"Alright, I'll go talk to him" Charlene said as Amanda started leaving her place.

"Good girl, let me know how it goes" Amanda said.

"I will" she smiled sweetly.

….

"Do you think she'll change your mind?" Maybeck asked Finn, who he was on the phone with.

"I couldn't tell you man," Finn sighed as he contemplated his friend's situation, "Have you talked to Philby about this yet?"

"Nooooo…" Maybeck said, making a face that he knew Finn could tell he was making.

"It could be a good idea…" Finn hinted, hoping Maybeck could seek better advice form the married one versus the engaged one.

"Fine" Maybeck grumbled.

"Maybeck, I know you sometimes don't want to hear it, but Philby really does know what he's talking about" Finn said.

"I'll call him," Maybeck said quietly.

….

Philby felt a sense of sadness when he glanced at his buzzing phone with a call from Maybeck. "How are you doing?" he asked.

"Spectacular" Maybeck replied.

"You want me to come over?" Philby asked.

"Or you could just let me in…" Maybeck said quietly.

Philby hesitated before heading to the front door to see his friend looking like he hadn't slept in days, which he was convinced Maybeck hadn't.

"Hey."

"Finn told me to go to you for advice," he put his head down, "about Charlie." Philby nodded and pointed to the nearby chair.

"Sooo…" Maybeck said as Philby gave him a look filled with sympathy.

"Honestly, I can't believe she said no" Philby confessed.

"Me either" Maybeck agreed, "I don't know what to do with myself now, reason why I'm here."

"What would you like me to do for you?" Philby asked.

"Help me…get over Charlie" Maybeck choked out.

"Maybeck…"

"No, don't try to talk me out of it, you know I need too."

"But, what if she comes back, maybe this was all a misunderstanding" Philby said, desperately hoping Maybeck would realize what he was doing.

"But what if she doesn't?" Maybeck asked, "I'll have wasted all that time over someone who doesn't want me."

"She does want you Maybeck, I know it."

"You're not helping…"

"She loves you" Philby said.

"Philby! I thought you were going to help me" Maybeck exclaimed, louder than he had planned.

"I don't want you to make a mistake," Philby calmly said.

"And I don't want to be miserable for the rest of my life, fawning after a girl that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with" Maybeck whispered, giving Philby a serious look.

Philby wasn't at all happy about the way he was treating the situation but decided to help in any way he could.

"Fine, but I won't help until you've talked to Charlie first. I'm sure she has a good reason."

Maybeck didn't look at all pleased with his therapist's advice, "Just so I can get turned down again, yeah great plan Philbs."

"Please…." A voice from down the hall begged. Philby turned around to see his wife with tears in her eyes. He rushed to her side to comfort her, a little surprised at her reaction. "Please, talk to her" Willa sniffled.

Maybeck stood up and made his way to the door, "Ok, I will" he said as he raced out to his car.

"Are you ok love? You've been a mess lately, no offense," Philby said, putting Willa's face in his hands, drying her tears.

"Yeah" she broke free from his grasp, "I'm fine" she smiled weakly. "I think I'm going to take a nap, I'm exhausted," Willa said as she made her way to the bedroom.

Philby look toward the door where Maybeck had just made his exit, to his distraught wife down the hall. "What is going on around here," he asked himself, than stole a glance down the hall at Willa again.

"Wait a second…" he whispered as he rushed to Willa's side. The realization hit him suddenly.

Oooooo…. what's gonna happen! Hmmm….-Amanda