Claire felt her internal time clock ticking. “Emily, please keep us posted—”

Tony interrupted. “If I can be of any assistance? Perhaps we can get together for Thanksgiving again this year.” Claire watched her husband with astonishment as he spoke. “We could meet in NYC or maybe closer to Troy if it would be easier for you.”

Emily thanked them both. She would think about Thanksgiving. She appreciated Anthony’s offer of help, it was nice to just talk with them. “I promise to keep you updated. I better go in case John gets home soon. Thank you.” They hung up.

Claire had been upset with Tony for almost two months. She despised him for his reaction in Chicago. His behavior that night repulsed her. She detested the way he treated her in California. On some level she even loathed the fact that Simon idolized him. Yet he had tried on numerous occasions to make amends. Only superficially had she accepted his pleas. Those shallow recognitions were mainly a form of self-preservation, a ploy to pacify him. But at that moment, as he disconnected the line, she overwhelmingly appreciated and cherished her husband. The realization almost immobilized her. Every ounce of her being had been opposed to him, similar to like ends of magnets. Her self-therapy suddenly realized that all of her energy had been consumed continually fighting the repulsion and forcing herself to be near him. No wonder she was so drained. But as he hung up the phone, her magnet flipped; suddenly, instead of repulsion she felt attraction. The relief engulfed her, her mask evaporated, and her expression became sincere. “Thank you, Tony.” She went to him and hugged him.

He recognized the difference in her touch. Looking down into her green eyes, he said, “I need to keep working.” She didn’t understand, thinking he was saying he had work to do. She pulled away to let him have his office. He gently pulled her back into his embrace. She looked up into his chocolate eyes. “No, Claire, I need to keep working to be a man you are proud to be married to.” She buried her face in his chest. There would be mascara on his very expensive suit. He lifted her chin. “I need to work to be the man Mrs. Johnson thinks I am.”

Later that night they laughed, cuddled, and talked. Their interaction hadn’t been playful for months. Claire was giddy from the release of tension and stress. For the first time in ages her head didn’t pound. She wasn’t worried about John, he was exceedingly honest. Everything would resolve itself there. The looming question had been here. Unexpectedly she believed it too had been resolved. Realistically the resolution wouldn’t be permanent, but she would enjoy the reprieve.

Emily e-mailed them the following week to decline Tony’s Thanksgiving invitation. She sincerely appreciated his offer but John barely took time to eat. He worked continually to rectify the inquiry.

Tony saw Claire’s disappointment and offered a trip anywhere for the holiday. Claire decided she would rather stay home and celebrate an old-fashioned Thanksgiving together. She wanted to cook him a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. He looked concerned but agreed as long as she would allow him to plan a getaway for their anniversary and Christmas. She agreed.

Giving the entire staff the day off, they lived through Thanksgiving dinner and even survived the carbohydrate overdose. Claire cooked turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, yeast rolls, pumpkin pie, and vegetables. Tony obligingly ate some of everything, saying he liked it all. However, the exorbitant amount of calories contained within the meal far exceeded their usual diet. They both feared they may explode before the pumpkin pie with whipped cream was served.

Although she enjoyed cooking, Claire forgot how much she disliked cleaning. Tony encouraged her to leave it. The staff would take care of it the next day. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind she could hear her mother and grandmother, leaving it for someone else was unacceptable. She told Tony to watch football and she would take care of it.

To Claire’s surprise, Mr. Anthony Rawlings joined his wife in their kitchen and scrubbed pans, counters, and stove tops. Watching him, Claire decided he was even sexier washing dishes than he was in blue jeans.

After Thanksgiving the house burst with Christmas decorations. Catherine told Claire that prior to her presence there hadn’t been any decorations. She found that hard to believe. She didn’t ask for them, but did enjoy them. It wasn’t as extreme as it had been for the wedding, but it was festive. They entertained friends and some of Tony’s business associates. Claire was happy to open the house for others to see its merry charm.

On the Saturday before their anniversary they boarded Tony’s plane and flew west. This time Hawaii was their destination. On their trip to Fiji Tony promised Claire the opportunity to enjoy the Hawaiian Islands. They had ten days. Reminiscent of their honeymoon, they stopped in Los Angeles to refuel and continued another six hours to the island of Oahu, landing in Honolulu.

The difference with this trip was that Claire knew her journey’s end. She understood that when they landed in Honolulu they needed to board an inter-island flight to take them to the island of Lanai. It was a romantic getaway, not as secluded as their private island in Fiji but an island paradise nonetheless. Tony had asked her what she wanted and she had said sunshine and warmth. He delivered. She hadn’t told him she wanted to go alone, but Lanai was as secluded as you could get, and she was happy to have her husband with her.

This time they had a suite in a resort. An exquisitely spectacular suite complete with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Claire’s favorite amenity was the large private lanai. It included a daybed, dining table for two, and lounge chairs. Tony explained that they would have the suite for the entire stay but they would also spend a few nights on other islands. Tony now understood that Claire enjoyed sightseeing, so he planned excursions for Kauai, Oahu, and the Big Island.

Kauai’s spectacular cliffs, canyons, rainforests, and picturesque beaches took them two days and one night of exploration. Claire treasured being on Lumahai Beach, the place where “South Pacific” was filmed. In her mind she could see Mary Martin singing. Tony arranged private sea tours. They saw spinner dolphins, monk seals, green sea turtles, as well as natural wonders, the Na Pai Coast, open ceiling cave, and Honopu Valley Arch.

The day they spent on Oahu, they arrived early on an inter-island plane, rented a car, and Tony drove them around the island. They reverently visited Pearl Harbor, walking hand in hand and reading plaques and names. Tony drove them up Pali Highway through trees and dense forest vegetation until the city below disappeared and they found themselves in the clouds. It was Nuuanu Pali Outlook. They could see the Koolau Cliffs, amazingly lush coastline, and mountain peaks all from the stone terrace one thousand feet above the Oahu coast. The view was spectacular.

That evening they returned to Lanai for more private and sensual explorations. Neither of them moved fast or needy. Instead, they both were thorough, sensual, and loving. The sea breeze and sound of the surf provided the ultimate aphrodisiac, and their lovemaking went on and on.

On the Big Island they enjoyed a two-hour helicopter tour of Volcano Park. This was a first-time experience for both of them, and they found the process of creation and destruction thrilling. Claire couldn’t help remembering the volcano on Mount Etna in Sicily, also active. In one year she witnessed two active volcanoes erupting violently, yet without peril. Something told her she was pushing her luck.

The pilot explained to them that Pele, the Volcano goddess who lives in the volcano, is very unpredictable. It could continue to erupt for another one hundred years or it could quit tomorrow. Claire nodded her head, she understood unpredictability.