Truth

sorry.”
    “ No, don’t be sorry. Let me get you the number. Just please wait until he leaves before you call.”
    “ I will. Honestly, I’m not sure when I’ll call. I just want to know I can.”
    Momentarily, Courtney smiled as she scrolled her contacts. Looking toward the archway and back toward the kitchen, she quietly gave Claire the ten requested digits. Then she added, “I hope you know -- I truly hate him for what he did to you.”
    Claire nodded. “Thank you, but you’ve been his friend for a long time. I appreciate your help, but I understand…”
    “ No, you don’t.”
    Courtney’s tone surprised Claire. Anger -- fervor, she wasn’t sure she’d heard such vehemence in Courtney’s voice ever before. “Perhaps I don’t.” Maybe she’d pushed Courtney’s allegiance too far by requesting Tony’s number. “I’d better go. Thank you again.”
    “ Claire,” Courtney’s voice was more of a whisper, “I’d like to see you. I need to be honest with you about what I know and how I feel. It’d be better in person.”
    Emotions swirled. Claire wanted to see her friend, yet part of her wondered, is she truly my friend ? Hearing Tony’s voice, so casual in her kitchen, could this request be a trap? And know -- what could Courtney possibly know ? Claire lied to her, just like she’d lied to everyone else. Was the tone Claire heard directed at her or about Tony?
    Claire reminded herself Courtney was the only person to go out of her way to communicate with Claire in prison. She was one of the few people to offer support. Claire replied, “I’d like that too. First, why don’t you concentrate on your company? We’ll work out details later.”
    Courtney nodded. “You’re right about time. We’ve known him a long time. However, sometimes you know someone and still don’t truly know them. Other times you learn the truth right away.” She paused, but Claire didn’t respond, so Courtney continued, “I hope we can work it out -- to get-together. We’ll talk later.”
    Claire replied, and the line went dead. Courtney placed the small black slender phone in the pocket of her jeans and took the Blackberry back to the kitchen. Julia would be over soon; they had a busy afternoon ahead.
     
    Claire stared at the number on the note pad. There it was. Now, he wouldn’t be the only one able to initiate contact. She added the number to the telephone Tony called the night before. Claire shook her head. There were three telephones before her. All she wanted was one ; now she had three!
    Courtney wasn’t the only person opposed to the idea of Claire calling Tony. Harry also thought it was a bad idea. Surprisingly, Amber understood Claire’s reasoning. Harry replied with the analogy of poking a bee hive with a stick.
    Claire finally smiled and explained, “My dad had a friend who raised bees. We used to go and help him extract honey -- fun but scary. The bees would buzz all around his garage as we worked inside getting the honey out of the combs.”
    Harry and Amber listened, probably thinking the bee analogy was meant metaphorically. Claire continued, “When I was little, I was afraid to help. After all, the bees were really mad. You can’t blame them. We’re taking their honey. I remember asking dad’s friend how he got the combs out of the bee hives without getting stung. He showed me this funky hat with netting and a thick material suit and gloves, boots – you know the whole bee garb?” The other two nodded. “So don’t you get it?”
    Claire watched waiting to see some realization in her friends’ eyes. When she didn’t see it, she answered her own question. “I promise not to poke the stick in the hive until I’m sure my outfit is fool proof. I don’t intend to be stung ...again.” Claire was sure she saw sparks of admiration in her friends’ eyes.
    Now that she had his number, Claire needed to work on her beekeeper’s outfit. Until last night, she wasn’t sure what she’d do. California was turning out better than she ever imagined. Honestly, she’d hoped maybe she could start a new life and forget the last three years. Then the whole paradigm changed; Tony called.
    Claire knew in the pit of her stomach – depths of her soul -- it would never be over. He shared in his box that he’d been watching her since at least the time of her parent’s death. No, actually – if, and she still isn’t sure of this -- if, he purposely lured Simon away with the job offer – he’d