“Sophie can you come here a minute,” I say as I wave her over. Sophie quickly strides over and I continue to stare into the glass cabinet.
“What are we looking at?” Sophie says as she glares into the cabinet.
“Can you help me pick out a gift for Adrian?” I ask weakly. She smiles at me.
“Of course, but what can we get the guy that has everything?”
“That’s my problem I cannot think of anything.” Sophie sighs as she begins to peer into another glass cabinet.
“Alanna why don’t you get him a watch,” I make my way over to her but I shake my head at her suggestion.
“No, he has a Rolex,” Sophie again sighs.
“Okay what about some cologne?”
“I would but I don’t know what kind he likes.” I confess. Sophie wrinkles her forehead at my answer.
“Hey what about some cufflinks,” she says as she gestures me forward. I make my way over to her as she points out a pair of yellow gold cufflinks. I smile at them and I kindly ask the shop assistant to take them from the cabinet.
“Do you think that he would like them?” Sophie asks as she gently lifts one of the cufflinks.
“Yes, I will take them,” I say to the shop assistant.
“Miss, would like them gift wrapped?” She asks as she points to the black wrapping paper.
“Yes please,” I say. I rummage through my bag in search of the credit card. I quickly find Adrian’s black American Express. However, I resist the urge to use it. Instead, I take out my own credit card and I quickly hand it over to the women.
“If Adrian asks I used his credit card, okay?” Sophie frowns at me.
“Okay Alanna.”
During lunch, the girls are talking freely about all of the wonderful things that they have bought. All though I am present in the conversation, my head remains elsewhere. In my head, I am in my suite with Adrian. We are sipping tea and he is kissing me gently. I let out a fluttering sigh and the girls instantly notice it.
“Oh my god Alanna could you be any more smitten?” Sophie says as she takes a bite of her food. I instantly blush and I notice that the girls begin to laugh at my emotions.
“Well, what can I say, I am in love?” I confess. Sophie quickly shakes her head at my words and Jessica lets out a gentle laugh. However, I notice that Emma does not respond. I watch as she sits quietly picking at her salad. I quickly begin to think that love is a touchy subject for her. Then Dr James flashes in my mind and I cannot help but wonder if she would talk to me about him. I make a gesture towards Sophie and I politely shake my head at her so that she will stop talking. I push my hair from my face as I look directly into Emma’s glowing green eyes.
“Emma do you have a boyfriend?” I ask in smooth tone. My heart races slightly as I wait for her reply.
“No, I don’t,” she finally admits. I tilt my head to one side as I take in her sadness. Her once lively eyes are now masked in a dark haze. Her forehead is scrunched and she exhales very deeply. I again want to talk to her about Dr James but I am not sure of how to approach the subject.
“Emma, I think that I know your ex-boyfriend.” Emma’s eyes quickly widen at my words and she instantly drops her fork.
“You know James?” She finally says. I nod at her.
“Yes, he was my doctor after the attack.” Jessica turns immediately towards me.
“Which attack?” She asks, as she looks very concerned.
“I was in hospital for a while, I got shot.” I blurt out. Jessica is in a state of shock and I feel that she is lost for words.
“I am so sorry I had no idea,” she says as she gently rubs my shoulder. I smile at her and I again turn towards Emma.
“Emma what happened between you and Dr James?” Emma takes a deep breath as she begins to talk.
“We dated for a while and he was an amazing guy but things just did not work out.”
“Emma he told me that your mom had very strong opinions about your relationship with him.”
“She did but my mom was just looking out for me. What she went through with my father changed her. It is hard for her to trust men and she wants me to focus on my career. James and I had a wonderful time together but at the end of the day I did not really… love him.”
“Emma you dated him for nine months you must have felt something for him?”
“I did but I am a believer in true love and James was not mine. I look at you and Adrian and that is what you guys have. James and I shared something special but it wasn’t the love that I crave.” I smile at Emma’s words and I feel that she is sincere. I was worried that she was messed up from her father being absent but the truth is that she is just a hopeless romantic. She gushes about love and I know that she believes in it. I quickly think of Maggie and I wonder if she knows this about her daughter. If she does then what must she think?