The Last Five Years

Poppy

   "Do you think you can love two people at the same time?" I asked my mom. She sat across from me at our table in a local coffee shop.

My mom, Annie Benbrook, was my best friend, and my role model. She was a lawyer when I was growing, but retired early and spent her days taking care of her garden. Her dark hair was highlighted with silver strands, and her eyes had just started getting wrinkles by them.

"Why not? I love you and your father."

I rolled my eyes. "That's not what I mean."

She smiled, her blue eyes soft. "I think everyone is different. Just because there is one person for me, doesn't mean that there's only one for you." She tilted her head to the side. "Everything alright?"

"Drew was back in town." The steam from the coffee fogged up her glasses as she took a sip from her cup. "I heard from 

his mother that he was back for the reunion. What has this got to do with anything?"

I refused to look at her as I spoke. "We kissed."

"Poppy!" She smacked my arm. "What were you thinking?"

"It just happened. I love Peter, I do. But Drew was my first love."

She rested a bony hand against my cheek. "Honey, first loves will always have a part of you. Your relationship didn't work out, not because of not trying, but because you two were growing. You grew out of each other, and that's okay. Don't punish yourself, or Peter, for that."

******

When I got home, Peter was sitting on the couch in his uniform, his head in his hands. He looked up when the front door shut, and I took note of the dark circles under his eyes. He stood up, his hands clasped in front of him.

"Where were you?" He asked, his voice quiet.

"I was out with Annie."

He chewed on his lower lip. "Talking about us? And Drew?"

I rubbed my forehead. "Jesus, Peter. I'm so done with this topic of conversation."

"Well, I'm not, Poppy! How can we make shit work when you won't even try?"

"There was never a problem before he came back!"

"It's a problem now! You can't make it go away just by squeezing your eyes shut and wishing!"

"I kissed him, Peter!" I blurted, running my hands through my hair. "I kissed him, and he kissed me back."

Peter stared back, his mouth hanging open. "What? When?"

"The night of the reunion." I whispered. Peter started pacing, an awful habit of his when he was nervous. I watched him for about ten minutes before he looked at his watch.

"I have to go now." He crossed over to me to take my face in his hands. "We will figure this out. Okay? I love you." He kissed my cheek, and then left without waiting for me to respond.

******

Peter was supposed to be home in two hours, and I had spent all day trying to tidy the house up. I knew that when he got home, he really appreciated warm towels and a made bed after a long day. The house was spotless, and I was feeling kind of proud of myself.

I was flipping through channels when the doorbell rang. I called out, quickly pausing the tv and running to open the door. Before me stood two men in uniform, their hats off and clutched in their hands.

"Poppy Benbrook?" One of them asked.

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "Yes. How can I help you?" The men looked at each other. I started to feel a sense of dread, and even before they spoke, I knew what they were going to say.

"Officer Castillo is down. We need you to come with us."