Consequences(146)

She heard his voice, every nerve in her body electrified with the realization that she would really be his wife. She heard his deep baritone voice, “I have a special gift for Claire, it’s her something new. Please be sure to tell her the box is blue velvet on purpose.” Courtney must have questioned Tony, because he explained, “She’ll understand—I promise.”

Claire smiled as she thought I really do love him!

Somehow he knew she’d wear pearls. Perhaps he’d expected her grandmother’s necklace; nonetheless, she opened the blue velvet box to beautiful dangling pearl earrings hanging from platinum ear clips covered in small sparkling diamonds. With her hair style and the veil, the earrings were perfect. The ladies in her suite went crazy. The consensus was the earrings were perfect—and so was Tony. At that moment, Claire believed so too. She wanted to believe it, with all her heart, and her heart did, but it was her mind that held too many memories, ones that she’d successfully compartmentalized away—away—not gone.

It wasn’t for lack of trying.

When Brad knocked on the door of her suite, Catherine and Courtney hugged her and sped off to their seats. Claire looked at herself one last time in the full-length mirror. She liked what she saw and prayed Tony would too. She and Emily proceeded down the hall to the main stairs where she could hear the music from the quartet.

They heard a rumbling of whispers. Suddenly, Claire thought about the guests. Who were they? She really didn’t know any of them. She’d heard names and some she recognized. Some were political figures, some were business people she’d met at benefits, and some were names she’d heard in the media. Then she remembered their friends, the people who made last night incredibly memorable. Their friends were the people who supported both of them and were not solely present because of Anthony Rawlings. It was the others, the ones she didn’t know, that scared her. She felt like they were all judging her. She wanted to be perfect for those people so Tony would be proud. The multiple acetaminophens helped to keep the headache at bay.


Brad listened to his ear piece and waited for the deviation in music. The hum of voices disappeared. Claire couldn’t see the guests or the men exiting Tony’s office, but she knew that was what was happening. Emily kissed John and Claire before she descended the stairs. John took Claire’s arm, kissed her cheek, and said, “I won’t disrupt your day. You look amazing, and I want you to know how much I love you. You aren’t just my sister-in-law—you’re my little sister. Please remember you can always count on Emily and me”—he squeezed her hand—“Always know you’re loved.”

Claire kissed his cheek and thanked him. Brad gave them the signal, and they started down the stairs.

When John was asked who gives this woman to be wed, he replied, “With great love and admiration—her sister and I.”

The next thirty-five minutes passed as if a dream. Claire saw faces. She saw the smiles of her new friends and of her sister, but what she noted above all else was Anthony Rawlings. When she reached the aisle and beheld him, he was watching her and waiting.

He had eyes only for her. He stood incredibly, handsomely in front of the guests, hands resting casually at his sides, shoulders broad, impeccable Armani custom tuxedo, a gratified smile, and eyes encircled in chestnut brown, yet still absorbed light. Standing next to him in front of everyone, she felt drawn into the darkness searching for light and warmth. When his eyes sparkled, she felt weak.

I’m marrying him—he is marrying me—I’m now his wife. At that moment she realized that this was a contract now recognizable by the world. It wasn’t two signatures on a napkin—but a real legal marriage contract. He now truly owned her.