Jack walked in the house, putting his bookbag down on the table by the door, as customary. He ambled toward the stairs, and stopping at the bottom, he looked up. He was torn between calling to his father, who he hoped was upstairs working, or going it alone.
After thinking it over a few moments, he decided to do what his father had asked him, time and time again: talk to him.
"Dad? You home?"
Quiet came back at him, and as he turned to go into the family room, he heard a noise from the second level. It was the door to The Sun office opening, and Todd calling down, "Yeah?"
"Can I come up and talk to you?" the teen called.
"Yeah, sure, always."
He ascended the stairs, and when he got to the top, Todd was waiting, outside the door, his arms folded over his chest. He said, "What's on your mind, Bud?"
"I don't know how to say it."
"Just say it, however it comes out, we'll fix it or be able to make it work."
"Jenna, she . . . her mother. She was found."
"All right, that's good, I guess. Even if she's in trouble, at least they will be able to improve their relationship with each other."
"No, that's just it. She's dead, Dad. She was murdered."
Todd changed his posture, and moved his hands into his front pants pockets. "That's tough, for her, and Lynnette, and you. I'm sorry to hear that." Not more, not for my kid.
"Mitch Laurence killed her, I guess. That's what Jenna said. He used her and killed her. She . . . helped him get out. He told her his name was Michael."
"Michael Lazarus. He used it as a nickname."
"This is the same guy who put you into the crypt, right?"
"Yeah, that's him." I know where he's going with this.
"He's the one who . . . hurt Aunt Viki? Kidnapped Mom once?"
Todd composed himself, and was cautious about his demeanor with his son. Knowing how sensitive Jack was, he was careful not to portray the obvious: a deep desire to act revenge. "Yeah." I'd like to beat him to death, like he almost did to my mother. . . but I can't leave them. . .
"Dad, why? I mean, I never knew there were people like this. First, that guy that cut you, whatever his name was. And Carlo Hesser, who planned all the bad stuff that happened to keep you from us. And this guy, Mitch. And one thing that really bothers me, and I'll never understand is about your father, Dad. The things he did. I heard you say things about him to Mitch Laurence that made me feel sick. Why are there people like them?"
"Come in the office, Jack. Let's sit down a minute."
Jack followed his father, who sat on the mustard-color couch, and waited until his son joined him. He said, "It seems wrong, doesn't it?" Todd started.
"Yeah. I don't . . . why us? I mean, why, you, actually, Dad. Why? Maybe one of these people, but all of them? It's not fair, or right."
"Life's not fair. At all. It's not predictable. It's not balanced. You can do your best to make it that way, but the outside world can alter that in a heartbeat."
"Yeah, but why? Is it something . . . I don't understand. I'm sorry Dad, but I used to think that all the bad things that happened to you were because of something you did that made you deserve it." He stopped, and caught his breath. Todd said nothing, he just listened and waited. Jack continued, "But then, the things that you just found out, the stuff about Peter Manning. You were just a little boy. You were just a puny runt, like Sam. You didn't do anything . . ."
"It's not about that. There's no crime and punishment in life that way. And I lead you to believe it, through my own actions. But I was wrong. Sometimes, we do things, we get caught and society might punish us, but other times, we just . . .encounter things or people. It's not about what everyone deserves. Do you think your mother deserved to lose children?"
"No."
"All right. I know where this is headed, and it's been bothering you a lot. You're thinking when your punishment is going to come, for what you did, and Jack, it just doesn't work like that."
Todd saw his son swallow. Jack said, "I guess. Do I deserve something, though? I did something really bad."
"It's not up to us to determine that. I think you're paying, and I think everyone does, one way or another. You pay every day that you let this eat you. Your heart wasn't in it; you're not evil, Jack. It was an accident. You didn't mean it." If someone only said this to me.
"Are you evil? I mean, do you think you are, because you raped Marty Saybrooke?"
Todd thought a moment. "No, I'm not evil. It wasn't an accident, but I was driven by hurt and rage. I didn't know what that hurt or rage was doing to me. Heck, I didn't even know it existed, but I just wanted to hurt someone as badly as I had been hurt. I saw myself as nothing, as something bad. But no, it doesn't make me evil. I've learned. I've paid, in a lot of ways, but I knew what I was doing and I meant to. But it's not about me being evil as much as me unable to cope with evil and letting it rule me. It took me a long time to realize that and accept it."
I said it. I'm not evil.
Jack sighed, and Todd waited. Then he said, "You have to see that you messed up, but it doesn't define you, unless you let it." Todd patted Jack's shoulder. "So, in answer to the next question, no, Jenna's mother is not dead as a way to pay her back for what she did. She's dead because Mitch Laurence killed her."
"Is he evil?"
"Everyone has good and evil in them, Jack. Some fight it. Others give in to it. Some do evil things, and some don't. But it's there in everyone. The ability to do good or do bad. In everyone. In some people, the evil consumes them forever, and no good can get through. I believe that's what happened to Mitch."
"Dad, what happened to Grandma Bitsy?"
Todd rubbed his forehead. "She was beaten until she had brain damage."
"Who did it, Dad? And why?"
"It was my father, Peter. He hated her, for whatever reason. He was sick."
"That's why she can't talk."
"Yes, that's why."
"I'm really sorry for what I did. I never would do it again. I would never hurt anyone again, not that way."
"I believe you. You're a good kid, a 'good guy.' You must know that and if you don't, you have to learn it. You don't want to think of yourself as a monster, and if you do, you have to tell me. Do you understand?"
He nodded. "I'm . . . really sorry, Dad, for what happened to you, and to Grandma Bitsy."
"Thank you, Jack."
"I'm going to go to my room now, and talk to Jenna on Skype. Thanks, Dad, for, well, everything."
"You're welcome." He watched his son go. Touched by how much he had matured and grown, Todd sighed.
Poking through the mail, he spied a familiar type of writing on a small, yellow envelope. It was covered in scrolls and small flowers, all drawn by hand. "Momma," he said aloud, and turned it over. It was sealed as a typical letter, but at the point of the envelope flap, a flower was drawn softly with trailing smaller buds and leaves. Water came to his eyes, and he ran his fingers over the paper until he came to the edge with a slight lift under the flap. Thinking a moment as to whether he wanted to wait for Blair to read it with him, he slid his finger under the paper and tore the envelope open.
Inside was a tiny drawing, less than the size of an index card. It was a perfect likeness of he and Bitsy, from his most recent visit to her. It was as if she had frozen the moment in time, and seen it in clear, intricate detail from outside herself. He was in her arms, and she was holding him to her chest.
He sighed, and closed his eyes a moment. No disturbing flashes came to him just then. Instead, he was consumed with feeling and memory of his mother: sitting, watching television with him and running her fingers over the scar on her neck; running her hand over his head when he found a quarter under his pillow for his first lost tooth; brushing his hair, that was almost to his shoulders, when he was just a little boy. Somehow, he was grateful now to have his memories. The bad ones were excruciating, but these, like today, were priceless to him. It was as if he could live everything over, and as he did, it became a part of him that was previously dead and untouched.
Under the drawing was a folded piece of paper, and when he unfolded it, he saw her familiar print. He moved his eyes away, and sucked in air, when he noticed Blair, perched at the door, leaning on the frame. For a moment, he imagined her with her long, crimped blonde tresses and her deep red Christmas dress from twenty years before. Then, he said, "Hey, you."
The way his voice sounded, she knew immediately what he was dealing with. She said, "Is that a letter from Bitsy?"
"Yeah."
"Do you want to be alone, or . . ."
He interrupted her. "No, I don't want to be alone," he said, and looked at her in a way that told her to go to him.
She did, and walking to the couch where he was sitting, she stepped beside him, placing her hand on his head and stroking his hair. He leaned into her, his head against the place where his new child was resting, getting ready to make her way to the world. Blair ran her hand through his locks, and said, "She wrote you."
"Yeah," he said, again. He handed her the drawing, and she looked at it, and felt a rush of emotion come from her stomach to her throat. "She's a very good artist. She captures everything."
He nodded, still holding the letter in his hand, but it was folded over again. He said, "I never thought I'd want to remember everything, but it has its good points."
"I can imagine."
"She was a good mother, Blair. She was good to me."
Blair nodded. She herself had been dealing with Bitsy's decisions to to leave Todd behind for years. Now, with the truth apparent, her thoughts had taken on a different path. "Really? What kinds of things did she do?"
He looked up at Blair. "She . . . she loved me."
She nodded. "Yes."
"She loved me, and she tried to let me know, every day."
It was quiet a moment, and then Blair said, "Do you want to read the letter? Do you want me to?"
He handed it to her. She sat beside him, keeping her hand on his head, and then running it to his shoulder and arm. She opened the fold, and started to read:
To my Angel,
I am doing well. I have made a lot of paintings. I am excited for Hope Week, and I want to see you and Blair and the children if they will come. I want to meet Sam. I've heard a lot about him from Sister.
I may have said this before, Todd, but don't stay too long with Peter in your memories. From your eyes, I can tell you've already been there too long.
Blair choked up, which she had been trying so hard not to do, for his sake. Todd took the letter from her and continued to read, aloud.
Sister calls me her Diamond in the Rough. If that is true for me, then it's true for you, My Angel. It's been a lot of years of polishing, but you're already shining. Nothing can cloud you unless you let it.
Time to let go and be brilliant. Shine in your life with your beautiful family, and share that diamond that is your heart.
I love you, My Son. I have loved you every moment since I first held you and touched your cheek. I want to see you soon.
Momma
The room fell silent, and Blair, who had been fighting tears, was now streaked with them as Todd put the letter down. He pressed his thumb and fingers over his eyes and gently wiped. She put her two arms around his shoulders and leaned her head on his left one. He met her head with his, and closed his eyes.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.
"We're home," Blair said, looking into Todd's eyes and smiling.
Sister Rebecca Katherine had accompanied them. "I'm going to see that little cherub and see to him for a bit, and possibly catch some winks myself."
"All right, Sister," Blair said, and they watched her climb the stairs. She said, "We're home, and things are . . . settled."
"Pretty much," he said. They both plopped down in the family room, and crossed their arms.
After a few moments, they looked at each other. He said, "Now what do we do?"
She laughed. "Live life, I guess."
He took her hand and held it on his lap. "It feels, different. It's going to take me time, Blair. There's a lot there."
"I know," she said, her heart breaking. "But at least you understand yourself better. Don't you?"
"Yeah. This reminds me of, you know, the times when we had nothing to worry about except The Sun, making our family and our businesses. Remember?"
"I do remember," she said. Looking at him, she brushed his hair off his forehead, "how can I forget?"
"One thing left to do."
"What?"
"Tina."
"What about her?"
"She was planning to steal from your aunt, remember?"
"So?"
"So? She was doing something bad. Right? Think we should turn her in, mostly for impersonating a nun?"
Blair chuckled. "No, you shouldn't do that."
"Why the hell not?"
"Todd, look what she did for the family? She could have run off. In fact, she was running off, when she looked back at the house, and you know what she told me?"
"No, what, that your make up was off?"
"Yeah, but not that, she told me she looked back at La Boulaie and she thought of the babies there, and of you, losing your family again, and that we just lost a child, and she went back."
"Are you sure this was Tina you were talking to?"
"Yes, Todd, it was. Look what she did when she was up there, confronted with Mitch. She never backed down. She protected our children, Todd. And she made friends with our baby. He took to her so well."
"He'd take to Jason Voorhees, that doesn't say much."
She laughed lightly, "Come on, you don't want to face it, but the dimwit helped save us."
He put his arm around her and pulled her close. "I guess she did. I should call her, right?"
Blair said, "Yeah, maybe so."
Todd pulled out his cell phone and dialed. She was still at the penthouse where he had allowed her to stay the evening of Mitch's home invasion. "Tina? Todd."
"Hi Todd, I didn't expect to hear from you. I suppose you want an explanation."
"I guess not. You know, I wasn't too happy that you lied to my friends, Sister Rebecca Katherine and Timothy. They're very close to me, like family. They're like my surrogate parents, for God's sake."
"I know, I'm sorry about that. I just wasn't thinking. I wanted that diamond."
"For what?"
"Money. My dear David Vickers went missing. I wanted to build a shelter for animals in her memory."
He rolled his eyes, and covered the phone. To Blair, he said, "Remember, I asked if it were Tina you were talking to?"
She nodded.
He said, "It's her. Don't worry." He went back to the conversation, "I just called to say thank you for helping my family, against Mitch."
She was quiet. "You're welcome. I didn't mean to, but it ended up that way. I guess it was lucky that I was there."
"I guess it was. I . . . do you want a ride over to Viki's? I thought you might want to see her."
She went silent.
"Hello? Are you there?"
She was choked up, "You mean, you're not holding this Bhadra Diamond thing against me?"
"How can I? Blair said I shouldn't, and besides, Little Ray would be really pissed. He's got his first crush and it's on you."
She swallowed. "Thank you, Todd. And I will take that ride to Llanfair. Thank you."
He hung up. "There. Happy?"
She kissed his cheek. "Yes. I am. That was the right thing to do, Todd."
"I'll send Williams over to get her after he drops Starr and Hope off here."
"It's been a long day. We've been through a lot this year."
"This year?" He quipped.
"Okay, the last two years."
"The last two?"
"Okay, our whole lives. Better?"
"Accurate. What's next for us?"
"I don't know. Maybe we'll slip into quiet, back-burned existence and not have any drama for a while." She said, tipping her head back on the couch.
"No drama? Us? We have a teenager with a drinking problem, a little boy who thinks he is a superhero, a boxing nun who's out to save the world, my mother, your mother, Auntie Dorian and Timothy, Starr and her music . . .what else do we need?"
"We also have little Peachy here on the way."
"Yes," he said, leaning over toward her stomach, "Peachy, I didn't forget you."
"Jack's going to have a hard time, Todd. Jenna's mother let Mitch free. And Jenna is going to be so hurt. Do you think she already knows?"
"Yeah, probably." They sat in silence a minute, before they heard the copter. "Here come the boys," Todd said.
"Yeah, they're home. Todd?"
"Yeah," he said, seeing her hand already placed protectively over her stomach.
"I'm so happy."
"Happy. Good."
"Are you happy, Todd?"
"I think we've had this conversation before. I don't know, I just know I have everything I need. Right here . . ." he waited to hear the boys' footsteps on the heliport staircase, "in this house."
"You're happy, Todd."
"Yeah, I guess I am."
***
"We have to go now, Dorie, and see them. They almost got killed, my beautiful girl, and Todd, and the kids." Addie said.
"We're going, Addie, Dear. I am driving as fast as I can."
"I can't wait to see them. I want to give all of the grandchildren a big hug."
"I want to get that husband of my niece's to press charges on that witch Tina. She has less brain cells than a crab."
"Dorie, maybe you should wait and listen to what happened? Timothy said . . "
"Nevermind what Timothy said. She tried to break in my house and steal my jewelry."
"Dorie, you don't use that diamond necklace anyway."
"No excuse."
They got quiet for a moment. "I am so glad Todd was there to protect them."
"On that point, we actually agree this time."
"You need to stop, and give the guy a break, Dorie."
"Let me be the judge of that."
***
"Hi, boys, and Timothy! Good to see you." Blair said, as Sam and Jack made their way into the kitchen and then the family room with their grandfather in tow.
"I came to announce something, Mannings."
"It must have been important for you to brave the copter." Todd said.
"It was. Everyone sit down, please."
Just then, Starr arrived, and with Hope in tow, she greeted everyone and took her place in the family room, closest by the fire to warm her hands.
Timothy waited until everyone was settled into a spot. He said, "I filed papers today, to adopt Todd Manning as my son."
Blair let out a small squeal. "You knew about this, Todd?" He just smiled.
He continued, "It was his idea. This way, you boys and Ray and the new babe and Starr can call me Grandpa and it will be a reality."
"Yay! I got dock-ded again. Well, kinda." Sam said.
"Todd, this is . . . it's beautiful. I love it." Blair said. Starr got up and hugged Timothy around the neck.
"I might as well get myself a Dad." Todd said.
"Creena knows, which makes her y'ar aunt. She was pleased."
"Yeah, 'cuz we already have two grandmas." Sam added.
"Right," Blair said.
"And we have a couple of aunts," Jack said.
"Yep, that we do," Todd said, and leaning to Blair, he whispered, "one or two too many."
"Stop," she whispered, lightly slapping his arm. "Our family is growing," she said.
"So, this means I am y'ar legal grandfather now. Are ya all right with that, boys?"
"Sure," Jack said. "Not that it would have mattered if you weren't."
"Ya seem a little out of sorts, Son. What's going on?" Timothy said to Jack.
"It's Jenna. You all know why."
"I don't!" Sam said. "Why, Jack?"
"Sam, come on, you and I have to go in the kitchen and make some snacks," Todd said, lifting his son.
"But, Dad, that's what people always say when I have to leave the room . . ." his voice trailed off as they disappeared around the corner.
"How is Jenna, Jack?" Blair said.
"I don't know much. I got a couple of texts from her. I can tell she feels bad because . . . well, her Mom is the reason Mitch almost killed us. I mean, she thinks. I don't know how she's doing because she's out of school right now. Her Mom is still missing."
"Your father will take you to see her, if you want." Blair said.
"I know, I just . . . have to be sure she wants to see people. You know."
"It's not anything she could control. But this is about her mother, and that will be a deep wound." Timothy added.
The room when quiet, as the doorbell rang. As Blair stood to answer it, Sister Rebecca Katherine made her way down the stairs with Ray in her arms. He was chortling and shaking his rattle at everyone. "Da da!"
"Hey, Little Guy." Todd came around the corner, eating more of the snacks than he was putting on the tray. "How was your nap? Hey, Sister."
He took Ray into his arms and said, "Hey, this guy's up. Anyone want to hold him, so I can finish the snacks?"
"I will," Addie said, stepping into the foyer and putting out her arms.
Todd said, "It's Grandma Addie." He handed the baby to her, and kissed her cheek. Turning to the side, he said, "Hi, Auntie Dorian."
"Todd," she said.
Blair walked into the foyer, "Come in, and have a seat. We were just talking."
"Blair, we had to come right away after hearing about the incident with Mitch," Dorian said.
Timothy stood, "Dorie, Addie."
"Timothy," Dorian said.
"Well, everyone's here." Blair said, and the room was filled with family. "I never thought I'd see the day we were all together like this for something other than a holiday."
Todd sat next to Blair, and she was glued to his side. There was little space between them, but Sam managed to try to be in it. Dorian said, "I came to, talk to you, Todd. And I want everyone to hear me."
He shrugged, "Sure."
"I . . . may have been too harsh concerning you over the time you've been back. Everyone has suggested more than once that you've changed."
"I guess so. That's what they tell me."
"Personally, it remains to be seen. But, what you did the other night, according to Jack and Starr, risking your life again, offering, over and over to give your life for your wife and children, I never imagined you had it in you."
"He's done it before, Dorian, we also told you that." Blair said.
"Yes, but, honestly, I was being pigheaded. Starr, bless her heart, conveyed everything that happened during the home invasion at La Boulaie. You," her voice caught, "You offered to trade everything you have for your baby, and for Blair. Everything you had, including your life. And I suppose I owe you a debt of gratitude for that."
"Shit," Jack said, under his breath. "She's losing it."
"Shh," Todd said, "That's disrespectful, Son."
Dorian continued, "Anyway, I thought it was important that I came to say my peace. I appreciate you defending my family, and risking your life for them, Todd. I am grateful that you are in their lives."
Blair was covering her mouth and nose as if praying, and her eyes were watering. "Dorian," she said through tears, "Thank you."
Todd said, "It was easy. I couldn't make it without them. They're worth more than anything else I have, including all the money. Everything," he said, putting his hand on the Sam's head, and looking into his little face.
Blair caught Dorian tearing up, watching.
Todd continued, "After everything I've learned, I don't know, somehow, it's just like a huge question has been answered. It was tough, I won't say it wasn't, and I know it's not over. Blair," he said, grasping her hand, "If she weren't there . . ."
"Todd was very strong," Blair said, looking into his eyes.
He cleared his throat. "I learned everything about what my father was. I guess I needed to know. Maybe it set me free, to finally find out who I am now, me, not him and not what he left in me. I guess time will tell."
Timothy said, "It just may have. The thing is, ya came out of this stronger. Ya might not even know it yet."
"We know it," Blair said. "We do."
"Lucky break," Todd said, smiling at her. He moved her hair back with his hand.
"What about Tina?" Dorian said, "I want charges pressed against her."
Todd looked at Dorian, and said, "Listen, Auntie Dorian, that dingbat sister of mine helped save my son. I'm not about to look that in the mouth. You have to let go. If I can, you can."
"I suppose," she said, and looked at Timothy. He smiled, and winked at her. She crossed her legs, and leaned slightly forward.
"Well a couple of things. No more secrets in the family, so you all should know I own and fund the Second Chance Mission," Todd said. "And, I am opening an art gallery called The Diamond Gallery for my mother's work and Jenna's. Jenna's getting a full ride to any college she wants. She doesn't deserve what's happened, and it's not her fault what her mother got involved in. That family's paid the price."
Jack looked at his father, and for some reason, he saw him entirely different. Not only was he a total badass, he was a real life hero. He was helping people. Just because. "Dad?"
"It's okay Jack, it's just the way I roll."
"Diamond Gallery?" Addie asked.
"Yeah," Todd said, "for a couple of reasons." He directed his gaze at the nun, who smiled.
Jack laughed, to himself, and his eyes reddened and watered. "Thanks."
"Dad, you're not really Spiderman." Sam said.
"No, Sam, I'm just a guy."
"Yeah, you're a real guy, not a fake one."
"Right, I'm a real guy."
"But, you're my Dad."
"Yeah, I am."
"I love you."
"I love you, Sam."
Realizing there was not a dry eye in the house, Sister Rebecca Katherine said, "Well, there are snacks all around here, and lots of treats. Next week is Hope Week, I know ya all want to attend. Bitsy will be showing her art there."
"And, for those who don't know, Todd and I are going to be parents again." Blair said.
The general commotion ensued with a few hugs and kisses here and there. Todd looked at Blair and said, "I know I don't deserve it, but I'm glad it's here," he said.
"Let's not think that way," Dorian said, surprisingly. "You do deserve it, Todd. You deserve something good. Just be sure to make beautiful things out of what you're given."
"I plan on it," he said.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.
Blair, having spoken to Timothy at La Boulaie, knew that Todd was with Bitsy, and made her way directly from Statesville to Mountainview. In the lobby, signing in, she ran into Ray. He said, "Things are looking up for Bea."
"I'm glad. I was concerned about her, and I think it's about time something went right for him, Ray. Honestly."
"I can't say I disagree."
"I need your input. Mitch Laurence . . ."
"The guy who's responsible for Todd's crypt experience? The one who, well, is called The Evil One?"
"Yes. He took the family hostage yesterday. I am not sure you knew."
"It was all over the news. Bea saw it; she dealt with it well when she was told the family survived."
"The whole thing has been once continual nightmare for him. I wanted it to end, so I went to see Mitch myself."
Ray raised an eyebrow. "Does Todd know this?"
"Not yet."
"And?"
"I made a promise to him, that if he told me what I wanted to know, I'd tell Bea the truth about what happened to her. Is that something that you think would harm her in any way?"
"What is the truth?"
"It was Peter Manning that caused the 'The Time of Black' and not Mitch."
"How do you know this?"
"I traded information with him. He's telling the truth. I can just tell. He was in love with her."
Ray showed surprised. "He was."
"Yes."
"I don't think it will hurt her. Not if the talk of what happened physically is not brought up. If you talk in abstractions, it should be fine. I'll have you know, she has decided not to go with the sparrows, and she is communicating with people. In fact, I just left them, and she was comforting Todd. Very touching and majorly important for both of them."
Blair was choked up thinking of it. "Yes. He needs that, Ray, so much. He's so hurt. He needs a mother, and a father, so badly."
"You've got a good understanding of him."
"I should. He means everything to me."
"Anything else?"
"You may want to know, it all started when he was just five. And it was very bad, Ray. That's just a summary."
"I'm sorry Blair. But I know he's grateful you are here with him. In the here and now."
"I love him, so much. Nothing could keep me from being there."
"One thing about Todd, he's going to make it," he said, and patted her shoulder, as he moved on to his next appointment, and Blair rounded the staircase.
***
Todd pulled out of her embrace, gently, and looked at her. "Thank you, Momma."
She took her paper out again, and wrote: You don't have to thank me. I should have taken better care of you. I am glad I have the chance now. By the way, your friend, Ray, is a wonderful man. He has helped me. He did not hurt me like the others.
Bea's face changed as she caught sight of something behind him, and he turned. It was Blair. "Hey, Babe."
She smiled, and after greeting Sister Rebecca Katherine, she went to him. He stood and she went into his arms as if she hadn't seen him in months. She closed her eyes, and kept her tears from showing. She pulled back, saying, "Hello, Bitsy," and kissed the woman on the cheek. The nun went out the room door, saying she'd leave them to some privacy.
Bitsy went to her pad and wrote, and Todd said, "Where have you been?"
"I . . . went to see Mitch."
Todd's face changed. "No. You didn't do that."
"I did. John was with me. I just . . . had to get the answers."
He was angry, but it faded, as he gave her the side eye, "Did you?"
"Yes. I think I did. Sit down, My Love."
He did, and she took a chair and joined them at the desk. She said, "Good morning, Bitsy. How are you feeling?"
Bitsy handed her a note: I am well. You are so beautiful. I am glad my son has you. He needs someone to love him. Congratulations on being a mommy again.
"Thank you," Blair said, taking the woman's hand. Blair could see that Todd was still angry. He folded his arms and just watched the two of them. She looked at his face and said, "Is this any way to act around the mother of your next baby girl? Come on, Todd, I'm fine." He relaxed a little. She said, "Mitch traded information for me telling Bitsy the truth."
"The truth."
"Yes. He was in love with her, Todd. For years."
Bitsy was listening, and then grabbed her pencil and wrote. Peter Manning did not love me, or Todd.
"No, he didn't. He was not capable of that." Blair said.
Then who?
"The Evil One. Could you be confused? Do you remember when you went to the cabin to see Todd, and you came back? You begged Mitch, The Evil One, to let you get Todd back?"
Bitsy nodded.
"When you got back, you asked him to get Todd back for you. Did he say he would try?"
Bitsy thought a moment, and then nodded slowly. She wrote, I think I remember that. It's confusing to me.
Todd spoke, "I know what's next." He was agitated, and stood and paced. "I know."
Blair just turned and looked at her husband. She was waiting for the day to end. Inside her, she was certain that after they put it all to rest, they could get on with their lives. She said, "What? What, My Love?"
He walked back to the desk, and practically fell into the chair. "He . . . whatever he did to me, it was so bad, I was hospitalized. It took months for me to get better."
Bea was writing, almost not listening to them. He looked at Blair, "I . . . forgot that. Until now."
"It's okay," she said.
"It certainly is," a voice said from behind them. It was Ray. "It's not only okay, it's expected, Todd." He looked to Blair. "I cancelled the next appointment. This was more important today." He pulled up a chair.
"I forgot about that day," Todd said, swallowing, "and if it's okay, I'd rather not remember it for very long." He looked gray-green. I never remembered any of this.
Bea handed her paper to Ray. He read it: This is a gift to me. I am remembering. Mitch, you call him, he was going to help me get Todd back. But it was too late, because Peter told me Todd died, in a car accident. It was Peter! He came to the church, he took me, he hurt me with his body and his fists, he brought me to that place. The jail. The Evil One, he . . .
Bitsy had a solitary tear coming down her face. Todd reached out and brushed it away. "It's all right, Momma. It's over now."
"Yes. Everyone at this table should remember that. Those things are gone and over," Ray said.
The nun returned to the room, to hear the tail end of the conversation. "I'm glad to hear this. I didn't think I could take one more revelation. It's so trying. We will all move on, and my diamond in the rough, here, has got to create some beautiful art for Hope Week."
Todd looked at the nun, his mother and his wife, and couldn't help but sit back and smile. "I can't believe how lucky I just felt."
"We're all lucky," Blair said.
"It's the luck of the Irish," the nun piped up.
Bitsy wrote and handed it to Todd, and folded her arms, like he had. He read her words aloud: Nothing lucky about it; it's God who brought you back to me, Todd, and I will thank Him every day from my heart.
***
"Ms. Winfield? I'm Lieutenant John McBain from the LPD."
Jenna's heart sank. From behind her sister, she could see the policeman at the door.
"Yes?"
"May I step in?"
"I know what this is about. You policemen never ask to step in unless it's . . ." her voice died off.
"I'm sorry," John said. "Your mother has been found."
Jenna, sitting at the table, eating lunch, turned and said, "She's dead?"
John said, "I'm sorry."
Jenna pushed her chair back from the table, and ran out of the room. "No!" she cried as she went. It trailed behind her.
The room became silent.
Lynnette said, "How?"
"She was murdered."
Lynnette started to fall as her knees gave way, and John caught her. He helped her to the sofa and sat beside her. She was numb; her face had little trace of any emotion, just her mouth agape. "Why?"
He said, "We have reason to believe she was instrumental in helping an inmate escape."
"Michael?"
"That was his alias, yes. And, he took a local family hostage."
"Hostage? That's horrible . . . Wait, not The Mannings?"
"Yes. He perpetrated a home invasion at the home of Blair's Aunt Dorian."
"Oh My God. She was with him? She. . . couldn't have been."
"No. He killed her less than a mile from the jail."
She broke. "He . . . she just got him out of there and then . . . he didn't need her anymore?"
"I am sorry," he directed her to his shoulder and put his arms around her. She flinched and pulled back from him.
"I . . . my apologies, I am just not used to physical contact with strangers," she said.
He said, "My apologies, none from you necessary. If there is something I can do, please don't hesitate to ask." He rose from the sofa and headed to the door. "I'll see myself out."
She watched him go. "Lieutenant, thank you for coming by in person."
She turned back to the living room, and her eyes rested on the photo of her mother with her and Jenna at a local picnic two years prior, and she fell into sobs.
***
On the limo ride home, Todd was laying across the seat, his head in Blair's lap, and she played with his hair and without warning, a surge of sadness, infiltrated with pity, overcame her, and she cried. He was brought to alertness by her ragged sigh. Still having his eyes closed, he said, "Don't, Babe. It's all over. I'll be all right."
"Just . . . everything. I don't know how you do it, Todd. Or how you've survived."
He couldn't answer, because he didn't know either. Except for one truth: she had helped him back to life since he'd known her. After a few minutes of silence, he opened his eyes, and reached up to take her tears away. "I've got an appointment next week with Ray. I'll work through the rest of it. If I made it this far . . .the rest will be easy, compared."
She nodded. "I just sometimes think, if someone could have just helped you. Got you away from there, oh, Todd, I can't bear thinking about it . . ." she broke off into tears.
He swallowed. "Then don't. Don't think about it, anymore. You shouldn't have to."
"But it happened to you. How can I not think of it?"
"Because I'm not going to. Or I am going to try. It should be out of our lives, for good. I am going to try to keep it out of our daily routine and in therapy, where it belongs."
"You sound so sure."
"I am." Whatever comes, leave her out of it. From now on. It's too much, and she's pregnant now. Can't risk her losing another child. Besides, it might not be a bad idea to do exactly what I said. This is some fucked up shit, and it belongs in a nuthouse therapist's office and NOT in my family's home. I grew up in a chamber of horrors, no wonder I always felt like a freak . .
"Todd? Todd, are you?"
"Am I sure?"
"No, didn't you hear me? I asked if you're hungry."
"Oh. No, not really."
She gave him the side eye. "You're not hungry? You? Todd, it's a strange day when you're not ready to eat something. And you're not sure about keeping this stuff only for therapy either."
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.
