7 LOCK YOURSELF AWAY

"Toni! How are you my love?" Claire was as high voltage as always.

"Good and you? How was India?"

"It was amazing. I got back last night and just crashed. What are you doing tomorrow night, I can tell you all about it then."

"I'm not doing anything, what did you have in mind?"

"Great, we are going with Tom to the Booth residence, I hear they invited us for dinner."

Toni felt a little panic rise up and just ignored it.

"I don't want to go. Can't I just come over the next day and talk then?"

"You can't lock yourself away forever honey. Besides the Booth residence will be indoors and not out in the open. You have to come with me, otherwise I will be bored stiff within the first hour and this is your company, you might as well meet the people you'll be working with."

Toni tried to find a valid reason for why she did not wish to see Aidan Booth. Everything would sound weird to normal people and she knew she couldn't deny Claire, she could practically hear her pout through the phone.

"Ok, what should I wear?"

"Please let's go shopping. Now that we have somewhere to go together you can't bail on me." The pout again, I wonder how she does that.

"Only for a little while, no going to unnecessary stores to get unnecessary things, yes?"

"Ok, I promise. See you in an hour, I'll come pick you up." She could hear the excitement it Claire's voice, she may have just made her day.

"See you in an hour then."

"Love you."

"Me too." She could never bring herself to say the actual words; she wasn't even sure what they meant.

Toni wore a pair of simple black chinos folded at the ankles, a white long sleeved blouse, flat white sandals and a sun hat and big sunglasses. She was trying to look normal and unnoticeable but at her height with her type of body and her long hair down, she drew a lot of male attention. She did not notice of course because she was concentrating on Claire's hand in hers. It was a good thing Claire was almost her height and just as attractive or she would have looked very much out of place.

Claire managed to distract her long enough to get her into three different stores. They bought a long sleeved dress that went to her knees, a pair of strappy wedged heels and simple jewelry.

"Can we go home now?" She was starting to feel uneasy and Claire could see it in the clouding of her eyes.

"Of course honey. I had a wonderful time with you. Thank you."

"I had a wonderful time too but let's not do it again soon though."

Claire giggled as they made it to the car. The whole ride was quiet since both of them seemed tired.

They both got out of the car when it stopped at Toni's apartment building.

"Thank you for taking me shopping Claire, I love the dress." Toni said while hugging Claire.

"Anytime honey. Tom and I will pick you up at 6:30 tomorrow be ready by then." She waved her in while getting back to the car.

"Mr Scott."

"Hello Miss Mathews." He said, tipping his hat to her.

She got inside her apartment and bolted it behind her. Thirty minutes later she called to check in with Claire.

The phone rang a few times and Tom picked up.

"Hello."

"Tom? It's Toni, is Claire home yet?"

"Not yet but she is not that far away. Did she forget something? She kept going on and on about how much fun you two had" he chuckled.

"No, just wanted to check if she got home OK." The door opened and there was singing from the other end of the phone.

"She just got in."

"Yeah, I can hear her even from the door." She chuckled then and Tom laughed at that.

"She certainly knows how to make an entrance."

"See you guys tomorrow. Am I supposed to bring anything to this dinner?"

"We'll bring wine, and don't worry, it won't be as bad as you think."

"Ok, tomorrow then."

"Good night."

She heard Claire start telling Tom about their day before she hung up.