Truth

–defined as having superior power. Your strength in the face of adversity continually amazes me. I’m awed by your constitution.” He kissed the top of her hand. “You are mighty remarkable, Mrs. Rawls.”
     
     

 
     
     
    Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction
that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense,
regardless of how it turns out. - Vaclav Havel
     
    Chapter 41
     
    Courtney eagerly relayed the conversation. She couldn’t wait to tell Claire everything Tony said. His excuse for visiting was to personally discuss the press release. Courtney promised she and Brent did their best to appear astonished and shocked by his change in attitude.
    Brent reminded Tony about his threatened civil suit. Courtney even cried remembering her visit to the jail and inability to help. She said Tony claimed his outlook changed after seeing and speaking with Claire in person. He claimed his earlier anger was a form of self-preservation. He didn’t want to admit having feelings for the woman he’d been led to believe attempted to kill him. He told his friends he wasn’t sure where this reconnection was headed, but he hoped for full reunification.
    Then according to Courtney, he apologized for his previous behavior and announced he wanted to bring Claire to Caleb’s wedding. Courtney said she almost lost it. She’d wanted to get Claire to the wedding for so long. Now with the possibility before her, she told Tony it wasn’t up to him, it was up to Julia and Caleb. Courtney didn’t want her son’s wedding to be a media circus, like the gala.
    Graciously, Tony offered assistance with security and promised discreet behavior. They called Caleb and Julia. Courtney said Julia always liked Claire and was respectfully supportive of Tony’s choice of guest.
    Claire listened in total disbelief. The wedding was in less than a week. She wasn’t supposed to see Tony again for two weeks. Nonetheless, she truly wanted to attend the wedding. As they spoke Claire thought about the trip she took with Courtney to Texas. For some reason she remembered her period was right before that trip. At the time she was relieved it occurred before frolicking in the sun and surf.
    At that second, while Courtney rambled on enthusiastically about the wedding... Claire realized she hadn’t had her menstrual cycle since.
    When Courtney paused, Claire asked, “How long ago did we go to Texas?”
    “ I’m not sure. Things have been so busy. I just know I can’t wait to see you again.” Perhaps hearing Claire’s recent change in tone, Courtney added, “But, you do what you feel is right. If you don’t want to be here with him, don’t do it. We can get together again after the wedding.”
    Claire’s mind tried to process -- they went to Texas in the middle of April. And now it’s almost June. She and Harry first got together in San Diego. When was that? How effective are condoms? How soon does morning sickness start? Those questions and more bombarded her mind as she tried to maintain her conversation, “I want to see you too.” Claire managed weakly, “It’ll be hard to act like we haven’t been in contact.”
    “ Well, don’t worry about that. Just decide what you’re going to do.”
    Before Claire could answer her iPhone rang. It was the third call from Tony. “I need to go; he’s calling again. I can’t avoid his calls all day.”
    “ Love you, Honey. Tell me what you decide, or maybe Tony should. That way I’ll react honestly.”
    “ Got to go, bye.” Claire disconnected her work phone and answered the iPhone.
    Tony’s call added to Claire’s already fried emotions. Besides working things out with Harry and Amber, she’d just learned Tony was going to ask her to the Simmons’ wedding in five days, and she’d realized at the very least, her period was three weeks late. Needless to say, she didn’t need to feign anxiety; it was real. “Tony, this is the third time you’ve called this morning. We aren’t making any public appearances for two weeks. Please give me some space.”
    “ Hello, Claire, so nice to hear your pleasant tone.”
    “ I’ve got a lot going on. What do you want?”
    “ Let me say, I would call less frequently if you would answer your phone.” She didn’t respond. He continued, “I made plans for us, for this coming weekend.”
    Despite the upheaval in her life, she attempted to conceal the smile from her voice, not