Page 63 of With Love

Adrienne

Driving through the city, I take in the sights. Coming here used to spark so much anxiety for me. Now, it’s as though I am seeing it in a new light. We pass a building that I recognize as being close to Liza’s office.

“Are we going to see Liza next?” I ask, unable to control my excitement.

“Unfortunately, she isn’t in this week. I called her yesterday to see if we could stop by. I assured her that I would bring you by some other time.”

“Oh, okay,” I say, disappointed.

“I’m sorry, I would have loved for you to see her today.”

“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. This day has been absolutely perfect.”

“Stop that, you do not sound ungrateful. I didn’t think that at all.”

Relieved, I smile and look out my window once more.

“We’re actually headed to our old apartment,” Marshall says with a laugh.

“Why am I not surprised that you still have our old apartment too?”

* * *

“This is beautiful!” I exclaim when the elevator door opens, letting us off in the lobby of our floor.

“Wait until you see the inside. You designed it.”

Travis, Marshall, and I make our way into the apartment and place our things on the floor in the foyer.

“Here, let me show you around,” Marshall says, taking my hand.

The apartment is modern with clean edges and sleek finishings. Very different from the treehouse, but just as beautiful. There is a two-story living area with a fireplace as the focal point. The open staircase is made of gray hardwood and has a steel railing. It’s broken up with one landing in the middle.

Off to one side of the main area is the kitchen, which is all white and stainless steel, but with dark gray slate tile. On the other side of the main area is an office decorated in dark, executive style furniture.

“And there are two master suites upstairs.”

“It’s gorgeous,” I say, taking it all in. I was expecting to have the same reaction here that I had at my apartment as well as at the Hamilton Foundation, but I don’t. There are feelings of familiarity though. I feel happiness, love, and passion. But I also feel longing, heartbreak, and sadness.

“Is everything okay?” Marshall’s voice breaks through my thoughts.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m feeling a lot of different emotions, but knowing our history here, I can understand why they’re so up and down.”

“Yeah, I can understand that,” Marshall says.

“Did you have anything else planned right away? I am exhausted from all of today’s events. I would love to go close my eyes for a little while.”

“No, nothing that can’t wait.”

“Thank you. Will you come wake me up in an hour or so?” I ask.

“Sure thing,” Marshall smiles at me as he walks over and places a gentle kiss on the top of my head.

* * *

Marshall

I’m glad that Adrienne decided to go rest for a little while. It gives me a chance to get set up for tonight. I want to show her that she didn’t scare me away yesterday morning, needing pain in order to feel pleasure, and she is going to need all the energy she can get for what I have planned.

“I have to run back down to the car to get some other things that I brought with us. I’ll be right back,” I tell Travis walking toward the elevator.

“I’ll be in the office if you need me when you get back,” he responds. That’s the only place he ever is when he’s here. When he’s anywhere, really. I swear that man is a machine. Constantly at the computer, digging, researching, hacking, tracking. But that’s what makes him so successful and good at what he does. I have no idea where I would be without him.

Down in the garage, I grab the suitcase that I packed full of supplies last night out of the back of the SUV. I didn’t know what Adrienne would want and I’m sure I got way more than we needed, but I wanted to be prepared for anything. When I arrive back upstairs, I go straight to our old master bedroom and get to work.

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