Page 26 of With Love

Adrienne

I wake up to the sound of birds chirping and beams of sunshine peeking through the canopy of leaves and into the gorgeous whimsical fairyland that Marshall created just for me. I can’t get over the design of this room. With the ceiling made completely of glass, it’s like sleeping outside, under the stars every night. Stretching, I roll out of bed and open one set of French doors leading to the porch outside.

It’s been three weeks since we moved my belongings up here and each day that’s passed since then has been more wonderful than the last. We spend most of our days cooking together, watching movies. Hiking and exercising as much as possible.

Marshall has taken me to see Owen two more times since that first time that we went to visit. Unfortunately, we aren’t allowed to stay for longer than 30 minutes and I feel bad that Marshall has to drive me so far. He’s never complained and he’s been supportive of my friendship with Owen though, which means the world to me.

Lucy and I have grown closer too. She had some girly things shipped to an address in the city where Travis stays. Marshall brought them back here for us on one of his trips into the city. She’s painted my nails for me and taught me how to curl my hair. She also helped me pick out a few decorative items for my room.

I have come a long way in my recovery. I need to work on building my strength, but I am finally to the point where my injuries are considered fully healed. I told Marshall that I wanted to learn self-defense so on one of his trips into the city, he purchased some more heavy duty workout equipment as well as some gym mats. We’ve since turned the dining room into our makeshift gym and he and Lucy have been teaming up, working with me two to three times a week.

* * *

“Lucy, question for you,” I say.

“What’s up?”

“Does everyone in the medical profession have to go through classes to learn how to write so horribly?” I ask with a laugh. Marshall, Lucy, and I are sitting around the kitchen island playing cards and Lucy is keeping score.

“Hey, not nice! In the ICU, our patients are more important than our penmanship,” she laughs and throws one of her cards at me as Marshall’s cell phone rings.

He looks at the phone number plastered across the screen. His eyebrows furrowing together a bit. He stands up and walks over to one of the other counters as he answers.

“Dr. Herbert.” I get nervous, but also excited. It’s about Owen and I pray that it’s good news.

“Mmhmm. Tomorrow at 11? Yeah, I’ll have a car there to pick him up. Okay, thank you for the update.” Marshall ends the call abruptly.

Excited butterflies begin fluttering around in my stomach. Marshall looks over at me with the best smile that he can muster before scrolling through his contacts looking for a phone number.

“Yeah, I need you to pick up Mr. Branch at 11 tomorrow morning,” he starts.

His eyes dart over to mine as he speaks again.

“He’s coming here. Thanks, Travis.”

The butterflies increase. It’s been seven weeks since the plane crash, Owen is finally getting out, and he’s coming here! Marshall and I spoke about where Owen would be staying when he was cleared to leave. I think he knew that I was going to ask if he could stay here, but he wasn’t going to offer it up unless I mentioned it. He didn’t want to make any promises, but said that he would think about it. He told me that his first priority was making sure that I was safe. If he had any reason to believe that Lock knew of Owen’s whereabouts, he would not be welcome here.

* * *

Marshall

Adrienne hops up from her stool and rushes over to me, flinging her arms around my waist. If it weren’t for the fact that she was this excited over another man, then I’m sure she’d be feeling mutual excitement poking her in the stomach.

“Thank you so much, Marshall! You have no idea how much this means to me!”

“There is very little that I wouldn’t do for you. But I probably shouldn’t have told you that. Now you can use it to your advantage.” I joke as I wrap my arms around her, squeezing her gently.

Both happy and bitter thoughts swirl through my mind. Adrienne is my weakness. I really will do anything to make her happy, even if it means sacrificing everything. I don’t want Branch here, but if it makes Adrienne happy, then that’s what has to be done. As much as I don’t like the idea, having him here will allow me to keep a close eye on him.

As the saying goes, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

“I’m about to fall asleep here. I think I am going to call it a night,” I notice Lucy yawning over the top of Adrienne’s head.

Adrienne breaks the hug and turns around.

“I think we’re finished too, Marshall?” she looks back at me and I smile at her.

“I’ll sort the cards and clean up,” Adrienne offers.

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