Ana gasps when she sees her.
Without a doubt this is still one of the most beautiful shrines I’ve ever seen. The Virgin, eyes cast down at the floor in modesty, holds her child aloft. Her gold-and-blue robes shimmer in the light from the burning candles.
It’s stunning.
“My mother used to bring us here sometimes for Mass. This was my favorite place. The Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” I whisper.
Ana stands and soaks up the scene, the statue, the walls, the dark ceiling covered in gold stars. “Is this what inspired your collection? Your Madonnas?” she asks, and there’s wonder in her voice.
“Yes.”
“Motherhood,” she murmurs, and she peeks up at me.
I shrug. “I’ve seen it done well and done badly.”
“Your birth mom?” she asks.
I nod, and her eyes grow impossibly large, revealing some deep emotion that I don’t want to acknowledge.
I look away. It’s too raw.
I place a fifty-dollar bill in the offertory box and hand her a candle. Ana clasps my hand briefly in gratitude, then lights the wick from one of the tapers and places her candle in an iron sconce on the wall. It flickers brightly among its companions. “Thank you,” she says quietly to Mary, and wraps an arm around my middle, placing her head on my shoulder. Together we stand in quiet contemplation in this most exquisite of sanctuaries in the heart of the city.
The peace, the beauty, and being with Ana restores my good humor. To hell with work this afternoon. It’s Sunday. I want some fun with my girl. “Shall we go to the game?” I ask.
“Game?”
“The Phillies are playing the M’s at Safeco Field. GEH has a suite there.”
“Sure. Sounds like fun. Let’s go.” Ana beams.
Hand in hand, we head back to the R8.
Monday, June 20, 2011
This morning has been extremely aggravating, and I’m ready to rip someone limb from limb. There were hordes of reporters, including a couple of TV crews, camped outside Escala and Seattle Independent Publishing.
they nothing better
to avoid them at home because we arrived and left through the underground garage. At SIP it’s another issue. I’m confounded and appalled that these vultures
How?
her office and I’m ambivalent about that. At least she’s safe there, but I’m
curious about my fiancée. It’s part of the Christian Grey bonus. I just hope to
of hacks are lurking, but with Taylor beside me I storm past them,
fucking start to the
to-do list longer than my dick and I have to deal with the fallout from the weekend: missed calls from my dad, my
she’s calling me I don’t know. We’re done. I made that clear on Saturday
be at
my phone.
From: Anastasia Steele
Showing A Fiancée A
June 20
To: Christian Grey
My dearest husband-to-be
would be remiss of me
surviving a
exemplary hearts-and-flowers
c) a wonderful weekend
a return to
a very pretty rock, which
this
Ax
Anastasia Steele
Acting-Editor, Fiction, SIP
strategy for
From: Christian Grey
Showing a man a good
20
To: Anastasia Steele
My darling Ana