Misunderstandings
by Beej
Part Four
"Ooh, what a lovely car," Louise purred running her hand along the sleek lines of the BMW Terry had loaned to Dino."
"Sure is, honey. One of Terry's babies."
Louise went to get into the car but stopped when Dino chuckled.
"What?"
"Don't think it's insured for you to drive."
"Oh, damn! Sorry, I forgot they drive on the wrong side of the road over here."
"Don't let Terry hear you say that, Lulu," Dino laughed, kissing her as she moved round to the passenger door.
"I'm really pleased that you want to explore out of the city, I didn't think you were a country girl."
"Anywhere with you will be fantastic, lover," she replied, getting comfortable and fastening her seatbelt.
"Off we go then. I thought to begin with I'd take you to the capital, Canberra."
Louise expected it to look like DC, and was surprised at how rural it was. She was happy though as it was another city. She hated the countryside and had lied to Dino so that she could get away from Jean for a few days.
"I wonder how they're getting on, Terry."
"Don't care, Luv. Out of sight, out of mind as far as I'm concerned. As long as they get back in one piece I'm happy for the break."
"I'm sorry if I'm spoiling the visit for you, Terry."
Terry pulled Jean towards him and hugged her, kissing the top of her head gently. "If anyone's spoiling things, it's Louise. I still can't believe the nerve of her, touching up Henry in front of Dino."
"And blatantly flirting with you as well."
"Jealous, Luv?"
"Not one bit, Terry. You didn't even realise she was coming on to you."
"That's because when you're in the room I don't see anyone else."
Jean reached up and kissed him, thanking her lucky stars that they were finally together.
After a couple of days in Canberra, Dino headed west, stopping for lunch in Wagga Wagga. They spent a few hours looking round and Dino decided to stay the night at a beautiful guest house.
The next morning they drove through Griffith and ended up in the Mungo National Park. Louise was less than impressed when he routed about in the car boot and took out what looked to her like camping equipment.
"Please tell me we're not sleeping out here in the bush," she implored.
"I thought you said you liked the countryside," Dean said, a look of confusion on his face.
"The nearest I like to get to camping is staying at something less than a five star hotel. You're mistaken if you think I look like a girl scout."
"Look around you, baby. It's either the tent with me or the car on your own."
She sat in the car sulking while Dino raised the tent and set about making it comfortable. He had to almost drag her from the passenger seat to look at her 'room' for the night. She was pleasantly surprised. Of course Dino had gotten hold of a top of the range tent with a living area, separate bedroom, complete with raised bed and a comfortable air mattress, and a cooking area next to the 'door'.
"Oh, Dee. It's lovely!"
"Really?"
"Yes, really. I thought we were going to be sleeping on the floor beating off the creepy crawlies."
"I wouldn't put you through that, darling. Only the best for my girl."
Louise woke up quite refreshed, and though the trip might turn out a lot better than she first thought, so to make up for her sulk the previous day she quietly got up and began making breakfast for herself and Dino. She even helped him clean up and pack away the tent before they headed out towards the Darling River. Dino had arranged for two boats, one for them, and one for the car. They were soon on their way along the river towards Bourke. Dino guessed that she wouldn't want to stay there too long, so he decided once they were ashore again he would keep driving through Dubbo and Orange, then stay the night ar Leura in the Blue Mountains.
They had a great time doing all the tourist things in the Blue Mountains. Dino even persuaded Louise to take the cable car trip across the ravine. She spent most of the trip with her eyes closed until they were halfway across and Dino forced her to take a look. It was beautiful, and she forgot they were suspended in mid air. The blue haze from the oil of the eucalypts gave the scenery an ethereal feel.
Leura was a delight, and Dino had found the best place to stay. Louise loved all the little shops in the tiny town, and bought something in every place she visited. Dino was smiling all the time, happy that she was finally enjoying herself, even if it was the end of the trip.
They loaded up the car and said goodbye to Leura, heading back to Sydney in the early afternoon.
There was a knock on Terry's office door and he and Jean looked at each other wondering who it could be. Terry called for the visitor to come in and Henry popped his head round the door.
"Am I interupting?" he asked, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"No, mate. Believe it or not, we're actually working," Terry smiled at his son.
"Ah, okay then, I'll leave you to it shall I?"
"Get in here, Henry," Jean laughed, "I'll go put the kettle on."
"Ripper!" Henry replied. "It will go well with these." He brought a box from behind his back with a flourish.
"You're a star, mate," Terry exclaimed, realising Henry had been to their favourite cake shop for supplies. "Let's go sit by the window."
"Dad..."
"Yes, son."
"Dino and Louise are due back today aren't they."
"I believe so, yes. Does that worry you?"
"Not as long as she keeps away from me. She's not being fair to Uncle Dean the way she's acting is she."
"You're right about that, mate."
"Are you going to tell him?"
"Only if she does something else. They're going home in a couple of days, so hopefully she'll behave herself. Jeannie had a word with her before they went on their trip."
"Good. It made me feel uncomfortable."
Jean came back with their drinks, and they sat looking out of the window as the lights started to come on over Sydney.
Louise had been quite for most of the drive back from Leura. As they reached the outskirts of the city she perked up again.
"Are we going to see Terry...and Jean and Henry?" she added quicky.
"I wasn't thinking of it, sweetheart. I figured we'd go to the hotel and take the car back in the morning."
"Oh," Louise sighed. "I thought maybe we could take them out for dinner."
"You're not too tired? Okay, I'll give him a call."
Dino pulled off the road and got out his cell. He spoke to Terry for a few minutes then looked over at Louise. "He said they've had a long day and were thinking of staying in."
"I guess we'll see them tomorrow then," she replied staring out of the window.
Dino told Terry they'd see him the next day and drove on until they got to their hotel.
"Terry Thorne...how can you tell such bare-faced lies!"
"What?"
"Had a hard day indeed, we spent a lot of it watching the world go by with Henry."
"Yeah, but we'd been busy up to then, Luv. Anyway, Henry will be back with our take-out soon and I wanted one more night with my family around me before I have to face that woman again."
"Oh, Lover, I don't know what we'll do if Dean is as serious about her as he seems to be right now."
"I know. I just hope she took in what you told her before their little trip."
"Well, you two men just take care in the morning, I've got an early dentist appointment remember, and I doubt very much they'll turn up before I leave."
"I'll use Henry as a human shield," Terry laughed.
"Human shield for what?" Henry asked, coming into the lounge-room with their dinner.
"Dino and Louise will be round in the morning with the car, and Jeannie has a convenient dentist appointment."
"Well then, I think it's your duty as a caring parent to protect me...not the other way round," Henry laughed, going to the kitchen to dish up their meal.
"Hello?" Henry said, picking up the internal phone. "Okay, let them up." He put the phone down and sighed. Dino and Louise were parking the car and would soon be up. He walked towards Terry's study door, but decided to give him a few more minutes of peace, he knew his dad was busy. There was a knock on the door and on opening it, he saw Louise standing there smiling at him.
"Good morning, Henry. Did you miss me?"
"Morning, Louise. Where's Uncle Dean?"
"Oh, I forgot something in the car so he went back down to get it. He shouldn't be too long."
Henry stood back to allow her to enter, then asked if she would like a coffee.
"That would be nice. Where's Terry?"
"Oh, he's a bit busy...he'll be out shortly."
"Fantastic...that means I have you all to myself for a bit doesn't it."
Before he knew what was happening, Louise had thrown off her jacket and had locked him in an intimate embrace. As he struggled to get her off him, Terry came out of his study.
"What the fuck is going on?" he boomed.
Louise looked over at him, not letting Henry go. "Ooh, two Thorne's for the price of one. Shall we have a group hug?"
Terry opened the front door and looked out. "Where's Dino?"
"She said he's getting stuff out of the car, dad."
"I suggest you let my son go, Louise. You're meant to be Dino's girl."
"Well, handsome, what he doesn't know won't hurt him will it. Where's the lovely Jean by the way?"
"Out," Terry snapped.
Louise unwound herself from Henry and moved towards Terry. Henry could have sworn she was like a big cat stalking its prey.
"Would you like me to keep you warm until she gets back?"
"That won't be necessary," Terry replied.
As if he hadn't said a word, Louise wrapped herself around him and was trying very hard to kiss him senseless when the front door slammed.
"Get your fucking hands off my woman," Dino yelled.
Terry stepped back, glaring at the still smiling Louise.
"Uncle Dean. It's not what it looks like," Henry pleaded. "It's all a big misunderstanding, isn't it, Louise."
"Terry?"
"Hey, mate. I came out of my study to find her winding herself round my son. When I asked her what she was doing she decided to make a play for me instead."
"Lulu?"
Louise was a supreme actress and burst into tears, sobbing hard enough to stop her from speaking. Dino strode across the room and hugged her, whispering softly in her ear. He stood in front of her and glared at Terry.
"I would have never put you down as a dirty dog, Thorne. You not happy enough with Jeannie you have to try and take my girl?"
"Dino it..."
Before Terry could finish speaking, Dino punched him once in the stomach and once in the jaw. Terry was winded, but managed to stay on his feet. He wiped the trickle of blood from his mouth and took a step towards Dino.
"Don't hit him, dad," Henry cried.
Terry looked at his son silently then nodded slightly, grabbed a set of keys and pushed Dino out of the way before steaming out of the apartment. As soon as he slammed the door Louise stopped sobbing and threw her arms round Dino's neck.
"My hero," she grinned.
Henry was seething as he strode to the door. Holding it open he stared at Dino. "I think you'd better leave...NOW."
"How are we supposed to get to our hotel?" Louise pouted.
"You've got bloody legs haven't you?" Henry replied.
Dino was looking at Louise with a puzzled expression, wondering how she had recovered so quickly, but said nothing as he took her hand and pulled her towards the door."
"Henry..."
"Get out!"
"Please, tell you dad..."
"Goodbye, Uncle Dean."
Henry was tempted to slam the door as Dino walked through, but he closed it very quietly. He was his father's son when it came to losing his temper. It took a lot to get to him, but then he went off like an erupting volcano. He went out on the balcony and took out his cell phone. His hands were shaking as he hit speed dial.
"Perfect timing, Henry, I'm just on my way back."
Henry couldn't stop the sob from escaping before he spoke, "Get here as quick as you can, Jean," he muttered before ringing off.
Jean just stared at her phone for a few seconds wondering what on earth was going on. Had something happened to Terry? She ran to the car and was soon back at the apartment building. She willed the lift not to stop on any floors on the way up to the penthouse, and rushed through the front door.
"Henry, what's wrong?"
Henry threw himself into her arms and sobbed. She sat them both down and rocked him in her arms to calm him down. It took a few minutes for him to pull himself together, then he eased out of her embrace looking very embarrassed.
"Sorry, Jean. I'm too old to be acting like this," he sniffed.
"Where's Terry?"
"I don't know."
"Tell me what happened."
"Louise came up without Uncle Dean, said he was bringing some stuff up that she forgot. She came on to me, Jean. I felt sick. Dad was in his study, but came out before she got too heavy. She turned her 'charms' on him instead, then Uncle Dean came in and caught them. He decided that Dad was trying it on with his girl and he punched him."
Jean gasped in shock. "Is he okay?"
"He got hit twice, was a bit winded and had a split lip, but I asked him not to hit back. I knew that he was so angry that if he started, Uncle Dean wouldn't be getting up from the floor. He grabbed his keys and stormed out."
"What about the other two?"
"I told them to leave."
"Good onya, Henry. You did the right thing. Do you know what keys Terry took?"
"The whole bunch has gone."
"Okay, let's go down and see what's in the garage."
When they got to the parking area they looked in their allotted spaces. The BMW was where Dino had parked it, and both other cars were in their spots. The Harley was gone.
"Oh shit, he's taken the bike," Henry groaned. "We won't be able to call him."
"I'm sure he'll stop when he's calmed down, then he'll let us know he's okay. Let's go back upstairs, Luv."
They sat holding hands until late in the afternoon. They said nothing, never moving or letting go of each other. It was beginning to get dark when the front door suddenly opened and a weary looking Terry leaned against it as it shut behind him. Jean and Henry were up in a flash and hugged him tightly, letting tears of relief flow freely down their faces.
"Sorry," Terry whispered.
"Come and sit down, darling. I'll put the kettle on."
They sat him on the sofa and Jean went into the kitchen. Henry snuggled into Terry's side and Terry hugged his son, resting his chin on the top of Henry's head.
"You okay, dad?"
"I am now, son," Terry replied, kissing Henry's hair. "I'm sorry I stormed out on you."
"It was the best thing to do, dad. Much better than beating the crap out of your best friend."
Terry sighed as Jean handed him a mug of steaming tea. "Thanks, Luv. You okay?"
"Oh, Terry, we were so worried about you. We couldn't call because you took the bike."
"I won't do it again, I promise. Where are the dynamic duo?"
"No idea. I sent them packing so I guess they'll be at their hotel."
"Ah well, I doubt we'll see them tomorrow."
"Are you still taking them to the airport?"
"I made a promise, mate, so yes I am."
"Then I'm coming with you."
"You gonna hold my hand?"
"Nope, just going to try and keep that woman off you on the trip."
Jean persuaded Terry to stay home from the office the following day. His stomach was sore and he had a huge bruise on his jaw. He was happy to stay at home and be pampered. Just as he thought, Dino and Louise stayed well away from both the office and the penthouse, and they all wondered what the reaction would be when Terry turned up at their hotel the following morning to take them to the airport.
"Have you finished packing yet?"
"Almost, Dee. How are we going to get to the airport?"
"I expect someone from the office will be sent over to get us."
They were waiting outside when the BMW stopped in the pick-up area. Dino did a double take when he saw Terry sitting behind the wheel.
"Didn't think it would be you," he said after putting the bags in the boot.
"I keep my word," Terry grunted.
It was a very quiet journey out to the airport and Dean wondered if Terry would just drop them off or actually come in and see them off. He parked in the short term car park and got out of the car. "You staying here, Henry?"
"Yeah. Give me the keys and then buzz me when you're ready and I'll drive round to the exit to get you."
"Okay, son. cheers."
"Bye, Henry," Dino said. Henry just stared ahead out of the car windscreen.
"Can you give us a hand with the bags?" Louise asked.
"Get a trolley," Terry replied, not wanting to talk to her at all.
"Terry..."
"What?"
"We need to talk."
"Not if you're still thinking I was making a move on your woman we don't."
"That's what we need to talk about. I kept on at her all night to tell me what really went down, but she kept clamming up on me."
"Well, you've known me longer than you've known her, so you have to decide who to believe don't you."
Louise came back with the trolley and Dino loaded up all the bags. They headed to the departure building and went to check in. Terry stayed with them until they were ready to go through security. The on duty officer recognised him.
"You want to go through with your friends, Mr. Thorne?"
"Not this time, mate. Ta for asking though," Terry smiled at the man.
"Do I get a goodbye kiss then," Louise asked cheekily.
"I'd rather kiss a Taipan, thanks," Terry replied, stepping away from her.
"Terry?"
Terry turned to his friend, who was holding out his hand. He took it reluctantly and shook it, nodded to Dino and then turned away from them to meet Henry outside.
"Well, how rude," Louise exclaimed.
"Shut up, Lulu."
They went through security and Louise made a b-line for the duty free. Dino looked over his shoulder, but of course Terry was already gone. He sighed and looked round for Louise. She was happily picking up anything that took her fancy, knowing that he would foot the bill. He sighed again. Had he made a mistake with her?
He finally managed to get her away from the shops and they went to a cafe where there was a large screen TV showing the local news channel. He got them both a drink and something to eat and then sat where he could watch the screen.
"I'll be glad to get home to New York," Louise said.
"I love it down here, wish I could have stayed longer." Dino replied.
"Well, I hope you don't expect me to come here with you again. I certainly wasn't made to feel welcome."
"Would that be because you were warned off hitting on Terry and Henry by any chance?"
"I don't know what you mean, Dee."
"Really? I had a nice little chat with Jean yesterday."
"Surely you don't believe anything she has to say, she's obviously insecure when a beautiful woman comes close to her man."
"Don't think so, honey. I've known Terry for a long, long time. I trust him with my life, he almost lost his saving mine. I've know Jean a long time as well. She doesn't have an insecure bone in her body. That leaves the question of why."
"Why what?"
"Why did you make a play for Terry and Henry? Am I not enough for you...am I not good enough? I thought you loved me, Lulu."
Louise didn't speak at once, silently telling Dino what he hoped wasn't true."
"You're a gold digger aren't you, just after all you can get. Did you think Terry was a better bet than me?"
"It's not like that, Dee."
"Isn't it? I'm beginning to think that you haven't been truthfully about anything since we met. Are you even an accountant?"
"Yes, yes I am...that's true, and I do love you...in my own way."
"You can't commit though can you?"
Before she answered, Dino's attention was drawn to the screen. There was a news flash about a pile up on the expressway into Sydney.
"Shit, that's the road Terry will be on."
"Don't worry about him, he'll be almost home by now."
Dino stared at the screen, looking for anything that might tell him Terry was in the area of the crash. Their flight was called and he was loathe to leave the TV screen. Then he saw something that made his blood run cold.
"Come on, Dee, we'll miss out flight."
"I can't go, I have to get out of here."
"Dee, I need you with me on the flight. You know I'm not used to long haul."
"They'll look after you...I need to find Terry and Henry."
"Dee, if you make me take this flight on my own...well, just don't expect me to wait for you in New York."
"Fine, do what you need to do, my best friend may be in that tangle of metal."
"You think more of him than you do of me?"
"You know something, Louise...I most certainly do. Before you go, I'll have my keys please."
Louise snarled as she threw his apartment keys at him. She walked up to him and spat in his face before turning towards the gate. By the time she had boarded, she was latched onto a middle aged businessman who was lapping up the attention she gave him.
Dino ran back through the airport. He stopped at the security point and found the officer that knew Terry. "I have to get outta here, man."
"Shouldn't you be on a flight?"
"Yeah, but something came up."
"Well, I'll have to get someone to escort you round to arrivals as once past this point, you've left Australian soil."
"I can't wait for that, man. You seen the news about the crash?"
"I just heard about it, why?"
"I think Terry Thorne may be caught up in it. He's my best friend, and his son is with him. I have to go and find him."
The security officer looked around and called his superior. After explaining everything to him, his boss escorted Dino back through to the departure lounge.
"Wait for me out the front, Mr..."
"Call me Dino."
"Oaky, Dino. Stay close to the doors, I'll be a couple of minutes."
He ran off leaving Dino standing by the entrance. A couple of minutes later a car pulled up in front of him, red light flashing on the roof.
"Jump in."
"Thanks," Dino said, fastening his seat belt.
"My name's Steve, by the way. I was in the army with Terry back in the day."
"Good to meet you, Steve. Wish it was under better circumstances."
"You think Terry's in the pile-up?"
"I'm not sure. I know his isn't the only BMW in Sydney, but it sure the hell looked like his car."
"You good mates?"
"Well, up to a couple of days ago I'd have said so. We had a bit of a misunderstanding and I hit him."
"And you're still standing?"
"Henry stopped him hitting me back. He stormed off on his bike to calm down."
"You're one lucky man, Dino. I've seen what he can do to a man."
"Me too, my friend. I just hope he's okay so that I can make it up to him."
When they hit the expressway, Steve turned on the siren and was soon cutting a swathe through the traffic. It wasn't too long before they came up against a solid wall of stationary vehicles. The siren helped get them through slowly, drivers did their best to make room for them to pass. They eventually got to the edge of the pile-up and Steve pulled up. He got out with Dino and went over to the nearest police officer, showing his credentials.
He was waved through the barricade, and Dino wondered why an airport security manager was granted access to the scene. Steve smiled when he was asked and told Dino that he worked two jobs, and was a member of the state police force, working the airport on his off days.
They walked round the edge of the wreckage trying to spot Terry's car. Ambulances were parked all along the southbound carriageway and survivors were being helped over the barrier to safety. Steve suddenly stopped and pointed. Dino followed his hand and saw what he'd hoped not to see. Terry's car was up against the central barrier, facing the wrong way. It was upright, but the damage to the roof showed that it had rolled over, and the engine was steaming. The firemen had sprayed it with foam and had declared it safe, but it looked like there was someone in the passenger seat...Henry???
Dino stood and stared as men worked on the car. He wondered if Terry had got out in one piece or if he was already on route to a hospital. Suddenly he heard his name.
"Uncle Dean!"
Before he knew it, Henry was hugging him tightly. "Henry, are you okay?"
"Why are you here, Uncle Dean?"
"I saw the news on the TV in the departure lounge. I had to come back to make sure you were both okay."
"You left Louise for us?"
"Yes I did, Henry. I was a fool and didn't stop to think about what was going on. It was a giant misunderstanding and I fear I may have lost my best friend."
"He still loves you, Uncle Dean."
"That's good to hear, Henry. Where is he?"
Henry swallowed and wiped a tear from his eye. "He's still in the car."
"How..."
"I was driving."
"He let you drive his Beamer?"
"Yep, still not allowed to take the Jag out though."
"How bad is he, Henry?"
"They don't know yet. I was able to get out okay, but you can see the passenger side has buckled, that's where we got hit by a truck. I think dad's trapped."
"Is he conscious?"
"He was, don't know now though, they won't let me near."
"Let me see what I can do about that."
Dino called Steve over and asked if there was anything he could do to get Henry over to his dad. Steve spoke to the fire chief and as the vehicle was now safe, they said Henry could speak to Terry as they were getting ready to start cutting the car open. Dino went too."
"Dad?"
Terry groaned and opened his eyes. His cheek was broken from the force of the airbag, and he had a laceration on his shoulder. Apart from that he didn't seem too bad, but he was trapped by his left foot and the front of the car needed to be cut away before they could do anything to get him out.
"Henry, you okay, son?"
"They think I may have cracked some bones in my wrist, but I told them to just wrap it up and I'd go in the ambo with you."
"You should go, son. Get it sorted."
"I'm not leaving you, dad."
"Nor am I, Tio."
"Dino? Why aren't you on a flight outta here?"
"Because my best friend is in trouble and I need to be with him."
"What about...?"
"Don't worry, Tio, we'll talk about it later. You just keep still and let them get you out of the car. Does Jean know?"
"I haven't called her yet," Henry said.
"Let me do it, okay?" Dino asked.
Henry looked at his dad and saw him nod, then squatted by the side of the car holding his hand while Dino walked over to a quieter part of the barrier and made the call.
The firefighters made short work of Terry's car, and before too long he was being lifted out onto a stretcher. Henry called over to Dino.
"Are you coming, Uncle Dean?"
"Try stopping me. Which hospital are we going to? I need to tell Jean."
"RPA," The ambo driver replied.
"Jean, Terry's being taken to the RPA. Can you meet us there? Good, we're just heading out now. See you soon."
Jean ran through the front doors of the hospital, right into Dino's arms. "Where is he, and why are you still here?"
"I saw the news flash on the TV at the airport. I needed to make sure Terry and Henry were okay, so I came back. Terry's in x-ray and Henry went with him."
"Where's Louise?"
"On her way to Hong Kong."
"On her own?"
"Not for long," Dino snorted. "She was sashaying up to an older man in an expensive suit as she was boarding."
"Oh, Dean, I'm so sorry."
"No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I almost lost a good friend because I believed what she told me. I really thought she loved me, Jean. She was just after what she could get I guess."
"I know it's hard, but better to find out before things went too far."
"How did you get to be so wise, Jean, and how come Terry got you and I didn't."
"What can I say, he's a lucky man."
"Let's hope that luck is still good then," Dino replied as he led her to the waiting area.
They were drinking revolting vending coffee when Henry came through the double doors.
"Jean," he called, running towards her and hugging her.
"Are you okay, Henry?"
"Broken wrist and a sprained elbow. I was lucky."
"Where's Terry?"
"He's still in x-ray, then he's going for an MRI."
"Why," Jean asked worriedly.
"They wanted to check his spine and neck and said the scan would give a better picture than an x-ray."
"Really, you're not keeping anything from me?"
"How could I?" Henry replied, kissing Jean on the cheek. "They said he'll be about another twenty minutes. I have to go to the plaster room now and get this done."
"We'll be here when you're done, Henry," Dino smiled.
They didn't see Terry come back as he was brought in through another door. A nurse came out and walked towards them.
"Are you Jean?" she asked.
"Yes, I am."
"Would you like to follow me. Someone wants to see you." Jean held Dino's hand as they walked behind the nurse. They were shown in a cubicle where Terry was lying on a gurney listening to a doctor. He saw Jean and held out his hand. She was by his side in a flash, kissing his face gently.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Luv. Just fine."
"Mrs. Thorne?"
"No, I'm his fiancée."
"Right, well, Mr. Thorne is a very lucky man. No damage to his back or neck. His shoulder just needs stitching, it looks worse than it is right now as we haven't cleaned him up yet. He was cut by flying glass. The worse injury is to his foot and ankle.
"You need surgery, Mr. Thorne. You were lucky that your ankle stayed intact. The leg is broken just above the ankle joint and there are broken bones in your foot. It should be straight forward and as long as you do what you're told you should be home in a couple of days. That means no work, not even at home. Get it?"
"Got it."
"Good."
"Don't worry, Jeannie. The doc and I go back a long way."
"I just hope you've learnt to behave since then, Terry."
"I'll be good, doc," Terry smiled.
True to his word, Terry was a model patient, and three days after the surgery he was back home enjoying being looked after by Jean and Henry. He lay on the sofa in the lounge-room and looked across at Dino, who was sitting on the edge of the seat of the matching sofa.
"You okay, Dino?"
"Look at you, you're the one who's been in a car crash and you're asking me if I'm okay. I'm good, Terry. The question is, are WE okay?"
"Mate, I never made a move towards Louise, neither did Henry."
"I know that now, Terry. You were right, she's a gold digger. She latched onto some rich businessman as she boarded the flight. Don't know where she is now. At least I got my keys back from her before I left her at the airport."
"Sorry, mate."
"So, are we good?"
"Sure are. Can you stay a while?"
"Aw, you want me to hold your hand?"
"Nope, you can keep an eye on the office. I gave Jeannie extended leave while I'm off my feet."
"For you, Terry, I can do that. Let's make a pact...no more misunderstandings."
"Too right, mate...too right."