wants. She's hurting enough. She doesn't want to reveal her feelings for him and be rejected again.]
Tea: Leave, if you're going to leave! Be a coward!
Todd: A coward takes off while the guy who gave her everything is sleeping and leaves him a stupid note blaming him.
Tea: I didn't blame you in that note.
Todd: Sure you did.
Tea: Only in your warped memory.
Todd: My memory's fine. I remember everything you did to me. I remember all your games.
Tea: There were no games, Todd. I didn't plan to become pregnant that night we made love. I thought I already was.
Todd: What is it with chicks never knowing when they're knocked up, and when they're not?
Tea: I haven't for a moment regretted that the baby was yours...until now.
Todd: You're lucky. You can lie to the kid her whole life telling her Simon is her old man and when she finds out she'll only be pissed as long as it takes her to find out who I am. Then, she'll thank you for protecting her.
[Todd tosses the check out the window, starts his car and speeds away.]
to be continued...
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ONE LAST TIME
chapter 51:
[One week later...
Todd is sitting behind the large desk in his office. His feet are up. His head is back. His eyes are closed. He's trying to think of an appropriately scandalous headline to go with the wonderfully scandalous story he's planning on printing in the next edition of his newspaper.
A sudden noise startles him. He opens his eyes and quickly stands up behind his desk.]
Todd: Tea!
[Todd stares for a moment at the stroller Tea is standing behind.]
Todd: No way! Get out! Go! Before I call security.
Tea: That won't be necessary. I'm leaving right now.
[Todd is shocked as Tea turns and walks out of his office, leaving their daughter with him.]
Todd (raising his voice): Delgado? Delgado? Get your ass back in here.
[Todd rushes to the door of his office.]
Todd (bellowing): Briggs, get in here!
[Charlie Briggs quickly appears. His face brightens as he notices the stroller.]
Briggs: Who's our visitor?
Todd: Protect that kid with your life. If you don't, it will be the end of your life.
[Todd rushes out of his office in search of his ex-wife. Knowing that she already had time to make it to the elevator, he uses the stairs. He runs down numerous flights of stairs, leaping multiple steps at a time. When he finally makes it to the lobby, he's out of breath as he waits for the elevator to arrive. When it does, he orders all of his employees off and threatens to fire any of the workers waiting to get on if they don't stay where they are.
Entering the elevator, Todd quickly pushes the button to close the doors and then pushes another button for the floor his office is on.
As the elevator begins to move, the only other occupant of the small elevator finally speaks.]
Tea: Why won't you even try?
[Todd slams his fist against the panel of buttons, causing the elevator to stop with a jolt.]
Tea: Todd...
Todd: Don't freak out. It does this all the time.
Tea: I have reason to freak out. Valencia's alone in your office and we're stuck on this elevator.
Todd: She's not alone. It's worse. She's with Briggs. Right now, he's boring her with stories about normal families.
[A sudden sound startles Tea, but not Todd. He opens a box below the panel of buttons and speaks into a telephone.]
Todd: Give me a few minutes. I'm in the middle of an important meeting.
[Todd replaces the phone and moves toward Tea.]
Tea: You do this often?
Todd: Only when people tick me off.
Tea: So, every day?
[Todd smiles slightly.]
Todd: Something like that. Now, what's going on, Tea. Why are you ditching your kid?
Tea: I'm not ditching her. I'm leaving her with her father for an hour. I explained everything in the note you would have found in the stroller had you bothered to look at your daughter.
Todd: I've read enough of your notes. I got that one you wrote on the back of that check you sent back to me.
Tea: I was angry when I wrote that.
Todd: Is that the kind of language you'll be teaching our kid?
Tea: At least you're willing to acknowledge she's our daughter.
Todd: You know why I can't be her dad.
Tea: I don't know why. At least, I don't understand.
Todd: But, you do know, right?
Tea: I know you're afraid. You don't have to be.
[Todd surprises Tea as he enters her personal space and presses her against the back of the elevator.]
Todd: Do you have any idea how hard I tried?
Tea: You didn't try at all. You didn't even hold her.
Todd: Not her. Starr.
Tea: Starr will forgive you. Give her time.
Todd: If I hadn't fucked everything up with her, she wouldn't need to forgive me. I can't do that to our kid.
[Tea brings her hand to his cheek. He turns his head to avoid her touch, but stays in her personal space.]
Tea: It could be different.
Todd: Because you'll be there? You'll make sure I don't fuck everything up this time?
Tea: I'll be there...as your friend...as Valencia's mother.
Todd: That's all?
Tea: That's all we can be to each other from now on.
[Todd places his hand on the side of her body as he brings his body into hers.]
Todd: Are you sure that's all you want, Tea?
Tea: What I want is for our daughter to have a stable childhood.
[Todd kisses her. She immediately responds, unable to resist.
Several minutes later...]
Todd: We should get out of here and go to my place.
Tea: Is this the way you pick up all your women?
Todd: I don't have women. I have ex-wives.
[Todd notices a hurt expression on her face as she moves away from him.]
Tea: You should try this with your other ex-wife. It won't work with me.
[Todd moves toward her. She places her hand out to stop him.]
Tea: I decided before I came here that we wouldn't be doing this again.
Todd: You decided wrong.
Tea: For Valencia's sake...
Todd: Don't you think she'd want her parents to be together?
Tea: I don't think she really cares, as long as her needs are met and she's loved.
Todd: Starr cared. She wanted that whole family thing.
Tea: Valencia just wants her papi in her life.
Todd: Does her mami want her papi in her life?
Tea: In Valencia's life? Yes.
Todd: In your life.
Tea: We'll have to be in each other's lives, of course.
Todd: I don't want to be buddies.
Tea: What do you want? Sex? Because, that won't be happening between us ever again.
Todd: It's a package deal.
Tea: You're saying that if I want you in Valencia's life, I have to sleep with you first?
Todd: Every night.
Tea: No.
Todd: It's what you want.
Tea: I want you to have a relationship with your daugther because that's what you want, not because you get sex from me in return.
Todd: Don't you get it?
Tea: You're the one who won't be getting it...ever again!
Todd: I can't do this without you.
Tea: You don't need me to be a father. You were a wonderful father to Starr before you even knew me.
Todd: That was different. Everything is different now. I'm different. I knew I always screwed everything up but I thought my kid would be the one thing I did okay. But, I blew it. I screwed it up worse than anything I've ever screwed up.
Tea: It's not as bad as you think.
Todd: Starr hates me.
Tea: That's not true.
Todd: You haven't seen the way she looks at me. She used to look at me like... You remember how she used to look at me, right?
Tea: She adored you. She still does.
Todd: She knows me now. She knows the worst parts of me. I can't do this, Delgado. I can't let our kid look at me like Starr used to, because someday she'll stop.
Tea: You're protecting yourself?
Todd: That's what us selfish bastards do.
Tea: I know you. I know that you put your children first, even before your own fears.
Todd: If I hurt you, if I hurt our kid...
Tea: If you allow yourself to love her, you won't hurt her. I know that. I trust that.
Todd: I wasn't trying to hurt Starr, but I really did.
Tea: It wasn't intentional. You'll learn from your mistakes.
Todd: I learned from the worst one I ever made. I'm never letting anyone con me into thinking they love me ever again.
[Todd returns to the telephone and demands to be let out of the elevator.]
to be continued...
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2002 COPYRIGHT BY TIMA
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