He sighed and resumed his seat on her bedside. “You were very tired, but you were talking. You mentioned something about a dream. I may be guilty of taking advantage of a tired woman, but nothing else.”
“How did you get back in the condo? I remember closing and locking the door.”
“You closed it, but you didn’t lock it, or it didn’t lock. I came back to say something, and I heard something fall. It sounded like it broke. I listened, but I didn’t hear anything else, so I decided to check on you. The door opened.” He confessed, “I didn’t knock. When I walked in you were asleep on the couch, so I carried you to your bedroom. I can say with honorable intentions, but that wouldn’t be entirely true. Claire, I asked you multiple times. You never said no.”
She sighed. “I remember wanting you. I’d spent half the night dreaming about you until I gave up and stayed awake. That’s why I was so tired.”
The red dissipated as green prevailed. “You dreamt about me?”
“Yes, it was after our dinner. I hadn’t seen you since… the jail in Iowa.”
He softly kissed her lips and asked again, “You dreamt about me?”
Claire smirked. “Yes, you egotistical narcissist. I did.”
“I’ve dreamt about you, too. I think it may have something to do with seeing your beautiful face above my fireplace every night before I fall asleep.”
The door opened, and a nurse entered. “I’m sorry, sir, Ms. Nichols needs her rest. I’m closing her door to visitors for a while.”
Tony stood with Claire’s hand still in his. “What about…?” he asked.
“I’ll tell them. I was about to tell Harry when you showed up.”
Tony turned to the nurse. “How long is a while?”
She looked to Claire. Claire’s answer told Tony everything he wanted to know. Nothing else mattered. “I want Mr. Rawlings here whenever possible.”
Brightness filled his world with a brilliance he’d never known. With Claire’s entire family a few feet away, she said that she wanted him. It wasn’t like before—it wasn’t his mandate. No, this was her choice, and without warning, she’d laid it on the line. The deep lines of worry and stress momentarily left Tony’s eyes, as soft chocolate saw only Claire. No longer was the world a threat to their relationship. It surrounded them, but they were safe and secure within a bubble of their choices and decisions. The nurse’s voice returned Tony to the present as she answered, “Let her sleep through the night.”
Tony nodded. “I can do that.” He smiled as he bent down and kissed Claire. “I’ll be back in the morning.”
“Good. I think you look like you could use some sleep, too.” Her emerald eyes glistened through her bruised face.
Turning toward the door, Tony saw the five sets of glaring eyes watching their good-bye. Her family remained silent as he politely passed their human wall. With Claire’s words ringing in his ears, he smugly walked the gauntlet. Despite their objections, Claire wanted him. Therefore, he would be there, and when she was better, she would be in Iowa. Until they found that laptop, they weren’t taking any chances.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Claire’s doctor released her from the hospital and gave her a referral in Iowa City. Tony had planned on driving her directly to the airport and getting her to the safety of his estate; however, Claire refused. She didn’t refuse the impending trip. It was that she wanted to gather some of her things before they left. Tony promised to have everything sent, but she wanted to do it herself.
As they entered Amber’s quiet condominium, Tony remembered emptying Claire’s apartment in Atlanta. He suddenly understood why this was important to her. She hadn’t had the chance to do it then, or even after she was arrested. Again, that had been Tony. Although she didn’t mention the other two moves, Tony suspected that her lack of control in the past, helped facilitate the need she now possessed. Nevertheless, neither one of them was prepared for the sight of her bedroom. Drawers emptied and contents strewn across the floor. Clothes and shoes pulled from her closet; even the bed was disheveled. When they entered, Claire stood paralyzed, looking at the debris. Tony considered again offering to hire someone to clean and pack, but the look in her eyes told him that it was something she needed to do. Biting back his offer, Tony hugged her reassuringly and asked if he could help. Together they righted the wrong that Chester had done. In the grand scheme, it wasn’t much, yet as the room began to take shape, Claire’s determination returned.
As they were finishing her room, building security called to confirm that she was home to receive a delivery. After the flowers at the hospital came addressed to Claire Nichols Rawls with the strange note that read:
I’ve learned that you are well… But now,
there’s another body to add to the count…
They should have been on guard. Tony should’ve received the delivery; instead, it was Claire. This time it was also flowers, and the card was again addressed to Claire Nichols Rawls. When Claire called out for Tony and he read the name on the envelope, he emphatically ordered the deliveryman to take them away.
As upsetting as the name was to both of them, what deflated Tony’s lungs and returned red to his vision were the contents of the envelope—nothing, it was empty. Though he tried to hide his anguish and assure himself that it wasn’t the fulfillment of his dream, he couldn’t contain the emotion from his own voice. “I’ll find out who’s doing this, I promise.”