Derek agreed. The money changed so many things, giving Sophia the ability to do things she’d always wanted.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you about an offer I received the other night,” Sophia said.
Derek looked up again from the newspaper. “What kind of offer?”
“Well, that mysterious buyer, the one who never showed up...”
Derek listened patiently as Sophia described the tour, the cities, the exposure, and the time apart. He wanted to tell her no. However, he didn’t want to stop her dream. “That sounds amazing. What do you think about it?”
“I think it is amazing and I’m going to tell Mr. George no.”
Derek’s relief was visible. “Why?”
Sophia put her arms around her husband’s neck. Their eyes met soft brown to light gray. She kissed his tender lips. “Do you think I should do it?”
“I want you to do whatever is best for you.”
“I want to be with you. And it’s not just me, it’s us. I’m thrilled I’ve sold these paintings. I love the idea of having studios on each coast. But my mom needs help, and I want to be with you. There are too many things going on for me to travel around the country for two years.”
He pulled her close. “Good, I don’t want to ever stop your dreams.”
“You and me, we are my dreams. The rest is just frosting on the cake.”
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.