daughter was up to?”
“I wanted to talk to you about what you’re doing with your life.
You’ve accomplished your goal, Tristan. You have embarrassed me by parading around town with the likes of her!” Mallory pointed a finger in Claire’s direction. “In the past, I have tried to overlook your little escapades, but carrying on with a woman you work with is going too far.”
To Claire’s relief, Tristan left the knife on the table as she stood toe-to-toe with her mother. “I don’t give a shit what embarrasses you. I stopped caring a long time ago what you thought. If you want to be embarrassed of something, be embarrassed of your own behavior!”
Mallory tried to respond but was cut off by the icy tone in her daughter’s voice. “It would be wrong to hit you, Mother, but I swear if you open your mouth, I will start swinging and not stop.
Do not ever come back here. As of today, we no longer know one another. Now, leave before you get the beating you so rightfully deserve.”
Mallory Delacroix stared at her daughter in disbelief before she turned and left.
125
Murky Waters
Claire watched Mallory storm across the yard and noticed the way Tristan stood seemingly rooted to the spot, her entire body trembling in anger. Claire was hesitant to approach Tristan; the tension and hostility flowing from her was like static electricity.
Tristan turned slowly, and the look in her eyes was one that Claire would not soon forget. “She has made me stoop to levels I never dreamed possible, and she has the nerve to say that I am embarrassing her? Had you not been here, Claire, I may have hurt her.”
Claire approached Tristan cautiously. “Had you not been here, I may have been tempted to hit her myself. I think you handled yourself very well. One day when you’re ready, I’d like to hear the whole story of your relationship, but only when you’re ready.”
Tristan leaned over and kissed Claire gently on the lips. “I will tell you all about her, but not today. I have to finish cleaning our dinner, then get myself cleaned up. I want this weekend to be nothing but pleasant, so we’ll go on with our day as planned.”
Tristan seemed to take her ire out on the fish as she cleaned them.
By the time the task was complete, she was calm again, and her face and neck were no longer flushed with anger. Claire sat quietly watching and wondering what all was in Tristan’s past and if the hurt would ever be fully healed.
Aside from the interruption of Mallory Delacroix, the weekend went exactly as they hoped. They spent Saturday outdoors, and in the cool of the evening, they fried the morning’s catch on the deck.
On Sunday, they kept the traditional breakfast date with Cam and Lucy, after which they napped and watched movies, and spent the evening making love.
126
Robin Alexander
CHAPTER TEN
For several months, Claire and Tristan were inseparable. Some nights they would spend at Claire’s apartment. Most of the time, however, was spent at Tristan’s house. Claire was relieved that she had not received any more of the mysterious packages. She had still not reported them to the police; she would put that off as long as she could. Since so much time had elapsed, she hoped that the unknown photographer had just given up.
Claire’s presence had improved the work environment at the office, and she took special care in mending the problems that Rhonda had created. She worked closely with Tristan and the crew coordinators, and their combined efforts sharply decreased travel costs. Cameron Hughes was very pleased, and this in turn made Tristan happy. Even Cameron noticed the harmonious relationship between travel and crew coordination. No one person was more affected than Tristan. Her stress level had dropped to a minimum, and the department flourished as a result.
In addition to affecting Tristan’s life at work, Claire had a profound effect on her personal life, as well. Tristan had found it easier to deal with her feelings of anxiety and fear in their relationship. She was letting go of the part of herself that no one had ever been able to tap into. She often wondered if Claire knew that she was holding her tender heart in her hands.
There was one last hurdle that Tristan had yet to cross, and that was her jealous feelings of Mike. Each smile that Claire gave him gnawed her to the bone. She felt as though Claire toyed with her when it came to the overbearing man by entertaining him with her cheerful and polite demeanor. Had Tristan been in her shoes, she would have been as cold as ice where he was concerned.
127
Murky Waters
One Friday afternoon as Tristan was walking Claire to her car, she noticed a brown envelope on Claire’s windshield. Claire stopped dead in her tracks and stared at the envelope with a look of pure dread.
“Claire, don’t you think we should discuss this now? This is the second time you’ve found something on your car, and judging by your reaction, it can’t be good.”
Claire looked at Tristan dumbfounded. “Yes, I think we should.”
Her hands shook as she reached up to retrieve the package.
“Tristan, do you mind if we park my Jeep in the back and I ride home with you?”
Tristan readily agreed, seeing the expression on Claire’s face.
“Let’s go to my house tonight. I’ll cook you dinner, serve you wine in a hot bath, and when you are relaxed, we’ll talk about this,” she said, indicating the envelope.
The ride home was quiet. Claire didn’t say a word. Tristan figured she was not up to talking, so they drove in silence. She watched as Claire smoked one cigarette after another.
After dinner, Tristan filled the large garden tub in the master bath with hot water. She dropped in some bath salts to make it even more relaxing, lit a few candles, and dimmed the lights. She left a bottle of red wine and two glasses on the ledge of the tub and went to find Claire.
Tristan found her sitting on the couch in the sunroom, still clutching the unopened envelope. Tristan sat next to her and pulled her close. “Claire, what inside that envelope has you so upset?” Claire stared at her absently for a moment and handed it to her.
Claire watched as Tristan pulled two photos out of the package.
There was no note this time. Claire shuddered; she knew that the pictures would be of the two of them. She was afraid of how her lover would respond. Now that they were in this together, the stakes had gotten even higher.
Claire wondered how Tristan would react to finding out what she had done her best to keep so well hidden. Would she be offended that it had taken her so long to confide in her? What would Tristan demand of her?
128
Robin Alexander
Tristan glanced at Claire and studied the photographs. Both were taken at the Mexican restaurant they went to on their first date.
They were taken at an odd angle as if the photographer had difficulty capturing them. Whoever took the pictures was very close by.
Confusion registered on her face as she looked over at Claire.
“What’s going on?”
Claire could not contain the tears that had threatened to fall.
“Tristan, I have no idea. I’ve been getting them for a while now, even when I was living in Houston. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why anyone would do this to me.”
“This has been going on that long? Have you gone to the police?”
“No,” Claire said dejectedly. “At first, I didn’t want the scrutiny of my personal life. I suppose I was in denial. I hoped it would just go away.”
Tristan looked around at all the windows in the sunroom and decided that it would be better if they went inside. She took Claire by the hand and led her to the bathroom. As Claire undressed, Tristan added more hot water, and after undressing, she climbed in herself.