Luke Snyder and Reid Oliver were sitting in Al's Diner eating lunch. Reid was devouring a hamburger and Luke was dipping French fries in ketchup.
"I forgot to tell you," Reid said through a mouthful of beef and bread. "I have some stupid black-tie affair Friday night. I have to go because Bob chose me as his replacement as Chief of Staff. I need you to come with me, or else I won't get through it."
"Of course I'll come with you, Reid," Luke said. "You know how much I love stuffy, black-tie affairs." Luke smiled.
"Oh, by the way, my parents want to take us out for our anniversary," Luke said, trying very hard not to laugh at the look on his partner's face, and failing miserably. "I'm sorry. I wanted it to just be the two of us, but my mom persisted and insisted, so I couldn't say…no," Luke faltered, as his brow furrowed and he looked past Reid out the window.
"What?"
"Nothing. I thought I saw Noah," Luke said, shaking his head in confusion.
"Noah's been gone for nearly six years," Reid said, finishing his food.
"I know. Never mind."
Reid's beeper buzzed. "Damn," Reid said, pulling it out and shutting it off. "I have to go."
Luke nodded and stood up while dropping money onto the table for their food. Together they walked into Olde Towne towards Oakdale Memorial.
Just as they were passing Java, hand in hand, they came to an abrupt halt as the door to the coffee shop swung open. They had stopped to avoid getting hit by the door, but remained standing stock still as they found themselves face-to-face with Noah Mayer.
"Noah?" Luke said, surprised.
"Luke?" Noah said, blinking rapidly, as if he hoped the two men in front of him were simply apparitions.
"Noah! There you are. Glad I found my way around the town," said a girl about the same age as Luke and Noah, coming over to the three men. "Who's this, baby?" She looked at Luke and Reid.
"This is Luke Snyder and Dr. Reid Oliver," Noah said tensely, the last three words spoken with more resentment than was necessary. "Luke, Dr. Oliver, this is Beth – my wife."