Peter was the father of the most beautiful baby boy that had ever been born in all of time and he had several hundred pictures to prove it. Elizabeth had undergone a scheduled c-section and he was almost rendered speechless when the nurses placed the tiny, swaddled bundle in his arms. He was perfect. "Hey buddy, I've waited so long to meet you." He kissed the sleeping infant all over his face while Elizabeth looked on and cried the happiest kind of tears.
He had a spring in his step the next morning as he sauntered into Elizabeth's favourite jewellery store. He wanted to buy something for her en route to the hospital as a small token for giving him in turn the greatest gift she would ever bestow on him.
In the interest of time, he had called ahead and asked the store's proprietor, whom he had become friendly with over the years after many Christmas, birthday and anniversary purchases, to set aside a few items he thought Elizabeth would like.
He walked in the front door and was greeted immediately. "Monsieur Burke! There's the new dad, how is fatherhood treating you so far?"
Peter shook the Frenchman's proffered hand and grinned so wide he was sure his face would split in two. "Henri, good to see you. It's been less than 24 hours but so far so good; I haven't dropped him yet."
Henri laughed and clapped him on the back. "Please pass along my best wishes to Mrs. Burke." He motioned for Peter to follow him to the back of the store. " I've laid out some lovely pieces I think would meet with her approval."
Peter perused the items selected for him; they were all lovely yet all very different. Sure he was a senior ranking official in the White Collar division of the FBI but when faced with the daunting task of buying his sweet wife jewellery he became twitchy. A half hour went by and he was no closer to making a decision. Then it hit him and hit him hard; Neal. Neal was usually here with him for most of those Christmas, birthday and anniversary purchases, analyzing what seemed like every item in the shop, nixing most of Peter's choices calling him a Philistine in the process, and keeping him there twice as long as he would like. These excursions were right in Neal's wheelhouse and he reveled in it. 'You can't rush these things Peter,' he'd say with an eye roll, 'it's Elizabeth', as if she were Neal's wife. 'Doesn't she deserve the best?' Peter would roll his eyes right back at him but really, what could Peter say to that, so he'd let him do his thing because he knew in the end Elizabeth would open said gift and squeal with joy and declare it perfect.
"Dammit Neal," he said under his breath. He suddenly needed air.
"Monsieur Burke?" Henri had made himself busy in another part of the store to give Peter time to look over the necklaces, bracelets and rings at his own pace.
"Just need to take a call, back in a minute," and Peter was out the door and into the little alley around the corner in 10 seconds flat. He laid his arms against the wall and fought against his increasing rage. "Dammit Neal!" he hollered. "How could you do this to me," he railed. '"You were supposed to be here for this, for me - I'm a dad Neal, and he's so beautiful and you were supposed to share this with me, smoke a cigar with me, show up to the hospital with balloons wearing a 'World's Best Uncle' t-shirt that only you could pull off, reassure me I won't completely screw the kid up." Peter could visualize all of this and more in his mind's eye. "You're ruining everything," he said softly rubbing the heels of his hands into his eyes. He righted himself and stood with his back against the wall dragging in deep breaths. One minute he's buying a bauble for his wife, the next he's having a meltdown in a dirty alley. "That's grief for ya", he muttered. At least no one else was privy to it.
He got himself together and walked back into the shop. "Sorry about that Henri. I'll take the tennis bracelet". He could almost hear Neal's voice in his ear, "Exactly, that's what I've been trying to tell you but you were too busy pitching a fit."