Truth (64 page)

Claire smiled, “Is my old suite
available?”

“
Oh yes, it is. And it is
ready for you. It’s even been redecorated. Would you like to
see?”

The nausea hit fast. Claire felt her face
flush. “I think I need to sit down first. May we go to the
porch?”

Catherine noticed the pallor overtaking
Claire’s complexion and walked her through the sitting room.
Together they stepped down into the open sunporch. Instantaneously,
a breeze blew Claire’s hair and settled her nerves. Beyond the
windows and screens she saw Tony’s lush backyard bursting with
color. Besides the intense green of the lawn, reds, pinks, whites,
and yellows shimmered from the flower beds, pots, and gardens in
the distance. Instinctively, Claire turned toward the pool. The
blueness of the water rivaled the clear Iowa sky as the fountains
sprayed high into the air. The lounge chairs and umbrella tables
sat ready for occupancy. At one time, it had been Claire’s private
resort. She closed her eyes and settled onto the rattan
loveseat.

“
May I get you something,
perhaps a drink or something to eat?” Catherine asked with obvious
concern.

Claire looked at her watch. Although it said
after two in the afternoon, Claire knew it was after four in Iowa.
She had an airline lunch in flight, but it wasn’t much. “I know we
are supposed to dine later, but I could really use something now,
something light.”

Catherine smiled tenderly, “Of course. Would
you like me to bring it to you here or in your suite?”

Tears threatened Claire’s
resolve. She couldn’t think of it as
her
suite. She wasn’t even sure she
could sleep there. But then again, could she sleep anywhere else?
“I would like to stay here right now and enjoy this beautiful
afternoon.”

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.

*****

Her shoes clicked along
the marble second floor landing until the carpet of the southeast
corridor enveloped her heels and muted her steps. Each door she
passed along the corridor made Claire wonder if she’d chosen the
right room. The door to
her
suite stood ajar. She tentatively stood at the
threshold. It had been a long time since she’d spent thirteen days
trapped within the confines of this suite. Yet, despite the happy
memories associated with this room, that incarceration was what
tumbled out her hidden compartment.

By entering, was she exposing her queen, or
worse her king? Everyone knows if her king were captured, the game
would be done.

Bravely she reached into her purse and
looked at her iPhone. Yes, she had a signal. Her queen had
protection. Most of her support was miles away. However, a bishop
or a rook could move across the entire board in an undeterred
motion.

The suite was as luxurious as she
remembered. Some of the colors and textures had changed, but the
opulence remained. The wood work was still white, and now the walls
were copper. Claire walked to the tall open balcony doors as a
gentle breeze blew the now burgundy and gold draperies. The new
valances were classic brocade contrasting elegantly with the copper
colored walls. Taking the curtains between her fingers, Claire
assessed the fabric, lighter than the ones before. She watched as
the satin moved freely in the gentle wind.

Mindlessly, she stepped onto the concrete
balcony and stared out into the vista. She’d viewed this scene in
every season. Today greens filled the landscape, so many trees and
so many shades.

“
Welcome back, Ms.
Claire.”

Claire spun toward the sound of Cindy’s
voice. She took in the young lady’s genuine smile. “Cindy, it’s
good to see you.”

“
And you too, ma’am. I
took the liberty of placing your luggage in the dressing room and
hung your dresses, so they wouldn’t wrinkle.”

“
Thank you. How have you
been?”

“
Very good, ma’am, and
how... It is so nice to have you back with us.”

Claire knew Cindy was about to ask how she’d
been, but stopped. They all knew she’d been in prison, not exactly
a great conversation starter. “Cindy, lately I’ve been very good.
And I’m just here for a visit, to attend a wedding. But it’s good
to see you. Thank you again for putting my things away.”

“
Can I get you anything
else, ma’am?”

“
Not right now. I believe
I’m going to rest and then get ready for dinner.”

Cindy nodded as she left the suite, closing
the door behind her. Claire gazed about the room. The sofa and
chair were now a silvery taupe plush material. It looked very soft.
The fireplace held wonderful memories of warmth and serenity. Her
heart quickened as she saw the now closed door.

Claire steadily walked to the lever handle
and pulled. The door easily opened to the empty hallway. She saw
the button upon the lever, on the suite side of the door. Above the
lever was a new addition. Claire smiled at the dead bolt. No key
could enter if she secured the new lock.

Walking into the dressing room Claire saw
new clothes hanging from the racks. There weren’t as many as there
had been when she arrived the first time. Nevertheless, there were
dresses, blouses, slacks, skirts, jeans, and tops. And the shoe
rack contained multiple pairs in various styles. Of course they
were all very expensive. Instead of complaining, she wondered again
if things really change. With curiosity, Claire began opening
drawers. The second drawer she opened contained bras in many colors
and textures. The third drawer contained panties, various colors
and styles. These clothes should have upset her. Instead, the new
lingerie filled her with promise.

On the small dining table was a crystal vase
filled with an array of wild flowers. Next to the vase she found
the note:

I am very pleased you chose
this room.
As you may have noticed, your lock is
only
operational
from within. Below is the username and password
to the Wi-Fi. I am a man of my word.