AUTHOR’S NOTE: I’m taking the story out of the First Person and putting it
in the third person so you can feel everyone’s reactions. Enjoy!
Trevor walked into his room. Damn him! Argh! He brought his fist up to
his mouth and bit it. Fury. Anger. He keeps doing it! Well, it stops
here! I won’t let him hurt her! Not again. He began to pace feeling the
knot in his stomach grow. Why can’t I hit something? Because I’ll bleed to
death… My father is…selfish. What hold does he have over her? Over us?
He picked up his pillow and threw it on his bed. It’s growing - that knot -
deeper…
On his display shelves, books, car models, pictures in frames, treasure
mementos of visits to Puerto Rico - she’s my mother - my confidant - she
gives…me…courage. I can’t lose that.
He let out a loud yell and began to wipe his shelves clean of those books,
those mementos - Bang. Clang. Bang. Letting out his anger, his
frustration. Falling down to his knees in the middle of his self imposed
mess that was his life.
Clang.
Suddenly his door flung open and his father strode in, fire in his eyes.
“What! What - is going on in here?” he demanded crossing his arms, “Your
shelves - on the floor?”
Trevor looked up with tears in his eyes, “Damn you!”
Todd raised his eyebrows.
Trevor ran up to his father and began to hit him. Todd reached for his
young son’s hands and drew the confused boy into a hug.
“Stop it! Stop it you hear!” said Todd, “I love your mother!”
“It’s your fault she’s pregnant! All you do is hurt her!” said Trevor.
His voice was painfully upset.
“Stop it!” said Todd firmly finding his son’s eyes. His son’s hazel eyes,
“Now listen to me. Listen! Your mother is fine. She’s not hurt. It takes
two to get pregnant Trevor! Two! She wanted and agreed to this pregnancy!
But if you insist on this…anger then you direct it all at me. You hit me
and curse me and hate me. I can take it and I will because I don’t want
your mother and the woman I love to see you like this. It will break her
heart.”
Trevor sniffled, the fight drained out of him with those words and he
grabbed his father in a tight embrace, “Dad! I…don’t…I’m sorry. I
don’t…hate you. I… don’t.”
“Good,” said Todd, “I don’t hate you either T.D. but it’s
times like these - when you do that spoiled brat thing you make it hard for
me to…like you.”
Trevor broke the embrace and walked back over to his mess. He picked up a
shell he had gotten in Puerto Rico. Slowly he looked at his father, “I
can’t stop worrying about her. I won’t.”
“Trevor, you don’t have to fight me. You can share your concerns with me.
We’re not trying to keep anything from you,” said Todd firmly.
“Yeah Dad, I know. She takes such good care…of me, you know. I just wanna
do the same…” muttered Trevor picking up his mess.
“Yeah. I feel that way too. If you need to talk T.D., I’m here,” said
Todd.
Trevor just nodded his head and watched his father walk out. He dropped
head into the palm of his hand and let out a deep breath.
“I can’t stop it Dad. I can’t,” he whispered, “I don’t know how to stop
feeling…”
*****
Later that evening…
Todd desired to be alone. He gave Taylor a few bucks, told the kids to
order a pizza and retired to his study. Taylor would see to it that Terri
would do her homework and get to bed. He’d check on her too. Terri expected
him too.
He sat down behind his desk, put his feet on the table and leaned back in
his chair. It upset him to see Trevor react badly to Téa’s pregnancy. He
didn’t understand it. Just as things were getting better between himself
and Trevor - this had to happen.
Todd closed his eyes remembering…remembering back. His first birthday with
Téa…the cupcake - she’d gotten dizzy then too but they had chalked it up to
the flu. Téa had gotten dizzy with all her pregnancies. It was to be
expected.
“It’s hard work making a baby - especially for Mom…”
Couldn’t he have a moment’s peace? If it wasn’t one thing it was another.
The Sun was breaking a big story right now and he should be there but Starr
told him she had it under control.
“Trust me. Go be with Téa…”
So why was he sulking in his study? Why didn’t he go up stairs and hold
her in his arms - comforting her? Because Trevor - maybe Téa could talk to
him…no! Téa didn’t need the stress. Somehow - someway - he was going to
have to get through to his moody oldest son.
He reached over to the book in the corner of his desk, “High Risk
Pregnancies…” He just stared at the cover having all ready read it cover to
cover - kinda. He looked at the pictures.
He wouldn’t be much company but he’d pop in on the kids and then go see
Téa. Make sure she didn’t need anything. She was all right.
Todd walked into the kitchen. Tyler and Terri were cleaning up, putting
dishes in the dishwasher.
“Hey Dad,” said Tyler, “Leftover pizza is in the frig.”
Todd just nodded his head, “Where’s Taylor?”
“Upstairs with Trev. Trying to talk some sense into him,” said Tyler
throwing the rag into the sink.
Terri hung up a drying towel and sat at the table, “Big Tee is going to
help me with my homework.”
Todd smiled at her, “Good. I’m going upstairs to be with your mom if you
need me.”
“Sure Dad,” said Tyler sitting down next to Terri.
“Daddy, I hope Mommy feels better soon,” said Terri.
“Me too,” he said.
He walked off, happy to see Tyler helping Terri and glad to know Taylor was
talking to Trevor. He’d actually listen to her. Another crisis avoided.
Avoided for another day. He walked upstairs.
He silently opened the bedroom door and walked in. Téa was resting on her
side, her shirt untucked, a sliver of hair falling in her face, her shoes
and socks off. He sat down on his side of the bed, slipped off his own
shoes and socks and snuggled next to her, spooning her, placing a loving,
protective arm around her waist, nuzzling the back of her neck with his
face.
“Todd…” she whispered.
“You’re up?” he said.
“Is T.D. all right? I thought I heard him…” she started, savoring his
touch. He slid his hand underneath her shirt and rubbed her tummy.
“He’s fine,” mumbled Todd.
“No, he’s not Todd…” said Téa not turning around.
“All right. He’s not. I don’t think…he approves…of me…because of the
pregnancy…” said Todd softly.
“Aw, Todd…” she said finally turning around to face him, entwining her feet
with his, “You didn’t do…anything…I didn’t want. I should talk to him.”
“Don’t. Don’t go. Taylor’s with him now. She’ll talk to him…” he said
finding her eyes.
She nodded her head.
No words were spoken. He raised his hand up to her face and softly stroked
her cheek. She brought up her hand to his face and copied his gesture.
“You scared us today,” said Todd.
“You heard the doctor. I’m fine. Isn’t there a story at the Sun…?” she
asked.
“Starr sent me home to be with you,” he said.
“She’s a smart girl Todd,” said Téa, “Our family sure knows how to take
care of us, don’t they? You should have seen Trevor and Tyler. You would
have been proud of them.”
He gave her a slight smile while rubbing his feet over hers.
She started giggling.
His smiled got brighter, “Now, tell me about this surprise.”
Téa swallowed.
TO BE CONTINUED…
