Truth

weeding, Claire decided to cool off in the pool. Tony must have seen her swimming. She’d only been in the cool water for a few minutes when he joined her. While they talked and swam in liquid bliss, he reached for her hand. Seeing the dirt still under her nails he mentioned, “I think you need a manicure after all this manual labor.”
    Claire giggled and pulled her hand away. “I wasn’t planning on having anyone look that closely. Besides, I haven’t had a chance to shower yet.”
    “ Now that sounds intriguing!” His eyes twinkled as his lips formed a mischievous grin. “In the meantime, I know a way to deflect people’s attention from your nails.”
    She was holding his shoulders and the moment for no particular reason felt right. Later, Claire decided it was the ordinary calmness she liked; nothing special, just realness that comes with every day. Her answer surprised him, “Well, that shower I’m about to take...” Her emerald eyes returned his sparkle. “Perhaps if you can figure a way to bring the ring in there, I’d slip it on. I mean...” She cooed into his ear, “I wouldn’t want it to go down the drain.”
    Grasping her growing waist, he gently pushed her away and stared deeply into her eyes. Claire remembered feeling the familiar tug as his gaze lingered. “Are you finally saying yes, you will be Mrs. Rawlings again?”
    She nodded and kissed his neck. Her insides tightened at the sound of his responding growl. When her lips finally released his neck, she replied, “I’m willing to go from dating to engaged – can we not rush the married part?”
    His dazzling smile melted her completely. Claire wanted the shower, the ring, and whatever would come next. However, his gaze turned serious as did his tone, “There is one condition.”
    After trying so long for her to accept his proposal, the addition of a stipulation surprised Claire. “Yes?” she asked tentatively.
    “ I don’t want to have to track it down again. Do not sell it, give it away, or leave it any place but on your beautiful finger.” It was one of those non-debatable statements.
    Nodding with a seductive smile, Claire whispered, “I promise.” She sealed the deal with a lingering kiss.
    She couldn’t leave the ring behind.
     
    Three days later...
    Tony stared at the monitors in his office. The large screen was sub-divided into many smaller screens. At the top was a live feed from outside his office door. He didn’t want intruders. Below were multiple smaller screens changing constantly with various locations on the estate. The bulk of the screen held two videos. He controlled the speed and sound of each one. On the left he saw Claire in his garages, rushing to the key cabinet and removing the key to a Mercedes Benz. In the lower right corner the date read: 01/17/12. On the right was the video of Claire walking casually to the key cabinet which no longer held a lock. He watched as she removed the keys to a BMW and calmly walked toward the car. The date in the lower right corner read: 09/04/13. Repeatedly, he paused the action and scrutinized the scenes. With all his might he tried to read Claire’s facial expressions.
    In twenty twelve, he saw fear as Claire looked nervously all about her. On the video recorded only days earlier, Tony wondered what he saw. No, he knew her look; it was a mask of steely determination. What he didn’t know was the emotion hidden underneath.
    The police also saw the twenty thirteen video. They believed it proved she left of her own free will. But if that were true, wouldn’t she have taken more belongings? Wouldn’t she have taken more money? She had access. She had credit cards and an ATM card... yet they were all found in an Illinois hotel.
    At nearly two in the morning, Tony was all alone. The various screens displaying the estate were devoid of people. Everyone was fast asleep. Even the crickets outside his open windows knew to leave him in silence. Yet, with no one to hear, he spoke the question he’d been wrestling with for days, “Why, Claire? Why?” In one gulp he downed the amber liquid from the crystal tumbler. Though the rich Glen Garioch Whiskey went down smoothly, it didn’t ease the ache in his head or the pain in his chest.
    His facade of the last few days successfully drained his strength. Tony knew he needed sleep, but how could he sleep in their bed? He couldn’t even stand to enter their room or see the unfinished nursery. It was the not knowing that hurt