thorneunexpected

Thorne and the Unexpected

Directly continued from Thorne in Motion

By Atonia Walpole

Part 1:

Terry unloaded the bags from the taxi that brought them from the airport in Richmond to the house. Munchie was on the front porch waiting for them.

“Oh, Toni, I’m so glad you're home!” She hugged Toni and then turned to Terry, who set the bags down and hugged her back. “Now I’ve got everything ready and I went ahead and did what you asked and hired some more help.”

Terry listened and as their voices faded into the hallway, he walked into his office. The boxes of communication equipment were stacked inside the door so he skirted around them and set his laptop on the desk, pulling it out of the leather case. He watched the screen, waiting for the satellite to connect. He was glad that Munchie had Toni’s attention as he wanted to get into his email and find out what the hell was going on.

Somehow Max had done it, manipulated the stocks, and using Terry’s money he’d essentially bought Securities International Ltd. “Congrats. Nothing you can’t handle. We are working on something else. Will let you know if we can make it happen. MK” Terry wondered what else he could do to screw up his life. He didn’t want this, not now, not yet. He and Toni were still trying to find the rhythm of their life together. It was too much too soon.

He scrolled through several messages from SI, one giving him an instant headache. The former owners wanted a meeting with him at his convenience. Well, bloody hell, it wasn’t convenient. He’d just got home. He emptied his pockets, tossing his passport and flight ticket stubs across his desk. The stack of boxes caught his eye. Yeah, I see ya, but not today. He looked up to see Toni standing in the doorway.

“Terry, are you okay?”

How long had she been standing there? “I’m just tired, luv.”

It was more than that and she knew it but right now she wasn’t going to ask. “Come upstairs.”

Terry followed her up the stairs into their bedroom and closed the door. Toni went into the bathroom where she’d been filling the jacuzzi.

“I know you didn’t sleep on the plane." she placed a stack of soft thick towels by the tub and walked back into the bedroom. He was sitting on the side of the bed and she went to him, placing her hands on his shoulders. “You are to strip and get in the jacuzzi until you are relaxed enough to sleep and then I expect you to go to bed.”

He picked up one of her hands and kissed it. “You’re too good to me. You know that?”

“Not nearly good enough. Now strip.”

“Are you joining me?”

“No, I’ll check on you later.” She kissed him and almost had second thoughts.

Once he was in the tub Toni went back downstairs. Munchie had hired a maid and a man of work as she called him. They were to arrive shortly but in the meantime she picked up the stack of mail and sorted through it. Bills she put aside and the rest she tossed except for a note from her grandmother’s pastor. She intended to set up her own desk in the den but right now she walked into Terry’s and placed the stack of bills in a basket. He’d left his laptop on so she went to cut it off and stopped. Who was MK? She debated opening the message. Terry had already read it. No, she wouldn’t and quickly she turned off the machine. She only knew one MK and it bothered her a little. It wasn’t possible…no, it wasn’t.

Later she went back upstairs to check on Terry. He was almost asleep in the tub and she roused him, dried him and put him to bed. She was a little concerned about him. He seemed to be worried about something and she couldn’t figure out what it could be. Like he’d said, everything was settling out for them now. He should be relaxing a little.

Toni interviewed their prospective help and walked down to the huge garage and up the stairs. There was a nice apartment up there and that’s where Tom and Betty Snipe would live. Munchie knew them from way back and that was enough for Toni. She remembered at one time the chauffer lived up there, but those days were long past. She’d only been a very little girl then. Walking down to the pool, she noted it looked very blue and inviting and decided the pool company was doing a good job. The plants and containers were colorful. The groundskeeper company was also doing a heck of a job with all the property. She was suddenly filled with such happiness she could barely contain it and ran back to the house.

Terry slept soundly for two hours and slowly came awake in the big bed. He smiled to himself. Toni always seemed to know exactly what he needed. He wondered if she knew it now, right now.

Toni came through the back door and glanced into the kitchen wing. Munchie was taking something out of the oven and it smelled good. She ran down the hallway and up the wide curving stairway, quietly opening their bedroom door. Terry was propped up in bed smoking a cigarette.

“You’re supposed to be asleep.” She came in and closed the door.

“I was. I feel much better.” He put out the cigarette. “Come to bed,” he said softly.

Toni crawled across the bed until she was in his arms.

Later they came down and had their dinner. Munchie clucked around them like a mother hen, making sure they had everything they wanted and was it good. Satisfied, she cut the cake she’d baked, placed slices on a plate for them then retreated upstairs for a rest.

“This is great, Toni. It’s good to be home.”

Toni smiled, “I’m so glad you feel that way, honey. I was a little afraid when we first came here that it wouldn’t feel like home to you.”

“It does but it’s you that makes it feel that way.” He cut into his roast beef and savored the flavor.

“We now have a man of work. Tom and Betty Snipe are moving their things into the garage apartment tomorrow so keep that in mind if you need anything done.”

“A man of work, good description. I’m going to have to go back to London, luv, but I think I’m going to wait until Henry’s break and fly back home with him.”

“Why? Is it work?”

“Yeah, work.”

“I take it I’m not involved.”

“Not unless you want to be. I thought since you just got home you might not want to go back so soon.”

“How soon are we talking about?”

He sighed, “Two weeks. I’ll spend a week there; some meetings I need to attend and get some things sorted out.”

Toni twirled her fork around and speared a potato. “I thought the whole idea of this job was that you could work from home, everything done online and through all that equipment you have stacked in your office.”

Terry debated telling her. He wanted to. “Toni, I’m not just an employee there anymore. I own the company.”

Toni put her fork down. “When did this happen? Why haven’t you told me?”

“It happened last week. I didn’t know for sure until the day we left.”

“Okay, how did this happen? Not that it’s any of my business but I didn’t think you had that kind of money.”

“It is your business. I, ah, played about in the stock market and evidently made enough to buy the company.”

She looked across the table at him. He wasn’t telling her the truth and she knew it. “Wow, I didn’t know you were into that…the stock market.”

Terry put his knife and fork down. “I’m not. Max did it. Now before you start let me explain what I can.” He told her about Jack and then about running into Max. “I am and always will be somehow connected to them and I was told by Jack if ever I need them they will be there. I don’t know any more than that, Toni, except they cannot come to you, only to me.”

Toni stared at him a moment. “They’re kind of looking out for you?”

“It would seem so. I don’t know.”

She thought about it a while. That could be a good thing. “I guess if I married a magical man I can expect magic.”

“I’m not magic, Toni.”

She smiled and picked up her fork. “You could have fooled me, everything about you is magic.”

Terry smirked and picked up his glass of iced tea.

They took a walk after dinner, Toni trying to stay awake and get her body clock back into EST. She wanted to show him the pool now that it was back to being a pool again.

“It’s really nice here, Toni. There’s almost everything here that we had at the House of Four Seasons.

“That’s true. The only thing missing is the beach. Maybe tomorrow we can go for a long walk and I’ll show you where the river is. It’s not part of the property but you can get to it.”

“What river is that?”

“The James River. It’s a really pretty view and there was a path down to it. I used to fish there with my Mamam and her friend.”

“I need to find myself a place to run.” He looked around, adding, “It may be the road.”

“There are two big farms down the road but not much else,” she remarked and they started back for the house. He wouldn’t have the endless pathways here to run. The woods behind the house spread to the river but there was a lot of undergrowth.

Terry spent the next two days setting up his equipment and making sure everything worked. He was connected by satellite to the office in London and to the agents in the field. The only difference was the information he was given. He was seeing the whole picture now, not just the man on site he had to monitor. Once again he thought it was too much. He was looking forward to the meetings in London. Who did he have he could trust and who did he need to get rid of? He had to find somebody to run the financial side. That was not his area of expertise.

He thought a moment and checked his laptop, finding Max’s message. Could he reply? Yes, he could. Good! He had a few things to say to him and some questions for him.

A little while later he heard his laptop ping, stopped what he was doing and sat down at the desk, Max was working late.

“I’m assuming the first part was a thank you. Matt White is the financial guy with SI, keep him. Ask him to clean house if he needs to. Trust him. We have a problem but have figured out a solution, more later on this.”

Terry frowned. What was he talking about? “What problem?” He waited but there was no reply.

Along the wall adjacent to his desk was a line of tables which held the equipment he needed to work. He could ride his rolling chair down the length and back, keeping track of the three deployments they had going at present. Terry often thought about the previous owners of the company and wondered if they ever actually worked as he was doing. Probably not, he decided. After all, they had him and the man in London. Chrisp was his name, Benny Chrisp. Terry met him in London and liked him immediately. He reminded him of another Englishman he knew, Wyatt. Thinking of Wyatt made him think about Dino. If ever he could use him, it was now. It always hit him hard when he thought about Dino and he brushed it away, concentrating on what was in front of him.

Toni was getting reacquainted with the neighborhood since she hadn’t really lived there since she began college. She found the same helpful neighbors up the road, glad to see her living in the house, sorry to hear about her grandmother passing. She came home with boxes of fresh vegetables from their gardens and gave them to Munchie. Tom and Betty moved into the garage apartment. Betty came each day to the house to clean and drink tea with Munchie, and Tom made himself useful repairing fencing and working down in the stables. Toni wanted horses again. They’d been sold off when she went away to school.

She stopped by Terry’s office one day to find him staring at his laptop with a puzzled look on his face.

“Am I interrupting?”

“No…no, luv, never. I have to be at the airport at 6:33 to meet a flight from Miami. I have no idea what this is about.”

The message had come from Max: “FLT 1120 arriving from Miami at 6:33. Be there. Come alone.”

Toni walked over and stood by his shoulder. “It’s from Max…come alone…hmm, very mysterious.”

Terry checked his watch. “Time enough for dinner. Is that why you’re here, to feed me?”

Toni mussed his hair. “See me and think of food.”

“You bet! You feed me body and soul.” He pulled her into his lap and took his time kissing her.

Part 2:

Terry waited at the gate until the passengers had all left the plane. When he saw the pilot walk off, he went up to the desk, identified himself and told the woman he was supposed to meet someone.

She directed him to a small security office. The first person he saw through the glass door was John Biebe leaning against a table, arms crossed with a smile on his face. He tried the knob but it was locked. John turned toward the door, walked over and stepped outside.

“Hey, Terry, glad you’re here.”

“What is going on, John?”

“I hope you’re going to thank me for this. I’ve flown with these two clowns all the way from Brazil, got it, FROM BRAZIL !” He pulled Terry away from the door. “Do you know anything at all?”

“No, Max sent me a message to be here at 6:33. That was it.”

“Okay, first of all it was Max’s call. He put the word out. We found out they were in Brazil and Jack found them. Dino in jail and Wyatt cryin’ on the outside.”

“What are you saying, John? You found Dino and Wyatt? How…I tried.”

“Yeah, well you’re on the outside now. Anyhow, I flew down and through some trumped-up charges and false papers that could get me put behind bars, I got the son-of-a-bitch out of jail and extradited to the US.”

Terry started laughing. “I don’t believe this!”

“Believe it, man! As soon as we can get away from the airport I’ll turn them over to you, tear up the papers, get myself on a flight to Alaska and hope to hell nobody in Brazil ever heard of it.”

Terry was almost in tears. “John, I don’t know what to say, but thank you, brother.”

“If I had known what kind of assholes I was picking up I woulda left them there.”

“That would be the mates I remember. What did you tell them?”

“I didn’t tell them a damn thing. He thinks he’s been falsely charged with attempted assassination. Here put this in your pocket.” John handed him a federal badge.

Terry looked up at him and stuck it in his pocket. “John, don’t tell them any different until we get out of here. Once he sees me he’s going to wonder what’s up.”

“Yeah, right.” John opened the door and turned for Terry to follow him. “This is Terrence Thorne. He’s the fed I told you about,” John smoothly lied to the security officer.

After examining the ID Terry handed him, he got up, went down a short hall and unlocked a room, bringing the two drunken men back in the office. Terry had turned sideways, looking toward the door, hoping they wouldn’t recognize him right away.

“All right let’s get out of here.” John, using his Sheriff voice, headed toward the door. A quick glance at Terry and they were out in the airport, headed for the exit. Terry walked behind them, noticing Dino was in handcuffs.

Once out in the parking lot John put them in the back of Toni’s jeep. He turned to Terry and handed him something. “Here’s the key to the handcuffs. I leave it up to you. Take care of yourself, Terry.”

“You aren’t coming with us?”

“No, I’m going home if I can get a flight out of here tonight. Best to Toni…okay?”

Terry hugged him, thanked him again and slid into the driver’s seat. He adjusted his rearview mirror. “Where to, girls?”

At first there was silence then something hit him on the back of the head. “You bastard! Where in hell have you been?”

Terry drove them to a bar and still with the key in his pocket, escorted them inside.

Terry ordered drinks and they found a table. “So what were you doing in jail, mate?"

Dino still couldn’t get over Terry. “Seriously, where have you been? Oh, and do you have the key to these bracelets?”

“I do, and it’s a long story, mate. I’m just damn glad to see you.”

Wyatt came back from the bathroom and grabbed Terry for a good hug.

“Oh, man, it’s good to see you!” Terry hugged him back.

“Terry, the key.”

Terry started patting his pockets and coming up with nothing but a shit-eating grin. Finally he pulled out the key and unlocked the cuffs. “Only because I wouldn’t want it to get around just how kinky I can get.”

“So what was all this about an assassination attempt?” Wyatt asked.

“It was something drummed up to get you out of Brazil and back here where I need you desperately.”

Wyatt breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, well, that’s all right then.”

“Are you in come kind of trouble, Terry?” Dino wanted to know.

“Yes and no. I’ve obtained by some means a company of my own, Securities International Ltd. and I need your help.”

“You’re kidding! SI? What the hell, man!”

“I know, I know. Maybe I can explain to you later. But I got to have some backup.”

“You don’t even have to ask, Terry.” Wyatt picked up his bottle of beer.

“Well, wait a minute, maybe he does. You haven’t done anything illegal, have you?”

“No, I haven’t.” He still couldn’t get over seeing his two mates there, real and ready to help him.

Dino rubbed his wrists, picked up a napkin and poured a little beer on it, then dabbed at his wrist where it was bleeding a little from being pinched with the handcuffs.

“You want to explain what we’re doing in Richmond, Virginia?” Dino folded the napkin and tossed it toward the middle of the table.

“I live here. I got married again.”

“No shit!”

“Blind was she?”

They traded barbs and laughs for awhile then Terry thought he’d better call Toni and let her know to get a couple of guest rooms ready.

“Hi, luv, I’m fine. Listen a couple of my mates are in town. Do you remember Dino and Wyatt?”

“From Tecala? Yes, I do. They’re here…Terry?”

“Yeah, John delivered them. It’s quite a story, Toni. I’ll tell you when I get home. Oh, do you think Munchie might find something for these blokes to eat? They’re a little under the weather.”

Toni was caught up in the excitement in his voice. “Yes, I’m sure she can come up with something. This is great, Terry, just great!”

“Yeah, ain’t it! I’m going to drag these queens out of here in a minute. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Toni hunted out Munchie and between them they put sheets on the guest beds and made sure everything was in the bathroom that should be. Munchie called Betty and let her know there would be two guests in the house for a while.

Toni left Munchie in the kitchen preparing a late meal and walked to the front of the house to wait for Terry, turning on lights as she went.

She heard Terry’s giggle when she opened the door and smiled. She hadn’t heard that in a while.

He came in, grabbed her around the waist and introduced her.

“Wyatt Somerville and Dino Obrien, this is my lovely wife, Toni.”

Toni got a rather sloppy kiss from Wyatt and a studied look from Dino before he kissed her. “If ever this arsehole screws up, I’m his back-up.” Toni smiled and said she’d remember that.

Toni and Terry had coffee while Dino and Wyatt dug into bacon and tomato omelets.

“St. Sebastian, bad place to end up in jail. I was betrayed, of course.”

“How long were you there?”

“A bloody week, mate, long enough, If it hadn’t been for Wyatt here bringing me food I probably would have died. And one day this fellow walks in, strange looking dude, says he’s been looking for me all up the coast.”

“Who was he?” Toni asked.

“Says he was a doctor. Maturin was his name. Anyway he inquired about my health and said not to worry. It was three days?” he looked at Wyatt.

“Two days later this American sheriff walks in. Next thing I know we’re on the way to the airport.”

“Yeah, and I was so glad to get out of there I didn’t question at first, then he tells me some cock and bull story about an assassination attempt on some dignitary. Oh, innocent was I? Anyway, when I find out we’re going to Miami I relaxed. Whatever it was, I could beat it.”

“Yes, and then we began drinking to celebrate.” Wyatt smiled and picked up his coffee, looking inside the cup.

“Terry, who was this dude, this sheriff?”

Terry smiled, “A good friend, more than that. I’ll explain it one day.” He looked over at Toni and winked. He already decided he was going to tell Dino and Wyatt everything but only when they were all sober. He’d seen Dino’s bloody wrist and knew he’d been through the transition. He assumed Wyatt had also.

“Thank you, Mrs. Thorne, for a lovely meal. Now if somebody will show me to a bed, I’m finished.” Wyatt sat back in his chair.

Toni led him up the stairs and down the hall to his room, saying good night. She was happy they were there for Terry’s sake.

“Terry, what have you landed in? You marry into royalty?” Dino asked.

“No, not royalty. She inherited this place from her grandmother.”

“Nice…so tell me about this company you own.”

“Ah, yes. Well, follow me into my office. You sure you want to do this tonight?”

“I’m sure. Curiosity is eating me alive.”

Terry led him into his office and began explaining what he could.

“First of all, you’ve got to keep an open mind,” he began.

Twenty minutes later Dino was sitting in Terry’s desk chair, absently swiveling side to side. Terry sat across the room in an easy chair.

“It’s a fantastic story, Terry, and coming from anybody else I would have said bullshit.”

“It won’t be easy, Dino. You can’t trust your memory. Things you thought you knew, places you thought you’ve been, may not even exist in the real world.”

“And you brought us out?”

“I’m not sure about that. I was the reason but it was done by my brothers because I needed you.”

“All right, I’m in. Wyatt is not going to swallow this.”

“I’ll leave that up to you, Dino. Tell him what you want to.”

“I think I’ll go to bed and think about this,” he shook his head. “Fantastic!”

Toni loaded the dishwasher for Munchie, who had gone upstairs for the night. One last look around the kitchen and she cut the light off and walked down the hall. Dino was coming out of Terry’s office.

“You are one helluva woman,” he said and walked toward the stairs.

Terry came up beside her. “I told him…all of it.”

“Did he believe it?”

“Would you?”

“You’re all the proof I’d ever need.”

Terry had one thing to do before he took Toni upstairs. He sent a message to Max: Thank you, brother. I take it all back. TT

Part 3:

Terry was preparing to leave for London and Toni had been sniffling all morning. It was only for a week but her emotions were running on a roller coaster. She couldn’t stand to be parted from him so he reminded her of the nine months they were separated when they were at the House of Four Seasons.

“I know, Terry. It’s silly of me but I can’t help it. We haven’t been separated since we came out.”

“And that was two months ago. Come on, luv, buck up.”

She was trying to help him pack but he kept taking out what she put in. “You don’t need my help.” She sat down on the bed.

“I could do this in my sleep, Toni.” He closed his suitcase and set it on the floor, joining her on the bed.

He lifted her chin. “I have to make this trip. I asked you if you wanted to go and you said no. I’ll be back on Monday with Henry. That should give you something to do while I’m gone, figure out something we can do together when we get back.”

“You’ll be working then.”

“Not all the time and Dino will be here to take care of some of that until we figure out where he’s needed the most. What is it, Toni…bottom line?”

“I’m being selfish and unreasonable. I don’t want to share you. You were mine, all mine, and now it seems everyday something else takes a part of you. I don’t know if there will be any left for me.” Tears were rolling down her face.

“Can I tell you what you have? You have my heart and my soul and all my love. You’re not that big, Toni. I don’t think there’s room for much else inside you.” He wiped her tears away with his hand. “I’m not going to leave you crying.”

He kissed her until she couldn’t breathe, pushed her back on the bed and lay on top of her, his weight pushing her into the pillows piled in the middle of the bed. He teased her lips with his tongue and down her neck, biting her breasts through her knit top. Her hands were in his hair and he took them and held them down.

Toni rolled her head back and laughed gently. Somebody was going to have to give. He moved back up, kissed her again, released her hands and slipped her shorts over her hips. His jeans followed her shorts in a tangle in the floor. He spent the next thirty minutes making love to her and then rolled her over on top of him.

“That should give you something to think about.”

“You always know, don’t you, Terry?”

He bit her bottom lip gently. “I got a plane to catch, luv.” Toni slid off him and curled up on the bed while he got himself ready to fly. “I’ll call you in the morning.” Quick kiss and he was out of the door.

Downstairs milling about, Dino and Wyatt had no luggage except for a small bag apiece with a change of clothing Terry had sprung for at the local mall.

“I can see it now, arriving at a board meeting in a welcome to Richmond tee shirt. What is he thinking?”

“He’s thinking he’s not going to be our daddy. We’ll have time in London to find something."

Terry came down the stairs with his bag, looking at his watch. “Where’s Tom?”

“Out front waiting in the car for the last twenty minutes. You’re cutting it close.” Dino followed him out the door.

Terry settled in his seat and closed his eyes. Dino was in front of him and Wyatt somewhere behind him. He’d spent the last two days trying to introduce them to Securities International Ltd. It was still all up in the air and until he met all the people in London nothing would find its place. Everybody who could be spared except the operatives on the ground would be there and he was counting on his own gut feeling and Dino’s quick assessment to determine what he had to work with.

Toni took a shower after Terry left then went downstairs and found Munchie in the kitchen. She had her dinner with Munchie and spent the evening dragging furniture around in the den, creating a little space for her grandmother’s writing desk. Munchie helped her until her back gave out, but they were both pleased with the results. She set her laptop up on the desk and spent some time going through the drawers and cleaning them out. She was fine as long as she was busy but bedtime found her in the big bed by herself, holding onto to Terry’s pillow and softly crying.

The phone woke her the next morning. “Hey, luv. Time to get up.”

“Terry, you made it okay?”

“No worries. I just stepped outside to smoke. You okay?”

“Yeah, waking up now. I thought I’d go with Tom out to Armstrong Farms and see about a few horses today.”

“That sounds good. How far is it?”

“About ten miles from here. He bought my horse when I went to school. I miss you bad, Terry Thorne.”

He smiled, “Yeah, I miss you, too, luv. Go get your coffee and get moving. I’ll call you later. Love you.”

“Love you, too, honey.”

Toni wiped her wet eyes. What was wrong with her? She seemed to be about to cry all the time. Aggravated at herself, she got up and washed her face.

The first day in London was spent at SI getting acquainted. Not everyone was in town for the meetings yet which were scheduled Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Terry, Dino and Wyatt had lunch with Brian Hogeland and a man called Lester Frink, whose job was not fully explained. Afterward Dino and Wyatt went shopping and Terry was driven to his flat.

He walked inside and it felt empty without Toni there. All her little touches caught his eye. He’d been so tired the night before he hadn’t really noticed anything. He missed the vase of flowers she always had in the middle of the table and there was nothing in the kitchen except instant coffee so he made a cup, sat down on the sofa and turned on the TV. After listening to the news he checked his watch and called Toni.

“Hey, Terry, I’m glad you called. We’re out here at Armstrong’s and I found four horses. I don’t know what we need the fourth one for but I like him. Can I get them all?”

Terry chuckled, “Buy the whole herd, luv. You know you can do anything you want to.”

Toni nodded to Tom about the fourth horse then walked away from the paddock with her phone. “I’m going to do it. How are you? What time is it there?”

“It’s a little after five, I’m okay, back at the flat…it’s awfully empty.”

“I probably should have come with you. I just thought you’d be so busy and all.”

“I will be. All that starts gearing up tomorrow. Right now I’m feeling a little lonely.”

“Where are Dino and Wyatt?”

“I got them a hotel room. I don’t know, they might still be shopping for clothes or sitting in a pub somewhere, most likely a pub.”

“I’m surprised you aren’t with them.”

“Yeah, so am I. I may give them a call and find out what watering hole they’re floundering in.”

“Why don’t you, honey? I know how empty that flat is when you’re by yourself. I love you, Terry.”

“Keep it warm for me, Toni.”

Toni smiled, “I keep it on simmer when you aren’t here.”

Terry did call Dino and found out he and Wyatt were gathered at a pub with several of the agents who’d come in town for the meetings to follow over the next few days. Terry thought it was good they were getting acquainted in a casual atmosphere but as he was now the head honcho, Dino advised him not to come.

“You’re telling me you blokes are too good for me now?” Terry lit a cigarette.

“You have to think of your position, Terry. You may be firing a few this week. Best not to be boozing with them the night before. Besides they’re more likely to talk to me and Wyatt than to you.”

“You’re right but I don’t like this, Dino. I’d like to think I can still go drinking with my mates.”

“And you will, Tio, you will…but not tonight.”

“Get yourself kitted out today?”

“You’re going to look like the ugly step-sister tomorrow.”

Terry chuckled, “Get back to your pint. See ya in the morning.”

Hanging up the phone, he picked up one of the pillows Toni bought and threw it to the other end of the sofa, thought better of it and put it back behind him. Well, that was a turn up. It never occurred to him he was above the fray now. He checked his watch and dashed out the door, down the street, just making it before the bottle shop closed. He stopped outside his building and looked down toward the river. Ah, well, he was still in Brazil. He opened the door and went to the elevator. Just as the doors were about to close he heard someone say, “Hold up!” and he pushed the open door button. Max Skinner stepped in.

“Well, you weren’t planning on drinking that by yourself, were you?”

Terry smiled and leaned against the wall of the elevator. “I guess not, Max. What the hell are you doing?”

“Keeping you company for a couple of hours. I have a dinner date later.”

Max followed Terry into the flat and looked around, his eyes falling on obvious Toni touches.

Terry took the bottle into the kitchen and pulled out a couple of glasses. “Ice?”

“No, you’ve been hanging around Americans. This is a nice flat, Terry, view of the Thames.”

Terry handed him a glass. “Yeah, I guess it is. I never spent much time here until we came last month.”

“So you’re back to take the helm.” Max sipped his drink and pulled out a chair by the table.

“I am.” Terry stretched and settled in his seat, fished out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. “Are you looking for kudos?”

“I’m not looking for anything, Terry, just wanted to wish you well and if I can help in any way…I know this city.”

“I appreciate what you’ve done, Max. Sorry about the tirade.”

“No problem. I guess you were due. You don’t like people mucking about in your life.”

“No, I don’t and without Dino and Wyatt I don’t think I could have handled this on my own.”

“Give yourself a little credit. You spent enough time at Luthan to know how not to run a business. Get the right people around you and you’ll do fine.”

“So how are things with you?”

Max smiled and looked into his glass. “Same old same old. I’m stuck, you know, destined to do the same things over and over.” He took a drink.

“You aren’t bitter are you, Max, that things turned out like they did?”

“Bitter, no, regrets, yes. I envy you, Terry, not just for Toni but for having the balls to do what you did.”

“What do you mean, moving over to the other side, reality? I was never into the magic like you were, Max. I’ve always searched for truth, something real I could see and believe in. The house had its purpose for me but it wasn’t important to me. Toni was.”

“It wasn’t the magic, Terry. It was the place…a place I could go and just be myself, relax and do nothing if that’s what I wanted to do…and then there was Toni.” He drained his glass and Terry reached behind him, pulled the bottle off the counter and refilled Max’s glass.

“Who knows, Max, you may end up there again.” It had been the same for Max as it had been for him.

Max looked at him a moment, “True, it could happen, but I…I don’t know if it would ever be the same. Well, I know for certain it wouldn’t she wouldn’t be there.”

“No, she wouldn’t. She’ll be with me. I’ve tried to put myself in your place because I knew how she felt about you. It could have gone either way, Max. You’ve handled it well, better than I would have done. She’s happy, she’s loved and she’s at home now in Virginia. You’d be surprised how similar the place is to the House, but then that’s where her grandfather came from.”

“I know all about that now. Her grandmother recognized me; she knew. Ahh, Terry…I can’t do it…do it for me, love her, take care of her, be happy, my brother.” He touched Terry’s glass and pushed his chair back. “I should go before I’m bleeding drunk. It promises to be a long night anyway.”

“Got a hot date?”

“No, at least I don’t find him so, my realtor. After that I may get blind drunk. Who knows?”

“Take care, Max.” Terry stood up and walked Max to the door.

“Call me if you need me, Terry. I’ll be around here for awhile then I’m off to France, imagine that.” He smiled a crooked smile and walked to the elevator.

Terry walked back inside, closed the door and leaned against it. That could have been him. He picked up his glass, looked at the amber liquid inside and downed it. He felt for Max but there was nothing he could do for him. He had his chance and blew it. He knew without a doubt what Max had done for him he’d really done for Toni.

ON TO THORNE IN CHARGE

BACK TO THORNE IN MOTION

BACK TO THORNE IN LONDON

BACK TO THE ALPHA AND OMEGA

The story of the House of Four Seasons continues with a new resident:

ON TO A PAINTERLY EYE ARRIVES

BACK TO EARLY SPRING

BACK TO SNOW MELT

BACK TO INTO FALL

BACK TO SUMMER SEASONINGS, PART 1

BACK TO SPRING LOVE BLOSSOMS

BACK TO PART 1 OF WINTER SOLSTICE