The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
| ONE LAST TIME BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 61 - 63 |
ONE LAST TIME
chapter 61:
[During dinner...
After initial, awkward attempts at conversation, the three adults at the small dining table finally settle into silence as they consume their meal.
Toward the end of the meal, to everyone's relief, the silence is interrupted by the sound of Valencia crying in the bedroom.
Todd quickly jumps up, wanting to get away from the intense scrutiny he feels he's under with Tea's grandmother watching him while he eats.]
Todd: I'll take care of this.
Tea: Really? You'll change her diaper and breast feed her?
Todd: Well, one of those I can do.
Tea: Stay. Enjoy the rest of your meal.
Todd (mumbling as he sits down): Fat chance.
Abuela: What was that, young man?
Todd: I said -- fat chance.
Tea: Todd...
Todd: Don't give me that voice, or that look. This sucks and everyone knows it.
Abuela (to Tea): Valencia is waiting for you. We'll be fine.
Tea (to Todd): Behave!
Todd (to Abuela): You heard her.
Tea: Todd!
Todd: If you don't go, I will.
[Tea leaves the room.]
Abuela: So, young man...
Todd: Do you have to keep calling me that? It reminds me of when I was a kid and I hate that.
Abuela: Your childhood was difficult?
Todd: I don't talk about that with anyone...ever.
Abuela: What about with my granddaughter?
Todd: That doesn't count. She's my lawyer.
Abuela: She appears to be more than that to you.
Todd: Not really.
Abuela: There's a baby in the other room that tells me otherwise.
Todd: Whatever! Can we go back to doing that silent thing with you just staring at me like I'm scum.
Abuela: You think that's my opinion of you?
Todd: That's everyone's opinion of me...including mine.
Abuela: What about Tea?
Todd: What about her?
Abuela: Do you feel she views you that way?
Todd: She doesn't want to have anything to do with me, that much I know.
Abuela: You will need to improve your lying skills if you want to fool me. I've had too many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren try to sneak lies passed me to be fooled so easily.
Todd: Tea wants me to be a part of our kid's life. That's all.
Abuela: She may say that, but...
Todd: You claim to be the expert. Is she lying?
Abuela: Tea's childhood was also difficult. She still has many scars.
Todd: Aren't you afraid I'll give her more?
Abuela: You already have.
[Todd is stunned at the pain this virtual stranger's words are able to inflict on him.]
Abuela: I am sorry, but you want to hear the truth, do you not?
Todd: Lies work for me.
Abuela: They don't work for anyone.
Todd: Whatever!
Abuela: You use that word often. Is it your way of hiding from truths that are too painful for you to face?
Todd: How long does it take to feed a person who's that small?
Abuela: It takes as long as it takes.
Todd: You've got an answer for everything, don't you?
Abuela: I have lived a long time.
Todd: That doesn't mean you know everything. You don't know what it's like between me and Delgado.
Abuela: You could explain it to me.
Todd: I could also vomit. I know which thing I'd prefer to do right now.
Abuela: Perhaps we should move on to our poker game.
Todd: You don't have to go through with humiliating yourself. I'll let you off the hook.
Abuela: What should we wager?
Todd: I told you...
Abuela: Despite my appearance, I'm not a frail old woman. You can treat me the way you would anyone else.
Todd: Trust me, you don't want me treating you like I do everyone else. Besides, Tea would never take me back if I did that, or if I kick your butt in poker.
Abuela: We shall see who's behind is sore at the end of our game.
Todd: You really want to do this?
Abuela: I have learned much about others while playing a friendly card game.
Todd: I don't do friendly.
Abuela: You seem very friendly with my granddaughter.
Todd: She's a lawyer. I never know when I might need her to save my ass again.
Abuela: You think of my Tea as more than just your lawyer.
Todd: Your Tea? Look, all I know is that she doesn't think of me as her Todd anymore, if she ever did.
Abuela: She did and still does.
Todd: She told you that?
Abuela: I know my granddaughter.
Todd: So, you know what a pain in the ass she can be.
Abuela: You seem like a man who enjoys a challenge.
Todd: Climbing Mount Everest would be a challenge for me, not to mention a totally stupid thing to do. Tea...is more than a challenge.
Abuela: I see how you feel about her and how she feels for you. If you're willing to fight for her, you have my blessing.
Todd: Why? I'm the same scum you always hated her being with before.
Abuela: I may have hated the things I had heard about you, but I never knew you well enough to hate you. Now that I've spent a little time with you, observing you with my granddaughter, and my great-granddaughter, I can see why Tea could never allow herself to cut you from her life completely.
Todd: It's what she should do.
Abuela: Perhaps, but it's clearly not what she wants.
Todd: She's kind of stupid that way...when it comes to me.
Abuela: You are a lucky man to have someone so special love you with all that she has.
[Todd is silent for several seconds before he needs to change the mood of their conversation.]
Todd: Whatever! Are we playing poker, or not?
Abuela: I'll get the cards while you clear the table.
Todd: Let me know where the cards are and I'll get them.
Abuela: My granddaughter told me of your attitudes.
Todd: What attitudes?
Abuela: Ones that remind me of my dear, late husband. I didn't put up with them from him, I certainly won't from you. The dish soap is under the sink.
Todd: So?
Abuela: When Tea finishes with the baby, I'll send her into the kitchen to help you.
Todd: I thought we were playing poker.
Abuela: We will, after you've finished your chores. Don't worry, I'll make it a quick game and then disappear into the bedroom so you and my Tea will have plenty of time to talk before you leave for the night.
Todd: Tea invited me to spend the night. She said something about a sofa. I think she said you'd be sleeping on the sofa and I'd be sleeping...
Abuela: Where do you expect to sleep, young man?
Todd: You know, you're almost as good at giving me that look as Tea is.
Abuela: Do you respect my granddaughter?
Todd: That's between me and her. I'll go check and see how she's doing with the kid.
Abuela: What about the dishes?
Todd: I hear there's that dish soap junk under the sink. Enjoy!
[Todd struts out of the living room.]
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ONE LAST TIME
chapter 62:
[In the bedroom, Todd finds Tea softly speaking to their daughter in Spanish while she breast feeds her.]
Todd: Isn't she done yet?
Tea: You can stay in here until she's ready for you to hold her.
Todd: Good!
Tea: Things didn't go well out there without me?
Todd: Things sucked even when you were there. She hates me.
Tea: She does not.
Todd: She tried to put me to work.
Tea: Doing what?
Todd: Dishes.
Tea: You should go out there and do them.
Todd: No way!
Tea: Chores are important to her.
Todd: Do I care?
Tea: You should. The fact that she gave you one shows that she thinks of you as part of the family.
Todd: Let her go back to treating me like I don't exist.
Tea: Todd...
Todd: It won't work. You can't get me to go back out there.
Tea: It's only a few dishes.
Todd: I'll buy her a dishwasher, if it's such a big deal to you.
Tea: She doesn't want a dishwasher.
Todd: Yes, she does -- me.
Tea: She's testing you.
Todd: I always flunk tests.
Tea: I don't want you to flunk this one.
Todd: Why does it matter? You hate me, remember? You don't want me anywhere near you.
Tea: You could have her on your side, if you don't upset her.
Todd: She'd be upset anyway. She doesn't like your idea of having me sleep here with you tonight.
Tea: Please tell me you're joking. You didn't actually tell my grandmother you wanted to spend the night with me, did you?
Todd: She figured out that you've been seducing me. I tried to tell her you were just my lawyer but she didn't buy it.
Tea: The fact that we were married...twice, and now have a baby together was probably a hint to her that our relationship was more than lawyer-client.
Todd: I prefer to think of it as boss-employee.
Tea: Whatever!
Todd: Don't use that word around that old lady out there. She hates it.
Tea: That old lady is my grandmother. Please, try not to alienate her anymore.
Todd: She started it.
Tea: It would be helpful if you could be more mature than our daughter.
Todd: I'm putting up with all of this for you. You owe me.
Tea: I owe you time with our daughter. That's all.
Todd: You owe me more than that.
Tea: I've made my intentions clear to you.
Todd: You have...every time you've seduced me.
Tea: You're the one...
Todd: I'm the one you love.
Tea: That doesn't mean...
Todd: That means everything.
[Tea is flustered by the emotion in Todd's voice.
The ex-spouses are silent as Tea continues to feed their daughter. When she finishes, she hand the baby to Todd.]
Tea: You can burp her.
Todd: Why me?
Tea: Because, I have to go into the kitchen and do the dishes. I'll tell my grandmother that I insisted you stay in here and spend time with your daughter.
Todd: I knew there was a reason I put you on retainer.
Tea: That retainer ran out years ago.
Todd: You never did bill me for that little misunderstanding you helped me with in Llanview.
Tea: I helped you pay for your crime...
Todd: What crime?
Tea: Don't start that again. I helped you then because, when you're in trouble, that's what I do.
Todd: You're willing to take on my sentence this time so I can get out of trouble with you're grandmother?
Tea: I'll do the dishes while you're saying goodnight to your daughter.
Todd: You invited me to spend the night.
Tea: No, I didn't.
Todd: Whatever! I'm still staying.
Tea: Why do you want to be here? Nothing will happen. That must be obvious, even to you.
Todd: Something always happens when you're around me. You can't resist me.
Tea: With my grandmother in the other room, I guarantee I can, and will, resist you this time. Say goodnight to your daughter.
[Tea leaves the bedroom. Todd looks down at his daughter in his arms.]
Todd (to Valencia): You shouldn't look at me like that. I'm not the guy you think I am. I'm scum. That's how you should look at me. Maybe your mom's starting to figure that out.
***ONE LAST TIME
chapter 65:
Tea: You know perfectly well...
Todd: What I know is what you want.
Tea: What do you think I want?
Todd: You want to leave the baby here with your grandmother while you come with me.
Tea: Our daughter is our responsibility...no one else's.
Todd: Not forever. Just for a couple of hours.
Tea: That would be a mistake.
Todd: Maybe, but you'll regret it if you don't do it.
Tea: I won't be leaving with you, but maybe it is time for you to leave.
Todd: If you're not coming with me, I'm staying.
Tea: I haven't invited you.
Todd: Your grandmother did. We have an all-night poker game scheduled.
Tea: This won't work.
Todd: Don't worry, she'll be okay with losing what we're wagering.
Tea: And, what's that?
Todd: You.
[Todd quickly stands up.]
Todd: I'll put Valencia in her crib.
Tea: Todd...
[Todd ignores his ex-wife as he takes their daughter into the bedroom.
Tea returns to the kitchen.]
Abuela: Your young man is still here?
Tea: My young man seems to think he's playing poker with you and that the winner gets me.
Abuela: He has already won you. You can't hide your feelings for him, they shine through each time you look at him.
Tea: I'll have to work harder on that.
Abuela: Why are you so determined to remain alone?
Tea: I've always been alone. Trying again with Todd won't change anything, not for very long, anyway.
Abuela: You should trust the man you love.
Tea: I tried that. I ended up alone.
Abuela: So has he.
Tea: Not always.
Abuela: You tried with another.
Tea: Why are you on his side?
Abuela: I've seen you with him. I see how you look at him. More importantly, I see how he looks at you. In the past, Del told me of the looks that pass between you and your young man. Now, I see it myself.
Tea: What did Del say exactly?
Abuela: I recall him commenting that, at times, he felt he disappeared when you and Todd would look at each other. If your brother could see your love for this man, you won't be able to hide it from anyone, especially Todd.
Tea: This isn't love. It's insanity.
Abuela: Many have confused the two.
Tea: Was it like this for you?
Abuela: I have had passionate involvements.
Tea: Plural?
Abuela: Si.
Tea: I'm sure you broke many hearts in your younger days.
Abuela: I may be old but I still turn a head, or two.
Tea: Is there someone special?
Abuela: We are discussing your life.
Tea: I'd rather discuss yours.
Abuela: I sense that you are in a great deal of pain. That's what love is for...to heal your hurts.
Tea: It doesn't work that way for me...or for Todd. Love causes pain for us. It causes agony. Neither of us wants that.
Abuela: He seems to feel differently.
Tea: Trust me, if Todd knew how much I needed his love right now, he'd be rushing out the door.
Abuela: You need to trust him.
Tea: I trust Todd with my life. I trust him with our daughter. I would trust him with just about anything. But my heart... I tried trusting him with my heart in the past. It hurt so much opening my heart to him. It hurt even more when he slammed his own heart shut in response. He thinks it's enough if he tries occasionally, if he gives me glimpses of his heart. He doesn't understand how painful it is for me every time we get too close and his walls go up again.
Abuela: He sees your walls. He understands.
Tea: You were right. I'm no good at this. He knows it, too. I can try to push him away physically, but even that I'm never successful at for long. But, my heart is always his, and he knows it. He knows that he can count on me to love him forever no matter what he does, no matter what happens between us. I'll always defend him. I'll always understand him, or at least try. When he really needs me, I'll be there for him every time. But, when I need him, I'm always alone. I want him to be the one person who never lets me down but he has, so many times. He always will. I know he doesn't intend to hurt me like he does. He doesn't even realize he's doing it most of the time. He can't control it. He may want to love me, but he can't. He doesn't know how.
Abuela: You need to show him.
Tea: I tried. My heart is worn out from trying.
Abuela: You must never give up on love.
Tea: I haven't given up on love. I've only given up on deluding myself that Todd could ever love me the way I need him to. He doesn't realize it yet but through Valencia he's finally given me love that doesn't hurt...love that I know will last forever. She is the reason that Todd and I need to stop hurting each other. She needs to be our priority now, not the insanity of trying to have a relationship together.
[Standing outside the kitchen, an eavesdropping Todd turns and returns to the bedroom.]
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ONE LAST TIME
chapter 63:
[Minutes later...
Todd enters the kitchen still holding Valencia in his arms.]
Tea: Did you come to help us, or are you ready to leave?
Todd: Valencia wanted to see you.
Tea: Was she being fussy?
Todd: My kid? No way!
Tea: Our daughter does seem to have inherited my calm demeanor.
Todd: You? Calm?
[Todd notices Tea's grandmother's disapproving stare in his direction.]
Todd: I meant, yeah, you're totally calm all the time.
Tea: Thank you.
Todd: It's not like you're the kind of chick that would go crazy and start yelling in some other language every time some innocent person can't figure out what the hell you want.
Tea: Innocent?
[Todd again takes notice of Tea's grandmother's rejecting stare.]
Todd: There's something else our kid got from you.
Tea: You should stop before you...
Todd: Her looks. She could have ended up ugly, like me. It's lucky for her that she got her beauty from the Delgado side of things.
[Tea smiles at Todd's obvious attempt to score points with her and her grandmother.]
Abuela (to Tea): Go. Spend time with your... What's the word you use for this?
Tea: We're co-parents. That's all.
Todd: You're probably a totally modern chick, Mrs. Delgado, so you probably agree with Tea on this. I can't help it, I'm just an old-fashioned guy. I think that when people care about each other, and have babies together, they should be married...or, at least shacking up.
Tea: Okay, it's time for you to take the baby into the living room.
Todd: Are you coming with? We've hardly had any time together as a whole family.
Tea: I'll be out there in a few minutes.
Abuela: You can join them now. Your family needs your attention.
Tea: Valencia has my attention all the time. Todd can handle a few minutes alone with his daughter while we finish in here.
Todd: But, we need to discuss stuff.
Tea: What stuff?
Todd: Family type stuff.
Tea: And, that can't wait a few minutes?
Todd: Not if you're going to upset Valencia in a few minutes by making me go away.
Tea: I'm tempted to do it right this second.
Todd: We'll wait in the living room.
Tea: Good idea.
[Todd exits the kitchen with Valencia.]
Abuela: Why are you pushing him away if being with him is what you want?
Tea: He's just having fun trying to push my buttons, and yours.
Abuela: He cares for you.
Tea: I care for him. I always will, but that's not enough.
Abuela: Do you not love him anymore?
Tea: I will always love that man, unfortunately. That doesn't mean that I can be with him ever again. We had our chance and it didn't work out. Valencia is my priority now.
Abuela: He loves you.
Tea: He's lonely.
Abuela: So are you.
Tea: It wouldn't be fair to either of us to use that as an excuse to put each other through the misery of trying to have a relationship again. It especially wouldn't be fair to Valencia.
Abuela: Maybe if you tried harder...
Tea: I tried so hard, so many times.
[Tea finishes washing the last of the dishes and silently leaves her grandmother in the kitchen to join her daughter and ex-husband in the living room.]
to be continued.
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2002 COPYRIGHT BY TIMA
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