The nightmare repeated itself. The police lights blinded his vision, keeping him from seeing the details. However, this time, as he surveyed the damage, his wife was nowhere to be found. Instead, he saw Marie on the gurney… “Don’t you love me, Adam? You know, I love you.” He heard those words on repeat, over and over again.
***
A soft rasping sound came from Adam’s door. He groaned, moving his pillow over his head. He had barely gotten a wink of sleep last night. He was exhausted.
“Daddy?” Lacey’s sweet voice floated into the room, as she knocked a little louder. “Daddy… I had a bad dream.” She whined, pressing her body against the door. “Can I come in?” She persisted when her father didn’t answer.
Adam finally got up and opened the door. His little girl stood there, holding her stuffed animal by its long, floppy ears. “What’s the matter, pumpkin?” He asked, squatting down and looking at her with concern in his eyes. The rage he had felt the day before was slowly dissipating. “What happened? Everything alright?” He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as he rested her head on his shoulders.
“I had a bad dream. I dreamt I’d never see Marie again…” Her voice wavered and her eyes grew bigger.
“Don’t think that, honey. Marie is fine. Safe and sound in her bed.” Adam tried to reassure her, gently caressing her hair. “I promise.” He pulled her a little closer.
“How do you know? Can we call her?” Lacey looked desperate, tears appearing in the corner of her eyes. “Please. I just want to talk to her.” The little girl blinked, trying her hardest to keep back her tears. Adam’s heart tightened at the sight of his weeping daughter.
“Don’t cry.” His jaw tightened.
“But I miss her…” Lacey buried her face into her father’s chest, now sobbing. Adam froze in place, feeling his daughter’s trembling body against his own. She was right. Marie was a part of their life. He couldn’t just push her away. He had to get her back and reunite the family they had built. He would never live with himself if he allowed her to slip through his fingers.
“C’mon.” He picked up his daughter and walked out of the bedroom.
It took Lacey a moment to look up, but when she did, she noticed her father already packing one of his luggage bags. “What are you doing, Daddy?” She wiped her nose with the back of her arm, sniffling as she watched her father frantically gathering some travel essentials.
“We are getting Marie back. She’s part of our family now.”
***
Adam paced around JFK airport with a tense look on his face. He had already called Marie five times, but she never answered. He gritted his teeth and kept pacing back and forth. How was he supposed to find her in a giant city like New York? He racked his mind for answers as Lacey sat down, nervously swinging her legs. He could tell she was just as eager to find Marie as he was.
“Daddy.” She suddenly tugged on his shirt. “Where’s Marie?”
“I don’t know yet, pumpkin, but we’re going to find her. I promise.” Adam patted her head. His heart ached at the sight of his daughter's concern.
He made a call to his assistant, then to his lawyer, tasking them to call every production company in the city. If Marie was anywhere, she would be on stage. He was sure of it. The minutes crawled by at an agonizing pace as he continued to make phone call after phone call, searching for answers. Finally, someone called him back.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Tucker?” It was his lawyer.
“Did you find her?” Adam said urgently.
“Yes. It appears my assistant found her. She’s working as the lead in an off Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire.”
“Where? Tell me now!” Adam demanded, his heart racing with the possibility of finding her.
“The Roosevelt Theatre, near the Market District…” Adam hung up before his lawyer could even finish his sentence. He would have to give him a hefty bonus later on for finding Marie, but right now, he had to go get her before it was too late. Lacey tugged at his arm, awaiting news.
“C’mon Lacey. Let’s go get Marie.”
***
Marie sat in her dressing room, a frown on her face. She felt numb, even here, where she felt the most at home. Try as she might, she couldn't keep her mind off of the events of the last week. She sighed and combed through her hair. “I wonder what he’s doing…” She whispered to herself, looking down at her hands.
Is he thinking of me? Was it all for nothing? Maybe it really was just a job. She sighed, resting her head on her arms. Maybe love really doesn't matter.
“Showtime in fifteen minutes!” The stage manager called.
Marie sighed again and got up. As she did, she was suddenly spun around. A pair of familiar brown eyes looked into hers. Her eyes widened as she looked at Adam, her heart rampaging. Abruptly, she yanked herself away.
“What are you doing here?” She demanded.
“I came back.” He was breathless, and his eyes sparkled in a way she'd never seen. “You were right. I love you, I was just too afraid to admit it. I didn’t think I was ready for the commitment, but now I know I can’t live without you. I heard what you said. That you love me. You can’t lie and tell me you haven’t missed me, too. So please, come back to our family.” He pleaded with her, his dark eyes sincere. He looked into her eyes, taking a step forward, trying to close the distance between them.
Marie hesitated for a moment. She wasn’t sure if she could trust him again, but as she looked down at Lacey, the girl suddenly lunged forward, hugging her tightly. “Please come home! I miss you! We both miss you!” She pressed her face into the woman’s legs, waiting for an answer. Marie’s lips turned into a smile.
“Only on a few conditions” Marie demanded, and taking Adam by surprise.
“What conditions, Marie?” asked Adam.
“You will wake up on time every morning to have breakfast with Lacey and me. Do you agree?”
“Yes, I love that condition!” Lacey joined in as she giggled and looked at Marie.
“Are you serious? Okay, okay! God!” gasped Adam. He hated to wake up early.
“Alright, one more. Every evening you’re going to take Lacey and me for ice cream in the park,” said Marie pointing at Adam.
“Yes!!!” screamed Lacey with a wide smile that went ear to ear.
“Are you serious? Ice-cream every day? That’s not even good for you?” Adam responded candidly.
“Yes or no, Adam?”
“Okay, okay, it’s a yes! If that keeps both my girls happy,” said Adam as he pulled Marie towards him in a tight embrace.
Marie couldn’t stop herself as she leaned forward, her lips coming into contact with Adam’s, letting her emotions fly. Everything seemed to finally fit into place.
“I love you, Marie. I love you so much,” said Adam looking right into Marie’s beautiful eyes and feeling each one of those words from his heart.
Lacey looked up at them. “Does that mean you’re going to live with us again?” Lacey asked, hopeful.
“Yes. Now and forever.”
*****
THE END
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The Billionaire's Fake Marriage (A Romance Collection Boxed Set) Page 29
