Part 14
Tom stood in the middle of his empty studio apartment and looked around. A
wave of nostalgia washed over him as he remembered what had brought him to
his new home; his divorce from Cassy. When he married Cassy he thought he
was giving up the life of a bachelor, and he couldn't have been more
pleased. But fate had a different plan in mind.
Tom walked over to where his kitchen table use to be and thought about Paul
Francis. Paul had been a fellow officer who had been the previous tenant.
Paul married Lindsay, and in addition to giving up his bachelor status, he
also gave up his bachelor pad to Tom, who was without a wife or a home.
Tom hated being a bachelor, although no one knew that. To the outside eye
Tom was on top of the world. He had no commitments, nothing holding him
back from living the life he was destined to live, single and free to
mingle. Tom enjoyed the single life but the life he wanted was across town
next to his wife.
But here he was, five years later, getting a second chance at a life with
Cassy and this time he was going to do it right.
A knock at the door brought Tom back to the present.
"Sergeant Ryan?"
"Yes?"
"I'm Sarah Hollings. I've come to see about the apartment. My husband is in
your class at the academy."
"Right, Gerald Holllings. He mentioned he was interested in the place. Why
don't you take a look around."
While Sarah viewed the apartment Tom opened all the cabinets and drawers to
make certain that nothing was left behind. Once satisfied, he returned to
the den where Sarah was waiting for him.
"It's perfect. It's exactly what we've been looking for."
"Great." Tom handed her a business card. "This is the name and number of
the man who owns the building."
"Thank you so much, Sergeant. And congratulations on your wedding."
"Thanks Sarah."
Sarah left and Tom walked to the front door and took one last look at his
home and his old life. He turn and walked out the door to his new life.
Cassy sat at the table and reviewed her wedding notes. 'The flowers have
been ordered and should be delivered to the church Saturday morning. The
dress will be ready on Thursday. Frannie is handling the food for the
reception. Confirm time and place with the minister. Locate Denise.'
Cassy bit into another cracker. 'Where was Denise? All the hospital would
say was that she was on vacation and would return to work on Monday. By
then it would be too late.' Cassy wanted her best friend there when she got
married, especially since her sisters would be a no show.
Christina sided with their mother, as always, and refused to attend.
Claudia couldn't make it since she and her new boyfriend would be on a
Caribbean cruise for the next two weeks. Cassy's side of the chapel was
going to be very bare.
Tom came down stairs. He took the crackers out her reach. "Why are you
eating those? We are having Sunday dinner with Harry and Frannie soon."
Cassy reached for them but to no avail. "I'm hungry, Tom."
"Tough. Harry and Frannie have been barbecuing all afternoon and they would
be upset if you showed up stuffed with crackers."
"I'll save room. Please give me back the crackers."
"Not a chance. Is that what you're wearing?"
She looked down at her T-shirt and jeans. "What's wrong with what I'm
wearing?"
"Nothing. You look fine. Ready?"
"Not anymore. I have to change." She left the table and headed for the
stairs.
Tom looked at the clock and could see they were going to be late. "Me and
my big mouth."
To Part 15