Olivia was busy at work trying to clean up all of her files before her trip. Keith had finally given her most of the itinerary for the trip. She hadn’t been to Paris in over a year so she was looking forward to seeing the city of lights once more. She always enjoyed strolling down the streets of Paris, and of course, gazing at the Eiffel Tower as it stood proudly in the middle of the city.
She had not yet been to Antwerp so this would be a new place she would be able to cross off her list! As for Amsterdam and Munich, she had visited both cities briefly, but was looking forward to taking an actual tour in both, she was especially excited to go on the canal tour in Amsterdam, “what an amazing way to tour the city” she thought.
Things between Olivia and Brian were somewhat normal. He still seemed annoyed that she was not going to be around for their anniversary and each day Olivia managed to convince herself more and more that he was cheating on her. Brian hadn’t been around and available to hangout lately, but this was because of the trial he was working on.
The next few weeks seem to fly by, and before she knew it Olivia was leaving in three days. She began packing after work. She still needed to talk with Brian about their anniversary. She hadn’t exactly gotten him a gift yet. She wasn’t sure what to get him. A new watch was definitely on the top of the list of things she had thought about getting for him, but she was holding off. Her thought was that maybe she could find something really nice in Europe for him.
As she was thinking about him, there was a knock at the door. She looked through the peephole and saw it was Brian. She unlocked the door and let him in. He greeted her with a hug and kiss. Her phone began to ring and interrupted their “hello”. Olivia ran to the hallway and answered it.
“hello?”
It was Brian’s mother, she would often call Olivia’s house looking for him if she couldn’t reach him at his house or on his cell phone.
“Hi Mrs. Fletcher, how are you doing?”
Olivia was forever being told by Brian’s mom to call her “Grace”, but Olivia was uncomfortable calling her by her first name so she stuck with “Mrs. Fletcher”.
“I’m doing well Dear, is my beautiful baby boy there? I’ve called him a few times, but he hasn’t returned any of my messages.”
Olivia told her that Brian was there and she walked to her living room and passed the phone to him.
While Brian was speaking to his mother, Olivia cleaned up the mess she had made in an attempt to pack. As she was folding the last of the shirts she had piled, Brian’s cell phone began to ring. It was sitting right on the table next to her and Brian finally called to her to answer it.
As she picked the phone up and looked at the display, she could see it was the “JOG-Paris” number calling again. Olivia opened the phone and answered it.
As she was answering the phone, she could hear Brian trying to get his mother off the phone.
“Okay Mom, I have to go, I think that may be Jackie on the phone now, and I’ve just asked Olivia to answer it, I’ll talk to you later, I need to get this”.
“Hello?” Olivia answered.
“Oh, I’m sorry to bother you, I was looking to speak with Brian, is he available?” The voice said.
Olivia recognized the French accent, and knew it was the same woman from that night at dinner.
“One moment please” Olivia replied.
Brian was now standing right behind her, and she passed the phone to him.
Olivia was beginning to dislike this woman as every time her and Brian were together, she seemed to call and disturb them. She tried not to think about her, and finished cleaning up.
The evening ended early when Brian had to go.
“I’ll call you tomorrow” he told Olivia as he walked out the door.
“Okay, bye.” Olivia replied back.
She was growing sad now realizing she only had three days left to see him before she left for Paris.
The next day Olivia had a few more files to finish up before she left. She completed the reservations and itinerary for the four high school seniors and had planned to meet with them later on that afternoon. They weren’t leaving the US for another two and a half months, but Olivia, being great at her job, knew that if she wanted to get the best reservations she had to book the trip in advance.
After getting off the phone with the Hotel Concorde La Fayette, she had made the last of their arrangements – dinner at sunset in the Panoramic Bar.
This bar was known for having the finest views over Paris and the Eiffel tower from the 33rd floor. She was able to get the front booth reserved so they would be able to have the very best seats in the bar! Olivia was sure it would be a dinner they would never forget.
Three o’clock rapidly approached, and the four high school kids arrived right on time. Keith greeted them and escorted them to Olivia’s desk.
“Hello everyone, I have all of your arrangements secured, and I think you’ll be happy with what I’ve reserved.” She told them.
They all sat with excited looks on their faces, they were so anxious to hear the final itinerary. Olivia spent about an hour and a half going over every last detail, and afterwards, they were ready to hand in their deposits.
“So I guess all we really need to do now is wait for the day we depart to arrive”, Jack said.
“That should be all, I think I have gotten everything else covered for you. You will be getting your official itinerary as well as a contact information sheet for each of you to leave with your parents or guardians. I realize you are all adults, but it is important for you to leave your details with someone back home, just incase they should need to reach you.” Olivia explained.
The students all understood, and they all appreciated the extra mile that Olivia was going for them. After giving Olivia their deposits, they left the office.
It was nearly 5pm now, and Olivia had finished the majority of her work. What she really needed to do was go home and finish her packing. With the way things had been going with Brian, she was regretting going on this trip.
She left the office early and headed home. On the way, her cell phone rang. She could tell by the ring that it was Brian. She quickly answered, eager to speak with him.
“Hey, how are you?” she asked as she picked up.
“Hey Liv, I’m good, I was wondering if you had any plans tonight?”
“None that I know of, other than packing. I have to get everything ready to go.” She replied.
“Would you mind some company while you pack? Perhaps I could help you?”
“That would be great! Oh, but if you want dinner you’ll need to bring something in as I have no food here.”
Brian told her not to worry about dinner, that he would take care of it.
Olivia had been home for about a half hour when there was a knock on the door. She answered it, and Brian entered, giving her a big hug, and warm, inviting kiss. Now picking up the packages he had with him, he handed her a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
This was the opposite mood of what Brian had been in lately. He brought in Grilled Chicken salads for dinner, and what appeared to be an overnight bag. He hadn’t spent the night at her place in several weeks because he had been so busy.
“I figured since I can’t see you tomorrow night, and you leave the day after tomorrow, we only have tonight to spend together before you leave and we should make it special.”
Every year for their anniversary, they would try to recreate their first date. They had gone to a small diner and had grilled chicken salad and cream soda on their first date. They spent the night talking and getting to know each other, and from that first date, they knew it was meant to be. Five years later (almost) there they were, grilled chicken salads, and he even brought the cream soda!
They enjoyed their dinner and just talking, reconnecting with one another. They cuddled on the couch and watched The Sound of Music and when it was over, Olivia finished packing. Around 11pm, they decided they should go to bed and get a little more comfortable. Since this was the last night they’d be spending together for a little while, and it was just a few days before their anniversary, they made it a very memorable evening.
The next morning, they woke up refreshed and relaxed. They got ready for work and left. They stopped to get some bagels and coffee and enjoyed breakfast together on the go.
Brian walked Olivia to her office where they said their preliminary goodbyes.
“If I can get free this afternoon, maybe we can have lunch?” Brian suggested.“
"That would be great, but I know you’re really busy with the case and all, so if you can’t make it, it’s okay.” Olivia responded.
“Okay, well, we’ll see what happens for lunch. If I can’t make it, I’ll try and let you know as soon as possible. Have a great day,” Brian said as he leaned in and kissed Olivia goodbye.
“You too, good luck at the courthouse!” Olivia replied.
Olivia then walked in her office, and Brian set off for his trial.
|
