Consequences

refuse . . .” Claire listened, but her mind whirled. She believed that Tony knew she wouldn’t do this. Maybe he wanted to take her home, drop the charges, and forget the whole thing. If she left with him today, she would be out of that cell. She would be home!
    Jane touched Claire’s arm. Claire turned to her attorney’s concerned expression. “Claire, I think it is completely up to you. Everything that Paul said is true, but none of it matters. You started to shake when he walked in the room. If you want, Paul and I,” she looked at Paul, who didn’t appear as strong as Jane, “or just me, would be willing to stay in here with you.”
    Claire found her voice. “That isn’t what he said. He wants to talk to me alone.”
    “Claire, what he wants is not the issue.” Her voice supportive and strong. “What do you want?”
    “I want this to be over.” She looked into Jane’s eyes. “I didn’t do it.” Jane didn’t speak but lifted her brows. Claire straightened her back, stiffened her neck, and lifted her chin. “I want to talk to him.”
    Paul said he would get him. Jane leaned close. “Do you want me to stay?” Claire exhaled, she had kept his secrets, she hadn’t told people what she went through, and she needed him to know that.
    “No, I want to talk to him alone.”
    Jane smiled and squeezed Claire’s arm. “It will be all right. Just know you need to discuss any deal with us before it can be initiated. We will be right outside the door.” Claire said she understood and suddenly thought about her appearance.
    Claire’s counsel exited as Tony entered. They nodded to one another. Tony shut the door and turned to Claire. She watched as he walked to the table. He looked handsome, fit, and healthy. Relief filled her soul, seeing that the attempted murder hadn’t caused him harm.
    “Tony, I am so glad you are all right.” She reached across the table. He took her petite hands in his. Claire continued, “You know I would never hurt you?” His eyes showed the smallest amount of brown.
    “It certainly appears that you did.” She shook her head and felt tears. He continued, “You handed me the coffee, there was poison in the coffee.”
    “You told me to get you coffee. I have thought about it a million times. There must have been poison in the coffee already, or in the cream. I just don’t know.” She felt his stare as she continued to speak, “I don’t know who would do this. The only other people at home were staff, staff you have employed for years. But it should be on surveillance. You have cameras in the kitchen—”
    He interrupted. “All evidence points to you. Then there is the way you ran to the car and drove away.”
    She lowered her eyes, she had disobeyed him. She knew not to drive. “I’m sorry.” The tears teetered on her lower lids. “It was impulsive. I knew not to take one of the cars. But I saw the keys, I hadn’t had the opportunity in so long, the sky was so blue, and you had been . . . well, life had been unpredictable and I felt like I was suffocating. I just needed a reprieve, a small break. But honestly, Tony, I was about to turn around to come home. I want to be home. I want to be with you.”
    He lifted her chin. “Claire, how are your accommodations?” The tears slipped off the lids and onto her cheeks. She didn’t reply. Her thoughts were again spinning. His voice was so low, no one else could hear. “Consequences, appearances, I thought you learned your lessons better.”
    “Tony, please take me home. I promise I will never disappoint you again. Please tell them that you know I wouldn’t, couldn’t do this.” His black eyes penetrated but she pushed on, “I know there will be consequences and punishment. I don’t care, as long as you are all right. I just want to go home. Please.” Begging wasn’t planned, but she wanted to be home. “Please, they will listen to you.”
    Expecting his expression to contain compassion, she was disappointed. “The entire thing seems to be a colossal accident. However, I have done some research. It seems that you can plead insanity and receive treatment instead of incarceration.”
    She sprung from her chair and started to pace. “What are you saying? I’m not pleading insanity. That means guilty and crazy. I’m neither!” She turned to look at him. “And this wasn’t an accident . I didn’t try to kill you!”
    He stood and moved very close, looking down at her. “I have found a mental