Truth

she less? Was Derek still half? Or was he more? Perhaps Shedis-tics was now part of the equation?
    Originally his new job was scheduled to begin May 1 st . Nevertheless, they called him out to Santa Clara only two days after her father’s accident, over four weeks early.
    Little did Sophia realize, when Derek said he couldn’t take more than two nights in her childhood bedroom, he’d meant it literally. Truthfully, Derek hadn’t known either. As he explained, when the company president calls and invites you to meet with parent company executives, you don’t say, No Thank you .
    Lingering on the stoop of their cottage, she looked toward the Harbor, inhaled the salt air, and listened to the soft din of the sea. The sound of the surf created a continual soundtrack for life in Provincetown. While something she rarely thought about, she knew she’d miss it terribly.
    Yesterday, she closed her studio on Commercial Street. The sign in the window read: Closed for an Undetermined Amount of Time. The neighboring businesses promised to keep a watchful eye on everything. Sophia knew nothing would physically happen to her personal slice of cramped heaven. It was the emotional toll that concerned her.
    On her way to the airport, Sophia took a detour and found herself at the shore enjoying the calm water rippling beneath the crystal clear blue sky. Tears streaked her cheeks as she bid ado to Provincetown Harbor. Through her blurred vision she saw the Cape across the sea. Sophia absorbed the scene, savoring it -- preserving it. If she kept it safely sealed within the recesses of her mind, it would never completely be gone. In times of need, she’d will it forward, out of the depths of her memories, and into her thoughts.
    Recognizing the inevitable, she made her way to the small Provincetown airport. From there she’d fly to Boston. In Boston she had tickets for a first class flight to San Jose, the closest airport to Santa Clara.
    Even with a short layover in Denver, she anticipated feeling Derek’s strong arms by four o’clock, Pacific Time. When she did, she planned to melt into his embrace and show him why they should never be apart again. Then, she reasoned, the world would once again be right.
     
    *****
     
    When the elevator doors opened Phillip just about lost it! She entered almost sixty seconds earlier and should have been to her floor, not still within the golden mirrored cubical. Practicing his covert skills, Phil Roach assumed a calm passive persona and spoke casually to his number one assignment, Claire Nichols. This hadn’t been his plan. Nevertheless, now that they’d conversed and she hadn’t recognized him, she might be his lifesaver.
    Anthony Rawlings was suspicious and becoming increasingly untrusting. Phil did a good job for a few days giving generic reports and letting Mr. Rawlings assume his ex-wife was vacationing alone in San Antonio. However, the lack of specifics and pictures were beginning to spark too many questions.
    The per diem and generous expense account made it difficult for Phillip Roach to confess he’d lost his assignment. Claire Nichols flew to San Antonio with Phil on the same flight. He knew of her hotel reservation and followed her to the Hotel Valencia. It was late; he assumed she was sleeping safely within her room until the next day. However, when he returned to the Riverwalk later the same night, Ms. Nichols was AWOL. Her car was gone, she was gone, and her cell phone continued to send signals from her suite. Phil panicked knowing he’d been duped!
    He also knew Claire’s reservations at the Hotel Valencia extended until Sunday morning. Having no idea where to look, he continued his surveillance of the hotel on the famous Riverwalk. When he saw Ms. Nichols enter the lobby Saturday afternoon, it took all of his self-control to not hug her. Thank God she was alive and safe – if something had happened to her in a place he hadn’t reported her being. Phil didn’t even want to consider the consequences. It didn’t matter; she was all right.
    She wasn’t just all right. She was relaxed, tan, and happy. He was sure she’d been with a man, but who? He’d confirmed Harrison Baldwin’s presence in Palo Alto during the last four days. There was no doubt Mr. Rawlings would want answers. Phil’s exuberance at her presence could be blamed for the unplanned meeting in the elevator. However, as he reviewed the encounter, he assured himself no harm no foul!
    Currently, she was