Monday Morning,
Todd & Téa’s bedroom…
Todd rolled over and spooned his sleeping wife, placing a protective arm
around her waist. He could feel her tummy. It had begun to swell due to
the growing baby inside of her and he couldn’t help but feel proud. That
baby was his. His! Ah, it felt so good to have her back in their bed!
The doctor had released her late yesterday evening with very specific
instructions. Total bed rest. When they got home, they pulled names out of
the hat to see who would stay home with Téa and his daughter, Terri, got
picked.
The snooze went off again and he rolled over onto his back, stretching out
his arm to shut it off. He glanced at the clock. He had to get up. It was
getting late. Téa rolled over and opened her eyes.
“Morning Todd,” she said.
He returned her look and studied her face.
“Morning,” he said. She was looking very pale. He frowned, concerned.
“What’s wrong?” she asked snuggling into him. She wore a pale pink nightie
but he was naked under the covers.
“You. Are you all right? You look pale…” he said instantly worried for
her.
“Well, to be honest, I have an upset stomach,” she answered leaning back,
putting some space between them so she could look at him.
“Maybe I should stay home today,” he remarked sitting up in the bed. The
covers fell into his lap and he rested his back against the headboard.
She took a deep breath, “I think I’ll be okay Todd. It’s just an upset
stomach.”
“You sure?” he questioned.
“Yeah,” she said. She sat up next to him and placed her hand lovingly
across his taunt stomach muscles. She loved to touch him there.
“I promised Starr I’d go to the courthouse today,” he said running his
hands through her hair.
“What’s up?” she inquired.
“Well, you know her other family, right?” started Todd.
“Sure. Blair. Max. Al. Frankie. Leslie…” started Téa.
“Well Frankie shot Max,” said Todd, he flashed her a quick grin mildly
amused with the situation, “Max is in the hospital in critical condition and
Frankie’s being charged with attempted murder. The kid’s being arraigned
today and normally that’s Starr’s beat but she’s upset over the situation so
I told her she could hang out at the paper and I’d go cover it for her.”
“I see. You should go Todd. Starr’s done so much for us. You should do
this for her,” encouraged Téa lightly rubbing her hand back and forth
against his bare skin. It made her feel good.
He felt torn, conflicted.
“But the doctor said…” he started.
“I’m well aware of what the doctor said. Trust me. I won’t do anything
stupid and Terri will be here…” she said trying to talk to him into going.
With that, the door opened, and Terri, dressed up in a denim jumper suit,
looking fresh and excited stood in the doorway.
“Is it okay to come in? I heard you guys talking,” said Terri.
Téa flashed her young daughter a smile. Todd reached for the cover and
pulled them up, covering his stomach and lap but he couldn’t pull them up to
cover his broad chest.
“Terri, Daddy’s ah…he’s…ah, well, just stay at the door, okay?” said Téa.
Her face turned red as she realized that once again, Terri had caught them
in an intimate situation.
“Okay Mommy,” said Terri.
Todd rubbed his nose and tried not to act embarrassed.
“Did you want some breakfast Mommy? I can bring you something to eat…”
suggested Terri.
“Sure. Ah, I’ll take a glass of water and some crackers,” answered Téa.
Terri turned around to comply with her mother’s request and left.
Todd hopped out of bed and raced to the bathroom to get ready. Téa giggled
at him as he dashed out of the bed with an embarrassed grin on his face.
She lay back down and rubbed her hands over her growing tummy.
“All I want, more than anything is to keep you safe and for you to be all
right…” she whispered.
She closed her eyes, “You’re a fighter, aren’t you? It’s just a feeling I
have. Your daddy’s strong too. And so is your brother, Tyler. Trevor is
too…but in a different way. I’m not physically strong - not like your Daddy
but I’ll do my best. I will. I promise…”
It grew silent and Téa could hear the shower running. Finally, Terri showed
up with a glass of water and a plate of crackers. Téa sat up in the bed and
invited Terri to join her. Terri couldn’t help but smile and joined her
mother on the bed. Téa took a sip of water and finally after a few minutes,
Todd came out of the bathroom dressed in a casual shirt and dress slacks.
He looked fresh and the scent of his cologne filtered into the room.
“Hi Daddy!!” waved Terri, snuggled next to her mother.
He confidently walked into the room and sat down on the bed next to Téa and
Terri.
“Hi little Tee,” he said smiling at his daughter, “You looking forward to
playing hooky with your mom?”
“Huh-huh,” said Terri nodding her head, ‘yes.’
Téa smiled at them.
“Where’s those other T’s?” asked Todd lightly.
“Downstairs eating breakfast,” answered Terri batting her eyelashes at her
father. Todd liked it when she did that. He liked that she adored him and
that it was obvious.
“Okay, let’s play review. If something happens to Mommy who do you call?”
he asked.
Terri got up and ran to the phone on the nightstand, “I speed dial you on
number one.”
“Good. Now what if you can’t reach me?” he asked smiling at her.
“I call Starr at number two,” said Terri.
“And if you can’t reach Starr?” asked Todd.
“I dial 9-1-1,” said Terri. She was excited to be entrusted with such an
important task.
Todd stood up, “Okay. Well, I’m off to go to court.”
“Have a good day Daddy,” said Terri. She ran over to him and gave him a
hug. He returned it. He leaned over Téa who was still sitting in the bed
and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“Hey!” said Téa.
“What?” he asked.
She took her hand, placed it on his cheek and nuzzled her face into his,
brushing his lips with the faintest of all kisses. It was enjoyable for
both.
“I’ll be home after court,” said Todd slowly parting from him.
“Terri and I will be here,” she said confidently.
Todd left.
*****
Later on that morning…
Téa had gotten up and watched her kids go off to school. Her stomach was
still upset though and she was barely holding down breakfast.
After everyone left, she went upstairs and took a shower and got into a
comfortable pair of sweats. Terri snuggled next to her on the bed and they
put on the bedroom TV and began to watch those rowdy talk shows.
Suddenly and unexpectedly, Téa felt a sharp pain in her side. Her hands
went immediately to the discomfort and all the color drained out her face.
“Mommy! Are you okay?” asked Terri as her eyes grew wide.
“I don’t know Terri,” said Téa scrunching up her face.
Terri brushed the bangs out of her mother’s eyes and looked at her mother
full of worry. Téa locked eyes with her daughter and then swiftly moved to
the side of the bed where she threw up her breakfast in a nearby waste can.
“Mommy!!” cried a worried Terri.
The pain began to subside but Téa didn’t want to take any chances, “Terri,
call your father. Now.”
Terri went to the phone and dialed it. Once. Twice. Three times but the
call wasn’t going through.
Téa felt another jab of pain and winced, “Call Starr…” said Téa lying down,
clutching her side.
Terri did as her mother instructed,
“Starr…it’sTerriMommy’ssickandDaddyisn’tansweringhisphone….”
She paused then hung up the phone. She looked at her mother who appeared
upset.
“Starr said she’ll be here in ten minutes,” said Terri.
Téa tried to lie out on the bed. Her face was pale and her lips trembled.
“Am I bleeding Terri?” she asked.
“No mommy,” said Terri.
“Anywhere? Look at my legs…” said Téa.
“No mommy…” said Terri again.
“Good…good…” she muttered.
Terri stayed with her mother, and got a damp washcloth to wipe her face.
Within a few minutes, they heard the front door slam shut and Starr and
River looking a bit frazzled appeared at the bedroom door.
TO BE CONTINUED…
