Truth

considered hanging-up on her sister. After all, Claire wasn’t feeling top-notch after the whole food poisoning thing and having her sister’s condescending and accusatory voice ringing loudly through her phone didn’t aid her recovery.
    Walking along the sidewalk toward the cafe, Claire lifted her face to the breeze. Wisps of loose hair blew around her face as she inhaled. The fresh air coming off a small inlet from San Francisco Bay was cool. Her blue jeans and blouse were perfect for the late spring air. Yes, if she were in Indiana or Iowa this late in May it would be much warmer. Nonetheless, she was slowly acclimating to west coast weather.
    Parked three cars down, Claire saw a gray sedan with a man inside reading a paper. She hadn’t spoken to Phil since San Diego. Now seeing him she decided with Tony near, this wasn’t a good time to chat.
    Phillip Roach was another of Tony’s intrusions. Somehow over the past three months, she’d come to accept him. Was she being too compliant , as Emily said? Claire didn’t believe so. She truthfully felt she was resisting Tony’s control much better than she ever had. Not staying with him last night and not allowing him to visit the condominium this morning were two examples of her noncompliance. Claire contemplated her strength, or lack of, as she stepped into the busy restaurant.
    The large glass doors led directly to a counter. The Saturday morning crowd filled the bustling cafe, with people waiting to order food. The hum of voices filled her ears as the various aromas filled her lungs. She tried desperately to ignore the returning nausea as she made her way to a tall two person table near the window. A ceiling fan above the table provided a continual cool breeze, calming her queasiness. Moments later, she glanced toward the doors and saw Tony walking casually toward her.
    Involuntarily she smiled. He looked so laidback and informal, in jeans and a button down shirt. She noticed how his crisp shirt was pressed and untucked. His hair was perfect, and his face freshly shaven. Her eyes went back to the jeans. Claire always liked Tony’s long legs in blue jeans. When his dark eyes met hers, her breathing stopped. She immediately judged his expression. His cheeks rose and a small smile came to his lips. Claire exhaled with a sigh of relief. She didn’t want more confrontations. If this charade was to proceed, she wanted to learn the specifics and go on with her life.
    Unexpectedly, he bent down and kissed her cheek before taking the seat across from her. Claire’s eyebrows rose suspiciously as she eyed the man across the table. He responded with a mischievous grin and crooned, “Good morning, Claire. It is nice to see you aren’t late.”
    His pleasant greeting eased her tightly strung nerves, she chuckled, “Yes, you see there was this man I used to know. He was a real stickler for punctuality.”
    “ Really? It seems as though he must have been a good influence. His persistence appears to have paid off.” Tony’s brown eyes glittered, reflecting the sunlight through the windows.
    “ I’m not sure about his influence, and insistence would better describe it. But since you mention it, persistence is something he’s definitely mastered.”
    “ Hmm, sounds like my kind of man. I’d like to meet him.”
    Claire shook her head good-naturedly, “No, I don’t think you’d like him.”
    Tony’s eyes opened wider, “You don’t?”
    “ No, he has real control issues. You two would probably clash.”
    “ Because... you think I have control issues?” This time Tony’s eyebrows rose.
    Claire leaned forward, as if telling a secret. Her eyes sparkled with the lightheartedness of their conversation. “I hate to be the one to break it to you... but yes, you do.”
    Tony’s laughter filled her ears. Finally he asked, “Don’t you want something to eat?”
    “ No, not really, I ate earlier.”
    “ I’ll get us some coffee then.”
    Although she usually loved coffee, the idea didn’t sound good on her recently emptied stomach. “Could you get me an iced tea instead?”
    Tony eyed her skeptically, “Sure, unsweetened, correct?”
    Claire nodded.
    When Tony returned with their drinks they began to discuss this public reconciliation. Although the cafe bustled with patrons, their voices remained low and private. “Claire, I’m pleasantly surprised by your accepting attitude this morning.”
    She sipped her tea, “Don’t mistake it for pleasure. I