He grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and sat on the couch to drink it. {Damn, if I ever get tired of being a cop, I could always become an actor.} He took a long swallow from his beer. {Hell, I laughed, I talked, I told jokes. It's only here at home that there's nothing to say, nothing to laugh or joke about.}
He pointed the remote at the television and turned on the set. As time went on, he kept looking at the clock. {'I'll be late.' 'Surgery.' Wonder how many other times she's been in 'surgery'.}
He finished his beer and went to get another. He was beginning to get a little lightheaded. He hadn't had anything to drink in quite awhile, and he was feeling the effects of the alcohol much quicker than he normally did.
He'd barely settled himself back on the couch when a knock sounded at the door. With a muffled oath, he got to his feet again and answered the summons.
Opening the door somewhat irritably, he snapped, "What?" before looking to see who was there.
"A little cranky tonight, aren't we?" A slender brunette, holding a brightly gift-wrapped package, stood smiling at him uncertainly.
"Tyler." Peter's voice and expression showed his surprise.
"You gonna invite me in, or do I have to stand out here all night?"
"Uh, yeah, sure. Come on in." He stood aside to let her pass.
Tyler made herself at home on the couch, setting down the package beside her. Peter stood before her somewhat awkwardly until she grinned up at him. "Why don't you sit down and make yourself comfortable, Peter? This is your own home, isn't it?"
He sat down in the chair next to the couch, unsure of what his next move should be. Remembering his manners, he asked, "Can I get you anything?"
"No, thanks." Tyler looked around the small apartment. "Where's your train set?"
"I-I-I packed it up and stored it away when Paul left. And now, with two of us here, there just didn't seem to be enough room for it."
"Oh, yes. Two of you. I'd heard through the grapevine that you'd actually gotten married. Found somebody who didn't think you were crazy, huh?"
"Some-something like that." Not knowing what else to do, Peter took another drink of beer.
"So, where is your wife tonight?"
"She-she had to work late tonight at the hospital. She should be home any minute."
"I'd really like to meet her. She must be something if she's tamed you. I never thought you'd ever actually settle down, Peter." Tyler looked around the room and then back at him again. "Doesn't it bother her that you're a cop?"
"Kacie's father and brother were cops, too. She told me that she was aware of the risks involved more than most people."
"But she loved you enough to marry you anyway? She's a braver woman than I." She looked at him almost sadly. "She obviously loves you more than I ever did...or could."
He fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat. "What we had was good, Tyler. There just wasn't enough substance to it for us both to hang on to."
She nodded in agreement, and then held out her package. "Here. This is for you and --"
"Kacie." Peter took the gift from her hand and appeared to study the wrapping.
"-- Kacie. Call it a belated wedding present." Tyler looked at him intently, as if trying to memorize his face. "I hope you're happy, Peter. You're a great guy." She got to her feet restlessly and stood before him. "Well, I didn't plan to stay long. Just wanted to look you up and give you this."
Her eyes were dark with a kaleidoscope of emotions: love, regret, and a deep, underlying sadness. "Peter, would you..." Her voice trailed off and she dropped her eyes.
Peter down set his beer and the package on the coffee table before getting to his feet and facing her. "What, Tyler?" he asked gently.
She lifted a face damp with tears to look at him. "Would you kiss me goodbye? Just one last time? A kiss between friends?"
Peter nodded, a bittersweet ache in his throat as he gathered his one-time fiance into his arms. The kiss they shared was soft and gentle -- two souls who once loved, now bidding goodbye to the past and to a future that had never come to be, that was never meant to be.
They were startled apart at the sound of a horrified gasp coming from the dining area.