Chapter 3

Peggy left Ted's hotel room and headed to the office, although she realized she was wearing the same clothes as the night before, she didn't want to head to her apartment to change. It was a Saturday and who else would be in the office working anyways? Peggy thought to herself.

She unlocked the main door and went to her office, dropped her purse down on her desk and opened her pocket book, grabbed a cigarette and lit it. She peered out the window overlooking the city as she took a drag. Lost in thought about the night before, being with Ted, she would smile one second at the thought of Ted and then quickly disregard the thought and try to focus back on work. She stood by the window and heard a sound down the hall; her cigarette was almost down to nothing so she stubbed it out and went to check out the noise.

Did I lock the door? Yes, wait, no? I thought I did…Peggy thought to herself, as she walked slowly down the hall.

"Hello?"

She heard dishes rattle in the kitchen and said "Hello?" again a bit louder this time.

"Yes, I'm in here."

Peggy walked into the kitchen and found Pete making a cup of coffee.

"Oh."

"Do you want some?"

"Um, okay."

"I landed that client last night, no thanks to you and Ted." Pete rubbed his temples, "I'm not sure if I can keep up with clients anymore, we were at that bar until 2 in the morning."

Peggy simply nodded and grabbed a mug for her cup of coffee.

"So…" Pete took a sip of coffee, "you and Ted?"

"Pete…"

"I could see something was happening, or at least, that's what it looked like to me."

Peggy sighed.

"I know it's not my place, Peggy. But I care about you and I –", Peggy looked up from her cup of coffee and looked into Pete's eyes, "I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Thanks, Pete."

Peggy took her cup of coffee and started walking back to her office, wanting to end the conversation but Pete followed her.

"Peggy…"

Peggy was in her office with her back to the door, standing by her desk, and Pete caught up with her and stood in her doorway.

"You can talk to me, if you want."

Peggy placed the cup of coffee onto the desk and covered her face with her hands and let out a cry.

"Oh." Pete said, and he rushed to her, setting down his coffee next to hers and took her in his arms and held her.

"He's a fool, Peggy. I'd give anything for you to look at me the way you look at him."

Peggy uncovered her face, "You don't mean that."

"Oh, but I do. You're the only one, Peggy. You really know me. You really see me."

Peggy nodded.

There was a moment between Pete and Peggy as he held her close, and revealed after all these years his feelings had never changed, but just then Peggy's phone rang, and with that audible noise they parted quickly. Peggy went around her desk to answer her phone, but Pete stood perfectly still with his eyes fixated on Peggy, unsure of what he should do, stay or leave. Peggy answered the phone, "Hello?" It was Ted on the other line.

"I just wanted to make sure you got to the office okay."

"Yes, everything is fine." Peggy replied shortly.

"If you need any help with anything, I can stop by. You can pitch ideas to me."

Peggy eyes waivered off of Pete's, and Pete turned, placed his hands in his pockets and started to walk out of her office and down the hall.

Peggy placed the phone to her chest, "Wait!" she shouted.

Ted on the line said "Oh, okay."

Peggy placed the phone to her ear, "No, sorry, not you. I have to go." She hung up the phone, and walked spritely out of her office and looked down the hall, right then left, then headed for the stairs to Pete's office and she saw him stopped and sitting on the staircase.

"That was Ted, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

"You know, your face changes when you speak to him, there's this slight smile on your lips and your voice, it changes, a tad higher in pitch…"

Peggy moved and sat next to Pete on the stairs, "I don't want to talk about Ted."

"Is it all right if we just sit here for a moment?"

"Yes, Pete."

Pete turned to her and smiled sweetly, although she could visibly see how much he had aged over the years, the hair loss, how he become much more soft in the middle, he was still the same Pete who showed up to her apartment that night. She could still see the young man, the boy Pete always was deep inside.

After a short time had passed, Pete got up to his feet and walked up the stairs; he held onto the railing and turned back to Peggy. He thought to mention something about work and clients, wish her good luck, or even say goodbye, but the only words he thought to say sounded to him to be insignificant and empty, so he simply nodded and kept walking up the stairs. He entered into his office, slowly closing the door behind him then sat his desk.

Peggy returned to her office, plopped down onto her couch, confused and conflicted about her situation. These men, she thought to herself, these men they just walk into my life and leave, they do whatever they want. She huffed at the thought of them, Ted and Pete. Men she had both loved, at different times in her life, and even if time had passed there was still a lingering connection between them.

Sitting there, she let her thoughts race and meandered over memories she tried her best to push away. Work was her escape and her drive, but work connected her to these men and in the end, felt like a never ending cyclical pattern. Work, fall in love, heartbreak, work and repeat. Hours passed as Peggy sat with her thoughts, when she felt a rumble in her stomach then looked around to see the time only to notice that it was dark outside her window. She had sat on her couch for most of her Saturday. She wondered if Pete was still upstairs in his office, but instead of checking in on him, she grabbed her things and headed home.