They toasted the New Year with champagne. Brent, Tom, and Tim especially wished Tony a profitable year. If his year was lucrative theirs would be also. It was after one in the morning when the party broke up.
The coldness of the leather transcended Claire’s slacks. She wanted the heater to warm the seat as well as the interior of the car quickly. The roar of the defrost in the stillness of the night told Claire that the poor Mercedes was trying its best.
Tony scraped the snow from the windows and talked with Brent and Tim as they did the same. Everything was blanketed with several more inches of white. Thankfully, it had stopped falling. Absently Claire wondered how often Tony needed to scrape his own windows. She knew she was trying to divert her thoughts from the reprimand she was about to receive.
Her husband remained pleasant and attentive during the party but his expression as he opened her door let her know that this subject wasn’t closed. Claire pondered that thought. Wasn’t it really the same subject? So shouldn’t it be closed?
Each time she exhaled she noticed the faint white crystals that formed in the air. She straightened her posture and squared her shoulders, she was ready. The windows were clear and she could hear Tony and Brent’s voices, his door would open at any moment. With each passing minute her demeanor moved from anxious to indignant. All she had wanted to do was see their wedding pictures. Why was that such a big deal? After all, it was her wedding. The fact the pictures were available online shouldn’t matter.
Once on the road, the only sounds were those of the tires on the snow and the hum of the heater. Claire waited. After a significant silence Tony spoke. “Do you remember that I told you I received e-mails from Emily and she would like you to call?”
“Yes, and you said I could call her tomorrow.” Claire felt a sudden panic.
“I was just wondering. Your memory seems to be failing you.”
“May I still call my sister?”
“Yes, I keep my word.”
Claire exhaled. This was a more indirect Tony than she was accustomed to. Maybe that was the advantage of being his wife. She had been looking for that perk. “Thank you.” She glanced toward her husband, his jaw muscles defined as he clenched. He was waiting for her to approach the subject. Reluctantly she did. “What did you think of our wedding pictures?”
“I think you were absolutely stunning and I am a lucky man.” That wasn’t the response she anticipated. Yes, she was annoyed that this was a big deal. However, her intuition told her to back off.
“I’m sorry about encouraging Beverly. My curiosity got the better of me.” Apologizing seemed like the best option, even if it only sounded sincere.
“It isn’t just what you did. It is what you said.” Claire couldn’t remember what she said, so she asked. “You said you forget who I am.”
“I forget that marrying you is newsworthy, I love you for you. I forget that you are Anthony Rawlings. To me, you are Tony.”
His grip intensified on the steering wheel and she could feel his tension. “I have told you over and over you must remember who I am. If you forget who I am, you will forget who you are and the significance of your behavior.” It was a different version of the appearance speech. He was right. He had said it over and over. She listened and replied at all appropriate times. At least this was the abridged version.
Tony returned to work on the first. He did so from his home office. He had a lot of things to do. Apparently, he had tried to keep up-to-date while in Fiji, but someone kept him distracted. With him working in his office and her free to do as she pleased within the house, Claire soon realized how event filled the last month had been. She was suddenly overwhelmed with a feeling of solitude.
Claire arrived at Tony’s office before lunch to make her call. She expected the limitations lecture. Surprisingly, he didn’t give it. He dialed the telephone, turned his back and worked on his computers while Claire waited to speak. John answered. She prayed that John wouldn’t say anything to upset Tony. “Hi, John, it’s Claire, is Emily there?”
“Hi, Claire. Welcome back to the United States. You are back, aren’t you?”
“We are, we returned on the thirtieth.” She was sending out mental signals, put Emily on the phone!
“So was it as beautiful as the article described?” Tony turned to Claire, she needed to conclude with John and move on to Emily. She looked at him pleadingly, she knew.
“I didn’t read the article. But it was amazing. Tony definitely took me to paradise for our honeymoon. Hey, is Emily there?”
“Oh yes. She’s right here. Good to talk with you. Please tell Anthony I said hello.” She made eye contact with him, hi.
“I will, thanks, John.” She heard Emily take the receiver. Apparently, they weren’t using a speaker phone.
“Hi, Claire, how is my jet-set sister?” Claire smiled. Emily was trying her best to accept Claire’s life.
“I’m wonderful, glad to be home. How are you?” Tony turned back to his work. Emily explained that she and John were well. They wanted to thank Claire and Anthony again for the transportation. A Rawlings Industries jet took them back to Albany on Sunday following the ceremony. She also thanked them for allowing them to stay in their home, it was amazing! She asked Claire more questions about the honeymoon. Claire made it sound magical but not too over the top. Tony politely kept his back to Claire during her conversation. She knew he was listening to every word, but appreciated the gesture.
After ten minutes Claire’s internal clock told her time was running out. “Well, it sure was good to see you two and to talk to you—”
Emily interrupted, “I wanted to let you know John’s been offered a job with a different company.” This shocked Claire. She didn’t know he’d been looking for a different job. Emily said he hadn’t. It was a surprise to them too. Claire asked if it was in Albany. No, it was either in New York City or Chicago. The company had offices at both locations, as well as others. Claire knew that meant Emily would have to leave her teaching job. Emily said she knew that. They were weighing the pros and cons. Financially if he took the job she wouldn’t need to work. It was a tremendous pay increase. Claire was happy to hear that, but she knew how much Emily loved teaching. Claire also added the pro that Chicago was much closer to her and Tony. Would John be doing the same type of law? Emily said it was international corporate. He’d studied it. But for the last four years he has practiced mostly corporate within the United States. Tony pointed to his watch.
Claire told Emily she was interested and she would try to call again to see how things were going. She also told her she hoped they thought it through. Don’t just jump for the money. Emily said that was easy for her to say. Claire understood but wanted them to be happy first and foremost. Emily asked when she would hear from Claire again. And if there was a better way to contact her than Tony’s private e-mail? Claire told her that was the best way. She was still trying to understand the whole Mrs. Rawlings thing. So many people trying to interview her and the like, well she was sure Emily understood. Tony’s private e-mail was best. They bid each other goodbye and Tony hit the disconnect button.
Claire thought about the call as she stood to leave his office. “Thank you. I appreciate the chance to talk with her.” She turned to let him work.
“Claire, wait a minute.” Her first thought was that he expected some sort of gratitude. She turned back to him with fire in her eyes. He casually leaned on his desk. “She was fishing.”
Confused, the fire still flickered. “Fishing for what? Information about our honeymoon? Honestly, Tony, she’s my sister. Maybe she’s just interested in learning about me from me, not a magazine.”
He looked impatient. “Are you done?”
“Yes.” He indicated for her to sit down. She did.
“She was fishing to find out if you knew about John’s job offer.”