End of Chapter 26

Terri slammed the door shut as Kara walked down the path. She wanted her husband back and she was ready to play hardball to get him.

CHAPTER 27

As Stiles was heading out for Terri's he accidentally knocked down the package from the concierge. When it hit the floor the contents fell out.

He was surprised to find Terri's missing locket. After his conversation with Terri, he assumed that she dropped it on her way out of the hotel. 'Perfect. I can give it back to her. This has to bring up good memories.'

As Stiles was returning the locket to the box he noticed a note.

"Madam,

I found this on the beach this morning. I followed you back to the hotel to return it, but lost you in the lobby crowd. Please let me know that it has been returned to you safely.

Regards,

Maurice Osa"

Stiles wondered what Kara was doing with Terri's locket. Terri had mentioned that she may have lost it in the hotel, but if Kara had it, why didn't she mention it? How did it end up on the beach?

Stiles decided to worry about the locket later when he saw Kara. The moment he'd seen Terri, he knew he wanted her back in his life. If not for Terri's question about Kara, Stiles wouldn't have even thought about her. Part of him did love her, but she wasn't Terri. She couldn't replace her—no one could.

He finally fulfilled his mission on this island. It wasn't to say goodbye to Terri. It was to find her again—emotionally and miraculously, physically.

Stiles knew that was all well and good, but after what he'd accused Terri of and the way he accused her, he needed to come up with an amazing apology.

Stiles rang Terri's back doorbell less than five minutes after Kara left through the front door.

"Sweetie, I'll be right back."

Terri left Jack in his playroom and went to the door. When she saw who it was she considered not opening it, but she couldn't help herself. She barely opened the door and stuck her head out.

"Sorry, you just missed her. She slithered out the front while." Before Stiles could say anything, Terri began closing the door. He stuck his foot in the frame to stop her.

"What are you talking about? I missed who?"

"That woman, your fiancée was here checking out my house. Terri emphasized the word "my." She already has you, now she wants my house. Oh, but that was probably your idea." Again, as she finished speaking, Terri attempted to close the door.

"Terri, I didn't send her. Why would I? Never mind. Can I please come in?"

"Why, is there something you forgot to accuse me of last night?" Terri wanted him back, but she was still mad at him; he was going to have to work for her.
"No and it doesn't matter anyway. I—"

Terri cut him off; she was really irritated about his accusation.

"How could you accuse me of cheating on you? I was willing to spend the rest of my life alone so you could live! All the while you were shacked up with another woman?"

"Terri, I'm not here to talk about your non-existent boyfriend. I know the truth about Jack."

"Oh really? What truth is that?

"After I left here last night I went back to the cove and dug up your journal. I had no idea what you went through for me, for our children. You were right; I should have tried harder to find you. I am sorry about everything I said, everything you've been through—really. I was very wrong yesterday. Please, can we talk?"

Terri didn't say anything. She just watched him with her arms folded across her chest. When she felt she stared him down effectively she moved slightly to let him in. Though she let him in, she didn't close the door.

"You were right about something else: I haven't changed—not when it comes to you. I still love you. My only explanation for what I said last night is that I was hurt. The thought of you wanting someone else makes me crazy. We were supposed to have a little girl. When Jack called you mommy I lost it; the first thing that popped in my head was that he wasn't mine. That he couldn't be."

"Fine, you know I haven't been with anyone else, but I'm supposed to be okay with you being ENGAGED to some blonde bimbo?"

Stiles took a deep breath. He knew this wasn't going to be easy, but it looked like it was going to be even harder than he thought.

"Terri. Terri, look at me please. I'm here on this island because of you. I made a promise to you five years ago and I'm here to keep it! Not a day has gone by in over four years that I haven thought about you."

"So much that you shacked up with the first woman who gave you a compliment? Who knew I'd end up with two husbands who were cheaters? Were you thinking about me when you were putting that rock on her finger, when you were sleeping with her—in my bed?"

"Terri, forget about Kara, please. This isn't about her, it's about us."

"How can I forget about her? Ever since I saw her I've had this image in my head of you making love to her. Were you thinking about me when you were making love to her?"

When Terri found out about Kara, her first thoughts were of Jeff and his many mistresses. She hated the feeling she had inside when she thought about another woman touching her husband.

"That's not fair. I am not Jeff! I'm sorry you feel like I cheated on you, but I had no idea you were alive. You know I would never intentionally cheat on you. And for the record, no one else has been in OUR bed. I haven't even slept in that bedroom since the day of your funeral."

Stiles paused to calm himself. He was screaming what was supposed to be an apology. He realized he needed to soften his tone. He looked deeply into Terri's eyes.

"I couldn't stay there without you. Terri, your clothes are still in your closet. Your dresser is exactly the way you left it with those lotions you love and photos on it. Your car is still in the garage."

Stiles, still standing in the doorway, leaned in and whispered:

"I have a bottle of your favorite perfume in my desk drawer."

Terri still didn't budge. She was hurt. She knew she was being unfair; he thought she was dead, but that didn't ease the pain, especially after his fiancée showed up at her house the morning after he accused her of giving birth to another man's child.

Stiles sighed and continued his plea. "Don't you get it?" Stiles asked with a pained expression on his face. "I love you; you're the only one I could ever really give my heart to. I could never love anyone else the way I love you. Never. Terri I want you back in my life. I need you. I don't want us to spend another day apart."

Terri was trying very hard not to show any emotion, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. She wanted him too, but despite what Stiles had just told her, she was still afraid of what he felt for Kara.