Dino Needs Backup

Terry sat on the sofa, his head in his hands, not answering Dino as he spoke. His heart had soared when Dino said he’d found M, but plunged into the abyss when he followed up by saying she wasn’t coming home.

Dino needed backup, but didn’t know who to call. He walked over to the phone and picked up the handset. Punching the first stored number he found, he started to pace, watching his friend all the time, as he waited for someone to pick up.

“I’ll get it, honey.” Glancing at the caller ID, Ed smiled, “Morning, Terry, how ya doing?”

“Ah, could I speak with Bron please?” a strange voice answered.

“Who are you, and what the hell are you doing with Terry’s phone?” Ed demanded.

“My name is Dino. I’m Terry’s friend and business partner. You must be Bron’s partner.”

Ed called Bron into the lounge room, a worried look on his face. “Yes, I’m Ed Hoffman, what’s happened to Terry?”

“He’s good; I had to give him some news and I think he needs his friends with him right now.”

“We’re on our way,” Ed replied, throwing the phone down and turning to Bron. “Terry needs us, darling.”

Dino hung up the phone and walked back to Terry. He sat on the arm of the sofa and put his arm round his friend’s shoulder. “Ed and Bron are on the way, my friend.” He was pleased to get a slight nod in reply.

It wasn’t too long before he heard a screech of brakes and two car doors slamming shut. He opened the front door before they had time to knock.

“Is M…” Bron asked, worried about her cousin.

Dino gave her a hug and shook his head. “No, she’s fine, honey. I have a bit more news to give Tio, and I think that he’ll need someone to be with him when I tell him.”

Ed nodded to Dino and walked through to Terry, sitting opposite him to allow Bron to sit by his side. “Terry, I‘ve got Bron with me.”

Terry slowly looked up and smiled weakly at his friend. “Thanks, Ed. I think I might just need you both.”

Dino and Bron walked in and Bron sat by Terry, giving him a kiss and a hug. “Hi, handsome,” she smiled.

“Hey, baby,” Terry replied, holding her hand tightly. Looking up at his friend, he spoke quietly, “Okay, mate; I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Damn it Tio, you’re always so much better at this part of the job then I am,” he took a deep breath before continuing. Looking at Ed and Bron, he spoke again.

“I’ve already told Terry that we found M and she’s okay,” he stopped as Bron wiped the tears of relief from her face, and waiting to continue until Ed had moved over to sit by her side.

“The thing is…she’s decided that she isn’t coming back. During their time in captivity, she and one of the other doctors took strength from each other to get through. I’m sorry, Ter, by the time we got to them they had developed deep feeling for each other.”

Bron watched as tears fell silently down Terry’s face. He squeezed her hand even tighter before looking at his friend. “She’s fallen in love with someone else?”

“I’m so sorry, Terry, yes she has. She asked me to give this to you, and begged you not to hate her for what she’s done.” Dino held out his hand to Terry and waited. Terry raised his open hand up and Dino gently placed something inside. Terry shuddered as he looked into his palm. Sitting there was the diamond and topaz pendant he’d bought for M the day they decided to make a go of it at The Glen.

Bron held onto him tightly as he slumped back on the sofa and clutched the pendant to his heart.