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Monday - September 13

Looking at the key as she sits in silence, Claire is startled by the ringing of her cell. Remembering that her phone is in the kitchen, she unlocks the bedroom door and quickly runs to answer it. Breathless, she manages to say, "Hello," with some calmness.

"Claire? Claire, baby, it's me. Are you okay?" I ask.

Not wanting to mention the key, Claire quickly replies with a lie. "Yes, John, I'm fine. I'm just winded from running back into the house from shoveling the stairway."

"Should you be doing that?" I ask apprehensively.

"I'm fine. It's only a small amount of snow, nothing too deep. Don't worry. Everything's fine," as she continues to lie.

"Well, I'm calling because something has come up, and I might be late coming home. I...," Claire interrupts.

"John, it's not a good idea to be walking home alone so late. Will you be walking home with someone else?"

"Yes, I'll be walking home with Ted Jensen and Monica Stewart. You know them? Don't you?"

"I do."

"Okay. Well, I will call you when we leave. See you then. By the way, Claire, I love you. All of you," I say, hoping she understands my last statement.

"All of me, too, John."

"Bye."

"Bye," Claire says, as she continues to cling onto her phone. Wondering if she should have told me about the key, she knew that it would have only worried me. She's glad she didn't.

Claire goes to the bedroom to retrieve the box and becomes startled when someone knocks on the front door. Tightly holding the box and the key in her hand, she frantically looks around the room wondering where she can hide it. Claire drops the key into the box, and shoves it hard underneath the mattress. When she exits the bedroom, she begins to feel lightheaded. As she tiptoes to the door, the caller knocks again. She peeks through the security hole, and projects a smile. She opens the door, and says, "Hi, Aunt Ruth! Come on in," as Claire gestures Aunt Ruth to enter.

Aunt Ruth enters, giving Claire a kiss on her cheek, and says, "Oh, my dear, it's so cold out today. I can remember when Atlanta was so warm and beautiful this time of year. Now, old man winter looks as if he will always be with us," as she reminisces, while handing her coat and gloves to Claire to hang in the hall closet.

Claire turns around smiling, and says, "Yes, Aunt Ruth, I must agree with you. Why have you ventured out in this snow? Let's go into the kitchen where it is warmer and have some tea."

Both women walk silently towards the kitchen, when Aunt Ruth asks Claire how she is. Walking to the stove to prepare the tea kettle, Claire says with her back to Aunt Ruth, "I'm fine. How have you been, Aunt Ruth?"

"I'm the same, dear," she replies, mimicking a dainty Southern Georgian peach accent. "Dear," she continues, "have you and John made a decision about attending the Population Control Administration Conference? It's on Thursday, you know."

Pulling a chair out to sit, Claire thinks carefully about how she will answer her question. When she's about to reply, Aunt Ruth interrupts by asking, "Claire, dear, are you all right? There's something different about you. Are you catching a cold, dear?" Her gentle eyes demonstrate how much she cares for Claire. Aunt Ruth reaches for Claire's hand to embrace it.

Claire allows Aunt Ruth to take her hand, but is still unsure on how to respond to Aunt Ruth's questions. Remembering the noise that had awoken her this morning, she keenly replies, "I'm fine, Aunt Ruth. I didn't sleep well last night. Lately, there's been a lot of noise outside and it interferes with my sleep."