Free Love and Secrets by Mary Brennan Page A

confidant and
companion.
    Adrian and Sarah
had been childhood sweethearts and Sarah always thought her life was all set
out before her. Although she enjoyed weekends in the city she had not hungered
for a city life the way that most of her classmates had, or great adventures of
romance and travel. Instead, her exploits were a life she had planned for
herself and Adrian. The idea, and it was just that, of a country home filled
with generational family and friends, a yard with a swing set, veggie patch,
neighbors that she could rely on, three children that could be any gender and a
spattering of assorted pets, again any sort, was not the dream but a sure fire
reality that she never doubted would come true in time.
    That was, until Adrian
had let her take the fall. He had called off the engagement without giving any
reason, not only to Sarah but to all their acquaintances. The finger was
pointed squarely at Sarah as the one who had broken Adrian heart by some
infidelity, lie or mischief. He was playing the ‘poor me’ card to perfection.
Sarah tried to explain, but in the end took the hit and let everyone speculate
as to the terrible things that she had done, deserving everything that she got
thrown at her.
    Her parents and
brothers were also in shock and seemed to have laid the blame at Sarah’s feet. Her
mother was saddened at the thought of not having grandchildren appearing within
the near future and as hard as she tried every conversation turned into an
aggravation rather than a consolation. ‘Plenty of fish in the sea’ was all her
father could muster in the most rhythmic voice that sounded like a nursery
rhyme. Neither of her parents seemed to empathize with the strange and painful
emotions of rejection that Sarah was experiencing for the first time.
    Her brother in
particular treated her as though she was a mass murderer. Idle gossip that
seemed harmless last week was now being twisted into strange and crazy stories that
caused strain between relations and friends. John and Adrian had been friends,
and it John felt as though his sister had betrayed him by allowing her
relationship to end. He took his anger out on Sarah with fierce destructive
arguments followed by days of shunning and silence.

Chapter 2
    Adrian was
blessed with a strong and handsome jaw line that enhanced the rest of a otherwise
average face. He had small brown eyes and a thin mouth, his hair was straight,
brown and cut in a handsome short style. He was 2” taller than Sarah and wished
for another 2”. At 25 years old he had set his life in motion with a regimented
lifestyle: run at 7 am each morning, work from 9 to 5 (5.30 at the latest),
football training, a drink with mates, then out with Sarah on the weekends was
the normal plan each week. Routine and Adrian went together, when something
unexpected happened, Adrian struggled with the disorganization.
    Adrian still
lived in his family home; however, a studio apartment had been set up for him
as his parents, mainly his mother, felt that the separation would be good for
both parties. The kitchenette had never been used, Adrian's mother still cooked
for three but he rarely ate with them, choosing to take the plate of food into
his own space. He had always been close to his father but somehow felt awkward
around his mother. The relationship was not uncomfortable, but he didn’t relate
to his mother the way he did to his father.
    Working for his
father from a young age, Adrian had become extremely good with numbers and the
financial consulting family business had flourished after Adrian's
accreditation. His office was a large room at the back of the building, with
windows on two sides. The sun would stream in first thing in the morning and be
gone by early lunch in the summer and by mid-afternoon in the winter. The
furniture was black, sleek and modern, with artificial lighting in the form of
three floor lamps that flooded the room with brightness. For work they were
perfect, just like numbers;