Catherine quickly left to find Claire a snack.
When Catherine returned, she had a tray with a bowl of chicken salad, a sleeve of crackers, some grapes, and a tall glass of iced tea. Claire sighed and asked Catherine to join her as she ate. Catherine did. The food was perfect. It warmed Claire’s soul to be near this woman. Somehow, no matter the circumstance, Catherine always knew what was best.
While Claire ate, they chatted about nothing -- very superficial. Once Claire’s food was gone and color returned to her cheeks, Claire breached the subject looming omnipresent. “Catherine, do you believe I tried to hurt Tony?”
Catherine took Claire’s hand and watched their entwined fingers for a longtime. The sounds of nature from the other side of the screens filled their ears until Catherine looked to Claire and said, “Ms. Claire, I have known Mr. Rawlings for a longtime. I was very concerned for his well-being.” She squeezed Claire’s soft hand. “I know there were times when you were not happy. I know there were times when being with him was difficult. I also know you are the best thing to ever happen to him, and in his own way he loves you more than he has ever loved anyone.” She paused, “No. I never believed you could hurt him, not like that.”
Claire allowed the tears to flow, not from sadness but from relief. “Thank you Catherine. I wouldn’t do that.”
“No, Miss, I know you wouldn’t. However, you have in you, the ability to hurt him deeper than any poison could. Your absence has been very difficult for him. If you chose to abandon him again, I do not know what will happen.”
Indignantly, Claire replied, “I did not abandon him. He left me at that jail in Iowa City.”
Catherine’s gray eyes pleaded with Claire in a way words would never articulate, “Ms. Claire, I wish I could help you understand the man beneath the facade. One doesn’t become who he is without cause. Your presence and absence has affected him beyond the same from anyone else.”
Claire stared and her hands trembled. Finally she managed to voice her new realization, “You sent it to me, didn’t you?”
“Ms. Claire, we should get you to your suite. Mr. Rawlings will be here soon and the two of you have dinner plans with the Millers, Bronsons, and Simmons’. I also believe Mr. Summer and Ms. Combs will be there.”
At this moment Claire didn’t care about her impending dinner plans. “Please tell me. Did you send the box of information to me in prison?”
Catherine stood. “Eric took your bags to your suite. Do you need me to escort you upstairs?”
Claire closed her eyes and lowered her face. Her emotions were too intense to contain. “I so hoped...” Her voice trailed away as she swallowed her words.
Catherine knelt before Claire. Her hand rested upon Claire’s knee; she spoke in a whisper, “Ms. Claire, I am pleased you are here. There are many things for us to discuss, but we must proceed with care. May I suggest you ready yourself for your evening and tomorrow while Mr. Rawlings is working we can walk, perhaps beyond the gardens?”
The cameras and recordings came to Claire’s mind. Her eyes opened wide. With the excitement of seeing Catherine, she’d forgotten about them. Claire wiped her eyes on her napkin, “Yes, I’d like that. I think I need to freshen up. Do you know how long it will be until Mr. Rawlings arrives?”
“Eric sent a text message. They are about to leave Iowa City. He should be here in thirty minutes. Do you need an escort?”
Claire stood and deeply inhaled the fresh air. “No, I’ll be fine.” She embraced Catherine, “Thank you. I really have missed you. You’re the closest person I’ve had to a mother since my mother passed away.”
Catherine’s expression surprised Claire. It was a mixture of love and shock.
Claire quickly added, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
With her expression mellowing, Catherine said, “No, Claire it didn’t. I never thought anyone would ever think of me that way.”
Internally smiling at being addressed by only her first name, Claire hugged the woman before her. “I do. I don’t think I would have survived without you. I feel so much better just being with you.”
Catherine’s gray eyes filled with moisture as she turned her gaze out into the yard. Never in Claire’s memory could she remember seeing Catherine cry, even after Claire’s accident. Catherine was always strong and steady. The crack in this woman’s armor made Claire uneasy; she lifted her purse and walked toward the grand staircase. Her suite was at the top of the steps in the southeast wing. She knew the way well.
*****
Tony gripped the telephone as he looked once again at the clock on the dashboard of the BMW: 5:22 PM. The voice on the other end of his conversation was understandably uneasy. Tony had listened to the murmuring as long as his nerves would allow. Finally Tony interrupted, “So she turned down the tour. Did she tell you why?”
“She said there are too many things happening right now. She doesn’t want to be gone from her husband for that long.”
“Then tell her, she can choose a shorter tour. I thought thirty months was excessive. You were the one who advised bigger and grander. Make is twelve, sixteen cities in twelve months. I want an answer tomorrow.”
“Mr. Rawlings, she’s gone. She went to visit her father in New Jersey.”
“She left town and you didn’t inform me?”
“She just left today.”
“Mr. George, you are on the verge of losing the best investment you’ve ever secured. I want her signed to a contract, yesterday.”
“Sir, do you want me to follow her to New Jersey?” He said New Jersey like it was purgatory.
“Is her husband with her?”
“I don’t know, sir. She didn’t mention him regarding her trip.”
“Get me a verbal answer by tomorrow.” Tony disconnected the call. He quickly dialed another number.
“Hello, Mr. Rawlings.”
“Danielle, I was just informed Sophia Burke is visiting New Jersey. Is Derek with her?”
“No, sir, Derek left yesterday for a ten day factory visit in Beijing.”
“And where are you?”
“Santa Clara”
“Why are you not with him in China? You are supposed to be his personal assistant. I am sure we could find someone who is better for your job.”
“Sir, Derek is a nice man. He’s not interested in cheating on his wife.”
Tony’s sneer lingered, as his eyes remained cool, “People get lonely in other countries. You will leave immediately. Keep me apprised of your success.”
“Yes, sir.”
Tony disconnected his call and placed his phone on the seat to his right. Looking up to the rearview mirror, Tony asked, “Eric, tell me again about Ms. Claire. How is she?”
“She was strong until she reached your home.”
“What happened?”
“She broke down, crying on the brickyard ...” Eric explained everything up until Catherine took Claire gingerly in to the house.
Tony listened. Not in seventeen months had he felt the anticipation of reaching his home as he did today. He couldn’t believe she was really back. Drumming his fingers silently on the leather seat, he watched the road pass before him. If he were driving, he would have this car doing one hundred and ten.