Three Thousand Miles (46 page)

“Baby I have something I want to give you,” I frown at him.

“What is it?” He smiles as he takes out a rose from his jacket pocket. I smile at him as I take the flower. I lean in and kiss him and then he pulls back.

“Come with me,” he says as he grabs me. He leads me over to soft patch of grass and I laugh when I see that he has planned a surprise. On the grass is a large green, tartan shawl. There are flowers spread across the surface and there is a bottle of champagne and a punnet of strawberries.  Adrian sits me down onto the shawl and I cannot hold in my laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Adrian asks firmly. I straighten my face.

“This is just so romantic.” I gush. Adrian rolls his eyes at me and then he begins to pour me a glass of champagne. He reaches over a lifts his water and he begins to sip. I look at him and I feel guilty that I am drinking and that he is not.

“You know I don’t have to drink,” I say quietly.

“What are you talking about?” Adrian says as he frowns at me. I place the glass down onto the ground and I lean over to Adrian.

“I feel guilty that I am always drinking and you are not.”

“Baby, don’t feel guilty about that, it really is not an issue.” He pulls me closer to him and he kisses me. I pull back from him.

“Adrian, tell me about your childhood with Mr Jenkins.”

“What would you like to know?”

“Was it happy?” Adrian straightens his face as he begins to talk.

“Yes and no,”

“Can you be a little more specific?” I say as I move back further from him. He runs his fingers through his hair and he gently exhales as he begins to tell me about his childhood.

“When Mr Jenkins adopted me I was a broken child. I was angry and disrespectful towards my elders. I had no manners and I had an acid tongue. But that didn’t put Charles
off,
if I ever lost control he would be there to help me regain it. He was the only one who could talk to me and make me believe in myself. I really do owe everything to him, without him, I would no doubt be dead. However, I found it hard to be around his friends so whenever there was a party or
a polo
match or just any type of event. I would stay away, I did not feel that I belonged with them and they scared the hell out of me. Everyone was so posh and put together and I was just an outcast.” I stare hopelessly at Adrian and I feel his pain. I don’t know what it feels like to be an outcast because I never was one. However, I look into his eyes and I feel the pain because I know how intimidating high society can be. They ridicule every aspect of their peers and leave nothing unsaid. They focus on the material things and status is everything. I was never an outcast but I was never fully comfortable with this life either.

“Mr Jenkins is a wonderful man; I really admire him and everything that he did for you.”

“Charles is an amazing bloke, he showed me business and he didn’t mind that I was damaged. He seemed to like that about me. I don’t know what he ever saw in me but I am glad that he took a chance.” I listen to his words and I cannot help but think of Adrian’s real father. I wonder if I should ask him again to find him.

“Adrian
don’t
get mad at me but have you thought about meeting your father?” Adrian shakes his head at me.

“No Alanna I haven’t and I don’t think that I ever will.”

“Why?”

“Because he abandoned me when I was two years old and I can never forgive that. I cannot visit him because I could not face the rejection.” Adrian’s words are firm and his eyes are strong. I reach over and take his hand.

“Adrian have you ever thought that he might not reject you?”

“Alanna, I am twenty five years old, if he wanted to find me then he has had all these year to do so. He never did and he never will.”

“Maybe he is scared of rejection?”

“I know you are only trying to help but please baby let this go.” I briefly smile at him but I feel that I cannot let it go. I want to talk to him about his family and I want to try to explain to him about Alice. I take a deep breath as I begin to talk.

“What about Alice?” 

“Alanna, you know how I feel about her,” Adrian says firmly.

“Yes, I do know how you feel about her but I think that you need to listen to me for a moment. If you could just let me explain then maybe you could see what I have been trying to tell you.” Adrian rolls his eyes at me and I get a little annoyed.  “You I know I hate it too when you roll your eyes,” Adrian laughs at my words.

“Okay baby,” I smile that he has gave me a chance. My mind spins as I try to explain the Alice situation clearly. I do not want to ruin this moment by forgetting a major detail about Alice. I know that what she and David did was undeniably horrendous. However, I feel that she has changed and I want nothing more than for Adrian to have a relationship with her. I know that he will always have issues about his childhood but if he could just forgive her then that would be major step in right direction. Adrian would be free of guilt and hopefully we could move on and have the kind of relationship that I crave. One that is not filled with danger and control, but one that
is loving
and an equal partnership. My mind is rushing as I focus on Adrian.

“I met Alice at the community centre in New York. I was angry and horrified to see her and at first, I was rude to her. But I changed when she asked me how you were and what type of man you had become.”

“Alanna, don’t you see that she is fooling you?” Adrian says smugly. I shake my head at him.
 

“No, she is not and you promised that you would listen to me!” Adrian quickly shuts up and signals me to continue.

“Alice surprised me in so many ways. But what shocked me the most was her honesty. I was expecting her to play the victim but she never did. Alice takes full responsibility for what she did. She told me that her addictions were caused by Edward leaving her. She loved him more than anything and she loved you.”

“Please Alanna you expect me to believe that?” Adrian says very firmly.

“Yes, you should believe me because it is true. For the first two years of your life, she adored you. She took you everywhere with her and you had two parents that loved you. Things changed when Edward left because Alice could not cope without him. Your father consumed her and as hard as it is, to say this, Alice resented you because you reminded her of Edward. She told me that when she picked you up she saw him in your eyes. She turned to alcohol to
numb the pain and she regrets every moment of it now. She wants to get to know you and deep down I know that you want that too.”

“No Alanna I don’t. She will have some other motive for wanting to know me.”

“Like what?” I protest.

“Money, I don’t know but there has to be a reason.”

“Adrian she is married to a rich stockbroker from Wall Street so I highly doubt that she needs money.” Adrian wrinkles his face at my words and I can see that he shocked.

“She is married?”

“Yes and he has brought out a different side to her. He is also a recovering alcoholic and I guess they help each other.”

“I don’t know what to say but I haven’t changed my mind about seeing her.” I shake my head at him and he gets frustrated.

“Alanna don’t shake your head at me. You don’t understand how difficult it is to talk about her. If you understood then you would not push this on me. Baby I know that you only want to help and I am delighted that you care but please I need you to let this go.”

“Adrian I can’t let it go because I want you to have a relationship with her. You need to have a balance in your life and you need to know how to act around her.”

“Alanna, what do you mean by that?” I sense that I have hurt his feelings so I quickly take his hand.

“Adrian until you know how to act around your mother, then you don’t know how to react around me. You have this need to control everything and that is terrifying to me. You say that we have to be together and that we have to live a certain way but why. I feel that you don’t even understand it yourself so you can’t explain it to me. But I think that some of your issues will disappear once you regain a sense of love from your mother.”

“Baby I can’t go through that despair again with Alice. I am sorry that I control you but it’s just who I am. I need you to tell me that you accept that and that you accept me. If you don’t then you and I can never be together. Is this the reason why you won’t marry me?” I shake my head in disagreement and my heart aches at the sound of not being with Adrian. I lunge forward as I try to convince him that I do accept him.

“Adrian if I didn’t accept you then I would not be with you. You talk as if I have said that I will never marry you and that is not the case. I just said that the timing right now is not right. You can’t throw marriage in my face every time you think that I don’t love you. Because right now you are all that I love, you consume every part of me and I cannot breathe without you by my side.”

“Baby if that’s how you feel then why do you need Michael?”              

“Michael is your brother and my friend. I promise you that it does not go beyond that. I love you and only you,” I leap into his arms and I hold on to him tightly. Adrian lightly exhales as he strokes my hair.

“Baby you are my life and if have to wait an eternity to make you my wife then that is what I will do.” I gently laugh as I pull back from him.

“We are not vampires and I wouldn’t make you wait an eternity!” Adrian cannot hold in his laugh as he kisses me.

When we arrive back the house, I notice that the guests for tonight’s party have already stared to arrive. The lawn of the house is lined with every type of luxury car there is. The guests are dressed in black tie and are making their way into the house. I stop for a moment and stare as they glide out from their cars. Adrian continues to walk but he soon notices that I have stopped. He instantly turns me.

“Alanna,” he asks smoothly. I tear my eyes from the crowd and I look at Adrian.

“Yes?”

“Why have you stopped?” I smile at him.

“Sorry, moment of madness on my part,” I say as I rush over to him. He takes me by the arm as he leads me into the house. Many people are greeting us as we walk in and Adrian introduces me to every one of them. After what seems like forever, Adrian finally notices that I am bored. He smirks at me then he excuses us from the crowd.

“Thanks for that,” I say as we begin to climb the stairs.

I rush into the room and I instantly slouch on the bed. I reach over to the bedside table and I take my phone from the drawer. Adrian sits over by the window and he is also on his phone. I quickly begin to search through my phone and I notice that I have five unread messages from my mom. I quickly send her a text, as I feel guilty for forgetting to call to her.

Hey, mom sorry it took me so long to reply. I am fine and yes, Adrian is treating me well. London is amazing and I cannot wait for you to visit here soon, all my love Alanna.

I quickly hit send and it takes literally thirty seconds for my mom to reply.

Sweetie I am glad you are having such a wonderful time but your father and I have been out of our minds with worry. We told you to text us regularly and you never did.

I frown as I read my mom’s words and now I feel even guiltier because she has said that she has been worried and I hate that. I quickly try to ensure my mom that I just forgot.

Mom I am sorry and I know that I was supposed to text you regularly but I just forgot. Things have been going really well here and I have been distracted, but I am really looking forward to my birthday and I cannot wait to see you, dad and Penelope. My mom replies instantly.

Okay sweetie but please be careful and again I am very happy that you are having such a great time and that guy of yours is a keeper. See you when you return, love you. I smile as all is well again. I quickly reply,

I love you too.

I place my phone down onto the bed and I turn my intention to Adrian. As I lock my eyes on his he lets his phone drop onto the table. He smiles at me.

“Baby who were you texting?” He asks nicely. I smile but inside I am rolling my eyes at him. Here he goes with the control thing again.

“My mom, she was worried because I forgot to text her.” Adrian rises from the seat and he makes his way over to me. He kneels at my side as he gently pats my head.

“You have a wonderful mother and you should never forget that. Now I am going to take a shower, you should get dressed for tonight.” He gently kisses my hand as he rises from the floor. He walks halfway over to the bathroom and then turns back to me.

“Oh and baby, please wear the red, Nina Ricci dress tonight.”

I smile at his words but at the same time, I am a little annoyed that he has chosen my dress for tonight. I slowly get up from the bed and I head over to my closet. I flick through the dresses until I find the one that Adrian was referring to. It is bright red and floor length, very tight around the body and it is strapless. I sigh as I take the dress from the closet and drape it onto my bed. I begin to undress quickly as I hear Adrian is still in the shower. I slip the dress on but I cannot do up the zipper. I frown at myself as I try desperately to reach and zip up my dress. I still cannot reach so I throw myself onto the bed in frustration. I lay still for a moment but then I pull myself together. I walk over to dressing table and I quickly begin apply a very light dusting of makeup. I run a brush through my curly hair and I finish with a gentle spray of Chanel. I lightly touch my neck and I feel the diamond initials of Adrian’s name. I smile and then I hear the bathroom door open. Adrian walks out into the room and he is only wearing a towel. His hair is dripping wet and his eyes look even more sinful than before. I turn nervously to face him as he smiles at me.