It was a few days after she had gone out with Charlotte. Terri was working a shift at the hospital, but was on break at the moment. It was a beautiful day, so Terri sat out in the sunshine on one of the benches, sipping coffee. She was lost within her own thoughts until she was awoken by a shadow approaching and the sound of footsteps. She looked up.
"Hi, Terri," It was Vincent. He smiled at her. "Do you mind?" he asked, gesturing to the empty seat opposite her. "Not at all," she replied, grinning. "So how's Patrick and Felicity going?" Just then, the mood of the conversation changed. Vincent looked around anxiously. "Um, Terri, there's something I would really like to discuss with you. Get your opinion of. It's pretty important." "Oh, sure, Vincent, I've got fifteen minutes still." Now she was the anxious and wondering one. What on earth did Vincent, of all people, have to ask her? Surely something so important would be confided in Charlotte.
As though reading her thoughts, Vincent started: "You can't tell Charlotte. I can't tell her, not yet. I'm just asking you because you're such good friends." Terri was completely puzzled. Did anyone else think this was getting weirder by the minute? Something was stirring in the back of her mind, something she had heard earlier, but she couldn't quite reach it.
"You know how… um, you know how I said the other day about the thing with would Charlotte mind if I was with a woman and then I said it didn't matter?" Vincent blurted this out quickly. He was embarrassed. Terri took him in looking at his feet. She was worried. She was so, way, out of her depth here. But she listened. "Well, that wasn't true." Terri looked at him, confused. "The bit about it didn't matter. The thing is, Terri… I'm in love."
Whoa! Terri didn't know how to take this. Now she could tell why Charlotte hadn't immediately received this bit of information. This relationship, whatever it was, threatened Charlotte's world of her precious Vincent as a substitute partner. Terri didn't know what to say. Finally, she murmured: "What can I do, Vincent? Not to interfere or anything, but… um… who is this person? Does she feel the same way?" Vincent blushed deeply. "Well, Terri, I thought you could predict how Charlotte would react if I did go into a relationship, and… um, Terri… it's Cate." Terri moaned. Why was she stuck as some kind of judge in this awkward love triangle?
"Well, Vincent, I have to say… I don't personally think Charlotte would take it too well at all, actually…It's so hard for me to explain. She loves you, Vincent. You're her rock. If you started going into a relationship, that would mean less time with her, and no offence to Charlotte… but she does seem like the jealous type."
Vincent laughed nervously. "Yeah, I know, I know her better then anyone… oh Terri, what am I going to do?" They sat in silence, before Terri murmured: "But Vincent, if she is a true friend, she has to understand she has to let you go. I mean, she can't expect you to live the rest of your life as it is now. You might want to live your own life, you know?"
"I know, Terri, but I don't want to hurt her… how can I break the news? How can her make her not feel betrayed?" "I'm sorry I can't be more help, Vincent," Terri apologised. "But you just have to risk it. Charlotte will get over it… eventually. You can't risk your own happiness for her. She'll come to that realisation too."
Vincent looked at his watch, before jumping up. "Well, thanks Terri," he said. "Sorry I put you in such an awkward position." "Not at all," chimed Terri, though in her head she was thinking: how could you do this? Why did you have to ask me? Now Charlotte will hate the pair of us! But she just smiled. "Oh, and Terri…" Vincent blushed again, "Do you like these flowers?" He held up a bouquet he had kept hidden under the bench. They were the most beautiful roses. Terri could just imagine the look of delight on Cate's face. For some reason, this made her sad.
"They're lovely," Terri said softly. Vincent straightened his tie, and turned to Terri. "How do I look?" "Dashing," laughed Terri. "Go on, you'll do fine." So Vincent strode off happily into the distance. So why did Terri feel so miserable?