Tie

Bleak brown eyes stared at the odd assortment of ties on the back of the closet door. There were so many, in many different colors. To a man who wore suits everday, having a variety of ties was important, vital even. Red, black, blue, patterned, seasonal, humorous, beautiful. For Alex, the tie made the suit. Reaching out, his fingers traced the silk fabrics that dangled there. He couldn't choose. Which tie would make his suit today? Should today be made? Should he allow himself to wallow in pain and remorse? What would Cindy say?

"Alex, honey, I have another tie for you." The pretty blonde leaned over the table, handing him a flat box. He took it, a confused and questioning smile on his face as he did so. He wasn't aware of what the occasion would be, as he opened the box, and lifted out the beautiful sapphire blue silk tie.
"Cindy, it's beautiful..." He leaned over, stealing a kiss from his wife. "What's the occasion?"
Cindy smiled at him, and propped her head on her hand.
"I'm pregnant."

Alex let the blue tie slide through his fingers, and completely bypassed the ruby red one that dangled next to it. Ties that she'd given him on finding out about each of their two children. Nine year old Sandy, with her brown hair and the beautiful grey eyes she'd inherited from her bother, seven year old Justin, who looked just like his father. Grief filled Alex, and he simply reached over, and picked up the black tie that hung on the far other end. It was the only black tie that Alex owned...

"Alexander! Will you stop moving!" The petite brunette was standing on her tiptoes, trying to tie his tie for him, and he was was squirming far too much for him to call it a success. His younger sister was dear to him, and he had asked her to be the one that helped him get ready for his wedding.
"Sorry, Lina." He apologized, bending his head to kiss the top of hers.
"My name's Madeline, and I told you not to move!" The teenager had never tied a tie before, but she'd insisted on being the one to do this. Patiently, she'd read the manual, and had done rather well- if only he would stop moving.
"Sorry, Madeline." She finished, and stepped back to admire her handy work.
"There, even Cindy can't find fault with that!" She caught his rueful smile, and she began to laugh.

Alex stepped away from that tie, too. So many memories, so many things to think about as his brown eyes swept them over. Finally, he reached up, and unbuttoned the top button. There was a knock on his door, and though he made no answer, it slowly pushed open. It was Madeline, regarding his brown eyes with concern. Out of respect for his loss, Madeline had not brought her two children, leaving them with Morgan. It was a nice thought, but Alex would have liked to have seen his niece and nephew.

His little sister didn't say a word. She merely walked over to him, and held out a hand that he immediatly took, comforted by it's slight weight in his hand. Maddie reached up, and tweaked his collar, making no comment about the absense of a tie for the first time since she could remember. He'd just lost his wife and children in a plane crash, and people would be talking about how rude it was that he would arrive to the triple funeral with no tie. But Madeline, at least, understood that there were too many memories down that path.

She knew that he couldn't wear a tie.