Truth

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,