The two women embraced. Courtney promised to always be there for Claire, if Claire promised to be honest. With tears in her eyes, Claire said, “I refuse to be anything else, and Tony knows that.”

Courtney smiled and hugged her again. “If this is really what you want, I’m happy for you. I want you to be happy.”

“I’m not sure about forever, but right now, Tony is what I want.”

Courtney smiled, “You know I love babies?”

“Good, I think ours is in need of an aunt. Emily isn’t very happy with me.”

Tony hired a bodyguard, Clay, an ex-secret service agent. As long as Claire stayed on the estate, he stayed behind the scenes. However, if she and Tony left the grounds, he rode shotgun with Eric. If Claire left by herself, he drove. If Tony chose to drive somewhere with Claire, Clay followed closely behind. He was much more intrusive than Phil had ever been. She almost asked for Phil; at least he’d be familiar. Sometimes Claire wondered what happened to him.

Claire never moved back to the second floor suite. The first night she arrived at the estate, she stayed in Tony’s room. After that, all of her new and old things were moved there. The technology which once barred her from his suite was no longer an issue. Besides, once their baby was born, neither one wanted to maintain separate rooms. The underutilized room beside Tony’s suite was in the midst of renovation. It would be a lovely nursery, accessible from their suite and the corridor.

By early August, Claire’s baby bump was visible, especially when wearing a bathing suit. Although it made her self-conscious, Tony complimented her changing anatomy. Her midsection wasn’t the only part of her growing. Her new doctor in Iowa City maintained everything was progressing well. Somehow they’d managed to keep the pregnancy from the press. This was amazing since the media seemed to know almost everything else including Claire’s change of address. Thankfully, nothing was ever printed about the threatening packages she’d received. The name Rawls never appeared in print or on the internet.

Living within their secure bubble, Claire began to relax and enjoy her life again. She would spend days sunbathing at the pool or hiking to her lake and listening to the waves lap the shore. When she closed her eyes, the sound of the water upon the pebbles continued to remind her of the sound of their baby’s heartbeat at that first ultrasound. As their little one grew, the heart rate increased. It was too early to learn the baby’s sex, but the doctor said the faster the heart rate the better the chance of a girl. When he said that, Tony squeezed Claire’s hand and whispered, “I bet she has your eyes, too.”

Claire smiled and shook her head. It never ceased to amaze her how Tony managed to get his way.

Memories of Patrick Chester’s attack kept Claire content within the safety of Tony’s estate. Catherine’s presence helped Claire fight the feeling of isolation. Catherine’s ongoing support was therapeutic as their relationship moved beyond anything it had ever been. Nonetheless, when Claire asked, Catherine wouldn’t reveal any more about Tony’s past. Claire believed Catherine wanted she and Tony back together. She’d achieved her goal.

On a warm and breezy day in late August, Claire’s bubble burst. She might never have realized it, if she hadn’t decided to come in early from the pool. From the sunporch she heard loud voices coming from Tony’s office. Claire quietly walked down the marble corridor to investigate. She heard Tony, but she couldn’t tell who he was talking to -- yelling at would be a more accurate description.

Nearing the closed grand doors, Claire recognized the significant change in their relationship. Never in the past would she have willingly walked toward his voice holding the threatening brash tones she currently heard. Most significantly she no longer feared opening the doors and learning the reason for his tirade.

Not wanting to interrupt, she gently opened the door and slid inside the office. Immediately she realized she was standing in a bathing suit, flip flops, and a cover-up while Tony wore a suit. Obviously, he’d come straight from the office. His eyes flickered toward her. She saw the darkness she’d heard in his voice. The office was full. Facing Tony, she recognized the backs of Eric, Catherine, and Clay. When she entered, Clay was speaking. She heard the end of his statement, “...no, sir. We’ve intercepted the others. This is the first one to make it onto the estate.”

Claire panned the room. Sitting on Tony’s desk was an open package. She wanted to know what was in the package and, most importantly, if it were addressed to her. Tony’s eyes were now solely on her and soon everyone turned her direction.

“You are all very loud. Is this about me?” Claire asked.

“Claire, please don’t worry about this. I’m taking care of it.” Tony’s voice strained in an attempt to modulate his tone from the one he’d been using on everyone else.

She stepped toward him. His eyes went to Catherine, “Catherine, if you could please help Ms. Claire, she may need some assistance.”

Claire stopped. Yes, there were others in the room, but if this were about her and her baby, she had the right to know. “Clay, what others have you intercepted?”

“Ma’am, nothing that concerns you.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Catherine approached Claire with her arm out, “Claire, let’s get you something to drink. It is very hot outside.” Claire heard Catherine’s voice from the hall; she’d been loud too. Something was happening.