"So, Doc, congratulate me."
Dr. Michaels looks at Todd, who is grinning like a Cheshire cat seated across from his desk.
"Why...what's the good news."
"Delgado's pregnant."
"Todd, that's wonderful...I guess congratulations are in order!" Dr. Michaels replies, smiling.
"Yeah...it is...we're pretty psyched. I'm kinda nervous though."
"Why? You already know you're a good father."
"Yeah...but I missed a lot with Shorty, you know, cause I was dead and all...I just don't wanna screw it up."
Dr. Michaels nodded. They had delved into Todd's experiences in Ireland in previous sessions, and he was aware that Todd had not been around for Starr's birth.
"Well, this is Téa's first child, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then you two can learn together. You'll be fine."
"Delgado's gonna be a great mom...I mean she already is with Shorty. I think she's nervous too though, I mean she didn't exactly have a Donna Reed childhood either."
"Todd, you and Téa love each other, and you will love your child...all you have to do is what you think is best for them...and everything else will fall into place."
Todd nods and shifts in his chair. He clears his throat. His mind begins to wander back to the last few days...the Bayberry with Téa, the cemetary, his conversation with Viki....
After a few minutes, Dr. Michaels breaks the silence. "Todd, is something on your mind?"
He looks at the doctor, wondering if he really wanted to get into this...but it had been bothering him since he had visited the cemetary.
"Doc, how long have you been in Llanview?"
"A few years, why?"
Todd pauses, running his hand through his hair. "Do you remember the name Georgie Phillips?"
Dr. Michaels sits back and thinks. "Sounds vaguely familiar."
"She was murdered, a year ago," Todd says flatly.
"Oh right....Commisioner Buchanan was accused right?"
Todd grunts, "Yeah, before he tried to pin it on me. Didn't work though."
"Did you know Georgie well?"
"No...not at all really..knew of her. I found her body the night she was murdered."
Dr. Michaels is silent, taking this in. They had had yet to venture into this topic.
"That night...looking back...that night started all this."
"Todd ...you told me you were abused by your father a long time ago."
"I was...I just mean....that night...that night really started me remembering this garbage. See...the night Georgie got killed...it was the same night I asked Delgado to marry me...for real."
"Sounds like a good start."
"Yeah...I was nervous as hell...I couldn't believe she actually said yes," he pauses and a small smile covers his lips as he remembers the look on her face. "So, we ended up back at the Penthouse. She wanted to ....um...celebrate...and I did too...I was just so damn scared of hurting her. I mean, next to Shorty, she was and is the best thing in my life...and I had just gotten her back..I didn't want to screw it up. So...see Sam had given me this herbal stuff...to relax..cause I was pretty stressed. Anyway, I put it in some wine...and Delgado...she took the wrong glass and next thing I know...she's sound asleep. I felt really bad, you know...cause I wanted to be with her...it's just that night...was so intense. So, I decided to go and clear my head...and eventually ended up at the Buchanan lodge...which is where I found Georgie dead. I guess if I had been a normal guy..it wouldn't have happened," Todd says, almost sadly.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, a normal guy would have been able to stay with Téa...and as much as I wanted to ...I just...I just couldn't."
"Todd....you're not abnormal because you didn't stay with Téa...you just had a lot of issues to deal with...which is what we're doing here."
"Whatever."
"Do you want to tell me anymore?"
"I was shocked when I saw her...I ended up moving her body...I don't know why...really. I felt bad for her...I mean she was a wack job for sure, but she didn't deserve to have her skull bashed in. And seeing her there, broken...dead....you know I always thought she reminded me of someone....but at that moment...I realized who..." his voice trails off, lost in a horrific memory.
Dr. Michaels watches him intently....not wanting to push.
After a minute, Todd looks at the doctor and continues. "Angela. Georgie reminded me of Angela. See, after my mom split...Peter...he went through women like they were going out of style. At first, they'd be charmed...but then they realized what a sadistic bastard he was and split. Angela though...she lasted a little longer. And she was nice....even to me...most of the women he dated couldn't have cared less about me...but she did. I liked her...which I'm sure thrilled Peter the not so great. Georgie...she looked like Angela...same hair...same build. Someone who got a raw deal...who no one really cared about," he finishes quietly.
"What happened to Angela?"
Todd shoots Dr. Michaels a quick look. "Who the hell knows? Hey I was only like ...I don't know eleven when she was around...she probably got sick of Peter and left...just like the rest..." he runs his hand through his hair, "Look, Doc...I don't want to talk about it anymore..okay? Besides...I gotta go...me and Delgado are gonna tell Shorty about the baby." He quickly gets up and walks out the door, leaving Dr. Michaels both confused and curious.
**********************************************************************************
Manning House, Later that afternoon
Starr is playing on the rug with Todd as Téa brings in some soda for them and water for herself.
"Sam wants to meet with us tomorrow to go over some stuff about the Sun, is that okay?"
"Whatever...I just want my paper back...I don't care how I get it."
Téa grins, and joins Todd and Starr on the floor. Todd had managed to convince Blair to let Starr spend some time at the house with them so they could tell her the news. Blair, who had been slightly less than thrilled about Téa's pregnancy agreed. She knew how excited Starr would be to have a little brother or sister.
Todd reaches out and lifts his daughter onto his lap. "So Shorty, me and Tee need to talk to you."
"Am I in trouble?" Starr asks, looking up at her father.
"No way! Actually, we have to talk to you about good stuff."
Téa watches the exchange with tears forming in her eyes. Watching Todd with Starr had always been one of her favorite things...they were so wonderful together.
Todd clears his throat and looks at Téa. "Okay..so you know how you complain about not having anyone to play with?"
Starr nods, looking up at her father adoringly.
"Well...in a while...you're gonna have a new brother or sister."
Starr's eyes widen. "I am? How?"
Todd nervously looks at Téa, who is grinning. "Well, Starr...your dad and I are going to have a baby."
"Really? Can I see the baby? Where is he?"
Téa laughs and reaches over to take her stepdaughter's hand. "Well.. the baby isn't ready yet...here," and she places Starr's hand on her stomach, "the baby is in here...until he's all ready!"
"How'd he get in there, Tee?"
"Doesn't matter, Shorty," Todd says, anxious to cut this conversation off. Téa laughs. "What matters is...you're gonna be a big sister...you know that's a pretty important job."
"Can I help take care of the baby, Daddy?"
"Can you? Of course you can...me and Tee are gonna need all your help, okay?" he says, smiling and tickling her. Starr giggles, and snuggles closer to Todd.
"You know, Shorty," he says, grinning at his daughter.
"What?"
"I think we should get Tee."
Starr laughs and runs toward her stepmother. Téa catches the little girl in her arms and holds her close.
Todd watches them...his family...not really believing something this good is happening ....afraid something will happen to ruin it....
To be continued....
