"...Brannigan drug bust from last Tuesday," Peter finished for her and gave her the requested files. "Done, done, and done." He grinned cheekily at her undisguised astonishment.
"That settles it," cracked Skalany. "You are definitely not 'our' Peter Caine. Where is he and what have you done with him? He might be a real pain in the ass sometimes, but he's ours."
"Come on, Peter, what gives?" demanded Kermit. "Where did this refreshing new attitude come from?"
Captain Simms turned away, trying to hide a grin. "Leave him alone, people. I've gotten more paper work out of this man in three hours than Caine has done in three weeks. Whoever he is, we'll keep him."
Peter was still laughing as his friends headed off in various directions to attend to their own duties. {Why am I feeling so good? Maybe it's because I had such a great time with Kacie this weekend. She has a way of making things so much clearer without lecturing. She just kind of leads me in the right direction and lets me figure things out for myself. I can't believe how much I told her about my life in the time we spent together this weekend. My father, the temple, and the Blaisdells…}
Thinking of Kacie reminded him of the Blaisdells. {I haven't talked to Mom in a long time}. Sitting there in the squad room he recalled his promise to Paul to 'look after my girls while I'm gone'. {A phone call is long overdue}, he thought guiltily. He couldn't remember for sure the last time he had called or stopped by the house. Snatching up the receiver with his left hand, he rapidly punched in the familiar number of home with his right hand.
Annie answered after the third ring. "Hello, Blaisdells."
Peter's spirits lifted even higher as he heard the voice of the only mother he had ever known. "Mom?" He cleared his throat to ease the sudden ache there. "Mom, it's Peter."
He could hear her smile over the phone. "Well, of course it's you, Sweetheart. Is everything all right?"
"I'm fine, Mom. I just realized I hadn't talked to you in a while, and-and-and, I've missed you."
"We've missed you, too, Sweetie. The girls and I haven't seen much of you lately."
There was no reproof in her voice, but he silently chided himself for waiting so long to make this call. "How's Carolyn feeling? Is she big as a house yet?" {She should be about seven months pregnant now. I haven't seen her since that time at the cabin when those Mafia goons almost killed us.}
"She thinks she is, and I haven't had the heart to tell her that she's not even close to what she'll be like toward the end."
Peter loved to listen to the music in Annie's voice and was suddenly overwhelmed with a longing to be with his foster family again; to see them, to talk to them. {It's always so hard going to the house, knowing Paul won't be there.} "I'm sorry, Mom, what did you say?" He had become so lost in his thoughts that he had missed her words.
"I said that Todd and Carolyn are coming over for dinner on Sunday, and Kelly will be around, too. We'd all love to see you."
This time he heard the gentle reproach. "I...Mom, thanks for the invitation."
"You don't need an invitation to stop by, Peter. This is your home and always will be. You're family, Honey, not a guest."
Peter was struck by the similarity of his mother's words and those Kacie had spoken to him. {'You're not company, you're a friend'.} A slow smile crept over his face. {Both of them always seem to know just what to say.} His eyes softened to a smoky green and glowed happily as he laughed into the phone. "I know that, Mom. Just needed to hear you say it."
"That's what moms are for, Sweetie."
"I'll be there, Sunday, Mom, I promise. What time? Wait, wait, I know, any time." Seized with an inspiration, he suddenly blurted, "Mom, would you mind if I brought someone with me? I've met a new friend, and-and-and I think you'd really like her. As a matter of fact, she's the one who reminded me that I've been neglecting you." He was grinning broadly now. {Reminded me? Made me feel guilty as hell.}
"Well, then, bring her along, Peter. She sounds like someone I've got to meet."
"She's great, Mom. I've never met anyone like her before," Peter enthused. "You'll love her."
"Friends, you say?" Annie asked with a deliberate casualness.
Peter knew what was coming next. "Mom, don't start getting any ideas. We're just friends." He emphasized the word 'friends'.
"OK, Peter, whatever you say. We'll look forward to Sunday, then. Love ya, Sweetie."
"I love you, too, Mom. See you soon." Peter hung up the phone with a satisfied sigh. He sat and contemplated the goodness of life a moment before returning to attack his work with a vengeance, not even bothering to refill his coffee cup.
His friends walked past his desk a number of times, shaking their heads in amazement. No matter how long they knew this mercurial friend, they would never completely understand what made him tick.
