Courtney understood Claire’s privacy issues. Most of their confidential discussions occurred while walking or driving. Claire couldn’t risk someone overhearing. “Honey, I’m really worried about you. I know losing a friend is hard, but it just seems like you have been going down since before Simon’s death.”
Claire didn’t even try to act fine. “I just don’t know. I feel empty and tired all the time.”
“If there is anything I can do for you,” she squeezed Claire’s hand, “I’ll do it.”
“I think afternoons like this are the best medicine.” Courtney agreed laughter would help. So they laughed. They walked in shops, read funny cards and plaques, and had fun.
When Claire returned that night she felt lighter. She tried with all her might to continue the feeling into her home and her suite. The fact that Tony tried to help wasn’t lost on Claire. He immediately showed her an e-mail from Emily, volunteering, “She wants you to call early before John gets home. I think you should call before dinner.”
They went to Tony’s office and Claire tried again. She’d been trying to reach her for almost two weeks, since the first of November. This time Emily answered on the first ring. “Hello?”
Talking on the speaker phone, “Hi, Emily, it is Claire. We’ve been worried. Is everything all right?”
“I don’t think so. I asked you to call early so I could talk without John here.”
“I was out with Courtney today. I called as soon as I got your e-mail.” That was all true.
“He isn’t home yet. Is Anthony there?”
Claire hesitated, should she lie or be truthful? “He is. Do you want to talk to him?”
“I don’t know, maybe he can help.” Tony looked at Claire and raised his eyebrows in question.
“I could put you on speaker phone so he can hear too.” Emily said that would be a good idea. Tony pushed a button to create an audible change, and said hello. Emily said hello. They could hear her voice crack. Claire asked her sister, “Emily, what’s wrong?”
“You know the deadline for partnership decisions was the first?” Claire said she did, Tony acknowledged her audibly too. “Well, it has been extended.”
Claire broke in, always the optimist, “So that isn’t necessarily bad, they’re still undecided.”
“But now the auditor, the person verifying all the accounting information, is questioning John, a lot. John has been asked to verify everything. He is rummaging through old records and spending hour after hour documenting and authenticating his previous work.” Claire and Tony were engaged in concerned eye contact.
Tony responded first. “Emily, I am sure it is some kind of formality. John works for a very prestigious firm, they just want every T crossed and every I dotted.”
“Anthony, I hope you’re right.” They could hear her sniffles. “He pretends to be unconcerned, but I can tell that isn’t the case.”
“He is probably sick of the controlling procedure and stress.” Claire could relate, trying to rationalize and validate every move you make can become tiresome.
“I believe he is offended. Claire, you know John. He would never do anything that wasn’t completely honest and honorable.” She debated about adding to John’s fan club.
Tony responded first. “We did our research prior to offering him a job. I know he is one of the most honest and honorable attorneys anywhere.” Claire scanned her husband’s expression. She only saw sincerity.
“I second that, Em. It will be okay. Let them scrutinize John’s records, there’s nothing dishonest or deceitful to discover.”
“Thank you, really, both of you. John didn’t want me telling you. That’s why I haven’t answered your calls, but I really wanted you to know.”
Claire felt her internal time clock ticking. “Emily, please keep us posted—”
Tony interrupted. “If I can be of any assistance? Perhaps we can get together for Thanksgiving again this year.” Claire watched her husband with astonishment as he spoke. “We could meet in NYC or maybe closer to Troy if it would be easier for you.”
Emily thanked them both. She would think about Thanksgiving. She appreciated Anthony’s offer of help, it was nice to just talk with them. “I promise to keep you updated. I better go in case John gets home soon. Thank you.” They hung up.
Claire had been upset with Tony for almost two months. She despised him for his reaction in Chicago. His behavior that night repulsed her. She detested the way he treated her in California. On some level she even loathed the fact that Simon idolized him. Yet he had tried on numerous occasions to make amends. Only superficially had she accepted his pleas. Those shallow recognitions were mainly a form of self-preservation, a ploy to pacify him. But at that moment, as he disconnected the line, she overwhelmingly appreciated and cherished her husband. The realization almost immobilized her. Every ounce of her being had been opposed to him, similar to like ends of magnets. Her self-therapy suddenly realized that all of her energy had been consumed continually fighting the repulsion and forcing herself to be near him. No wonder she was so drained. But as he hung up the phone, her magnet flipped; suddenly, instead of repulsion she felt attraction. The relief engulfed her, her mask evaporated, and her expression became sincere. “Thank you, Tony.” She went to him and hugged him.
He recognized the difference in her touch. Looking down into her green eyes, he said, “I need to keep working.” She didn’t understand, thinking he was saying he had work to do. She pulled away to let him have his office. He gently pulled her back into his embrace. She looked up into his chocolate eyes. “No, Claire, I need to keep working to be a man you are proud to be married to.” She buried her face in his chest. There would be mascara on his very expensive suit. He lifted her chin. “I need to work to be the man Mrs. Johnson thinks I am.”
Later that night they laughed, cuddled, and talked. Their interaction hadn’t been playful for months. Claire was giddy from the release of tension and stress. For the first time in ages her head didn’t pound. She wasn’t worried about John, he was exceedingly honest. Everything would resolve itself there. The looming question had been here. Unexpectedly she believed it too had been resolved. Realistically the resolution wouldn’t be permanent, but she would enjoy the reprieve.
Emily e-mailed them the following week to decline Tony’s Thanksgiving invitation. She sincerely appreciated his offer but John barely took time to eat. He worked continually to rectify the inquiry.
Tony saw Claire’s disappointment and offered a trip anywhere for the holiday. Claire decided she would rather stay home and celebrate an old-fashioned Thanksgiving together. She wanted to cook him a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. He looked concerned but agreed as long as she would allow him to plan a getaway for their anniversary and Christmas. She agreed.
Giving the entire staff the day off, they lived through Thanksgiving dinner and even survived the carbohydrate overdose. Claire cooked turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, yeast rolls, pumpkin pie, and vegetables. Tony obligingly ate some of everything, saying he liked it all. However, the exorbitant amount of calories contained within the meal far exceeded their usual diet. They both feared they may explode before the pumpkin pie with whipped cream was served.
Although she enjoyed cooking, Claire forgot how much she disliked cleaning. Tony encouraged her to leave it. The staff would take care of it the next day. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind she could hear her mother and grandmother, leaving it for someone else was unacceptable. She told Tony to watch football and she would take care of it.