Truth, стр. 99
Derek snickered, “You like frosting.”
“I do. But too much makes me sick.”
“Then by all means, Mrs. Burke, we don’t want you feeling ill.”
*****
Harry listened again as Claire explained the gala. This time he didn’t judge. He didn’t interrupt or doubt Claire’s theories. They talked about her agreement. Finally Harry asked, “How long is this supposed to go on?”
“I don’t know for sure. He gave me dates reaching into July.”
His lips started to move, and then he pressed them together.
“The first one is in two weeks, in Chicago. I’ll have my own accommodations.”
“Really Claire, what’s the point?”
“Appearances – it is all about appearances and manipulation.”
“Do you think it will ever end?”
“I don’t know. Maybe if we learn something about his past. I need something to hold over him. I’m going to keep talking with Meredith. She’s been in contact with some publisher. They no longer want to do a series of articles, but a book.”
“Why are you still meeting if this book will never get published?”
“I still have the agreement. If anything happens to me or someone I care about, the book will be published.”
“So you’re both threatening each other?”
Claire nodded and shrugged, “Yes, it’s a great basis for a relationship, don’t you think?”
Harry placed his hand over Claire’s. “No, it seems pretty messed up to me. I just want a simple honest relationship.”
Claire sighed, “That would be wonderful.”
He bent down, their noses nearly touched. “I’ll accept friends with benefits, for now. Not forever.” His lips brushed hers.
Claire’s body relaxed and her arms found their way around his neck. “I’ll find a way out of this, I will.”
Amber joined them as they talked about SiJo. “I felt the tension ease; do you mind if I join you two?”
“Well, I don’t know. It is your place.” Claire said with a grin. She felt triumphant. Tony tried to take this comraderie away from her. He failed. It was a small victory, the saving of a pawn. But each victorious battle, no matter how small, helped win the war.
“Oh, did you listen to that message?” Amber asked Claire.
“Yes, twice. I have no idea who it is – probably a reporter or something.”
“What are you talking about?” Harry asked.
Claire told him about the message on the house phone. He asked if it’d been erased. When Claire told him no; he listened to the voice mail. Claire noticed his expression cloud as he replayed the message and wrote down the number.
“Let me do some checking. I don’t like people calling this number. It’s unlisted.”
After Harry left, Amber mentioned Claire’s flowers. “You were quite the popular lady yesterday.”
“It was very nice of your brother.”
“He brought one of the vases. The other two came in separate deliveries. Neither had a card, but I did find one thing strange; the delivery guy said one of the bouquets was for Claire Rawls.”
Claire felt the blood drain from her face, “Why didn’t you say anything about that before?”
Amber stared at Claire, “I figured it was some code between you and your ex. I didn’t want to upset Harry, more.”
“I don’t think it is – a code. He doesn’t like that I even know about his past. He isn’t going to flaunt it in a delivery. I’ll ask. Honestly I’d feel better if they were from him. Otherwise, it creeps me out.”
Her iPhone had two missed calls from Tony, and her work phone had a text message from Courtney, received an hour earlier: HE JUST LEFT. SAID HE WANTS YOU TO BE HIS PLUS 1 AT THE WEDDING! CALL ME!!!.
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.
—Anne Bradstreet
Chapter 40
Late 1988....
Nathaniel held Marie’s hands and looked at his beautiful young wife. Her resolve was stronger than that of a woman two or three times her age. At twenty-six she’d experienced more heartbreak and disappointment than most endure in a lifetime.
“I’m doing fine. Nathaniel, please don’t worry about me. You are going to be out of this place in only nine more months. Please use your energy taking care of yourself.”
“You shouldn’t be tied to an old man in a prison cell. You should be enjoying everything life has to offer.”
Marie’s smile took his breath away. Her gray eyes lit up the dull visitor’s room. Concentrating on her, he could forget their surroundings. Her vitality sustained him. Nathaniel didn’t know if he could make it without her weekly visits. Mentally he’d replay them word for word in his head for days. The way her hair glistened under the florescent lights, the scent of her perfume, and the feel of her skin ran a continual loop through his memory. Then on about Wednesday, two days before her return, his memories would give way to anticipation. Sometimes he tried to guess what color she’d wear or how she’d fix her hair. He liked her dark blonde hair loose and long, hanging down her slender back. But then again, he liked it up exposing her neck and collar bone.
In so many ways Marie reminded him of Sharron when they were young. Sharron’s energy and wit continually enthralled him. Nathaniel knew he was the luckiest man alive to experience two such wonderful women. He wished Marie knew Sharron when she was healthier. He believed they would have been friends. His late wife had a knack for calming him when the world triggered fury. At this moment Marie was doing the same thing. Her steel eyes danced with life while her steady voice reassured.
“You, sir, are not getting rid of me that easily.” She gently removed one of her hands from his hold and placed it on top of his. “I love you, and I plan on spending much more time with you. If the next nine months are in this room at an hour a week, then so be it. But after that Mr. Rawls, I get you all to myself.”
“But Marie, you deserve...”
She interrupted, “I think you’ve made me realize I deserve to be loved. And you are the man to do it.”
Nathaniel grinned in spite of himself. Marie’s radiating beauty left him speechless. It wasn’t just the external attributes of Catherine Marie Rawls, but her spirit and kindness. The only time he saw that spirit change was with the mention of his son. Nevertheless, the subject needed to be breached. She was his only source of information. Anton visited occasionally. However, now in graduate school and working, Anton’s time was limited.
The idea of Anton supporting himself through graduate school infuriated Nathaniel. This entire mess was ridiculous. The damn FBI should have better things to do, real criminals to find, instead of attacking a man for living the American dream. Truthfully, Nathaniel still had money, a good amount of money. However, accessing it and bringing it back to the United States was too risky.
Since the court seized his home, company, and other assets, he was thankful he’d provided Marie with a comfortable investment portfolio. If they’d been married when he was convicted, she would’ve lost that too. But, because they weren’t, it remained hers.
When he got out of this hell hole, Nathaniel intended to give Marie a real wedding, maybe somewhere on a beach. The justice of the peace, in this visitor’s room with Anton as witness, was legal and memorable. However, it wasn’t the kind of memory Nathaniel wanted Marie to have of her wedding. If she’d said yes the first twenty-five times he asked, their wedding would have been nicer. Then again, she wouldn’t have the financial resolve. It wasn’t like she had a fortune, but she could live comfortably.
Neither Samuel nor Amanda visited Nathaniel, ever. After Anton informed Nathaniel of Samuel’s testimony, Nathaniel honestly didn’t care if he ever laid eyes on his son again. What upset Nathaniel was his son and daughter-in-law’s constant intrusion into Marie’s life. Since Samuel was part owner and a top executive at Rawls Corporation, his assets too were seized. Despite Samuel’s cooperation, he and Amanda were left with nothing. Somehow in Samuel’s mind, he felt he deserved what Marie now claimed as hers.