Port Charles Chronicles: Chapter 24

      Todd had taken Blair around to a number of available properties and was beginning to think they wouldn’t find something that fit what he was looking for.  Blair had lived a long time in that opulent mausoleum Dorian had called home.  He hated it.  He had bought it for Starr long ago and had managed to live there after he brought Jack home but the happy family had been a smokescreen.  He had been living in fear the truth about Jack would come out and when it did, all hell broke loose.  Now he wanted a home with no bad memories.  This was going to be a  new start for both of them.

      She had asked him to marry her and said she wasn’t leaving him, but Todd still felt apprehensive for some reason.  What if she changed her mind, or if she became interested in John again.  He had seen John’s looks of concern.  Don’t forget Tomas either, she says she’s got to go home for a short time.  Tomas will be there, she’ll forget about you.  Remember how she was with Cord.  Tomas will find a chance, if he can, to get her back and make her see I’m no good for her.  Todd shook his head, he suddenly couldn’t shake the image of John and Blair in the suite.  There was no way he was going to let John or Tomas take her away.  She was his woman and she always would be.  Blood was rushing to his head and he could feel an anxiety attack coming on.  He reached and snatched her hand, enfolding it and bringing it close to his chest.  Just holding her hand, made things better.

       Blair looked at him. “What is it?”  He had been pretty quiet the last two stops; but now as she looked at him, she saw he was breathing heavy and there was a sheen of moisture on his brow. “Are you alright?”

       Todd had closed his eyes to try and gather his wayward thoughts.  Absently rubbing her ring finger, he pictured her kneeling in front of him proposing and then it registered she had asked him a question. “What?  Yeah, I guess so.   I was thinking this finger is awfully bare and I think we need to remedy that.  That is if you meant your proposal.”

       Blair wrapped her other hand around his. “We can do that, but not today.  Are you sure you’re feeling okay, you feel a little warm?  Maybe we should skip this last house and go back to the hotel.”

       “No! We came out here to find someplace for all of us to live.  This is important.  I tell you I’m fine.  Leave it alone.  Besides, we’re here.”  Todd realized from Blair’s surprised expression that he had answered a little too forcefully. “I’m sorry.  I ….Look, I need to do this. If this one’s a dud then I’ll call it quits for today.”

       Blair nodded. “Sure it’s fine like you said we’re here.  I understand why you want this.  I do, too.”  As the car drove up the driveway Blair gasped. “Todd, it’s beautiful.”

      Todd looked past her out the window and felt his heart skip a beat.  “Yes.” This is it, this is what you’ve been looking for.   He stepped out of the car and took a deep breath.   From the outside, the house was a modern design of smoky glass, dark rich wood, and stone.  The house sat on the back third of the clearing.  Appearing closer to the trees from the car's vantage point.  There seemed to be other buildings behind it on the furthest portion of the clearing.  Trees surrounded the area,  providing an excellent buffer from neighbors and prying eyes.  Todd smiled at the large expansive yard in front.  He pictured himself throwing a football to Jack or teaching Sam how to dribble a soccer ball.  He wanted to be that kind of father with his boys.  It was something he had never experienced with Peter.

       He grabbed Blair’s hand again.  “Let’s see if it’s as magnificent inside as out.”  Todd wasn’t disappointed.  The entrance opened into a very spacious room.  The whole house was airy with few walls stopping the flow.  A large stone fireplace divided and opened to both the living area and a breakfast area.   Floor to ceiling windows opened to the backyard and a tiered wood patio.  Glass and wood rails made the staircase leading upstairs appear to be floating without support, and Blair eagerly headed up to see the rooms above. Todd followed her up slowly, liking everything he had seen so far.    He walked into the master suite and heard Blair squealing in the bathroom.  She was obviously delighted by the set-up.  He liked the fireplace and noted it was like the one on the lower level.  It too opened to both the suite and the bathroom.  He could definitely see the potential for some intimate nights with Blair in the room.

       He walked over to the door leading out to a balcony and saw the view of the lake.   Even from there, the water looked cool and inviting. Todd turned and made his way downstairs.  He opened the door that led from the family room to the tiered decks and walked out.  From his vantage point, he noted the tennis court off to one side of the clearing and what appeared to be a pool complex off to the other but what attracted him was the gap in the trees and the blue expanse of the lake glistening in the distance.  He left the deck and began walking. The trees opened up behind the house revealing a sloping bank that led to a boathouse and private dock.

        Blair was fascinated with the master suite and bath, she found herself picturing their sleigh bed in the room and taking long hot bubble baths to unwind or stepping into the shower with its many nozzles and having a good time with Todd.  In the process, she didn’t notice that he had wandered off.  The master suite had a beautiful view of the lake.  She walked out on the balcony to view it and saw Todd walking down toward the boat dock.  Her heart leapt into her throat.  She stood there for just a moment, then turned and dashed for the ground level.  Fear filled her as she recalled Todd, several mornings before, talking about the peace of the lake.  Then she remembered John saying Todd had been alone at the dock when he had been shot at.  Like the night before she was suddenly filled with dread

       Todd walked to the edge of the dock.  The lake waters were quiet and still.  He felt weary all of a sudden. The fever had taken more out of him than he realized and he was beginning to feel warm again.  He stood there, ever so tempted to take a plunge and cool off.  Why did that bother him?  Then he flashed on a scene.  I’m on fire and beating at the flames. There up ahead, there’s water. The water closed over him. Todd shivered, feeling a coldness envelop him.  He wrapped his hands around his chest.  His heart was going a mile a minute.  Stop, it never happened.  You dreamed it.   You had a high fever, that‘s where it came from.

       Blair raced out of the house and down the deck stairs.  “Todd. Why didn’t you wait for me?” She could see him as he reached the dock, but he hadn’t heard her.  She stumbled as the ground began to slope downhill. “Damn shoes.” She stopped and kicked them off, then ran down the slope again calling his name.  “Toddd.”

       Todd looked out at the lake. The images from his dream haunted him.  An uneasiness filled him.  He could sense her on the edges of his thoughts just biding her time, she had been in his dream pulling him down into the cool water and he had let her.  Lost in his thoughts, he was unaware of how close he was getting to the edge of the dock.  Irene had almost won. He recalled Blair above him crying.  If Blair hadn’t been there. Todd swayed as a wave of dizziness hit him.  Todd moved his foot to get better balanced, only to find it off the edge of the dock.  He felt himself begin to topple into the water when a hand grabbed his elbow and pulled him back to the security of the platform.

       Blair reached the dock just in time to see Todd about ready to walk off the dock.  When he still didn’t acknowledge her, she knew his thoughts were elsewhere again.  She watched him move his foot and reacted quickly as he started to fall.  She just managed to get a grip on his elbow and stop him from going in.   “Whoa, you.  After last night, I don’t think you need to take a swim right now.  You really should watch how close to the edge you stand.”

       Todd looked at her. He was trying to appear steady even though he felt anything but. “Where did you come from?  The last time I saw you, you were gaga over the master suite.”

       Blair gave him a shove on his shoulder. “Gee thanks, Blair, for keeping me from taking a dive.” When he winced, she wished she could take it back.  “What’s the matter?”

       He rubbed his shoulder. “I guess I still have a touch of that flu you talked about.  Everything aches.  I got a little dizzy there for a minute.  Um, thanks for....you know.”  He looked down at the water and then back at Blair.  “I didn’t realize I was that close.”  He needed to think of something else besides the lake. Taking her hand in his, he started walking back toward the house.  “So what do you think of this place?  Do you think the boys would like it?”

       Blair felt his hand, he was warmer than he had been in the car and she wondered if the fever was returning.  “I think it’s beautiful and I know the boys would love it.   Right now, though, maybe we should go back to the room.  I think you’re right and you’re not quite over this bug.  You can rest some more and we’ll call the realtor from the suite.”

      “Really, this is nothing.  I’m just a little run down from all the sleep I’ve been losing.  We don’t have to cut this short.”

       “Don’t start.  You don’t need to be all macho with me.  I can tell you’re not feeling good and I like taking care of you.  I have eight years to make up for.  Like I said, I’m sure we can get the realtor to meet with us later this afternoon if you want to get this place.”

       Todd didn’t argue further and they headed back to the Metro Court.  He didn’t say much on the way back, letting Blair talk about the house and its potential.  “You’re cute when you get all excited like this.  I always loved that about you.”  Blair smiled at him.   He suddenly felt chilled. “Wow, this limo has some good air-conditioning, but the driver must have it set on high.  It’s freezing in here.”

      Blair became serious and felt his forehead, then reached to close the air vents. “I think you’re running another fever.  We’ll get some food in you and then you can lay down.”

       The limo arrived at the Metrocourt and Todd quickly sent it on its way. He walked into the lobby with Blair and groaned when he saw Carly striding toward them.

        “You might want to get something to eat before going up to the room.  I just sent some men up to replace the mirror.  By the way, Todd, Dante Falconeri called and asked that you call him back as soon as possible.  Are you in some kind of trouble?”  Carly looked at him curiously.

        Todd had hoped to just get up to the room and lay down, and now Carly was giving him the third degree. “It’s none of your business.”  He turned and walked into the restaurant, heading for a dark corner booth.  He leaned back, resting his head against the back wall, pulling his jacket around him.   He tersely ordered a scotch when the waitress stopped at the booth, then he began wondering what Falconeri had wanted.

       Out in the lobby, Carly looked at Blair stunned. “What happened to Mr. Charm?”

      “He’s not feeling good and he’s never been too fond of people getting nosy about his business,” Blair replied.  “I agree with him.  Who is this Dante Falconeri?”

       Carly had never been put down quite so quickly before and figured Blair needed to know just who she had just antagonized. “Look, I own this place and I don’t like it when my guests appear to have a problem with the police.  You should know Dante is Sonny’s son but he’s also a police detective for the Port Charles Police Department.  If he’s calling Todd, it’s natural for me to wonder what Todd might have done to stir up the police.  After all, he is the murderer of his own brother.”

       “Don’t even go there, Carly.  You have no idea what really happened down in Llanview.  Todd was found not guilty of his brother’s death due to mitigating circumstances.  Circumstances you have no comprehension about.  I happen to have a pretty good idea why this detective called Todd, but like Todd, I believe it’s none of your business.”  With that, Blair turned and left Carly standing alone with her mouth open.  She entered the restaurant and spotted Todd off in the corner.   She sat down next to him and looped her arm in his. “How are you holding up?”

        “Who me?  I’ll live.  I just ordered a drink, do you want anything?” He raised his hand to get the waitress back.

        Blair frowned, the last thing Todd needed was to get drunk again.  She smiled up at the waitress, “Bring me a glass of Bordeaux sparkling white and a big bowl of soup for my friend here.”
Todd looked at her about to protest but then thought better of it.  She was trying to help and he didn’t want to make her any more worried.  The scotch arrived and he took a quick gulp allowing it to burn down his throat.   For a brief moment, it took the chill away.  He placed the glass down, ordering a second as Blair’s drink arrived. “What do you think Falconeri wants to talk to me about?”

       “Maybe he’s gotten a lead on the guy who took a shot at you.” Blair sipped her wine, as she tried to be nonchalant about the whole shooting attempt.  Inwardly, she was anything but.  Someone wanted Todd dead.  Why?  Irene’s dead.  Who hated Todd that much?


*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.