Claire could feel anger building within her chest and feared that if she spoke her words would ignite her husband’s fury, not subdue it. Therefore, she concentrated on keeping her lips pressed together as he continued, “And I like knowing that you are home, safe and out of trouble. I have too many things on my plate. I don’t need to worry about you having an accident.”
“From whom?” Claire asked assertively. She’d remained silent as long as she could.
“Excuse me?” Tony understood her tone. He wanted clarification on her meaning.
“The invitations that I have received, who are they from?”
“I believe your ability to understand has diminished with your memory. I said I chose not to forward them to you. I decided you will stay home, safe. Good night.” Tony lay back on his pillow.
She lay still for what seemed like hours. His breathing slowed and became rhythmic. For the first time since he’d proposed, she didn’t want to be with him. Claire decided that since they were in his suite, she could go to hers. She waited until she felt certain that he was asleep, and then gently lifted the covers. Feeling for her robe she heard his booming voice rip through the darkness. “What do you think you are doing?”
“I am aware the conversation is done and that I have no control in my own activities. It is all in your hands. But at this moment, I am also aware that you do not consider me a spouse or a partner. I am going to my suite to ponder this information.”
“No, you are not.” A conclusive statement. At a little over six foot four, Tony’s arm span was immense. Perhaps if she hadn’t been tying her robe and putting her feet into slippers she might have had better balance. In less than a second he grasped her arm and she was again lying on his bed. The weight of his upper body had her pinned to the mattress. Memories of their wedding pictures came to mind, she felt small and defenseless.
“Tony, remember your promise.” Her voice sounded falsely formidable.
“Which has always been contingent upon yours.” Her chest suddenly felt heavy, not from the weight of his body, but his words. He continued, “You are right.” She didn’t speak, unsure of her correctness. “The conversation is done and I am in total control of your activities, including where you will sleep and which invitations you will accept.” The tears began to pool in her eyes. “However, you are also mistaken. I don’t consider you a spouse. I know you are my wife. You belong to me.”
His forearms pushed against her shoulders causing them to ache. His words weren’t a revelation, Claire knew she was his possession. He continued moving his face closer. “You are staying here tonight. You are not leaving me, my bed, or my presence.” The tears flowed. “Now it is time for you to respond appropriately.” His weight shifted slightly.
Claire remembered times in the past when she hadn’t replied quickly enough or to his liking. She focused her energy on keeping her body from trembling. However, she couldn’t concentrate on that and tears, so her words became muffled sobs. Swallowing hard, she tried to strengthen her voice. “I will not leave you. Even if I left your bed tonight it would have only been because I’m upset, not because I want our marriage to be over.” She took a ragged breath, imagined his dark eyes, and thanked God that the room was too dark to see them.
“Continue.”
“I will not leave your bed. I’ve agreed in the past, I agree now and forever to submit to your authority. I’m sorry if I’ve given you cause to break your promise.” Inhaling, she tried desperately to defuse his temper. “If you recall, this entire incident started because I asked if I could be with you when you went away. I don’t want to leave you. I want to be with you.”
“Your ability to respond appropriately has benefited you on multiple occasions.” He released her shoulders and laid his head on his pillow. She stopped sniffling and tried to regulate her breathing. “Now take off that robe.” As she obeyed he added, “I believe we will experiment with some other forms of response.” He rolled back toward her. “But you are my partner. I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to. So perhaps you would you rather go to sleep?”
Claire knew this was one of those offers you can’t refuse her grandmother used to talk about. “No, I would rather respond to you.” She successfully avoided the trembling and had almost stopped the tears, but the end result was that her head pounded to the beat of her heart. Currently, that was too rapid.
“This time it will not be verbal.” His hands seized her petite frame as his domineering tone claimed her spirit. “As you may recall, this conversation is over.”
Claire closed her eyes and nodded. She did her best to ignore her headache and respond to her husband.
Just before they drifted to sleep, Tony offered more information. “Courtney and Sue have called multiple times, I will think about their invitations. Emily has called and e-mailed. John has called, he respectfully declined Tom’s offer. I believe Emily can wait.” Claire’s heart sank.
This new information no doubt influenced Tony’s temperament. She wanted to believe Tony’s offer was made in good faith based on John’s credentials. His refusal didn’t surprise Claire, even though she was sure it did Tony. He doesn’t often experience rejection. This wasn’t the first time she received the consequences of John’s actions. What concerned Claire the most was her relationship with her sister, would she be allowed to speak to or see Emily?
She kissed Tony and sounded as compliant as she could muster. “Thank you, I would really like to see Courtney and Sue.” Claire wanted to move away from him, to the far side of the king-sized bed, or better yet upstairs, but instead she rested her head on his chest. “And I promise my memory is better.”
“I am glad to hear that.” He slowly embraced her shoulder as his voice softened. “I need to be in Phoenix next week. It has been in the seventies there. Perhaps you can join me.”
She nodded her head. “Thank you, that would be nice.” They fell asleep.
The next day, using Tony’s iPhone, Claire was allowed to call both Courtney and Sue. She didn’t utilize the speaker phone, and although present Tony didn’t question the content. Both of the ladies wanted to catch up and hear all about married life. Claire said she would love to, would check her calendar, and get back to them. She also apologized for not returning their calls sooner, things were just so busy.
Much earlier than normal, the sound of Tony’s alarm woke them on February 1. Their flight to Phoenix was leaving at seven. The trip was only planned for one night, but Claire didn’t care. They were leaving the estate and that was enough to propel her from bed to the shower. She would stay at their apartment while Tony met with associates; if all went well they would dine out tonight. He described this apartment as one of their smaller ones, as she showered she wondered what small really meant.
Steam filled the bathroom with a muggy fog. She secured the luxurious lavender towel around her body as Tony entered. “We aren’t going to Phoenix.” Her shoulders slumped.
“Why? Did I do something?”
Tony hugged her warm body, her hair dripped onto her shoulders and the floor. “No. We can’t go anywhere. Eric just called. We should have looked out the window.” He took her to the tall French doors that led to her balcony. When he moved the drapes she could only see white. At least twelve inches of new snow had fallen on the ground, trees, balcony rail, everywhere. With the addition of the eight to ten inches of old snow, there was now almost two feet! And it was continuing to fall, accompanied by wind. Barely seeing beyond the balcony, she could make out drifts that transformed the backyard into an ocean of white waves. Heaven knows how deep the snow would be in the bigger drifts. Claire sat on the bed with large droplets gliding down her back, discouraged. She sighed.