By late afternoon, the show was falling with small flakes at a very rapid pace. "Mom," Sam asked, "Is this a blizzard?"
"Yes, Sam, I believe it is," she said. She was set up on the couch in the sitting area. Sam had his beanbag chair, and Jack was parked leaning against the couch on the floor. Ray was playing contentedly with his toy trucks at Bitsy's feet. She was sitting in a pile of cushions from the lower-level couch that Jack had procured for her. She loved her little sitting nest, where she could draw and see the children face to face.
Todd was stationed at Blair's feet, they were in his lap, and he was working on her arches with his strong, loving hands. Mixie was snoozing close to the fireplace, with his nose on his paws. With the snow falling white and pure outside, it would have made a fabulous picturesque photo for a Christmas card for the following year.
"Why are you rubbing her feet?" Sam asked. "She hasn't really walked in a while."
"Because, Mommy's feet kind of swell right now, especially when she's not able to do much walking," Todd answered. He looked up to Blair's face and saw her watching him. Her expression was one of unadulterated love for him; he could see everything they had wanted in her eyes.
She said, "Daddy's very nice to Mommy."
"That's good, because you're nice, too, Mom." Sam said.
Todd assessed the scene in quiet observation: the woman he loved for most of his life, pregnant with his child; the mother he thought he had lost; his son, the eldest, who he thought he might never have a relationship with again after the things that had passed; Sam, whose innocence and love made him feel worthy somehow; Ray, his youngest, that had the light of his mother's fire in his eyes. We even have a dog. For a moment, though just a fleeting one, he felt as though his heart might burst through his chest. This can't be Todd Manning's life? Todd Manning, the rapist. The liar. The ex-con. The selfish bastard.
This can't be . . .
***
"How's y'ar son doing, Broham?" Sister Rebecca Katherine asked Timothy. It was getting into evening in Zurich.
"Which one, Creena?"
"Well, the one there. We'll start with him."
"On his feet already, and causing trouble. Today he made the nurses laugh, and they shirked their duties for a short while. They got reprimanded in front of him by the head nurse."
"Ah, sounds like Eric, all right."
"Yes. He's a gas, that one."
"Well, he does have his moments, and look at his father. Ya were quite the jokster in y'ar day."
Timothy smiled, and then sat down on the leather chair. Aiden hadn't come back from his breakfast, and Timothy was waiting for him, in his room, dutifully. "My other son, he's the one I have concerns about. Strangely enough, Eric's going under the knife, and Todd is the one who calls to my fears."
"I understand. But Brotha, I'll tell ya this. There's something . . . something still waiting to rear its head with The Mannings. I can't quite place it."
"The dream. Ya never answered me. It was a knowing. Ya called me by my given name."
"Possibly."
"What do ya want me to do?"
"Find out. Is this terrible, evil man alive? Find out, Timothy. I don't want to think of what might happen if he is."
"Well, if he is, he's done nothing to hurt Todd or Blair or the children all this time, what makes ya think he would now?"
She realized how true that was. "I don't know, Brotha. I just want us to know."
Timothy heard the determination in her voice. "I will try. I'll do my best."
"I didn't want to face it, when I first had the dream, but yes, I feel it was a knowing. I don't want any harm to come to Todd or his family. The dream chilled me, it did, and it still does when I think back. I couldn't rest without telling ya."
"Of course. I will try, Dear Sister, and see what I can accomplish."
"Thank ya. I knew ya would come through. He needs ya, even if ya can't be with him right now."
***
Todd was planning on taking a break from the family festivities to go and work on locating Connie Bensonhurst, but he just couldn't bring himself to leave the comfort of the bedroom suite, and the closeness of the family. Blair had slightly dozed, with her feet still in his lap, and she was beautiful. Her slumbering face was peaceful and glowing with the life inside her. He didn't want to leave her, or that room, ever, surrounded by everything he thought he had lost.
"This is the most snow ever!" Sam said, going to the glass wall and looking out over the yard. The pile in which he had jumped weeks before was now recovered in white and growing even taller.
"Hey, Squirt," Jack said, walking behind him. Todd watched as Jack removed his earbuds and went after him, "Maybe you should get back from that window."
"Why? I'm not stupid enough to jump twice."
"No, just once. Now, come on," Jack said. He couldn't bear to watch his brother near that spot. He picked him up, balancing his brother's stomach on his shoulder, and brought him back into the sitting area.
Sam plopped onto the ground. "Hey, you dropped me!"
"Eh, you're all right," Jack said. "Dad, Grandma's so quiet."
"Well, Ray's not." The little boy was talking to himself, very audibly, along side the bed, playing with toys. Occasionally, he would go under the bed and hide and then get pulled out by his feet by either Jack or Sam, and once even by Bitsy, and laugh from deep in his gut. Todd said, "She can't speak, Jack."
"I know, but she doesn't even write or anything. She never butts in, like Auntie Dorian."
"Well, no one butts in like her." Todd said, "Talk to her, if you want her to interact with you. Otherwise, she'll just sort of hang with us and do her own thing."
He went to his grandmother. "Hey, Grandma Bitsy, what are you doing?"
She held out her pad. She was drawing a picture of him, with his music on, eyes closed, and clearly enjoying it. Behind him, on the couch, was his mother, her hand on her belly as she rested, and his father, looking at her, lovingly. It was as if she captured the feelings of everyone in the likeness. He said, "Wow, that's nice. That looks so real."
She smiled. She turned the pad back toward herself and continued. Jack said, "I would love to draw like that," and he half directed it at his father.
"Not everyone has talent in that area. Find something you do well, and do it, I guess." Todd said, and Blair started to stir a little, shifting her position slightly. Without warning, the room went completely dark, except for the fire.
"Shit, the lights!" Jack said. "And my Ipod is not even fully charged. Damn." He went to the fireplace and poked at the current wood, that was dwindling, and then added a few more pieces.
Todd looked around, and then said, "Something's up with that. We have a generator, we should have lights and heat." He started to get up, "I'll go see what's up. Jack, do me a favor? Go get the flashlight from the drawer by my bed, and bring the baby over here."
Blair reacted to Todd's getting off the couch and lifting her feet gently to put them back down, and she said, "What is it?"
"We lost power, and something's wrong with the generator," Todd said.
"Oh, okay." She was groggy, and slightly disoriented.
Ray walked toward the couch, and put out his arms. "Mommy, up? Mommy, hug me."
She looked down, "Oh baby boy, I can't pick you up. Daddy will have to."
Todd bent down to get Ray, and sat him beside his mother. "Be a good boy, okay?"
Blair put her arms around her little boy, and squeezed him tight. He looked at her belly. "Mommy, baby in there?"
"Yes. A baby is in there."
He laughed, again from the belly.
She laughed too, "What is it, little guy? What is funny about the baby in there?"
He laughed more. "Baby in there."
"Yep, she is. Her name is Jewel."
"Drool," he said, and Sam laughed this time.
"Drool? No, Ray, Look at me," he said.
The little boy looked as Sam mouthed the word clearly. "Jewel."
"Yeah. Baby."
"Okay Sam, give up for now." Blair said, tousling both of her youngest sons' hair at the same time.
Ray said, "Sam, play."
"Wait, Ray, I'm almost done with my comic book!"
"Play, play, play!" He began to get angry.
"Okay, I will, just let me put this back," he said, and he stumbled in the dark to head to his room.
"Be careful, Sam," Blair said. When he disappeared out her door, she noticed that Bitsy was not in her place, either. "Gee, I wonder where she went?" she said aloud.
She turned to Ray, who was now looking into the fire, and studying it. He said, "Fire, hot and pretty, Mommy."
"No, Ray, come here, you can't play with the fire."
"Pretty, pretty!" he said, jumping up and down. Blair pushed herself to her feet, and saw that the protective screen was left off. For a moment, she flashed on Jack, not having remembered to close it when Todd asked him about the flashlight . . .
It was a second in which her little boy, intrigued by the flames, raced toward it at full speed. Instinctively, she grabbed him under the arms and hoisted him against her. In that moment, she suddenly felt a tell-tale sign that she remembered all too clearly from the chapel at St. Anne's. "Oh My God!" she said, looking down. Her water had broken, and she was standing, holding her son, over a small puddle. At that very same moment, Bitsy reappeared at the door, with an extra sketch pad and a different pencil box, and her eyes widened as she realized how upset Blair was. She threw her things down and went to grab the toddler from Blair's arms. Blair, doubled over, and went to the couch. "Momma, go get Todd, please."
Bitsy silently brought Ray, who was now screaming from not getting his way, to his room, and put him into the crib. She passed Sam on the way, and couldn't take time to communicate with him. He bounded into the master bedroom and said, "Mom?" when she saw her on the couch, breathing heavily.
"Mom! What's the matter?"
"Nothing, Sam," she struggled to speak, "it's all right."
Bitsy raced down the stairs, in the dark, looking for Todd. She couldn't call to him, she couldn't see. She fumbled her way along, almost sliding down the last few steps. Her heart leaped in her chest; she felt fortunate she had a good handle on the railing. She raced through the lower level, just to see Todd, coming in from the outside, covered in snow, and she ran to him, and shook him by the arms, and starting pulling him with her.
"Momma, what's wrong?" he said, slightly resisting at first. She grabbed his hand and pointed to his ring, frantic panic all over her face. "Blair?" he said, pushing past her. Jack raced after him, with Bitsy's hand in his.
He flew up the staircase, skipping steps in the darkness, and rounded the corner to their room. There she was on the couch, Sam, kneeling in front of her, and tears were streaming down his face. Todd said, "Hey, Buddy," trying to contain himself, "go to your room and read a while." He jerked his jacket of, spewing small still-frozen flakes onto the floor.
Jack and Bitsy were not far behind him, and Jack, realizing what was happening, grabbed up Sam and carried the sobbing boy out. Bitsy went beside Blair, and took her hand. Bitsy's tears were streaming, and Ray, in his crib, was still crying in complaint. Todd crouched in front of his wife, "Babe? What happened? You. . .you in labor?"
Blair sucked in air, then let out a small moan. "Yes, I'm in labor. Ray was running into the fire, Todd. I picked him up, and my water broke."
He rubbed her forehead with his hand, pushing her hair back from her face. "It's going to be all right, Jewel will be okay."
"Todd, she's . . . coming," she said, trying to breathe the way she knew she should.
"I've got the copter. It's right outside. I can get you over to the hospital in a few minutes." He started to stand and get her up, and she shook her head.
"No, Todd, we can't see. Look out there. You were just outside . . ." her words were interrupted by a cry of pain, "you know, the copter could crash, Todd. And I'm not sure how long I have." She started to cry, "Please, please, Todd, don't let me lose Jewel. Please?"
"Shhhh, okay, it's all right." He stopped, and then said, "You know we've done this before, right?"
"Todd, she's tiny, oh God," she cried, in pain but also sadness and fear. "She's . . ." again, she was interrupted by her labor pains.
Bitsy, holding Blair's hand, continued to cry as well. Blair, noticing it, said, "No, Momma, don't cry. Jack was delivered by Todd. Jewel . . . she'll make it."
"I should take the copter, make a run for it . . ." Todd said, under his breath.
Bitsy grabbed his arm, and caught his eye. She shook her head "no" violently.
"Okay, okay, Momma." He turned back to Blair. "Well, you've done this before. Come on, go onto your back." His faced showed strain, and he turned to his mother. "Momma, please, go tell Jack to call an ambulance. It's going to take them at least an hour. Please."
Bitsy was up in a flash and ran to Jack's room.
Todd looked back to Blair. Her hair was already matted to her face in places around the edges, and he undressed her properly, then moved to the bathroom to locate towels to place down under her on the bed. Once he arranged the area, he went back and lifted her in his arms, and carried her to the bed, placing her down delicately on the toweling that he placed below her. He slid just a nightgown over her head. She was crying, between her contractions, and gripped his hand with worry. "Todd, I'm so scared," she said.
"Piece of cake, Mrs. Manning. Remember what you said, about Momma's drawing?"
"I'm not sure, I . . .can't . . .remember . . ."
"You said the baby was in her father's hands, and that she would be okay. I promise you, I'll do everything I can to make that true."
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
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Thursday, September 11, 2014
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Failings of the Fathers: 19
A few days had passed, and Timothy called Todd, with information. "I've closed the blind trust," he said. "The funds won't be able to be touched."
"That's good. I'm going to need some liquidity. The kids are going to college after next year."
"I know. I thought of that. I also got ya the number ya wanted. The lawyer, Adams? He is still in the business, believe it or not. A little older than I am."
"All right," he said, taking a pen out of his drawer to copy the number. After writing it down, he looked at it again. "Do you know his first name?"
"Robert."
"Thanks for this. I'll call him later, it's still early."
"That's a good idea."
"Hope I find out something. Maybe Connie has information."
"She may. And she may not. How's everything else there?"
"Fine. Blair's still on bedrest, will be until Jewel makes an appearance. The kids are fine, Momma's great now that I assured her."
"How did ya do that?"
"I told her if Peter was ever alive, I'd kill him."
"I see, that ought ta do it."
"Yep."
"So much has happened. There's no telling what will happen next, My Boy."
"I don't want to think about that."
"What, that he's alive?"
"Even the possibility."
"He can't hurt ya now. He's an old man, he's past his prime."
"That's not why."
"Then what?"
"I'll actually have to kill him."
Timothy went silent. Then he said, "Not necessarily."
"What else would you have me do after all the bastard's done to me and to my mother? Problem is, I promised Blair no more of that. No more leaving her and the kids. When you kill someone, you go to jail. Well, most people do, anyway."
"I don't like this talk. First, ya don't know he's living. Second, ya don't know what ya'd do until it happened. Third, ya have too much to live for to be bothered with this tripe."
"Is it wrong that I hope he's dead in the ground?"
"No. I'd say not. But that's likely the case, and ya'll find that out soon enough."
"I know. All this dream shit, it's probably nothing. We're all close, we all have these fears."
"That's right," Timothy said, encouraging Todd. "Find the woman and put it all to rest, at last."
"That's the plan, Old Man."
"Well, get on it. Can't find the truth soon enough."
After the phone call, Todd felt lighter. Timothy was right; Peter was dead, and to reassure everyone was Todd's task. To reassure himself was the part of it he didn't want to think about. Focusing on that would just bring everything back up that he'd work so hard to clear his mind from. He fingered the phone number on the slip of paper he held. He looked at the clock on his desk. Nine a.m. It was still early to call. For a moment, he pictured telling Blair, and immediately pulled back when the thought of her becoming agitated reminded him of a certain rose-quartz statue in the Llanview Cemetary. No. Blair and the baby come first right now. No need scaring her.
Sam appeared at the door. "Hey, Dad!"
"Hey Sam." He did a double take. "Sam? Aren't you supposed to be at school? It's after nine."
"Didn't you hear, Dad? We're getting a big old storm. And they closed all the schools. Even mine."
"Even yours, huh?" He smiled to himself.
"Yep. It's going to start in a little while and be really bad tonight. Like a blizzard."
"Sounds like more igloos and more forts."
"Yeah! Except . . ."
"What's the matter, Buddy?"
"I won't jump in it."
"I think that's smart. I don't want you to ever do something like that again."
"I won't. Dad?"
"Yep?"
"Dad, when you were digging me out of the snow, and Mixie helped, why were your hands hurt?"
He looked at his middle son, and realized that after all the time that had passed, the trauma of that day hadn't. "Come here," he said.
Sam walked to his desk, and Todd effortlessly lifted him to his knee and sat him there. "Ice can be very sharp. Sometimes, it can cut you, if it's cold enough, and then when your hands get cold, they don't melt the ice very well. It just . . . your skin doesn't like it."
"When you were digging, did you think I was dead?"
Sam's eyes were round and his expression so innocent, Todd had to look away a moment. Peter Manning won't ever get even a finger on him. "Yeah, I did. I mean, I was afraid of that."
"How did I look?"
"You looked like you do now, except still, and you were a little less pink."
"Oh."
Sam got very quiet, so Todd said, "So, why are you asking?"
"I don't know. I think about it sometimes."
"I think about it, too. Sometimes."
Sam looked right into his face. "If I died, would I see Sommer?"
Todd swallowed, "Yeah, I guess you would, but that won't be for many years, Sam."
"Will she know me?"
"Yes, she'll know you. I mean, I think. They say she will."
"What is it like when you're dead?"
He ran his tongue over his upper teeth, and then said, "You don't need to worry about that."
"I'm not worried. I just want to know."
"I don't know what it's like. I guess you have to be dead to know, and then, how would you tell anyone?"
Sam thought. "Yeah. That's true. Was I dead, Dad? For any time?"
Todd was fearful of answering the question in a way that could make Sam's fears worse. "No. You weren't ever dead, Sam."
"Okay. Were you?"
"Me? I don't know, I don't think so. I know I was close."
"In Ireland, when Mom went to get you? Remember, you came back to us in the park?"
"Yeah, I remember. Maybe. But listen, we focus on who's alive and with us, okay? The rest is nothing to worry about right now." Yeah, Manning, take your own advice.
"Okay, Dad." He hugged Todd around the neck. "I am glad Grandma Bitsy is not dead."
"Me too, Sam." He said, as the boy got down from his lap.
"I'm going to bug Jack. He thinks he can sleep in. Boy is he wrong," Sam said, running off.
Todd got up and looked out the window. The sky was clouded over with large, gray tufts, and the wind was howling against the trees and the house. "He's right, a storm is probably due." He surveyed, once again, the home he had made for all of them. The gazebo was blending into its surroundings in the wintry grays and whites. The pool was covered, there were still remnants of piles of snow around, and one particularly tall one next to the house, where Sam had jumped. One side was lopped from the digging, and it still stood, steadfast, in the cold. When does this winter end up here on Llantano Mountain?
He walked out of The Sun home office and went to the bedroom. When he peeked in, she was just coming out of the shower. "Hey, beautiful."
"Hey, handsome. What's up?"
"You all right?"
"Sure, I'm great. Just going to get something to eat after I dry off and dress."
"Why don't we all hang up here again? It's going to storm, it's going to be a winter wonderland. We'll be able to see the snow from here. All schools are closed, 'even Sam's.'"
She smiled, "He got you with that too, huh?"
"Yeah." He walked to the fireplace and put wood into it. "I need another cord of wood delivered. I'll have them bring it out before it starts. Cord. I hate that word, for some reason." He gave her the side eye while putting more wood into the fireplace.
She turned and smiled at him. "Why? He never came close to you in here where it counts," she touched her chest.
"Eh, the white hat cowboy still bugs me."
"It's so long ago!"
"Yeah, well, he was always everything I'm not."
"Right. Including my man," She slipped her hands into his hair, standing behind him.
"You shouldn't really do that, you know."
"What, touch you?"
"No, get me going."
"Oh, stop," she said, playfully pushing his head away from her. "All right, we'll hang up here. That seems like a great idea. It's always nice to have the boys close, and us just safe in here and warm."
"Yep."
And that's the way it's going to stay.
***
In the few days that had passed, Aiden had done well getting back on his feet. That afternoon, he made his way to the cafeteria, and spied Malcolm, just getting up from the table with his tray, and Calvin, still sitting, hunched over a cup of coffee. He sat down. "Coffee in the afternoon, Mate?"
"What's it to you?" Calvin said, sipping from his cup.
"Nothing. I see ya have that same friendly way about ya the first day we met."
"What makes you think I'm friendly?" He said, straight-faced, but decidedly sarcastic.
"Where's Miguel?"
"In solitary or something."
"What is that about, eh?"
"Cracked up. The kid's gay." Calvin said, with an air of evident disgust.
"Gay? Ya mean overly happy, or . . ."
"Gay. Likes men?"
"Why did he crack up, then?"
"His parents won't come to see him. No one from his family will. He lost it."
"Ah." Aiden was concerned for Miguel, but it was clear that Calvin wasn't letting on whether he was or not. His answers were straight and to the point. "Where was Malcolm off to?"
"I don't know, why don't you ask him?"
"I just might. Ya seem cheesed off all the time."
"I am. It's the beauty of knowing me."
"Well, I don't think I've seen ya smile, not even once."
"Nope."
Aiden drank his orange juice. His head was still bandaged in places around the exploratory surgery site. "Don't ya want to know about my surgery?"
Calvin made no effort to look in his direction.
"I passed. But there are some troubles. Something is causing the memory lapses."
"Tough for you."
"It seems. We'll get to the bottom of it though."
"Yep."
"So, what has ya cheesed off, then?"
"Someone's pissed me off. Personal."
"I'm sorry," Aiden said, feeling a particular chill go down his spine. "Care to talk about it?"
"No," the older man said, putting the cup down and looking out the window.
"Well, I see. Just looking for some company, I was. Nothing to bother about."
Aiden picked up his tray, and Calvin said, "Who said you had to leave?"
"Well, no one, but I think it's best. I'm the opposite of ya, Calvin, old man. I'm friendly and like to talk."
Calvin looked at him, without turning his head much. "So, talk. Just stop asking questions."
***
"Mr. Adams? I am not sure you'll remember me. My name is Todd Manning."
"Todd Manning?" There was a pause. "Yes, in fact, I do, Mr. Manning. The last I remember of you, however, you were a twenty-something bitter young man."
"Yeah, that sounds like me. I called you because I have a request."
"If I can."
"I wanted to know the last known address for my father's fiance, Connie? The woman named in his will, who got everything? I have to speak with her. It's urgent."
"This is all a matter of public record, but I must say, I am not certain that it's fair of me to reveal her whereabouts."
"Well, in the interest of that, I'd be willing to just have her last name. I'm an investigative reporter now, I inherited my biological father's estate. I own a newspaper, and I can certainly find her myself."
"Connie Bensonhurst, of course. That was her name. I remember all of this clearly. I had several dealings with her after your father's death."
"She got everything," he said, realizing he sounded like the same, bitter kid.
"She did."
"Are you aware of the house being abandoned by her and boarded up?"
He seemed to fidget for a moment on the other end. "Yes, I'm aware of that."
"I have a great deal of curiosity about why she did that."
"Likely that she did not want the home, so she just left it."
"Why not sell? It would have been worth at least one hundred thousand then, maybe more."
"I don't think I am at liberty to say much," the lawyer responded.
"Listen, I've been through Hell about Peter Manning. Not only when you knew, but before it, for years, and after it, now. Everything he did, it's come back to haunt me in my adult life. You said yourself, all those years ago, he wasn't up for The Father of the Year Award."
He became quiet. "No, he wasn't. I knew your father many years."
"Yeah, well, he wasn't my father, turns out. He was my adoptive father. You probably know that."
"I . . . heard. Yes."
"Well, Peter Manning has done things . . . let's just say, I'm interested in where Connie is, and why the house was abandoned."
He cleared his throat. "Mr. Manning, I'm sorry for the troubles you have faced. I knew Peter for many years, and I was never fond of his tactics where you were concerned."
"Tactics. I've heard it called a lot of things . . ."
"Nevertheless, I can tell you that Ms. Bensonhurst closed the house because she was not pleased with what she found there. And, that is all I can say at this time."
Todd's hair stood slightly on end. "I guess that's more than enough. We both know what we're talking about here, so why bother pulling punches? So, she knew."
"She knew about the house, yes. She was not willing to do the work required to get it prepared for sale, so she just walked."
"I see. Well, thank you, Mr. Adams, for talking with me. You really didn't have to, and I do appreciate the little you were able to tell me."
"Mr. Manning, for what it's worth, I wish you and your family much luck."
"Thank you."
Luck isn't the half of it, Buddy. You don't know. Connie, I'll find you, I promise you that.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
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"That's good. I'm going to need some liquidity. The kids are going to college after next year."
"I know. I thought of that. I also got ya the number ya wanted. The lawyer, Adams? He is still in the business, believe it or not. A little older than I am."
"All right," he said, taking a pen out of his drawer to copy the number. After writing it down, he looked at it again. "Do you know his first name?"
"Robert."
"Thanks for this. I'll call him later, it's still early."
"That's a good idea."
"Hope I find out something. Maybe Connie has information."
"She may. And she may not. How's everything else there?"
"Fine. Blair's still on bedrest, will be until Jewel makes an appearance. The kids are fine, Momma's great now that I assured her."
"How did ya do that?"
"I told her if Peter was ever alive, I'd kill him."
"I see, that ought ta do it."
"Yep."
"So much has happened. There's no telling what will happen next, My Boy."
"I don't want to think about that."
"What, that he's alive?"
"Even the possibility."
"He can't hurt ya now. He's an old man, he's past his prime."
"That's not why."
"Then what?"
"I'll actually have to kill him."
Timothy went silent. Then he said, "Not necessarily."
"What else would you have me do after all the bastard's done to me and to my mother? Problem is, I promised Blair no more of that. No more leaving her and the kids. When you kill someone, you go to jail. Well, most people do, anyway."
"I don't like this talk. First, ya don't know he's living. Second, ya don't know what ya'd do until it happened. Third, ya have too much to live for to be bothered with this tripe."
"Is it wrong that I hope he's dead in the ground?"
"No. I'd say not. But that's likely the case, and ya'll find that out soon enough."
"I know. All this dream shit, it's probably nothing. We're all close, we all have these fears."
"That's right," Timothy said, encouraging Todd. "Find the woman and put it all to rest, at last."
"That's the plan, Old Man."
"Well, get on it. Can't find the truth soon enough."
After the phone call, Todd felt lighter. Timothy was right; Peter was dead, and to reassure everyone was Todd's task. To reassure himself was the part of it he didn't want to think about. Focusing on that would just bring everything back up that he'd work so hard to clear his mind from. He fingered the phone number on the slip of paper he held. He looked at the clock on his desk. Nine a.m. It was still early to call. For a moment, he pictured telling Blair, and immediately pulled back when the thought of her becoming agitated reminded him of a certain rose-quartz statue in the Llanview Cemetary. No. Blair and the baby come first right now. No need scaring her.
Sam appeared at the door. "Hey, Dad!"
"Hey Sam." He did a double take. "Sam? Aren't you supposed to be at school? It's after nine."
"Didn't you hear, Dad? We're getting a big old storm. And they closed all the schools. Even mine."
"Even yours, huh?" He smiled to himself.
"Yep. It's going to start in a little while and be really bad tonight. Like a blizzard."
"Sounds like more igloos and more forts."
"Yeah! Except . . ."
"What's the matter, Buddy?"
"I won't jump in it."
"I think that's smart. I don't want you to ever do something like that again."
"I won't. Dad?"
"Yep?"
"Dad, when you were digging me out of the snow, and Mixie helped, why were your hands hurt?"
He looked at his middle son, and realized that after all the time that had passed, the trauma of that day hadn't. "Come here," he said.
Sam walked to his desk, and Todd effortlessly lifted him to his knee and sat him there. "Ice can be very sharp. Sometimes, it can cut you, if it's cold enough, and then when your hands get cold, they don't melt the ice very well. It just . . . your skin doesn't like it."
"When you were digging, did you think I was dead?"
Sam's eyes were round and his expression so innocent, Todd had to look away a moment. Peter Manning won't ever get even a finger on him. "Yeah, I did. I mean, I was afraid of that."
"How did I look?"
"You looked like you do now, except still, and you were a little less pink."
"Oh."
Sam got very quiet, so Todd said, "So, why are you asking?"
"I don't know. I think about it sometimes."
"I think about it, too. Sometimes."
Sam looked right into his face. "If I died, would I see Sommer?"
Todd swallowed, "Yeah, I guess you would, but that won't be for many years, Sam."
"Will she know me?"
"Yes, she'll know you. I mean, I think. They say she will."
"What is it like when you're dead?"
He ran his tongue over his upper teeth, and then said, "You don't need to worry about that."
"I'm not worried. I just want to know."
"I don't know what it's like. I guess you have to be dead to know, and then, how would you tell anyone?"
Sam thought. "Yeah. That's true. Was I dead, Dad? For any time?"
Todd was fearful of answering the question in a way that could make Sam's fears worse. "No. You weren't ever dead, Sam."
"Okay. Were you?"
"Me? I don't know, I don't think so. I know I was close."
"In Ireland, when Mom went to get you? Remember, you came back to us in the park?"
"Yeah, I remember. Maybe. But listen, we focus on who's alive and with us, okay? The rest is nothing to worry about right now." Yeah, Manning, take your own advice.
"Okay, Dad." He hugged Todd around the neck. "I am glad Grandma Bitsy is not dead."
"Me too, Sam." He said, as the boy got down from his lap.
"I'm going to bug Jack. He thinks he can sleep in. Boy is he wrong," Sam said, running off.
Todd got up and looked out the window. The sky was clouded over with large, gray tufts, and the wind was howling against the trees and the house. "He's right, a storm is probably due." He surveyed, once again, the home he had made for all of them. The gazebo was blending into its surroundings in the wintry grays and whites. The pool was covered, there were still remnants of piles of snow around, and one particularly tall one next to the house, where Sam had jumped. One side was lopped from the digging, and it still stood, steadfast, in the cold. When does this winter end up here on Llantano Mountain?
He walked out of The Sun home office and went to the bedroom. When he peeked in, she was just coming out of the shower. "Hey, beautiful."
"Hey, handsome. What's up?"
"You all right?"
"Sure, I'm great. Just going to get something to eat after I dry off and dress."
"Why don't we all hang up here again? It's going to storm, it's going to be a winter wonderland. We'll be able to see the snow from here. All schools are closed, 'even Sam's.'"
She smiled, "He got you with that too, huh?"
"Yeah." He walked to the fireplace and put wood into it. "I need another cord of wood delivered. I'll have them bring it out before it starts. Cord. I hate that word, for some reason." He gave her the side eye while putting more wood into the fireplace.
She turned and smiled at him. "Why? He never came close to you in here where it counts," she touched her chest.
"Eh, the white hat cowboy still bugs me."
"It's so long ago!"
"Yeah, well, he was always everything I'm not."
"Right. Including my man," She slipped her hands into his hair, standing behind him.
"You shouldn't really do that, you know."
"What, touch you?"
"No, get me going."
"Oh, stop," she said, playfully pushing his head away from her. "All right, we'll hang up here. That seems like a great idea. It's always nice to have the boys close, and us just safe in here and warm."
"Yep."
And that's the way it's going to stay.
***
In the few days that had passed, Aiden had done well getting back on his feet. That afternoon, he made his way to the cafeteria, and spied Malcolm, just getting up from the table with his tray, and Calvin, still sitting, hunched over a cup of coffee. He sat down. "Coffee in the afternoon, Mate?"
"What's it to you?" Calvin said, sipping from his cup.
"Nothing. I see ya have that same friendly way about ya the first day we met."
"What makes you think I'm friendly?" He said, straight-faced, but decidedly sarcastic.
"Where's Miguel?"
"In solitary or something."
"What is that about, eh?"
"Cracked up. The kid's gay." Calvin said, with an air of evident disgust.
"Gay? Ya mean overly happy, or . . ."
"Gay. Likes men?"
"Why did he crack up, then?"
"His parents won't come to see him. No one from his family will. He lost it."
"Ah." Aiden was concerned for Miguel, but it was clear that Calvin wasn't letting on whether he was or not. His answers were straight and to the point. "Where was Malcolm off to?"
"I don't know, why don't you ask him?"
"I just might. Ya seem cheesed off all the time."
"I am. It's the beauty of knowing me."
"Well, I don't think I've seen ya smile, not even once."
"Nope."
Aiden drank his orange juice. His head was still bandaged in places around the exploratory surgery site. "Don't ya want to know about my surgery?"
Calvin made no effort to look in his direction.
"I passed. But there are some troubles. Something is causing the memory lapses."
"Tough for you."
"It seems. We'll get to the bottom of it though."
"Yep."
"So, what has ya cheesed off, then?"
"Someone's pissed me off. Personal."
"I'm sorry," Aiden said, feeling a particular chill go down his spine. "Care to talk about it?"
"No," the older man said, putting the cup down and looking out the window.
"Well, I see. Just looking for some company, I was. Nothing to bother about."
Aiden picked up his tray, and Calvin said, "Who said you had to leave?"
"Well, no one, but I think it's best. I'm the opposite of ya, Calvin, old man. I'm friendly and like to talk."
Calvin looked at him, without turning his head much. "So, talk. Just stop asking questions."
***
"Mr. Adams? I am not sure you'll remember me. My name is Todd Manning."
"Todd Manning?" There was a pause. "Yes, in fact, I do, Mr. Manning. The last I remember of you, however, you were a twenty-something bitter young man."
"Yeah, that sounds like me. I called you because I have a request."
"If I can."
"I wanted to know the last known address for my father's fiance, Connie? The woman named in his will, who got everything? I have to speak with her. It's urgent."
"This is all a matter of public record, but I must say, I am not certain that it's fair of me to reveal her whereabouts."
"Well, in the interest of that, I'd be willing to just have her last name. I'm an investigative reporter now, I inherited my biological father's estate. I own a newspaper, and I can certainly find her myself."
"Connie Bensonhurst, of course. That was her name. I remember all of this clearly. I had several dealings with her after your father's death."
"She got everything," he said, realizing he sounded like the same, bitter kid.
"She did."
"Are you aware of the house being abandoned by her and boarded up?"
He seemed to fidget for a moment on the other end. "Yes, I'm aware of that."
"I have a great deal of curiosity about why she did that."
"Likely that she did not want the home, so she just left it."
"Why not sell? It would have been worth at least one hundred thousand then, maybe more."
"I don't think I am at liberty to say much," the lawyer responded.
"Listen, I've been through Hell about Peter Manning. Not only when you knew, but before it, for years, and after it, now. Everything he did, it's come back to haunt me in my adult life. You said yourself, all those years ago, he wasn't up for The Father of the Year Award."
He became quiet. "No, he wasn't. I knew your father many years."
"Yeah, well, he wasn't my father, turns out. He was my adoptive father. You probably know that."
"I . . . heard. Yes."
"Well, Peter Manning has done things . . . let's just say, I'm interested in where Connie is, and why the house was abandoned."
He cleared his throat. "Mr. Manning, I'm sorry for the troubles you have faced. I knew Peter for many years, and I was never fond of his tactics where you were concerned."
"Tactics. I've heard it called a lot of things . . ."
"Nevertheless, I can tell you that Ms. Bensonhurst closed the house because she was not pleased with what she found there. And, that is all I can say at this time."
Todd's hair stood slightly on end. "I guess that's more than enough. We both know what we're talking about here, so why bother pulling punches? So, she knew."
"She knew about the house, yes. She was not willing to do the work required to get it prepared for sale, so she just walked."
"I see. Well, thank you, Mr. Adams, for talking with me. You really didn't have to, and I do appreciate the little you were able to tell me."
"Mr. Manning, for what it's worth, I wish you and your family much luck."
"Thank you."
Luck isn't the half of it, Buddy. You don't know. Connie, I'll find you, I promise you that.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
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Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Todd's Saga 27: Nightmare
Viki screamed. Todd couldn’t believe it. A rush of adrenaline mobilized him to stop Clint before anything else could happen. Clint’s words had been chilling and Todd approached him with caution. He stepped past Victor, and before Clint could object, Todd carefully took the gun. “Easy there, Clint. Was that really necessary?”
Clint stared down at his handiwork. “The bastard was going to take me back to that hell-hole all for the sake of the Organization. Hell, he just tried to kill you. You should be grateful.”
The night had turned into a nightmare. Clint was clearly having issues and now Victor might be dead. Todd looked at his sister down on the floor with his twin. “Viki. Is he alive?”
She felt for a pulse and it was faint. “He’s still with us. It’s bad though. What are we going to do?”
“First things first. We need to stop the bleeding. Get some towels and see what you can do. Clint, why don’t we go to your room. I think you just need some more rest.” He started to take Clint’s arm, but the older man shook him off.
Clint tried to grab the gun back. “What are you doing? Let him die. He’s part of them. They poisoned me for months. Don’t you understand? If we let him live, they’ll just find us and we’ll never be the same.”
Todd had no choice. He let an uppercut fly and knocked Clint out. Catching him, Todd lowered him gently to the floor. “Sorry old man, but maybe things will seem clearer in the morning.” With Clint out, for the time being, he moved to help Viki with his brother.
Victor had two holes in his body and they accounted for a great deal of blood covering the floor, but it looked like Clint’s aim had been a little off. If he had been aiming for Victor’s heart, he had missed. Todd could feel a steady pulse which meant Victor had a good chance to survive, but he was going to need help.
After helping Viki temporarily stop the blood flow, Todd moved Victor back into his bedroom. He unwrapped Victor’s legs and took the handcuffs off. He wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Todd left Victor with Viki and then went to check on Clint. Clint was starting to come around so Todd got him to his feet and took him back to his room. “Here we go, Clint. I think you need to just call it a night.”
Clint blearily looked at Todd. “Manning, what’s going on? I feel like I was kicked by a mule. Please tell me I didn’t get drunk in front of Viki.”
It was pretty clear that Clint had no memory of what had just occurred. It was best to let him rest. Todd reassured Clint and guided him to the bed.“Nah, You just had one drink, but remember, you’re still recovering from what they did to you at the compound. It just hit you a little harder than you’re used to. I’ve got to tell you. For someone not at his fittest, you did a good job keeping Victor company today, but I think I’m going to get us some extra help. Viki’s right. You need time to get back on your feet too.”
“Yes, I guess you’re right. Tell Viki, I’m sorry if I did or said anything wrong” he laid down covering his eyes from the overhead light. “It’s funny, usually it’s only my head that hurts, even my jaw is aching. I really am more out of shape than I thought. Night, Manning. Get that light will you?”
“Sure, Clint. Get some sleep.” Todd switched off the light and hurried back to Victor’s room. “How’s he doing Viki?”
“Todd, we need to call for help. Victor is very weak and although we’ve got the bleeding slowed down, he needs a doctor.”
Todd ran a hand through his hair. He had to think. He sat down on the other side of Victor and looked at his sister. “We can’t. Any doctor will get the police involved. Clint shot him, and even though you and I both know Clint wasn’t himself, the police wouldn’t see it that way. There has to be a way we can do this. We just need some supplies. Hell, Blair dug a bullet out of my shoulder and she just had Dorian on the other end of a phone to help her….that’s it!” Todd slipped off the bed and pulled out his cell.
Viki thinking Todd was calling 911, sighed with relief, only to turn in surprise at his next words.
“I really don’t care what time it is. I need you to do several things for me and I need them done now. Yes, it’s important, now make a list. I need a needle, thread, gauze, alcohol,... Don’t ask questions. I also need you to get me a couple of bodyguards and I’ll explain more when you deliver the supplies. Bring them to the Buckner Mansion ASAP…. What? ...Well, you’ll just have to cut your outside activity short. You work for me remember.” he hung up and was about to make another call when Viki interrupted him.
“Todd, you’re surely not thinking of helping Victor without a doctor. That’s insane, he needs real medical attention.”
“You’re right Viki and he’ll get it, I just can’t bring the authorities in on this. Look, I’m going to do what I can to get him out of danger, we’ll stitch him up and stop the bleeding. That will give him a fighting chance. At least until I can get the one person here that will keep their mouth shut. That’s going to take about six hours.”
“I don’t understand. Why will it take so long to get the doctor here?”
“Because she lives in Pennsylvania.” Todd made another call. “Yes, it’s me. Get the jet ready. I need you to be in Llanview in three hours. When you arrive, you’re to pick up your passenger and get back here as soon as possible.”
As soon as she heard the location the jet was headed to, it dawned on Viki who Todd was sending for. “You can’t be serious. She’ll never help you.”
Todd felt a perverse thrill just thinking about what he was getting ready to do. He grinned at his sister. “You’d be surprised. She’ll do anything for Blair and I think I can give Blair just the right words to motivate her to come.” He made his last call.
****
Dorian looked out the window at the jet pulling up outside the limo. She turned to David. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. It’s five in the morning. Why did you let Blair talk me into this?”
David shook his head. “Talk you into it? Hey, this was your idea. We both saw how upset she was. You said she shouldn‘t be flying. You told me she loves this Butler guy, right? It sounded like he must be pretty sick to call and ask her to come to him in the middle of the night.”
Dorian nodded. “He’s been a godsend since she lost Todd. You’re right, I had no choice but to convince her to let me make the trip instead of her. There’s no way I was going to let her get on that plane. The last thing she needs, on top of all the stress and worry she’s already feeling for her Mr. Butler, is to go into premature labor. No, this is the least I can do. I’ll take that plane and help her Mr. Butler.”
David gave her a little kiss. “That’s my Dorian, you’ve always been there for your girls. but you’re not doing this just to help Blair, admit it. You’re dying to see this paragon of virtue. The fact that Blair will only give you scraps of information about the guy has been driving you crazy.”
“Well, okay. I admit to being curious about the guy. There’s very little information about him except that he’s a new star in the business world. He’s made a name for himself in a very short amount of time. He seems to be charmed. I read one of his recent investments just paid off big time. If he keeps going he’ll soon outdo Asa Buchanan in the self-made millionaire category. Can you blame me for wanting to meet him?”
“Hell no. I’m with you on this one. If Blair can snag him, it’s just more money for the Cramer coffers.” David saw movement at the top of the stairs of the jet. “I think you better go. The pilot just came out and he’s looking for you. For all our sakes, you better see that Blair’s Mr. Butler gets better. Go on, I’ll take care of Blair and the kids.”
Dorian moved over and laid a lingering kiss on David. “Hmm, I’ll be home as soon as he’s on the mend. By the way, I want to tell Carl about us. So if he comes by the house let Blair talk to him.”
David frowned, “Why would you even want to see him after what he did?”
“Please David! I think I deserve to be the one to tell him we’re over. I want to see his face when he finds out he’s persona non-grata.” She got out of the car, stopping to snatch one last kiss. She patted his cheek. “Go home. I’ll call Blair when I know something.” Then she wrapped her fur around her, grabbed her medical bag, and boarded the plane.
****
Sam threw the final towel in the washer and turned it on. She and her men had spent the last hour cleaning up all signs of bloodshed in the upper hall. She walked into the kitchen and poured herself another cup of coffee. It had been a long night. Her men had arrived around 6:00am and had been informed what their duties would entail. She had also called and told the housekeeper and the cook that they had the next two weeks off with pay. The cook had expressed some concern for Mr.Butler and his guests, but Sam had assured her that Mrs. Banks was staying for a while and had decided to handle the cooking herself.
Sam sat down at the table and ran a hand through her hair. She had known something was terribly wrong when Todd had called her at two in the morning, but nothing had prepared her for what she encountered when she got to the Buckner Mansion. The last few hours replayed in her head like a bad movie.
The taxi pulled up to the back door of the mansion. Sam exited, grabbing her bag of supplies, and was stunned when Todd opened the door. His shirt was covered in blood and he had some angry-looking bruises on his neck. “My God Todd, what happened?”
“Just get in here, Sam. What took you so long?” He grabbed the bag from her and headed for the stairs, not even waiting for her answer.
She watched as he took them three at a time and disappeared down the upstairs hallway. Following, she climbed the stairs and hurried past the first empty room. She noted the blood puddle on the floor and more blood spattered on the walls in the hall. It was apparent, that some sort of bad struggle had taken place. Had the organization found Todd after all? Reaching the second bedroom, she stopped dumbfounded by the scene inside. Todd was tearing the bag open and setting out the supplies she had bought him, but an even bigger shock was Victor Lord lying half-dead on the bed. “Todd, did you do this? Wasn’t shooting him once, enough for you?”
“You’re wrong, Ms. Vance.” Viki moved out from behind Todd who had hidden her from view. “Todd didn’t do this. I did.”
Todd looked at his sister sharply but didn’t stop her.
Viki walked towards Sam. “They were fighting in the hall and then Victor got Todd in a hold and was strangling him. When he wouldn’t stop, I got the gun. I was only trying to make him stop, but the gun went off and the next thing I knew, Victor and Todd were both on the ground. Todd was struggling to get air and Victor was bleeding out.” She turned to Todd. “What else do you need me to do? He’s getting worse. Let me call for help.”
Todd stopped what he was doing and moved to Viki’s side. “Viki, it was an accident, but you know we can’t call for help. If we bring the law in on this, the Organization will find out I’m alive. That’s why Sam is here. We’re going to keep Victor alive. Listen, you need to rest. I want you to go lie down.”
“I can’t Todd, I need to know if he’s going to make it. Ms. Vance, please help my brother!” Viki looked at both her brothers and nervously wrung her hands together. She knew what Todd’s plan was and she prayed Victor would have enough willpower to hang in there until the main help could arrive.
Sam glanced at both brother and sister and shook her head, she hadn’t missed the look that passed between them. They were hiding something, but she wasn’t about to call Victoria Lord Banks a liar. Something in Viki’s voice told her Todd wasn’t the shooter. “I’ll help. From what I know about this organization so far, Todd is right to be concerned and he didn’t go off the radar on a whim. What do you need me to do, Todd?”
" I figure, that like me, you’ve some experience with gunshot wounds in your line of work. Help me at least stop the bleeding.” Todd went back to the bed and Sam followed.
Viki sighed, “You’ll need to sterilize that stuff, I’ll get the boiling water.”
It looked like Todd and Viki had spent the last half hour trying to keep the bleeding contained. Now she helped Todd remove Victor’s blood-soaked shirt. It didn’t take her long to figure out that Victor had been shot in the back and the bullet had exited out the front. “Accident, huh?”
Todd looked directly at her. “I didn’t shoot him,” he said quietly.
She looked again at Todd’s throat. “He really was strangling you. What did he use? A chain?”
“No, handcuffs. Look, I’ll tell you the whole story after we keep him from dying. I promise. You know I’ve told you about how the organization works. Look at his uniform. I thought he was being held by them and yet now he’s been working for them. They got to him and he almost killed me tonight. That’s all I’m going to say right now.”
“If he tried to kill you, why don’t you just let him die? That’s what the Todd Manning I know would do.” She glanced down at Victor and stared at his chest. “Or maybe he wouldn’t. Victor doesn’t have a scar where you shot him. What’s going on?”
“I think it’s obvious. I didn’t shoot him.” At that moment, Viki appeared with the water and they went to work trying to stitch the wounds closed.
Bringing her mind back to the present, Sam breathed a long sigh. After they had gotten Victor’s wounds closed, Todd had filled her in on everything. It hadn’t taken her too long to figure out Clint Buchanan was responsible for Victor’s condition and that Viki had taken the rap for his sake. She had been even more surprised when she heard Dorian Lord was on her way to help Tony Butler. Sam rose from the table. She headed to the refrigerator and soon had breakfast underway. Her men joined her and she discussed their duties for the day. Sam looked at the clock in the kitchen. It was a little more than half an hour since Dorian had landed, she would be arriving soon. Sam sent her men up with breakfast for Clint, Viki, and Todd. Then the doorbell rang.
Sam headed out of the kitchen. She glanced up the stairs and saw Todd indicating she should answer the door. She did as instructed and opened it.
Dorian swept in. “Well don’t just stand there, take me to Mr. Butler. If he’s as sick as he told my niece, then we can’t waste another minute. Where is he? Upstairs?”
Sam shook her head and contained her amusement. The woman didn’t even wait for an answer. She was well aware of the forceful woman that was Dorian Lord Vickers. She closed the door as Dorian headed for the stairs.
Dorian was just getting ready to climb the stairs, when she stopped, looking at the man at the top. “What??...” Dorian couldn’t believe her eyes. The one man that she had never expected to see again, was standing above her. Todd was alive and standing in Tony Butler’s house. That could only mean trouble. “You!” She hissed in anger.
“Surprise, Auntie Dorian.”
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
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Clint stared down at his handiwork. “The bastard was going to take me back to that hell-hole all for the sake of the Organization. Hell, he just tried to kill you. You should be grateful.”
The night had turned into a nightmare. Clint was clearly having issues and now Victor might be dead. Todd looked at his sister down on the floor with his twin. “Viki. Is he alive?”
She felt for a pulse and it was faint. “He’s still with us. It’s bad though. What are we going to do?”
“First things first. We need to stop the bleeding. Get some towels and see what you can do. Clint, why don’t we go to your room. I think you just need some more rest.” He started to take Clint’s arm, but the older man shook him off.
Clint tried to grab the gun back. “What are you doing? Let him die. He’s part of them. They poisoned me for months. Don’t you understand? If we let him live, they’ll just find us and we’ll never be the same.”
Todd had no choice. He let an uppercut fly and knocked Clint out. Catching him, Todd lowered him gently to the floor. “Sorry old man, but maybe things will seem clearer in the morning.” With Clint out, for the time being, he moved to help Viki with his brother.
Victor had two holes in his body and they accounted for a great deal of blood covering the floor, but it looked like Clint’s aim had been a little off. If he had been aiming for Victor’s heart, he had missed. Todd could feel a steady pulse which meant Victor had a good chance to survive, but he was going to need help.
After helping Viki temporarily stop the blood flow, Todd moved Victor back into his bedroom. He unwrapped Victor’s legs and took the handcuffs off. He wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Todd left Victor with Viki and then went to check on Clint. Clint was starting to come around so Todd got him to his feet and took him back to his room. “Here we go, Clint. I think you need to just call it a night.”
Clint blearily looked at Todd. “Manning, what’s going on? I feel like I was kicked by a mule. Please tell me I didn’t get drunk in front of Viki.”
It was pretty clear that Clint had no memory of what had just occurred. It was best to let him rest. Todd reassured Clint and guided him to the bed.“Nah, You just had one drink, but remember, you’re still recovering from what they did to you at the compound. It just hit you a little harder than you’re used to. I’ve got to tell you. For someone not at his fittest, you did a good job keeping Victor company today, but I think I’m going to get us some extra help. Viki’s right. You need time to get back on your feet too.”
“Yes, I guess you’re right. Tell Viki, I’m sorry if I did or said anything wrong” he laid down covering his eyes from the overhead light. “It’s funny, usually it’s only my head that hurts, even my jaw is aching. I really am more out of shape than I thought. Night, Manning. Get that light will you?”
“Sure, Clint. Get some sleep.” Todd switched off the light and hurried back to Victor’s room. “How’s he doing Viki?”
“Todd, we need to call for help. Victor is very weak and although we’ve got the bleeding slowed down, he needs a doctor.”
Todd ran a hand through his hair. He had to think. He sat down on the other side of Victor and looked at his sister. “We can’t. Any doctor will get the police involved. Clint shot him, and even though you and I both know Clint wasn’t himself, the police wouldn’t see it that way. There has to be a way we can do this. We just need some supplies. Hell, Blair dug a bullet out of my shoulder and she just had Dorian on the other end of a phone to help her….that’s it!” Todd slipped off the bed and pulled out his cell.
Viki thinking Todd was calling 911, sighed with relief, only to turn in surprise at his next words.
“I really don’t care what time it is. I need you to do several things for me and I need them done now. Yes, it’s important, now make a list. I need a needle, thread, gauze, alcohol,... Don’t ask questions. I also need you to get me a couple of bodyguards and I’ll explain more when you deliver the supplies. Bring them to the Buckner Mansion ASAP…. What? ...Well, you’ll just have to cut your outside activity short. You work for me remember.” he hung up and was about to make another call when Viki interrupted him.
“Todd, you’re surely not thinking of helping Victor without a doctor. That’s insane, he needs real medical attention.”
“You’re right Viki and he’ll get it, I just can’t bring the authorities in on this. Look, I’m going to do what I can to get him out of danger, we’ll stitch him up and stop the bleeding. That will give him a fighting chance. At least until I can get the one person here that will keep their mouth shut. That’s going to take about six hours.”
“I don’t understand. Why will it take so long to get the doctor here?”
“Because she lives in Pennsylvania.” Todd made another call. “Yes, it’s me. Get the jet ready. I need you to be in Llanview in three hours. When you arrive, you’re to pick up your passenger and get back here as soon as possible.”
As soon as she heard the location the jet was headed to, it dawned on Viki who Todd was sending for. “You can’t be serious. She’ll never help you.”
Todd felt a perverse thrill just thinking about what he was getting ready to do. He grinned at his sister. “You’d be surprised. She’ll do anything for Blair and I think I can give Blair just the right words to motivate her to come.” He made his last call.
****
Dorian looked out the window at the jet pulling up outside the limo. She turned to David. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. It’s five in the morning. Why did you let Blair talk me into this?”
David shook his head. “Talk you into it? Hey, this was your idea. We both saw how upset she was. You said she shouldn‘t be flying. You told me she loves this Butler guy, right? It sounded like he must be pretty sick to call and ask her to come to him in the middle of the night.”
Dorian nodded. “He’s been a godsend since she lost Todd. You’re right, I had no choice but to convince her to let me make the trip instead of her. There’s no way I was going to let her get on that plane. The last thing she needs, on top of all the stress and worry she’s already feeling for her Mr. Butler, is to go into premature labor. No, this is the least I can do. I’ll take that plane and help her Mr. Butler.”
David gave her a little kiss. “That’s my Dorian, you’ve always been there for your girls. but you’re not doing this just to help Blair, admit it. You’re dying to see this paragon of virtue. The fact that Blair will only give you scraps of information about the guy has been driving you crazy.”
“Well, okay. I admit to being curious about the guy. There’s very little information about him except that he’s a new star in the business world. He’s made a name for himself in a very short amount of time. He seems to be charmed. I read one of his recent investments just paid off big time. If he keeps going he’ll soon outdo Asa Buchanan in the self-made millionaire category. Can you blame me for wanting to meet him?”
“Hell no. I’m with you on this one. If Blair can snag him, it’s just more money for the Cramer coffers.” David saw movement at the top of the stairs of the jet. “I think you better go. The pilot just came out and he’s looking for you. For all our sakes, you better see that Blair’s Mr. Butler gets better. Go on, I’ll take care of Blair and the kids.”
Dorian moved over and laid a lingering kiss on David. “Hmm, I’ll be home as soon as he’s on the mend. By the way, I want to tell Carl about us. So if he comes by the house let Blair talk to him.”
David frowned, “Why would you even want to see him after what he did?”
“Please David! I think I deserve to be the one to tell him we’re over. I want to see his face when he finds out he’s persona non-grata.” She got out of the car, stopping to snatch one last kiss. She patted his cheek. “Go home. I’ll call Blair when I know something.” Then she wrapped her fur around her, grabbed her medical bag, and boarded the plane.
****
Sam threw the final towel in the washer and turned it on. She and her men had spent the last hour cleaning up all signs of bloodshed in the upper hall. She walked into the kitchen and poured herself another cup of coffee. It had been a long night. Her men had arrived around 6:00am and had been informed what their duties would entail. She had also called and told the housekeeper and the cook that they had the next two weeks off with pay. The cook had expressed some concern for Mr.Butler and his guests, but Sam had assured her that Mrs. Banks was staying for a while and had decided to handle the cooking herself.
Sam sat down at the table and ran a hand through her hair. She had known something was terribly wrong when Todd had called her at two in the morning, but nothing had prepared her for what she encountered when she got to the Buckner Mansion. The last few hours replayed in her head like a bad movie.
The taxi pulled up to the back door of the mansion. Sam exited, grabbing her bag of supplies, and was stunned when Todd opened the door. His shirt was covered in blood and he had some angry-looking bruises on his neck. “My God Todd, what happened?”
“Just get in here, Sam. What took you so long?” He grabbed the bag from her and headed for the stairs, not even waiting for her answer.
She watched as he took them three at a time and disappeared down the upstairs hallway. Following, she climbed the stairs and hurried past the first empty room. She noted the blood puddle on the floor and more blood spattered on the walls in the hall. It was apparent, that some sort of bad struggle had taken place. Had the organization found Todd after all? Reaching the second bedroom, she stopped dumbfounded by the scene inside. Todd was tearing the bag open and setting out the supplies she had bought him, but an even bigger shock was Victor Lord lying half-dead on the bed. “Todd, did you do this? Wasn’t shooting him once, enough for you?”
“You’re wrong, Ms. Vance.” Viki moved out from behind Todd who had hidden her from view. “Todd didn’t do this. I did.”
Todd looked at his sister sharply but didn’t stop her.
Viki walked towards Sam. “They were fighting in the hall and then Victor got Todd in a hold and was strangling him. When he wouldn’t stop, I got the gun. I was only trying to make him stop, but the gun went off and the next thing I knew, Victor and Todd were both on the ground. Todd was struggling to get air and Victor was bleeding out.” She turned to Todd. “What else do you need me to do? He’s getting worse. Let me call for help.”
Todd stopped what he was doing and moved to Viki’s side. “Viki, it was an accident, but you know we can’t call for help. If we bring the law in on this, the Organization will find out I’m alive. That’s why Sam is here. We’re going to keep Victor alive. Listen, you need to rest. I want you to go lie down.”
“I can’t Todd, I need to know if he’s going to make it. Ms. Vance, please help my brother!” Viki looked at both her brothers and nervously wrung her hands together. She knew what Todd’s plan was and she prayed Victor would have enough willpower to hang in there until the main help could arrive.
Sam glanced at both brother and sister and shook her head, she hadn’t missed the look that passed between them. They were hiding something, but she wasn’t about to call Victoria Lord Banks a liar. Something in Viki’s voice told her Todd wasn’t the shooter. “I’ll help. From what I know about this organization so far, Todd is right to be concerned and he didn’t go off the radar on a whim. What do you need me to do, Todd?”
" I figure, that like me, you’ve some experience with gunshot wounds in your line of work. Help me at least stop the bleeding.” Todd went back to the bed and Sam followed.
Viki sighed, “You’ll need to sterilize that stuff, I’ll get the boiling water.”
It looked like Todd and Viki had spent the last half hour trying to keep the bleeding contained. Now she helped Todd remove Victor’s blood-soaked shirt. It didn’t take her long to figure out that Victor had been shot in the back and the bullet had exited out the front. “Accident, huh?”
Todd looked directly at her. “I didn’t shoot him,” he said quietly.
She looked again at Todd’s throat. “He really was strangling you. What did he use? A chain?”
“No, handcuffs. Look, I’ll tell you the whole story after we keep him from dying. I promise. You know I’ve told you about how the organization works. Look at his uniform. I thought he was being held by them and yet now he’s been working for them. They got to him and he almost killed me tonight. That’s all I’m going to say right now.”
“If he tried to kill you, why don’t you just let him die? That’s what the Todd Manning I know would do.” She glanced down at Victor and stared at his chest. “Or maybe he wouldn’t. Victor doesn’t have a scar where you shot him. What’s going on?”
“I think it’s obvious. I didn’t shoot him.” At that moment, Viki appeared with the water and they went to work trying to stitch the wounds closed.
Bringing her mind back to the present, Sam breathed a long sigh. After they had gotten Victor’s wounds closed, Todd had filled her in on everything. It hadn’t taken her too long to figure out Clint Buchanan was responsible for Victor’s condition and that Viki had taken the rap for his sake. She had been even more surprised when she heard Dorian Lord was on her way to help Tony Butler. Sam rose from the table. She headed to the refrigerator and soon had breakfast underway. Her men joined her and she discussed their duties for the day. Sam looked at the clock in the kitchen. It was a little more than half an hour since Dorian had landed, she would be arriving soon. Sam sent her men up with breakfast for Clint, Viki, and Todd. Then the doorbell rang.
Sam headed out of the kitchen. She glanced up the stairs and saw Todd indicating she should answer the door. She did as instructed and opened it.
Dorian swept in. “Well don’t just stand there, take me to Mr. Butler. If he’s as sick as he told my niece, then we can’t waste another minute. Where is he? Upstairs?”
Sam shook her head and contained her amusement. The woman didn’t even wait for an answer. She was well aware of the forceful woman that was Dorian Lord Vickers. She closed the door as Dorian headed for the stairs.
Dorian was just getting ready to climb the stairs, when she stopped, looking at the man at the top. “What??...” Dorian couldn’t believe her eyes. The one man that she had never expected to see again, was standing above her. Todd was alive and standing in Tony Butler’s house. That could only mean trouble. “You!” She hissed in anger.
“Surprise, Auntie Dorian.”
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Sunday, August 31, 2014
Failings of the Fathers: 18
He raced to the door of the bedroom, and stopped short. His mother and Blair were on the bed together, looking at catalogs, many of which were spread out around them. Bitsy had her head on Blair's shoulder, and Blair was beaming, her roundness reminding him of Jewel's earlier-than-planned probable entrance. They both looked up.
Blair said, "What is it, Todd? You look upset."
Both women stared in his direction. He said, "I, uh, wanted to . . . tell you both that dinner's on."
"Todd, you yelled that up to us about twenty minutes ago. If that didn't tell us, the smell sure would."
"Right."
"I think he's jealous, Momma, that he's left out of the shopping," Blair said.
Her mother-in-law smiled, and put out her hand to beckon him.
"I would love to, but I really should get ready to receive the boys. They'll be home soon. What about Road Runner?"
"He's asleep." Blair said, nonchalantly looking back to her magazine.
He couldn't tell her. Blair would get upset, she might cry, upset herself, go into labor even earlier . . . the baby. We can't lose her. We can't lose another child. . .
"Okay, well, I'm going to wait for the boys in the family room, then. I'll get them hot cocoa or something when they come in."
"Todd, are you all right, My Love?" she asked.
Bitsy seemed frozen in deep study of him.
"I'm great. I'm going to be a father again, I have you, I have Momma. What could be wrong?"
"Nothing, I guess. Oh, by the way, who was that downstairs?"
He stopped outside the door. "Sister Rebecca Katherine."
"She was here, and didn't say hi to us?"
"She. . . had to go. Said she was needed at Mountainview, I offered for her to stay and eat with us."
"What did she want, then?"
"She wanted to tell me about Aiden. Timothy said Aiden's done with his second surgery."
"That's good. You'll call later, right?"
Timothy.
"Yeah, I'll call later." I'm scared to tell her. I need her, but . . . Jewel.
"Good, be sure to tell him I asked for him and Aiden." Blair said.
He walked to The Sun home office, and sat at his desk. He folded his hands, and put them on top. You are worthless. He brushed hair the back from his eyes. His hair was getting a little long on the sides and back. He pushed it off his forehead. Peter always hated his hair. Called him names. You pansy. A little girl, that's what you are.
He dialed. "Dad?" As much as he tried, his voice shook.
"Todd? What in the world is wrong?"
"I . . . don't . . ." he couldn't.
"It's after midnight, here, Son. What is it? Is Bridgette all right?"
"She's fine, she's . . . she's okay."
"Y'ar upset. What is it?"
"I . . .I'm having trouble saying it. Everyone's all right."
"That's certainly a relief, Boy."
"Old Man, I'm . . . losing touch."
"With what, Son?"
"Reality. Can . . . I don't know how to feel."
"Just feel how ya feel and don't worry about supposed to's."
"Hang on," he said, getting up to close the door. "I'm back. I'm a mess."
"See y'ar therapist?"
"He's . . . not going to be able to help with this one."
"So ya called me."
"Yeah. Can't tell Blair, not now."
"It sounds like y'ar torn up. Go ahead and unburden y'aself. I told ya to do so."
He decided to just say it. "Could my father be alive?" As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt foolish.
Timothy swallowed. He wanted to proceed cautiously, but had been dealing with the same query all day, since his sister had called. "Go on."
"You're not acting surprised."
"No. I can't lie and say that I am. Y'ar aunt called me, she had a nightmare."
"I know. She told me."
"What can I do?"
"How would I start, looking for him, I mean?"
"I don't know. Let me analyze the legalities of these accounts. Possibly something there. Who was the last person, aside from ya, to see him alive?"
"The nurses?"
"Other than them."
"Connie, his girlfriend, or fiance. The last one. He had a lot of them. If they didn't do what he wanted, he usually dumped them. Of course, I don't know what he really did with them. . ." his voice trailed off.
"Now, now. Let's stay in the present, Boy. It was Connie, what was her last name?"
"I don't remember."
"The lawyer, that handled your father's estate?"
"I remember him. His name was Adams. Chicago. Connie had my father cremated without asking me. That was that." He could tell that Timothy was writing.
"I'll investigate this. I'll do it first thing in the morning. It's past five there, won't do me any good now."
"Thanks, Dad. What about Aiden?"
"He's all right. Struggling. He said he wanted ya to help him, something about the memory loss. He feels ya would know about it more than most."
"Hmf. He's right, probably."
"Let's do one thing at a time. Give me time on this, Son."
"I will."
"And don't let it consume ya. Please. Ya must try and move on. It's the only way fair to y'ar children and y'ar woman."
He swallowed. "How did you get so smart?"
"Experience. I love ya. Call ya later." He hung up.
Todd held the phone for a moment, then put it down. "I . . .love you, too, Old Man."
"Hey, Squirt, wait," he heard Jack say, "get back here with my earbuds."
Todd smiled, "They're home." He followed the staircase and went to his sons. Upon seeing them, fighting over the earbuds in the foyer, he grabbed them both, and hugged them. "You guys are so late, all those after school things. It's already dark!"
Jack, stunned, said nothing, and patted his father's back, and Sam, hugging back tightly, said, "Dad, you're squeezing me!"
"Sorry, Buddy, I just missed you today."
Jack caught his father's eyes, and said, "What's wrong? Where's Mom?"
"She's upstairs with Grandma Bitsy. Baby stuff."
"Again? She looks at those books all the time," Sam said.
"Gives us man time," Todd said, avoiding Jack's gaze. "Don't take your coats off."
"Dad, it's like dark." Jack said. "We went to see Addie and Aunt Dorian, remember? Mom said to."
"I know, it's dark, but I have stadium lighting, and you guys know that."
"By the way, Dad, what's that smell?" Sam asked.
"Don't tell me you don't know?" he said, teasingly.
"Smells like Sister Becca Thrin's food."
"That's what it is. I made it. Now while it cooks, let's go outside and do man stuff." He said, grabbing his coat.
"What man stuff?" Sam said.
"Well, we're not going mushrooming or anything, grab that football from in the chest in the family room." Todd said.
Sam obliged, and Jack opened the back door. The three of them went outside, after Todd snapped on the stadium-style lights. The backyard was like daylight, and Both Bitsy and Blair looked up when it came on. Bitsy was excited, and got off the bed and went to the glass doors. She smiled, and Blair got up and carefully followed. Blair said, "He's so good with them."
Bitsy took her notepad and wrote to Blair: Does he teach them? He used to play football when he was little. Peter forced him.
"He played in college, too. He was outstanding."
Does he yell at them? Does he tell them bad things?
"No. He never does that, ever. Even when they're bad. He always shows them love, even when he has to be stern with them. But when he's doing this, he is always patient and loving."
She saw the older woman's eyes filling with water. He has learned to love. Blair, I think he learned that from you.
Blair was overcome with feelings, and put her arm around her mother-in-law. "He learned it from you, too. He was my very best and only friend, once. Did you know that?"
Bitsy shook her head.
"It's true. We were each others' lifelines. No one else liked us in town."
Why not? I mean, I know about Todd's past, but you?
"I wasn't the best kind of person then. I made a lot of mistakes. We were both pretty . . . pathetic."
Made for each other then.
She smiled. "Yes, I guess we are."
Look how he plays with them. I can tell you, that nothing he's doing was ever done for him. I was there. Nothing.
"My God, what it must have been like," Blair said, longing to hold her husband to her heart.
You can't imagine. I know he has told you, so much of it. It was a very bad thing.
"For both of you. If you ever want to talk to me about it. Or write to me about it . . ."
It was bad. Just bad. I don't know what I would say. Think of the worst things a person can do to someone else. That's all.
Blair thought her heart would shatter, but she took the woman's hand, and held it. She said, directly into her eyes, "No more. Never again. You won't have to worry. You're with us now."
Bitsy smiled, and turned back to Todd and the boys playing football after dark in the yard.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
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Blair said, "What is it, Todd? You look upset."
Both women stared in his direction. He said, "I, uh, wanted to . . . tell you both that dinner's on."
"Todd, you yelled that up to us about twenty minutes ago. If that didn't tell us, the smell sure would."
"Right."
"I think he's jealous, Momma, that he's left out of the shopping," Blair said.
Her mother-in-law smiled, and put out her hand to beckon him.
"I would love to, but I really should get ready to receive the boys. They'll be home soon. What about Road Runner?"
"He's asleep." Blair said, nonchalantly looking back to her magazine.
He couldn't tell her. Blair would get upset, she might cry, upset herself, go into labor even earlier . . . the baby. We can't lose her. We can't lose another child. . .
"Okay, well, I'm going to wait for the boys in the family room, then. I'll get them hot cocoa or something when they come in."
"Todd, are you all right, My Love?" she asked.
Bitsy seemed frozen in deep study of him.
"I'm great. I'm going to be a father again, I have you, I have Momma. What could be wrong?"
"Nothing, I guess. Oh, by the way, who was that downstairs?"
He stopped outside the door. "Sister Rebecca Katherine."
"She was here, and didn't say hi to us?"
"She. . . had to go. Said she was needed at Mountainview, I offered for her to stay and eat with us."
"What did she want, then?"
"She wanted to tell me about Aiden. Timothy said Aiden's done with his second surgery."
"That's good. You'll call later, right?"
Timothy.
"Yeah, I'll call later." I'm scared to tell her. I need her, but . . . Jewel.
"Good, be sure to tell him I asked for him and Aiden." Blair said.
He walked to The Sun home office, and sat at his desk. He folded his hands, and put them on top. You are worthless. He brushed hair the back from his eyes. His hair was getting a little long on the sides and back. He pushed it off his forehead. Peter always hated his hair. Called him names. You pansy. A little girl, that's what you are.
He dialed. "Dad?" As much as he tried, his voice shook.
"Todd? What in the world is wrong?"
"I . . . don't . . ." he couldn't.
"It's after midnight, here, Son. What is it? Is Bridgette all right?"
"She's fine, she's . . . she's okay."
"Y'ar upset. What is it?"
"I . . .I'm having trouble saying it. Everyone's all right."
"That's certainly a relief, Boy."
"Old Man, I'm . . . losing touch."
"With what, Son?"
"Reality. Can . . . I don't know how to feel."
"Just feel how ya feel and don't worry about supposed to's."
"Hang on," he said, getting up to close the door. "I'm back. I'm a mess."
"See y'ar therapist?"
"He's . . . not going to be able to help with this one."
"So ya called me."
"Yeah. Can't tell Blair, not now."
"It sounds like y'ar torn up. Go ahead and unburden y'aself. I told ya to do so."
He decided to just say it. "Could my father be alive?" As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt foolish.
Timothy swallowed. He wanted to proceed cautiously, but had been dealing with the same query all day, since his sister had called. "Go on."
"You're not acting surprised."
"No. I can't lie and say that I am. Y'ar aunt called me, she had a nightmare."
"I know. She told me."
"What can I do?"
"How would I start, looking for him, I mean?"
"I don't know. Let me analyze the legalities of these accounts. Possibly something there. Who was the last person, aside from ya, to see him alive?"
"The nurses?"
"Other than them."
"Connie, his girlfriend, or fiance. The last one. He had a lot of them. If they didn't do what he wanted, he usually dumped them. Of course, I don't know what he really did with them. . ." his voice trailed off.
"Now, now. Let's stay in the present, Boy. It was Connie, what was her last name?"
"I don't remember."
"The lawyer, that handled your father's estate?"
"I remember him. His name was Adams. Chicago. Connie had my father cremated without asking me. That was that." He could tell that Timothy was writing.
"I'll investigate this. I'll do it first thing in the morning. It's past five there, won't do me any good now."
"Thanks, Dad. What about Aiden?"
"He's all right. Struggling. He said he wanted ya to help him, something about the memory loss. He feels ya would know about it more than most."
"Hmf. He's right, probably."
"Let's do one thing at a time. Give me time on this, Son."
"I will."
"And don't let it consume ya. Please. Ya must try and move on. It's the only way fair to y'ar children and y'ar woman."
He swallowed. "How did you get so smart?"
"Experience. I love ya. Call ya later." He hung up.
Todd held the phone for a moment, then put it down. "I . . .love you, too, Old Man."
"Hey, Squirt, wait," he heard Jack say, "get back here with my earbuds."
Todd smiled, "They're home." He followed the staircase and went to his sons. Upon seeing them, fighting over the earbuds in the foyer, he grabbed them both, and hugged them. "You guys are so late, all those after school things. It's already dark!"
Jack, stunned, said nothing, and patted his father's back, and Sam, hugging back tightly, said, "Dad, you're squeezing me!"
"Sorry, Buddy, I just missed you today."
Jack caught his father's eyes, and said, "What's wrong? Where's Mom?"
"She's upstairs with Grandma Bitsy. Baby stuff."
"Again? She looks at those books all the time," Sam said.
"Gives us man time," Todd said, avoiding Jack's gaze. "Don't take your coats off."
"Dad, it's like dark." Jack said. "We went to see Addie and Aunt Dorian, remember? Mom said to."
"I know, it's dark, but I have stadium lighting, and you guys know that."
"By the way, Dad, what's that smell?" Sam asked.
"Don't tell me you don't know?" he said, teasingly.
"Smells like Sister Becca Thrin's food."
"That's what it is. I made it. Now while it cooks, let's go outside and do man stuff." He said, grabbing his coat.
"What man stuff?" Sam said.
"Well, we're not going mushrooming or anything, grab that football from in the chest in the family room." Todd said.
Sam obliged, and Jack opened the back door. The three of them went outside, after Todd snapped on the stadium-style lights. The backyard was like daylight, and Both Bitsy and Blair looked up when it came on. Bitsy was excited, and got off the bed and went to the glass doors. She smiled, and Blair got up and carefully followed. Blair said, "He's so good with them."
Bitsy took her notepad and wrote to Blair: Does he teach them? He used to play football when he was little. Peter forced him.
"He played in college, too. He was outstanding."
Does he yell at them? Does he tell them bad things?
"No. He never does that, ever. Even when they're bad. He always shows them love, even when he has to be stern with them. But when he's doing this, he is always patient and loving."
She saw the older woman's eyes filling with water. He has learned to love. Blair, I think he learned that from you.
Blair was overcome with feelings, and put her arm around her mother-in-law. "He learned it from you, too. He was my very best and only friend, once. Did you know that?"
Bitsy shook her head.
"It's true. We were each others' lifelines. No one else liked us in town."
Why not? I mean, I know about Todd's past, but you?
"I wasn't the best kind of person then. I made a lot of mistakes. We were both pretty . . . pathetic."
Made for each other then.
She smiled. "Yes, I guess we are."
Look how he plays with them. I can tell you, that nothing he's doing was ever done for him. I was there. Nothing.
"My God, what it must have been like," Blair said, longing to hold her husband to her heart.
You can't imagine. I know he has told you, so much of it. It was a very bad thing.
"For both of you. If you ever want to talk to me about it. Or write to me about it . . ."
It was bad. Just bad. I don't know what I would say. Think of the worst things a person can do to someone else. That's all.
Blair thought her heart would shatter, but she took the woman's hand, and held it. She said, directly into her eyes, "No more. Never again. You won't have to worry. You're with us now."
Bitsy smiled, and turned back to Todd and the boys playing football after dark in the yard.
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Saturday, August 30, 2014
The Mysterious Samuel Toddman: Chapter 9
The cab pulled up to the Au Diable and Samuel stepped out and paid the cab driver. It was a little early by Parisian standards, but not by his and he needed a stiff drink. He entered and headed for the back corner booth he usually occupied when he came here. He slumped down at the table deep in thought.
"Monsieur?"
At the question Samuel looked up and saw the waitress looking expectantly at him.
"May I get you something to drink, Monsieur"
With the way he felt, it was going to take something stronger than wine to numb him. He nodded, "Oui, bring me a double shot of bourbon and keep them coming until I tell you to stop."
The waitress left and Samuel was once again alone with his thoughts. The scene kept playing over and over in his head. The fear in her eyes and the laughter echoing in his ears. He had done that. He had put fear in those eyes and he had liked it. Samuel couldn't wrap his mind around that thought. He had liked it! Samuel felt sick, he had always respected women. He just couldn't believe he had been able to actually hurt some woman intentionally. The waitress put the drink down and before she could leave, Samuel downed it. "Bring me another." and he let her walk away. His eyes watered from the strength of the drink and from the turmoil he felt inside.
He had known something was off. Remembering back to the dark time, when he had felt like this but hadn't known why . Well now he knew why. There was something ugly inside of him, something horrendous that he had been keeping buried all this time. I don't want to remember any more. At least without the memories he had been able to live a relatively simple life..Samuel had been happy with his girls but now that was over. I can't even face them. How can I face anyone real. Surely everyone can see the real me now. His hand went to his cheek and covered the scars. These are the reminders of my violence. I can't remove them anymore then I can remove the action that put them there. His second drink arrived then Samuel waved the waitress away. He picked up the drink looking at the darkness of the liquor. That's my soul, dark and stained.
Alex arrived at the restaurant and quickly paid the cab driver. She stepped inside and started looking around. It was early, but there were a few patrons. I wonder if I'm going to get lucky. Could he be here? As she made her way through the restaurant she noticed several men all sitting alone. Could any of them be Mr Toddman? She took her time studying each man, but none of them appeared familiar. Then she spotted a man sitting by himself in the dark corner of the place. That's odd, there is something about him that seems familiar I don't know if its the long hair or what? Oh what the heck, I'll give it a shot. If he's not anyone I know I'll simply tell him I'm looking for a friend. At that Alex began making her way to the back table. Just as she was nearing him, her boot suddenly caught in a crack and she found herself falling to the ground at his feet.
Samuel was startled and immediately got up to help the woman in front of him. He reached down and offered his hand "Are you okay? May I help you?”
Alex had never felt more foolish. Then she heard his voice. She must be hearing things. She looked up and there before her stood a man she hadn't seen in eight years. Reaching down toward her was none other than Todd Manning. She gave him her hand and let him help her up. Flustered she felt she should say something "Oh I'm alright, new boots and I wasn't watching where I was going." she smiled and realized that he didn't know her. My God, he's Mr Toddman and he has no clue we know each other. No wonder Carlo said I would recognize him.
Samuel helped her to a chair at his table. "You need a drink after that tumble. Will you let me buy you one?" All of Samuel's previous dark thoughts had fled when she had landed at his feet. His natural instinct to help any woman in distress took over. "Oh excuse me, I'm presuming. Are you meeting someone?"
Alex was flabbergasted. This wasn't the Todd Manning she knew. This was a gentleman who obviously knew how to treat a lady. "No, that's quite alright. I'm here in Paris alone. and heard there was a place that served American food. So here I am and I would love to have a drink. You're right I am a little shaken."
Samuel hailed the waitress and looked inquiringly at the woman in front of him. "Glass of Merlot would be perfect " she replied. He instructed the waitress and sat back down in his seat. He looked at her and thought of how he would paint her. His artist's eye appreciated her smile and the beautiful eyes staring at him. As he looked he saw her eyes wander to his cheek, feeling naked, his hand went swiftly to his pocket and he removed the mask and started to cover his scars. Suddenly he felt a touch on his hand and noticed she had put out her hand on his.
"Please, You don't have to do that on my account." He looked across at her. She was smiling. "They're not that bad and they give you somewhat of a devil may care look."
Samuel smiled. "Forgive me, I haven't introduced myself my name is Samuel."
Alex smiled back in return "No need to apologize. My name is Alex." She looked at him carefully, looking for any signs of recognition on his part. But all he did was extend his hand and gently taking hers, brought it up to his lips and gave a gentle kiss.
"In all my years, this is the first time such a lovely lady has fallen in my path. I have been blessed to have three beautiful ladies in my life up till now. But I must confess, you are the first real beauty I have encountered in a long time."
"What a strange and nice thing to say." Alex took a sip of her drink. "I don't quite understand. You say you have three beautiful women in your life and then you say I'm the first beauty you've encountered. What about the three women?" Alex was perplexed. She was playing everything off the cuff, never in her wild imagination had she thought she was going to be sitting across from Todd Manning. It was bizarre that he didn't know her and why was he calling himself Samuel. Also how did Carlo expect her to entice him if he had three other women around who might object.
"Ahh. Let me explain. You see, I'm an artist and my three beautiful women are my Muses but they aren't real, except in my paintings. They have kept me company ever since I moved to Paris." Samuel looked at Alex, as he finished his second drink, "but I don't want to boor you about my simple existence. Let's talk about you. You say you are here by yourself in Paris, surely there is someone waiting for you somewhere." Samuel felt the need to turn the conversation away from him. He had started to get that feeling again of being watched and he didn't really want to cut this conversation short. Yet he found himself a little wary of Alex all of a sudden. Maybe he shouldn't let his guard down too fast, in the past his feelings had always been spot on. He was grateful to her for interrupting his journey into despair but perhaps he needed to know more about her before giving her any more information about himself.
It was Alex's turn to be uncomfortable. "Well, you see, there's no one now. There was until recently, but it all went bad. I needed to get away from him, so I got the first flight I could get and it was to Paris. Like I told you when I so unceremoniously landed at your feet ,I was looking for some good American food."
At that, Samuel chuckled, " I'm afraid my dear you came to the wrong place for that. Still it hasn't been totally unpleasant that you landed at my feet. At least I've had an enjoyable drink in your lovely company. But, as enjoyable as it has been, I'm afraid I have some business that I must attend to. Still, I can't leave you stranded here by yourself. If you'll allow me, I'll see you to your hotel." With that Samuel stood up, pulled his money clip out and left a sizable amount on the table to cover the bill and the tip.
Alex had never had an encounter like this before in her life. Just when she thought she was going to get somewhere with Samuel, he did a sudden about face. Carlo was right, he was definitely skittish. It was like something had spooked him . She knew better than to try and extend the conversation, she remembered when Todd used to change like quicksilver. Obviously Samuel was as mercurial as Todd. This was going to be a challenge after all. She smiled at Samuel. "Oh, I'm sorry . I hope I didn't delay you too much. You don't really have to see me to my hotel. I can take a cab."
"Nonsense, I feel responsible to make sure you arrive safely back at your hotel. I wouldn't want you taking any more tumbles." With that, Samuel offered his arm and guided her out of the restaurant. He flagged down a cab and joined her inside and looking askance at her "Where to my dear Alex?"
Left with no choice, Alex replied. "I'm staying at the Ritz."
Samuel smiled, "Take us to the Ritz."
For Alex the ride took forever, Samuel was quiet and didn't seem inclined to carry on a conversation. She wondered how she was going to get him to see her again. She decided to be forward about it. "Samuel, thank you so much for seeing me back to my hotel. I've never been to Paris and you say you've been living here for some time. Perhaps if you have any free time you might give me a call and help me see some of Paris in your gracious company. I'm staying in Suite 240."
Samuel looked at her "Dear Alex, I would really love to be able to show you around. I, unfortunately, will be extremely busy for a while. But if you are still in town when my business is completed perhaps we will see each other again."
The cab pulled up to the front of the Ritz and the Doorman came and helped Alex alight. She smiled ruefully. He had effectively foiled that attempt. "Good night Samuel, it was a pleasure to meet you." She turned and entered the hotel. I need to talk to Carlo. If he wants my help he's going to have to give me more information.
Samuel watched her enter the hotel and felt like he had just escaped a bullet. The hairs on the back of his neck were raised and he sensed something definitely important had just occurred tonight. I think my watchers are making some kind of move. This is going to get interesting.
"19 Rue Morgue." Samuel instructed the driver. As he headed home, Samuel replayed everything that had occurred in the last few hours. The memory of what he had done to that young woman still haunted him but now for some reason it felt like an old wound. He felt like he had lived through something awful connected to that memory but had come out the other side a better man. If he could live with that memory, he could probably survive the next bad memory too. After all, they were memories, something that had happened in his past. Horrific they might be, but he knew he would face them one at a time. He felt like a weight had lifted. Then he began thinking of Alex. He had felt comfortable with her almost as if he had known her from someplace, but at the same time it was like a voice in his head had suddenly yelled "Don't Trust Her". He felt bad that he had cut her off so quickly. It was times like those when he missed interaction with others. But that odd feeling he got, that sense of danger had always kept him safe.
Arriving back at his apartment he hurried back inside. Once there, he put his coat down and crossed to Dee and his serene one. "I'm so sorry! Forgive me for leaving without telling you why. I felt so dirty after I got back the memory of how I got my first scar. I couldn't face you. I know you've always help me through these moments, but I was ashamed. I never knew I was capable of attacking someone like that. I know now that I've got to look at everything my past might throw at me if I'm to find myself. You've both told me so many times, that when the time was right I would be ready for it. I think I am. Something has broken free. It's happening." Samuel looked at all his beautiful girls surrounding him. They filled him with a feeling of love and warmth, banishing all traces of the cold that had taken him over just hours before. He walked back into the loft and looking at the picture, he addressed the woman portrayed there. "I'm sorry for everything I did to you. I know I haven't remembered it all but when I do, I pray I'll be able to face you in person to show you just how sorry I am.”
Samuel turned and left the loft. Wandering into the kitchen, his thoughts went back to his encounter with Alex. Although he didn't know why, he was sure that Alex was mixed up with his watchers. Perhaps he could use that to his advantage. They wanted Alex to get to know him, it was like they wanted to control him. Maybe he would let them think they succeeded. Yes, while they thought he was putty in Alex's hands, he could get a foothold into figuring out who was pulling the strings. He was tired of hiding and trying to stay off the radar. It was his turn. He was the one. He was in charge now!
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
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"Monsieur?"
At the question Samuel looked up and saw the waitress looking expectantly at him.
"May I get you something to drink, Monsieur"
With the way he felt, it was going to take something stronger than wine to numb him. He nodded, "Oui, bring me a double shot of bourbon and keep them coming until I tell you to stop."
The waitress left and Samuel was once again alone with his thoughts. The scene kept playing over and over in his head. The fear in her eyes and the laughter echoing in his ears. He had done that. He had put fear in those eyes and he had liked it. Samuel couldn't wrap his mind around that thought. He had liked it! Samuel felt sick, he had always respected women. He just couldn't believe he had been able to actually hurt some woman intentionally. The waitress put the drink down and before she could leave, Samuel downed it. "Bring me another." and he let her walk away. His eyes watered from the strength of the drink and from the turmoil he felt inside.
He had known something was off. Remembering back to the dark time, when he had felt like this but hadn't known why . Well now he knew why. There was something ugly inside of him, something horrendous that he had been keeping buried all this time. I don't want to remember any more. At least without the memories he had been able to live a relatively simple life..Samuel had been happy with his girls but now that was over. I can't even face them. How can I face anyone real. Surely everyone can see the real me now. His hand went to his cheek and covered the scars. These are the reminders of my violence. I can't remove them anymore then I can remove the action that put them there. His second drink arrived then Samuel waved the waitress away. He picked up the drink looking at the darkness of the liquor. That's my soul, dark and stained.
Alex arrived at the restaurant and quickly paid the cab driver. She stepped inside and started looking around. It was early, but there were a few patrons. I wonder if I'm going to get lucky. Could he be here? As she made her way through the restaurant she noticed several men all sitting alone. Could any of them be Mr Toddman? She took her time studying each man, but none of them appeared familiar. Then she spotted a man sitting by himself in the dark corner of the place. That's odd, there is something about him that seems familiar I don't know if its the long hair or what? Oh what the heck, I'll give it a shot. If he's not anyone I know I'll simply tell him I'm looking for a friend. At that Alex began making her way to the back table. Just as she was nearing him, her boot suddenly caught in a crack and she found herself falling to the ground at his feet.
Samuel was startled and immediately got up to help the woman in front of him. He reached down and offered his hand "Are you okay? May I help you?”
Alex had never felt more foolish. Then she heard his voice. She must be hearing things. She looked up and there before her stood a man she hadn't seen in eight years. Reaching down toward her was none other than Todd Manning. She gave him her hand and let him help her up. Flustered she felt she should say something "Oh I'm alright, new boots and I wasn't watching where I was going." she smiled and realized that he didn't know her. My God, he's Mr Toddman and he has no clue we know each other. No wonder Carlo said I would recognize him.
Samuel helped her to a chair at his table. "You need a drink after that tumble. Will you let me buy you one?" All of Samuel's previous dark thoughts had fled when she had landed at his feet. His natural instinct to help any woman in distress took over. "Oh excuse me, I'm presuming. Are you meeting someone?"
Alex was flabbergasted. This wasn't the Todd Manning she knew. This was a gentleman who obviously knew how to treat a lady. "No, that's quite alright. I'm here in Paris alone. and heard there was a place that served American food. So here I am and I would love to have a drink. You're right I am a little shaken."
Samuel hailed the waitress and looked inquiringly at the woman in front of him. "Glass of Merlot would be perfect " she replied. He instructed the waitress and sat back down in his seat. He looked at her and thought of how he would paint her. His artist's eye appreciated her smile and the beautiful eyes staring at him. As he looked he saw her eyes wander to his cheek, feeling naked, his hand went swiftly to his pocket and he removed the mask and started to cover his scars. Suddenly he felt a touch on his hand and noticed she had put out her hand on his.
"Please, You don't have to do that on my account." He looked across at her. She was smiling. "They're not that bad and they give you somewhat of a devil may care look."
Samuel smiled. "Forgive me, I haven't introduced myself my name is Samuel."
Alex smiled back in return "No need to apologize. My name is Alex." She looked at him carefully, looking for any signs of recognition on his part. But all he did was extend his hand and gently taking hers, brought it up to his lips and gave a gentle kiss.
"In all my years, this is the first time such a lovely lady has fallen in my path. I have been blessed to have three beautiful ladies in my life up till now. But I must confess, you are the first real beauty I have encountered in a long time."
"What a strange and nice thing to say." Alex took a sip of her drink. "I don't quite understand. You say you have three beautiful women in your life and then you say I'm the first beauty you've encountered. What about the three women?" Alex was perplexed. She was playing everything off the cuff, never in her wild imagination had she thought she was going to be sitting across from Todd Manning. It was bizarre that he didn't know her and why was he calling himself Samuel. Also how did Carlo expect her to entice him if he had three other women around who might object.
"Ahh. Let me explain. You see, I'm an artist and my three beautiful women are my Muses but they aren't real, except in my paintings. They have kept me company ever since I moved to Paris." Samuel looked at Alex, as he finished his second drink, "but I don't want to boor you about my simple existence. Let's talk about you. You say you are here by yourself in Paris, surely there is someone waiting for you somewhere." Samuel felt the need to turn the conversation away from him. He had started to get that feeling again of being watched and he didn't really want to cut this conversation short. Yet he found himself a little wary of Alex all of a sudden. Maybe he shouldn't let his guard down too fast, in the past his feelings had always been spot on. He was grateful to her for interrupting his journey into despair but perhaps he needed to know more about her before giving her any more information about himself.
It was Alex's turn to be uncomfortable. "Well, you see, there's no one now. There was until recently, but it all went bad. I needed to get away from him, so I got the first flight I could get and it was to Paris. Like I told you when I so unceremoniously landed at your feet ,I was looking for some good American food."
At that, Samuel chuckled, " I'm afraid my dear you came to the wrong place for that. Still it hasn't been totally unpleasant that you landed at my feet. At least I've had an enjoyable drink in your lovely company. But, as enjoyable as it has been, I'm afraid I have some business that I must attend to. Still, I can't leave you stranded here by yourself. If you'll allow me, I'll see you to your hotel." With that Samuel stood up, pulled his money clip out and left a sizable amount on the table to cover the bill and the tip.
Alex had never had an encounter like this before in her life. Just when she thought she was going to get somewhere with Samuel, he did a sudden about face. Carlo was right, he was definitely skittish. It was like something had spooked him . She knew better than to try and extend the conversation, she remembered when Todd used to change like quicksilver. Obviously Samuel was as mercurial as Todd. This was going to be a challenge after all. She smiled at Samuel. "Oh, I'm sorry . I hope I didn't delay you too much. You don't really have to see me to my hotel. I can take a cab."
"Nonsense, I feel responsible to make sure you arrive safely back at your hotel. I wouldn't want you taking any more tumbles." With that, Samuel offered his arm and guided her out of the restaurant. He flagged down a cab and joined her inside and looking askance at her "Where to my dear Alex?"
Left with no choice, Alex replied. "I'm staying at the Ritz."
Samuel smiled, "Take us to the Ritz."
For Alex the ride took forever, Samuel was quiet and didn't seem inclined to carry on a conversation. She wondered how she was going to get him to see her again. She decided to be forward about it. "Samuel, thank you so much for seeing me back to my hotel. I've never been to Paris and you say you've been living here for some time. Perhaps if you have any free time you might give me a call and help me see some of Paris in your gracious company. I'm staying in Suite 240."
Samuel looked at her "Dear Alex, I would really love to be able to show you around. I, unfortunately, will be extremely busy for a while. But if you are still in town when my business is completed perhaps we will see each other again."
The cab pulled up to the front of the Ritz and the Doorman came and helped Alex alight. She smiled ruefully. He had effectively foiled that attempt. "Good night Samuel, it was a pleasure to meet you." She turned and entered the hotel. I need to talk to Carlo. If he wants my help he's going to have to give me more information.
Samuel watched her enter the hotel and felt like he had just escaped a bullet. The hairs on the back of his neck were raised and he sensed something definitely important had just occurred tonight. I think my watchers are making some kind of move. This is going to get interesting.
"19 Rue Morgue." Samuel instructed the driver. As he headed home, Samuel replayed everything that had occurred in the last few hours. The memory of what he had done to that young woman still haunted him but now for some reason it felt like an old wound. He felt like he had lived through something awful connected to that memory but had come out the other side a better man. If he could live with that memory, he could probably survive the next bad memory too. After all, they were memories, something that had happened in his past. Horrific they might be, but he knew he would face them one at a time. He felt like a weight had lifted. Then he began thinking of Alex. He had felt comfortable with her almost as if he had known her from someplace, but at the same time it was like a voice in his head had suddenly yelled "Don't Trust Her". He felt bad that he had cut her off so quickly. It was times like those when he missed interaction with others. But that odd feeling he got, that sense of danger had always kept him safe.
Arriving back at his apartment he hurried back inside. Once there, he put his coat down and crossed to Dee and his serene one. "I'm so sorry! Forgive me for leaving without telling you why. I felt so dirty after I got back the memory of how I got my first scar. I couldn't face you. I know you've always help me through these moments, but I was ashamed. I never knew I was capable of attacking someone like that. I know now that I've got to look at everything my past might throw at me if I'm to find myself. You've both told me so many times, that when the time was right I would be ready for it. I think I am. Something has broken free. It's happening." Samuel looked at all his beautiful girls surrounding him. They filled him with a feeling of love and warmth, banishing all traces of the cold that had taken him over just hours before. He walked back into the loft and looking at the picture, he addressed the woman portrayed there. "I'm sorry for everything I did to you. I know I haven't remembered it all but when I do, I pray I'll be able to face you in person to show you just how sorry I am.”
Samuel turned and left the loft. Wandering into the kitchen, his thoughts went back to his encounter with Alex. Although he didn't know why, he was sure that Alex was mixed up with his watchers. Perhaps he could use that to his advantage. They wanted Alex to get to know him, it was like they wanted to control him. Maybe he would let them think they succeeded. Yes, while they thought he was putty in Alex's hands, he could get a foothold into figuring out who was pulling the strings. He was tired of hiding and trying to stay off the radar. It was his turn. He was the one. He was in charge now!
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.
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