Claire smiled and shook her head at John. “I didn’t say a word. I was as shocked as you when I learned of the offer. Tony and Tom did their homework. But we definitely respect your decision and are thrilled with your success.”
John respectfully thanked them both. The job offer was a huge compliment and he is honored. He also accepted their congratulations on the result of his trial, but as far as partnership nothing was currently set. He added, “The jury is still out.”
Tony’s comment pleased Claire. It cleared the air, allowing her to breathe easier. The four of them had a nice dinner. Claire told her sister and brother-in-law about their upcoming trip to Europe.
Emily said she had spent a long weekend in Fishers, Indiana, visiting some old friends. She named a few and told Claire how they all sent her their best. The mention of her past life darkened Tony’s eyes a few shades. Claire didn’t pursue the subject, only smiling and nodding acceptably. Emily also commented on Claire’s hair, did she like it so blonde? Of course, it looked beautiful. Emily actually said that she looked stunning but so different. Some of their old friends asked if it was really her in the pictures, the name was right, she just didn’t look the same. Claire wondered if that meant she wasn’t stunning before.
Claire asked how they liked the wedding pictures she sent. They both said they liked them very much. Emily even said she had gotten some new dresses to wear with her wedding shoes. She’s never had shoes like those before and planned to get Anthony’s money’s worth out of them. Tony smiled at Claire and commented on how nice that would be if she tried to wear some of her shoes a second time. They all laughed. The mood was jovial. The dinner tasted delicious, and catching up was fun.
In the car on their way back to Manhattan Claire told Tony, “Thank you, but I am glad that’s done. It’s too much stress for me. Besides, I’m too excited about our trip!”
His eyes lightened again. If that night needed to qualify as a type of consequence Claire would call it positive. The next day, they flew east across the Atlantic.
Believe that life is worth living and your belief
willhelpcreatethefact. —William James
Chapter 40
In Paris, Tony booked their suite—more like an apartment—in the Second Arrondissement located in the heart of Paris. Many of the major attractions Claire wanted to visit were within walking distance. Tony gave her complete freedom to roam the city while he was in his meetings. At first, she worried about the language barrier; after all, he spoke French like a native. However, unlike the rumors she’d heard, as long as she attempted to speak their language, the French were polite and fluent in English.
She did her best to frequent the shops along Rue de Faubourgs Saint Honoré, but she found the styles too bold for her liking. After his business was complete, they experienced Paris together. They took romantic walks along the Seine and in the Tuileries Gardens. They also dined on amazing cuisine. The cultural differences fascinated her. Dinner didn’t begin until 8:30 p.m.; but earlier than that, they could experience l’apéritif (from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.), where cafés and bistros offered their best cocktails or wine by the glass. Tony’s understanding of the French was not limited to their language. He was also well versed in their wines. Apparently, the French consider wine to be an adjunct to each meal and snack. It reminded Claire of college.
Paris claims to be capital of romance, but Claire would suggest that the Côte d’Azur or the French Riviera seek to take the title. Located in the southeastern corner of France on the Mediterranean coastline, it boggled her mind to think that she was actually there in the playground for the wealthy. She didn’t realize that Tony planned this portion of their trip with no business obligations, no meetings, commitments, or other recipients of his attention. He was totally devoted to her.
The French Riviera is a major yachting and cruising area. Unbeknownst to Claire, they had reserved a private one-hundred-foot luxury sailing yacht complete with their own captain and first mate. It would be their hotel for two nights. They boarded their yacht in Beau lier-sur Mer, a beautiful Mediterranean resort village.
They spent the next seventy-two hours lounging on the sea decks, enjoying the interior cabins, and cruising up the coast toward Italy. Some of the ports they viewed from their deck, others they stopped and explored. Cruising on a private yacht in the Mediterranean was amazing.
Claire’s favorite port was Monaco. The entire experience seemed surreal. Being the second smallest independent state in the world, the entire city-state is less than one square mile. They were able to walk the hilly streets and enjoy many attractions. There were museums and palaces, as well as shopping. Tony relished Claire’s unabashed enthusiasm for Monte Carlo. Claire believed that Le Musée Oceanographic or the palace above the sea was one of the most beautiful places she’d ever seen. She didn’t want to leave. However, their yacht was docked in the scenic harbor and waited to take them north to Italy.
The last port before Italy was Menton. It is nicknamed the Pearl of France and is famous for its gardens. Tony’s zeal at sharing nature with Claire amused her. His research had told him that Jardin Serre de la Madone, often known as the Serre de la Madone (Hill of the Madonna), is a garden noted for its design and rare plantings. It wasn’t difficult for Claire to show the enthusiasm that Tony expected. From Claire’s perspective, his excitement about planning something especially for her interests was better than seeing it.
Next they flew to Sicily for the weekend. Landing at a small airport in Catania, Sicily, Tony arranged to have a Maserati Gran Turismo waiting. Actually, it was the Gran Cabrio, the open-air version of a small dynamic sports car. The rag top allowed them to tour the countryside and see everything as it came into view. Driving around Sicily and driving around Iowa proved dramatically different. Claire learned very quickly that speed limits exceeded those found in the United States and didn’t seem to be strongly enforced. The one-lane winding roads always had someone wanting to pass or needing to be passed. Tony loved the challenge. Riding around the island with him that weekend made Claire feel like she truly put her life in his hands as never before. The desire to drive never occurred to her the entire weekend.
Their hotel was in Taormina, located on a plateau below Mount Tauro on the east side of Sicily, on the coast of the Ionian Sea. Their suite rested high on a cliff with a splendid coastal view from their private glass railed balcony. It is known for its ancient Greek splendor, medieval charm, and unique views of Mount Etna. Tony was right about the water. The shades of blue and green were comparable to the waters in Fiji.
There were beaches nearby that offered the sunbathing Tony mentioned. However, Claire suggested they spend their time seeing other attractions. They spent hours walking the endlessly winding medieval streets and tiny passages. Thankfully, most were inaccessible by car.
They discovered garden treasures hidden behind stone walls and terraces overlooking the coast. The Greek Amphitheater built in the third-century BC offered breathtaking views of Mount Etna and the sea. The history and age of the amphitheater had Claire talking about the youth of America.
Tony listened to her enthusiasm and watched her energy as she held his hand and walked through miles of history. The sightseeing was new to him. He traveled for business, not pleasure. Claire’s presence made all of this new and fun for him too. One of his goals for their trip was making her happy. Another was creating good memories.
The evenings in Taormina were enchanting. Together they strolled the illuminated streets and indulged in delicious cuisine. They watched in awe as lava left a stream of steam and light in its wake as it flowed along the snow covered slopes of Mount Etna.