Truth

please don’t worry about me. You are going to be out of this place in only nine more months. Please use your energy taking care of yourself.”
    “ You shouldn’t be tied to an old man in a prison cell. You should be enjoying everything life has to offer.”
    Marie’s smile took his breath away. Her gray eyes lit up the dull visitor’s room. Concentrating on her, he could forget their surroundings. Her vitality sustained him. Nathaniel didn’t know if he could make it without her weekly visits. Mentally he’d replay them word for word in his head for days. The way her hair glistened under the florescent lights, the scent of her perfume, and the feel of her skin ran a continual loop through his memory. Then on about Wednesday, two days before her return, his memories would give way to anticipation. Sometimes he tried to guess what color she’d wear or how she’d fix her hair. He liked her dark blonde hair loose and long, hanging down her slender back. But then again, he liked it up exposing her neck and collar bone.
    In so many ways Marie reminded him of Sharron when they were young. Sharron’s energy and wit continually enthralled him. Nathaniel knew he was the luckiest man alive to experience two such wonderful women. He wished Marie knew Sharron when she was healthier. He believed they would have been friends. His late wife had a knack for calming him when the world triggered fury. At this moment Marie was doing the same thing. Her steel eyes danced with life while her steady voice reassured.
    “ You, sir, are not getting rid of me that easily.” She gently removed one of her hands from his hold and placed it on top of his. “I love you, and I plan on spending much more time with you. If the next nine months are in this room at an hour a week, then so be it. But after that Mr. Rawls, I get you all to myself.”
    “ But Marie, you deserve...”
    She interrupted, “I think you’ve made me realize I deserve to be loved. And you are the man to do it.”
    Nathaniel grinned in spite of himself. Marie’s radiating beauty left him speechless. It wasn’t just the external attributes of Catherine Marie Rawls, but her spirit and kindness. The only time he saw that spirit change was with the mention of his son. Nevertheless, the subject needed to be breached. She was his only source of information. Anton visited occasionally. However, now in graduate school and working, Anton’s time was limited.
    The idea of Anton supporting himself through graduate school infuriated Nathaniel. This entire mess was ridiculous. The damn FBI should have better things to do, real criminals to find, instead of attacking a man for living the American dream. Truthfully, Nathaniel still had money, a good amount of money. However, accessing it and bringing it back to the United States was too risky.
    Since the court seized his home, company, and other assets, he was thankful he’d provided Marie with a comfortable investment portfolio. If they’d been married when he was convicted, she would’ve lost that too. But, because they weren’t, it remained hers.
    When he got out of this hell hole, Nathaniel intended to give Marie a real wedding, maybe somewhere on a beach. The justice of the peace, in this visitor’s room with Anton as witness, was legal and memorable. However, it wasn’t the kind of memory Nathaniel wanted Marie to have of her wedding. If she’d said yes the first twenty-five times he asked, their wedding would have been nicer. Then again, she wouldn’t have the financial resolve. It wasn’t like she had a fortune, but she could live comfortably.
    Neither Samuel nor Amanda visited Nathaniel, ever. After Anton informed Nathaniel of Samuel’s testimony, Nathaniel honestly didn’t care if he ever laid eyes on his son again. What upset Nathaniel was his son and daughter-in-law’s constant intrusion into Marie’s life. Since Samuel was part owner and a top executive at Rawls Corporation, his assets too were seized. Despite Samuel’s cooperation, he and Amanda were left with nothing. Somehow in Samuel’s mind, he felt he deserved what Marie now claimed as hers.
    Nathaniel wondered what Samuel would do if he knew about the Switzerland investments. That information was only shared by Nathaniel, his wife, and his grandson. The monies needed to be routinely moved. The relocation of his investments kept curious individuals from discovering the actual administrator. He didn’t physically move the money, but at least