"The other night," He spoke softly, quietly, now looking down at his knees, too ashamed of himself to look at her. "When you asked me about Nina, I turned the question on you, I'm sorry, I just couldn't face it...."
"Jack, what are you saying?" Terri asked, tears now dripping down her cheeks in disbelief.
"When you and I were separated, I had a brief relationship with Nina Myers." Jack closed his eyes, he felt both relief at having it off his chest, but dread and anticipation of how Terri would react.
Terri was expecting the words but they still stung her. Jack now looked up from the floor to face her, a look of sorrow and regret plastered on his face. Terri looked at him, and despite her own pain at seeing him like this, she felt anger too - he had slept with another woman and then lied to her about it later. She closed her eyes and opened them again, staring at him, trying to calm herself down, trying to focus. Jack watched her and tried to gauge her reaction, but got nothing.
Suddenly she pulled her hand back and slapped him hard across the face, before getting up and pushing her way past him into the kitchen. Jack was left kneeling in front of the empty chair, a little stunned by her reaction, he hadn't expected that.
"Terri?" He shouted, before getting up to run after her.
He met her in the kitchen and she went at him again, pounding his chest. Jack grabbed her wrists to prevent her from hitting him.
"Terri. I swear, it was only because I missed you that much. It meant nothing honey I swear it, I love you." He said talking quickly, his desperation clear.
Terri stopped trying to hit him and Jack let go of her arms, which fell to her sides loosely. She looked at him, her face full of hurt, Jack felt his heart brake in two. He had done this to her.
"Is it over?" She whispered, staring him in the face, daring him to look away or hesitate.
"It was over before it started!" Jack said, hoping to get through to her.
"Why did you lie about this last night Jack, if it is over, and why the hell is she ringing the house for you!" Terri screamed, Jack was sure the neighbours would be listening to their row over their televisions.
"I don't know why I lied, I was scared of hurting you." He said, defeat in his eyes.
Terri looked at him and shook her head at him before turning away, about to storm off.
"Terri!" Jack called out in a last effort.
Terri turned around enraged and slammed her hand into the vase on the side, sending it smashing to the tiled floor.
"Leave me alone Jack! Just leave me alone, I need to think!" She screamed, before running down the hallway and slamming the door to her study behind her. There was a minute of silence before Jack herd her muffled sobs filter through the door.
Jack stood against the side and rubbed the back of his neck, he wanted to go after her and comfort her but he knew it would do no good, he wanted to hug her and cry his heart out, but it would achieve nothing. He had no right to be upset, he had brought it on himself, and hurt someone he loved in the process.
He shook his head hard to clear it, before going to grab the sweeping brush to clear up what was left of the vase. As he cleaned the mess up he tried to block Terri's cries form his head, but they continued to seep in through his barriers.He felt as though he was going to be swept away from the guilt it was overpowering, and he was helpless to stop it.