Disclaimer: Someone else (Radiant Productions?) Owns The Agency and all of the characters portrayed in this story) therefore, the author will receive no compensation for this story.

Part 11: Shoulders to Cry On: Part A

"Theresa!" The office manager jumped from her seat, practically running around her desk. She enveloped Terri in a hug and squeezed her tightly. "It's been a long time. I am so glad you are okay. We were all so worried about you. How are you?"

Terri forced a smile. "I'm…" She paused, deciding how truthful she wanted to be. "fine." The other woman could tell she was not being entirely candid, the hesitation (and Helen) gave her away, but she didn't push. "Candace, I really appreciate the cards and flowers all of you sent." Hoping to avoid any more questions, Terri changed the subject. "Is she in?"

"Um…" Candace stood on her toes and looked into the adjacent office. "She's just finishing with a client. Can I get you anything while you wait?"

"No, thanks."

"Alright. It looks like they're on their way out now."

As she was walking her clients to the door, Helen spotted her daughter. "Terri, what are you doing here? Is something wrong? Why aren't you at work?"

Terri couldn't keep the tears from falling; just seeing her mother did it. She fell into her mother's arms and sobbed.

"Honey, what is it?"

Without moving her head from her mother's shoulder, Terri spilled everything. "I don't know what to do. He was so nice when we had dinner, but I don't feel anything for him mom, nothing. Then there's Matt. He's so sweet and I care about him. I always did…"

Helen heard something she did not like. She lifted Terri away from her just enough to see her face. "Wait. Who is this Matt person?"

"Bailey's brother."

"Oh, him again," Helen didn't bother trying to hide her annoyance. "Come in my office and sit down."

The two women moved into Helen's office and closed the door. Helen set her phone to go straight to voicemail. She wanted to talk some sense into her daughter.

"Now tell me everything from the beginning."

"Matt's the new Homeland Security Liaison; he replaced Robert Quinn. I didn't remember that he was alive, you know because of the amnesia. Anyway, we had lunch the afternoon they introduced him and mom, it was so easy talking to him. He asked me to dinner and I went. We're going out again tomorrow night."

"Oh?" Helen didn't like what she'd just heard.

Terri nodded and continued. "I agreed to have dinner with Stiles last night. I thought I should tell him in person that I think we need to separate legally."

"You did what? Theresa what are you thinking—separation? You haven't you even tried with him. He's your husband. You stood in front of 150 people and promised to love him and to be faithful to him for the rest of you life. I don't think I need to remind you that this is the second man you've promised to stick to. At least you had a valid reason for dumping the last one, but Terri, you are not thinking straight. If he is willing to stay with you, you owe him the decency of trying to have a marriage, not running off with the first man who shows you some attention!"

Now Terri was insulted. "Are you finished mother?"

"For now."

"You have no idea what this has been like for me. Mom, I don't remember my own life! People I don't remember are constantly testing me to see if I remember them or some situation we were in years ago. And through it all I'm supposed to smile and act like everything's okay. Well mother, it is not okay! Matt wants me to remember; he cares about me and he doesn't want anything from me unlike Stiles who is at me all the time. Last night he told me about when he bought the house, he told me how he proposed, he showed me pictures. He was nice, but he keeps trying to force memories on me. Matt isn't trying to do that. He's just supporting me. He just wants to spend time with me. That's it!"

Helen sighed and sat down. "Well, he doesn't want you to remember your husband. It's not in his best interest!

Terri sat down, defeated.

"Honey, I'm sorry. You're right, I haven't really thought about this in terms of it being hard for you. I love you. I just want you to be happy, and sweetie I know you were happy with A.B. I have never seen you as happy as you were on your wedding day; you were positively glowing. And I have to admit that I've grown pretty fond of A.B. too. I don't want to see him hurt. I can't imagine what he's going through. I know how much he loves you. Does he know about this Matt person?"

Terri was exasperated. She should have known not to tell her mother about Matt, but she needed to talk to someone away from the office. "Mom, please don't refer to him as 'that Matt person.' Okay? I care about him."

"You didn't answer my question. Does A.B. know you're seeing another man?"

"Yes, he knows about Matt. Well, he knows we went to lunch anyway."

"Well, I don't know what to say. My daughter is having an affair, sneaking around behind her husband's back. The same woman who cried for months because her husband cheated on her is having an affair…"

"I'm not having an affair. Just because we're spending time together does not mean we're having sex!"

"Fine Terri, but you haven't even given A.B. a chance. That man would do anything in the world for you. Have you considered dating him?"

Terri shook her head. She was about to say something else when she saw Candace standing outside her mother's door with what appeared to be two more clients. She stood up and gave her mother a hug as she approached the door.

"Honey, I do love you, but you need to think seriously about what you're doing. Don't give up yet; spend some time with your husband. You fell in love with him once, you could do it again."

Helen was the second person to tell her that. Terri gave her a slight smile as she walked out of the drove home thinking about the conversations she had with Bailey and Helen; as much as she hated to admit it, Stiles was her husband. Maybe she did owe him a second chance.

"I've been thinking about this all afternoon. My mother had a fit when I told her about the separation. I want to fix things so I can move on with my life, but I don't know how."

"May-be you should move into the house with him."

Terri and Bailey turned and stared at the door. "Chance!"

"What?" Chance asked slightly bewildered at Bailey's irritation. "We're getting married in a few weeks, in case you've forgotten Ms. Callan…"

"Seven weeks, two days and…" Bailey looked at her watch "six hours."

"I don't think she's forgotten." Terri laughed.

"Good. Anyway, as I was saying, you dear Terri, still need a place to live after Bailey and I get married. If you haven't found anything in a couple of weeks you should think about moving in with him while you look for a place. I'm sure he wouldn't mind. What am I saying? He would love it and maybe something will jog your memory." Chance shrugged his shoulders as he picked up an apple and walked out of the room.

"That's not a bad idea you know."

Terri just looked at Bailey. "You're supposed to be on my side. You're my best friend."

"I'm his friend too. He's going to be the best man in my wedding."

Chance stuck his head back in the kitchen. "I'll talk to him for you."

"The two of you have been conspiring against me, haven't you?" Terri laughed despite herself. She knew they both cared.

"Well, I wouldn't call it conspiring exactly, more like behind the scenes coaching." Chance said as came into the room and winked at her.

"Bailey, I think he's a keeper."

Bailey kissed her fiancé and hugged him tightly. "Yes, he is. Now get out. We girls have things to discuss!"

Chance kissed both women--Bailey on the lips, Terri on the forehead. "I'll see you two lovely women tomorrow." Turning to Bailey, he made his best puppy dog face and added, "Call me later?"

Bailey nodded yes and blushed as she smiled at him.

"Oh Bay, you're so lucky. He adores you."

"I know! And Stiles adores you; give him a chance."

"I'll think about it."

"Good, now let's get back to work; we have favors to make!"