Turn Back Time

Chapter 3 - Ghosts

"C'mon baby, you can do it...come to Daddy."

Kate sat on one side of the living room, her phone trained on Alexis as their almost-toddler slowly pushed to her feet, rocking backwards and forwards precariously as she found her balance before taking a few wobbly steps towards a beaming Hank who was waiting for her a few feet away with his arms outstretched.

She had been using the furniture and her trusty shopping cart to get around since Christmas but, in the few days they had been home from their honeymoon, she had taken to standing up unassisted in the middle of the hardwood floor only to reach out a hand and yell for Hank to come and help her move across the room.

Kate had watched on with a wry smile as Alexis led him around the house by his index finger, her animated babbling interspersed with Hank's occasional hum of acknowledgement as she pointed out whatever had piqued her interest.

Sensing their daughter was on the cusp of conquering yet another huge development milestone, they had spent the entire morning on opposite ends of the living room, trying to catch her first steps on camera.

"That's it, you got it!"

Alexis was a few inches from her intended target when she launched herself forwards into Hank's waiting arms with a squeal of laughter, her chubby cheeks stretched into a broad smile as both of her parents clapped and cheered in support but the jovial celebration was halted by the sound of somebody tapping at the door. Kate had half expected to find a breathless Erin on her doorstep, desperate to witness her goddaughter's first steps but when Kate swung the heavy wood open, the person standing on their doorstep was the very last woman Kate had expected to see.

"Meredith...hi."

Kate had only met the estranged widow of her husband's best friend a handful of times and, while she had never been outwardly callous towards her, Kate had always felt that Meredith disapproved of her relationship with Hank. She had assumed the underlying hostility stemmed from the age difference but it wasn't until much later did she realised that it wasn't her Meredith had the problem with.

Her eyes scanned the sea of bodies surrounding her at she sat between a tearful Trudy and a stoic Kevin, the Priest's melancholic voice echoing around the grand chapel but still she was unable to locate the one face she needed to see. She had seen him earlier that morning when he'd collected her from the hospital and driven her to the church but, ever since, he'd been MIA.

Knowing how much guilt he shouldered in the aftermath of Alvin's death, she couldn't help but want to have him close as they said a tearful goodbye to a beloved friend and colleague but he had apparently chosen to keep to himself rather than stand with his unit. Her eyes kept drifting to the lone figure of Meredith Olinsky, swathed in black as Kim and Adam secured the large silk flag over Al's casket, the latter resting a gloved hand atop the pine box for a few long beats before returning to his seat.

As close as she was with Al, she had only been introduced to his estranged wife once or twice, the first time when Meredith had stopped by the 21st to drop off the divorce papers Alvin had been trying desperately to avoid signing. Ironically, the second time she'd met Mrs Olinsky was at the CPD Fourth of July cookout after Al had finally convinced her to try and make a go of things.

'So, you're Hank's new...girlfriend.'

The disgustingly happy smile Kate had been wearing all day faltered slightly as she straightened her spine, turning away from the cooler with two icy beers in hand. Squinting into the sun, she met Meredith's bright green eyes steadily, her skin already prickling uncomfortably at the inferred disapproval of her status in Hank's life. It wasn't like it was headline news, they had been dating for almost six months but it was the first time she had seen her colleague's wife since they had made it official.