“Yes, yes, Tony, it will. As long as you and Claire have Nichol and are a family, it will work. Why did you want Brent to rent you an apartment?”

Tony glared at Brent. “When Brent wouldn’t do it, I contacted Eric. I now have an apartment not far from the office.”

Tears spilled over Courtney’s lids. “Why, Tony? Why would you do this to Claire?”

“I’m not doing it to Claire: I’m doing it for Claire. Surely, you can understand. She’s been trapped at Everwood by Emily—”

“And you’re freeing her! Tomorrow, you’re bringing her home,” Courtney exclaimed.

“I am,” Tony replied. “Before Emily, it was me. She has truly been restrained since she was a child. I won’t allow that anymore. She deserves to be free.”

Though Courtney’s words were still clipped, she offered her support as she and Brent followed Tony’s car toward Everwood. In Brent’s possession were all the documents signed, sealed, and ready. He even had the doctors’ statements and the custody papers. All they needed was Claire.

The administrator of Everwood, Mr. Leason, met them at the door to the front lobby. After he and Tony shook hands, he led them to his office where Brent began explaining the documentation. As they spoke, Tony glanced around. From what little he’d seen, it was a very nice facility. He had to give that to Emily: she’d found a wonderful place. It wasn’t until Tony heard his name that he focused on Brent’s conversation.

“…Mr. Rawlings. Here’s the document signed by Judge Wein, as Mrs. Rawlings’ husband, until she’s medically cleared to make her own decisions, he has medical power of attorney. With that authority, and with the support of your medical staff—I have Dr. Brown’s statement—we are removing Claire Nichols Rawlings from Everwood today.”

“Does Mrs. Vandersol know? Is she aware?”

“Mr. Vandersol has been informed,” Brent said. Tony was shocked. John knew that he was coming and didn’t have guards stationed at every door?

“Mr. Simmons, Mr. Vandersol is not Ms. Nichol’s next of kin. It is Mrs. Vandersol.”

“I can assure you that I have been as thorough as possible. We’re removing Mrs. Rawlings,” Brent emphasized her name, “today.”

“If you’ll excuse me for a moment,” Mr. Leason said, “I’d like to place a call to Judge Wein.”

Brent handed him another paper. “Here is her direct number. We’ll be outside.”

Once the three of them were outside of the administrator’s office, Tony asked, “John knows, and he didn’t tell Emily?”

“I don’t know if he told Emily or not. I sent Emily a formal request from you for permission to visit Claire. I wanted documentation of her denial. They knew you were being released. They’d been with me to Family Court regarding your rights. John’s not dumb. He came to me with Emily’s formal denial. He hinted that if he were I, he’d remove Emily as a roadblock. I didn’t let on that I’d already started the process, but I believe he’d already figured it out. He said that if that situation ever occurred, he wouldn’t fight you. I know you two have a history, but he’s a good man. I even think Emily believes she’s done what was right. John and I didn’t talk about his future employment, but Tim and I have. We both want him to stay. Hopefully he can.”

Courtney had been uncharacteristically quiet, but when Brent finished, she said, “I agree. Nichol adores them and they do her. I believe in the innocence of children. They can create a bridge capable of spanning an otherwise insurmountable gap. I can’t wait for you to see Nichol.”

Tony tried to process: John wasn’t going to fight him. “Tim’s told me how good it’s been to have John at Rawlings. I can’t deny they’ve taken good care of Nichol. I have to wonder if—”

Before he could finish his thought, Mr. Leason opened the door. “Excuse me, it seems as though you’re cleared. We can bring Ms. Nic—Mrs. Rawlings to the common room—”

“No, I want to go to her immediately,” Tony said.

“It’s against our policy to allow men into the residential—” Was it the look Tony was giving him or the tone of his original rebuttal? No matter the reason, Mr. Leason stopped and restated his response. “I believe we can make an exception. Let me show you the way.”

When they reached the door to her room, Tony said, “I know Emily’s in there. I’d rather go in alone.”

Courtney, Brent, and Mr. Leason nodded.

Inhaling deeply, Tony turned the knob. Two and a half years of separation ended in a split second. He saw Emily’s shocked expression, but that wasn’t what held his attention. It was the back of her head. She was right there: his wife, his life, and his envelope filled with hopes and dreams. Before he could speak, Claire stood and turned. No longer was Tony’s world bland—khaki and gray. The infusion of color was almost blinding. Green—emerald green—had been returned to the spectrum.

Unbridled desire surged through him. He momentarily forgot his talk of divorce. In that second, nothing mattered but Claire. Tony needed to touch his wife, to reassure himself that she was real. Not the woman in his dreams, but the living, breathing person who consumed his thoughts. The distance between them evaporated as the rest of the room disappeared. With an invisible bond, his Claire was once again in his arms. With her cheek against his chest he wrapped her in his arms. Though her body molded perfectly to his, he needed more. Like a man in the desert needs water, like a person needs air, Tony needed her eyes. Reaching for her chin he sought the green. Instantaneously, their gazes—their connection that surpassed all else—fused.