Diamond in the Rough: Chapter 59

Morning greeted The Mannings by sending light through all of the glass in their bedroom.  They were in the same position they had been after lovemaking from the night before.  Todd, awake before Blair, didn't want to move and disturb her.  She was lying over him, just as he remembered from the previous night, her head on his chest and most of her on him, but to the side.  He felt her hair, under his hand, and stroked it a few moments.  Closing his eyes, he thought back:  

"I guess I keep thinking that if someone had reached out to you, or saved you from all that, earlier, you might not have had a reason to be that way.  You know, all alone in the world."

He turned back to her, "Yeah.  Right.  But then, I wouldn't have found my world in you."

He had.  He'd found everything with Blair, from the moment made love to him in Dorian's penthouse and said, "Merry Christmas."  She, from the start, was someone who didn't see him as a leper. She saw him as a man, and let him be one when he was with her.  From the moment she extended her hand to him, she'd accepted him, more than anyone else ever had.  And, here she was, still accepting him.  She didn't see him as a victim, or dirtied by the things done to him, and that he had done.  She just loved him.

He squished his chin against his chest to try and see her face.  She was sleeping, her breasts pressed against him, one arm around his waist.  She was as beautiful as she was that Christmas all those years back.  Her hair was cascading down her back, and he followed the path of it from her head to her middle.  She moved, and made a small moaning sound.  "Todd," she said, softly.

"Hmm?"

"The baby."

"He's all right," he checked the monitor again.  "He's quiet."

"Okay," she said, drifting.

He reviewed their night again in his mind.  Her mouth, her eyes, her body.  "I know what you want."  She couldn't have said something more true if she planned it.  She knew him, inside and out, and could tell what he was thinking with hardly a word.  This, was his one true babe.  No one even came close or could.

He started to doze off again, when he felt her wake, and kiss down his stomach.  This, of course, woke him, and he looked down at her.  Her backside was in the air, and she peered up at him, with her deep green eyes shining.  "Morning," she said, kissing his lower stomach, and running her tongue down his body.

Just then, two things happened.  Ray began to cry, and Todd's cell rang.  She said, "There ya go, interruptions!"  She got up, and pulling on his shirt from the day before, she went to Ray's room.  Todd leaned over and answered his phone.  "Yeah?"

"Todd, I'm sorry to bother ya this early.  It's Sister Rebecca Katherine."

"Good morning."

"Morning, Lad.  I wanted to call, your mother, she's had a slight setback, Dear."

He sat up.  Momma no!  He grabbed Peter's leg, and his father's huge bear of a hand grabbed the hair on the top of his head and ripped him off him like a mosquito.  Momma!  No!

"Todd?  Are ya there?"

"I'm here, I'm sorry, Sister.  What happened?"  He cleared his throat.

"She's not faring well.  Last night she had a small breakdown of sorts.  She wanted to leave with the sparrows.  She begged me to tell her why she's not light enough to go with them."

He was silent for a moment.  Then he said, "She . . . wants to die."  Blair walked in on his words, with Ray in her arms.  The chains, the shelves, the walls, the hatchmarks . . .

"This is what I felt as well, from the first time she told me about it,"  the nun agreed.

"So, what do I do?  I mean, how do I help her?"

Blair sat on the bed, beside him, cradling Ray's head in her hand.  He was being quiet, as if to respect his father's conversation.  Todd, looking up, put his hand on the baby's head as he listened.  The nun responded, "She has to be moved.  We can't help her here.  In fact, she seems to be getting worse.  She needs care we cannot give her."

"I understand.  I already had things in motion at Mountainview.  I'll call and get it done today."

"Yes.  It's best.  I'll clear my day to be able to come with ya."

"Thank you."

"Todd, it will be all right,"  the nun said.

He couldn't answer.  He just hung up, and looked at Blair, and for a moment, she thought he was going to break down.  She reached out to his shoulder, and touched it, and he took the baby, and brought him close to his chest.  "Hey, Little Guy," he said gently.  She watched as he made a circle on the baby's back, and closed his eyes.  "Another lucky break," he said, and opened his eyes to Blair's looking at him.  "Thanks to your Mommy."

She said, "I'm so sorry."

"It's all right.  But it means that the plans for today are going to change a bit."

"That's fine.  We'll reorganize.  I'll call Starr, to watch Sam.  I think it would be too much for him, Todd."

"I do, too.  Why not leave him with Jack?"

"Because I think Jack should go.  It's his grandmother, his other one."

"All right.  If he wants to.  I'm not going to make him do this."

"We promised to bring Ray.  Jack can help with him, if something goes wrong."

"Okay.  Good."  He took his phone and texted his son.  

Within a few minutes, Jack appeared at their door in just pajama pants.  "Yeah, Dad?"

"No school today," he said.

"All right, why?"

"Family stuff, Bud.  You're going to formally meet your grandmother, and hang with us, help out with Ray."

"Sure.  Call the office then, and excuse me," he said, going to get ready.

"Todd, he didn't even slightly balk.  He hangs on your every word."  Blair said.  

"Sometimes.  And probably shouldn't."

"He loves you.  I worried at first."

"You?  I did, too."  He handed Ray to her, "I'll shower first, is that okay with you?"  he was off to the bathroom.

She said, "Sure.  I'll feed him and get him dressed, and when Jack's out of the shower, he can watch him.  I have to arrange the special day for Sam, with Starr."

Within an hour and a half, The Mannings were in the limo, bundled up against the cold.  The ride to St. Anne's was easy; they were quite used to it.  As they got closer, Todd said, "Jack, Bitsy can't talk, remember."

"Okay, Dad.  I mean, I did sort of meet her before."

"I know.  But, she can hear.  She also writes sometimes if she has something to say."

"Okay."

"You want to ask me anything?"  Todd offered.

"Why can't she talk?  I mean, the real story?"  Jack said, curious.

"Hmf, leave it to you to just get right to the point."  Todd said, and Blair lifted her eyebrows, pointing to her husband.

"She . . . well, she was beaten up once, pretty badly.  They think that might have caused the brain damage."

"Brain damage?  Who beat her up?"

"Let's just say she has not had an easy life, Jack," Blair jumped in.

Jack said, "You don't have to tell me, but I can figure this out.  If he didn't do it himself, Peter Manning probably had something to do with it."

Todd said nothing.  Blair said, "When your father's ready, he'll tell you all of it, Son.  You have to respect his feelings on this."

"I do."  Jack said.  "You just don't have to worry about me, Dad, and how I'll take it.  I'm pretty much over the drinking thing."

Todd smiled to himself.  "Good to know."  Then he added, "If something makes you feel bad or uncomfortable, take a walk, but keep your phone, we might need your help for Ray.  Let her take the lead on things, she's . . . not well."

Jack nodded, and just then, they pulled up in front of St. Anne's.  The family got out of the limo, Jack carrying his brother in his carrier, and Todd with his hand on Blair's back.  She was stunning in her red jacket and black knee high boots and he had noticed.  He leaned over and whispered, "Later, can you, uh, go back to what you started with this morning?"

She smiled, "Of course, unless you want something else . . ."

They stopped in the lobby, greeted by Sister Rebecca Katherine, and Bitsy, who was looking at the floor.  She had a small piece of luggage with her.  Jack intentionally hung back.  Unlike other times, Bitsy ignored their presence, not even looking at them.  Todd noticed the difference in her and it was starkly evident.  He said, "Hey, Sister."

"Hello, Todd, Blair, Jack.  And there's little Ray, the cherub.  He's so adorable, eh?" the nun said.

Bitsy was studying the floor.  She didn't look at anyone in the room.

Todd said, "Well, let's go."  They began to head out, Todd taking her bag and Blair going to Bitsy's side and walking along.  Sister Rebecca Katherine was on her other side, holding her arm.  "Now, Bea, Dear, we're going to The New Place.  Todd is here, Ray, Blair and even Jack."

Bitsy did not look up.  She continued to look at her feet.  Blair shot the nun a glance over the woman's head.  Sister Rebecca Katherine, smiled ruefully, and a tear sparkled in her eye.

In the limo, Bitsy continued to focus on herself, but this time, her hands.  The family talked with the nun, and discussed Christmas, which was only a few days away.

Sister Rebecca Katherine went out on a limb.  "Bea, Dear, don't ya have a picture of a Christmas Tree?"

She did not respond.  Todd, sitting across from her, slowly reached out to touch her hand.  He said, "Momma, are you all right?"

She didn't look at him, she just rubbed her thumb along his hand, the way he had done when comforting Blair many times.  He swallowed, and Blair, noticing, realized where her husband had gotten that gentle gesture.

Blair had placed a hand on his back when he leaned toward his mother, and she kept it there.  I just want him to know I'm here and that I'm for him, behind him.

Jack was watching everything closely, and soaking up every nuance.  It was obvious to him that his grandmother was very sick and that his father was dying inside watching it.  He wasn't sure what to do, so he said, "Grandma?"

Bitsy, who was touching Todd's hand, slowly raised her head and looked in Jack's direction.  

He said, "I'm Jack," and put out his hand.

She took it, and smiled weakly.  She pointed to Jack, and then to Todd.

Blair said, "Yes, they do look alike."

Bitsy looked at Blair, and then, Blair noticed her eyes went to Ray.  When she saw the young child, she began to cry.  Everyone could tell she was trying not to, but she could not contain it, and within moments, she was in Sister Rebecca Katherine's arms, trying to catch her breath.  She dazed off beyond them all, and focused out the window.  Jack said, "Dad, did I do something wrong?"

"No, Jack.  She just . . .," he broke.

Blair said, "She just can't, Jack.  But she was glad to meet you."

Bitsy, who appeared not to be listening, nodded.

Someone's crying . . .the damn lightbulb!  Now?

Finally, Mountainview loomed at the top of the hill, and they pulled up the drive.  The snow was still surrounding them, and since it was at a higher elevation, much like Unforgettable, very evident and very deep.  Jack took Ray, and walked a bit ahead.  Todd got on one side of his mother, and Blair helped Sister Rebecca Katherine.  

Todd said, "Watch out, this path is icy."  Bitsy grabbed onto his arm as she could tell she was not sure footed.  He said, "Come on, Momma.  Just a little bit more."

Sister Rebecca Katherine said, "I'm worried.  She was put on suicide watch after last night.  She kept writing about flying away with the sparrows.  Something is haunting her, and causing her a great deal of pain."

Blair asked, "Any idea what it is about?"

"Yes," she intentionally slowed, letting Todd and Bitsy gain more distance on them.  "It's about Todd.  Something she's grappling with.  Most likely his abuse."

"Well, she can join the club there.  I can't ever seem to get over it.  It . . . bumps into me, you know?"

"Yes, of course, but Bridgette, you didn't watch it happen to him.  Now that she knows him, and sees him, and the baby, Jack . . ."

Blair knew the nun was right.

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