swell with delight.
After the game they sat in front of a warm fire and enjoyed the lovely view of the city and delicious dessert. As Claire sipped coffee, forgoing dessert, Emily told Tony all about the pies Claire used to make. She explained what a great cook and baker Claire was. Tony seemed very interested in this new information.
They discussed the plans for the next day. Tony needed to work, and John graciously agreed to stay at the hotel and do some work also. Eric, their chauffeur, would bring Claire to their hotel and pick Emily up for the bridal boutique. Emily offered to take a taxi, it was no problem, but Claire and Tony insisted. It was settled. Claire would be at the Hyatt Regency at nine in the morning to pick her up. Their appointment was for ten.
Tony then asked if he and Claire could join them for dinner Friday night. They planned to go back to Iowa on Saturday morning. Claire now understood why Tony had been so vague about their travel plans. John and Emily agreed.
Before they left, Emily hugged Claire like she didn’t want to let go. “I have missed you so much. We’re all we have left. Let’s not stay out of touch again.” Her green eyes shone with sincerity. Claire’s began to tear. She wanted to say so much, but knew she was supposed to be elusive.
Before she could speak, Tony injected, “Emily, we have a wedding in three weeks. I bet you will be tired of hearing from Claire after that!” He laughed. They all laughed. Tony offered them Eric for the ride back to their hotel. John politely declined.
After Jan retrieved their coats, John and Emily left. When the door shut, Claire turned to Tony. “Thank you! Thank you so much. This was absolutely the best Thanksgiving ever. I can’t believe you surprised me like this.”
He smiled but she saw the message in his eyes. “Your sister is extremely inquisitive.” Claire agreed. She said her head hurt from working so diligently on answers. Kissing her cheek, “My dear, you should take an aspirin and retire to our room. I will be up shortly. I have some pressing matters in my office that I must attend to.”
First Claire went to the kitchen to thank Jan for her hard work. She really appreciated all she did to make their Thanksgiving special. Jan seemed genuinely touched and surprised by Claire’s appreciation. While walking up the stairs, she thought about the estate and the top-notch surveillance, perhaps Tony’s work was to review some video footage of her conversation in the dining room. She told herself it would be all right, she had followed all his rules.
A sister shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams.
—Author unknown
Chapter 26
Tony left the apartment early so Eric could drive Claire and Emily to the boutique. On her way to Emily’s hotel, she contemplated her fiancé. By the time he came to bed the night before, Claire was sleeping. She faintly remembered him kissing her, turning out the lights, and feeling relieved. Maybe he hadn’t been reviewing surveillance. Maybe he was doing actual work on Thanksgiving night? No matter, when he came to bed, he wasn’t upset. That morning, before leaving, he hugged her tight and told her to have fun with her sister choosing her wedding gown. Claire wanted to believe her life was as it appeared.
Traffic to the hotel was crazy. Until she saw the multitude of people, she’d forgotten all about Black Friday. The department stores were inundated with hoards of shoppers. It made their destination of a private boutique all that more appealing. The associates would be totally devoted to them. None of this mad rush she witnessed from the windows of the limousine. Smiling faintly, she fondly remembered Black Friday shopping with her mom and Emily when she was young. To save $25, $50, or $100, they would wake at three in the morning and stand in multiple lines. It sounded unpleasant, but the memories were warm.
Eric approached the Hyatt Regency a few minutes before nine. Emily wasn’t waiting. “Miss, would you like me to go to the front desk and inquire of Mrs. Vandersol?”
Claire thought a moment. “No, we will give her a few minutes, and then I will go in.” Emily hadn’t read the Anthony Rawlings’s rules of punctuality memo. Claire decided she deserved some slack. Five minutes after nine, Emily emerged from the lobby. Eric quickly got out of the car and opened the