In Sickness and in Death Read Online Free

out of the building as soon as he had pulled into his parking space.
    “I thought we could stop at a restaurant along the way,” she said as she slid into the passenger’s seat.
    “I’d just as soon get this over with,” Brian said. “Maybe we can just drop by a fast food place.”
    She looked at him with an unreadable expression. “Whatever.”
    After a quick bite to eat, they went to the first address Adrienne had written down. The apartment complex was an older building in a Spanish style with white-stuccoed walls, a red tile roof, brick-paved courtyards and surrounded by large palm trees. Adrienne’s eyes shone as they approached the office door.
    The apartment they were shown had a light and airy feeling about it.
    “It seems so spacious !” Adrienne enthused.
    “That’s only because there’s not any furniture in it,” Brian countered. “It’s actually about the same size as the one we have now.”
    Adrienne glared at him and turned to the manager. “We have a couple of other places to look at this evening,” she said. “I’ll give you a call.”
    They had no more than returned to the car when she faced him with fury blazing in her eyes. “Why do you have to be so negative about everything?”
    “I wasn’t being negative. It’s true. That place is about the same size as where we are now. Once we get the furniture in it, all of that space you were raving about will be filled.”
    “I don’t think you really want to find a new place at all!”
    He shrugged. “The additional rent wouldn’t be worth it, that’s all.”
    Adrienne withdrew to the far edge of the bucket seat and stared through the windshield, her lips compressed into a firm line. Brian looked at her repeatedly, but she didn’t even glance in his direction.
    When they arrived at the next address, he shut off the switch but made no move to get out of the car. “Adrienne?” He reached across and laid his hand on her shoulder. “Look, honey, I’m sorry. It’s just that, if we want to get a nicer place, I’d like to see it contain enough improvements to make it worth the extra money. You know what I mean?”
    When she did not respond, he sighed. “We’re here. We might as well look at this place.” He got out of the car, went around, opened her door and waited until she exited. Silently, they entered the three-story sprawling brick apartment complex. Brian wasn’t impressed with either that apartment or the one they visited afterward, but he kept silent. He couldn’t keep from wondering what it was exactly that Adrienne hoped to achieve by the move. Regardless of the neighborhood, in his opinion, none of the three apartments they’d seen offered sufficient upgrade to warrant the increase in rent. However, he kept silent, neither stating his objections nor questioning her motivation. There was no sense in making Adrienne angry again.

    About a week later, Brian came home to find Adrienne waiting for him. She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him so tightly that it nearly took his breath away.
    “I’ve found the perfect place,” she enthused, her eyes shining.
    “What?” Brian asked slowly.
    “I’ve found the perfect place,” she repeated.
    “Perfect place for what?”
    “For us to live, silly. I stopped over there on my way home from work and it’s absolutely fabulous! Wait until you see it.”
    Brian stared at her with a puzzled frown. Adrienne had said no more about moving and he had thought that it had been just a passing mood, but apparently it had not.
    “You have to see it,” she went on. “Can we go over there this evening?”
    “I . . . I don’t know.” At least she seemed happier than she had been for days. He supposed that it wouldn’t hurt to take a look. “If you really want to, I guess we can go and see it.”
    “Good. Let’s go right now.”
    “But, honey, I’d really like to take a shower and change clothes first. I get tired of this suit and tie business all day, every day. I