DECISIONS
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ANNA'S APARTMENT
Anna walked back up to her apartment. She was in shock with the decision she had just made. But she knew it was the right decision. The reason she became a lawyer was to put away all those who had stereotyped Italians. Growing up she remembered how people would call her a guinea or WOP and she hated it. There had been so many Italians that had contributed to the good and they were over shadowed by the few who were criminals. She had decided long ago that she would do anything in her power to right these wrongs. It was a quest to her.
She put it all out of her mind for now and went to prepare the dinner. After a few hours of cleaning shellfish and chopping she put the dish in the oven. Now that dinner was cooking along nicely, so she decided to take a hot bath. Anna filled the tub and lit some candles.
She slid into the hot bath and closed her eyes. Flashing through her mind were images of her life. There were the normal things; birthday parties, family gatherings, all the good stuff. The look on her father's face when she graduated from Law School, her mother teaching her how to cook, sharing heartbreaks with her sister, the birth of her nephews. Could she leave all this?
She then thought about Clay. A smile crept across her face as she remembered the day he walked into the Landon House. She laughed at how he stumbled over his words when he was there. He wanted to ask her out, she knew that but for some reason he just wasn't doing a very good job of it. She thought about the first time they made love, and the second and third… She got a bigger smile. She loved him so much, but if anyone could understand sense of duty it was Clay. She just wished she could tell him. She knew why she couldn't; it would put him in danger. Her mind wandered back to thoughts of them together, his corny Valentine's celebration and when he came to New York when she had that stupid idea of moving back. Her heart skipped a beat when she thought about him rescuing her in Italy. He had rescued her in so many ways. She didn't know when she would have to leave him, but she knew his friends would help him through it.
Tears rolled down her face as she wondered how it would happen. Surely Pierce realized if she just disappeared, Clay would use all his resources to find her. Maybe she would be able to break up with him. They would have a fight and she would throw him out; that wouldn't work. One look at his face and she would melt. Perhaps she could leave him a note this time with no clues. This would all be so easy if…
"Anna," Clay called out.
"In here." Anna called back. "Come for a swim."
"Should you be soaking in hot water with your bandages?" Clay asked.
"Well, you can fix them." Anna said standing up.
"Anna, you aren't recovered yet." Clay said putting a towel around her.
"Clay, I'm fine." Anna said removing the towel.
"Anna, we shouldn't." Clay protested.
"Yes we should." Anna said as she started unbuttoning his vest.
"You're going to get your way again, aren't you?" Clay laughed.
"Uh huh." Anna said with a smile.
Leaving him with no choice but to give in, Clay wrapped the towel around Anna and carried her to the bedroom. He laid her on the bed, removed his own clothes and joined her. Anna wasted no time and attacked him with a hunger like he had never seen before.
"Anna, calm down a bit." Clay said.
"No, I want you." Anna said.
"What's with you?" Clay replied.
"Nothing. I want you." Anna said.
"I want you too but you're a bit wild, more than usual." Clay laughed.
"Sorry, do you want me to stop?" Anna asked.
"Well, no. It's just that…" Clay began but stopped as Anna started kissing his chest. "I give up."
Anna didn't reply she just smiled and did all those things to Clay that drove him wild. Clay tried to take command of the situation but she would not let him. There was something different about her tonight and he couldn't figure out what it was; not that he minded but he was a bit confused.
"That was amazing." Anna purred. "Let's do it again."
"Give a guy a chance to catch his breath." Clay laughed.
"Ok, how about some dinner?" Anna said getting up. "But eat fast."
"Anna what's with you? If I didn't know better I would swear you are in heat."
Clay said stunned.
"Sorry, I guess I just realized how much I missed being with you when there was a chance that we would never be together again." Anna said.
"That's never going to happen." Clay said following her into the kitchen. "What did you make? It smells great."
"Paella - my special recipe." Anna said filling two plates.
"Where are you going?" Clay asked.
"Dinner in bed." Anna laughed.
"What about something to drink?" Clay asked.
"There is already a of bottle of Chianti on the dresser." Anna said.
They ate dinner and when they were finished Clay took the dishes back to the kitchen. When he returned he noticed some red on the sheets.
"Did we get wine on the bed?" Clay asked walking over.
"I don't think so." Anna said.
"Turn over." Clay ordered. "Anna, you pulled a stitch."
"Just get some gauze and tape it." Anna instructed.
"Anna, you need to see a doctor." Clay said. "We need to get you to the hospital."
"No, I want to stay with you. Just fix the bandage please. I don't want to leave you." Anna said in a pleading tone.
"Anna, what's with you tonight. You're acting like we're going to be separated." Clay said.
"I was separated from you. I hated it." Anna said. "Come back to bed."
"Anna, no. What's going on in that brain of yours?" Clay asked.
"Nothing, I swear. I'm just horny. You know me. It's been a week." Anna said and tried to laugh it off. "Now come on." Clay shook his head and crawled back into bed with Anna. They didn't make love but he held her tight and she couldn't get closer to him.
Around 3am Anna woke Clay up. "Clay, are you awake?"
"Hmm." Clay replied and shifted positions.
"Yo Clay, wake up." Anna said loudly.
"I'm up, what's wrong?" Clay said.
"Can we go away this weekend?" Anna asked.
"Ahh, yeah. Where do you want to go?" Clay asked.
"Well, I had this weird dream that you were going to take me to Massachusetts." Anna said.
"Really? When did you have this dream?" Clay asked.
"I don't remember. But you took me to Martha's Vineyard." Anna said.
"Anna, when you were in your coma, I told you if you woke up we could take a trip to Martha's Vineyard for the weekend." Clay laughed. "You must have heard me."
"So can we go?" Anna asked like an excited child.
"Yes," Clay laughed. "Call my mother tomorrow; she knows all the best places."
"I love you," Anna said and then she whispered, "Always remember that."
The next morning Clay went to work and after a phone call to Porter, Anna called John Pierce.
"This is going to be harder than I thought." Anna said.
"Do you want to back out?" Pierce asked.
"No, but I thought you should know that Clay and I are going away this weekend." Anna said.
"That's fine, have a good time." Pierce said.
"Is there anything I need to get ready?" Anna asked.
"I'll take care of everything." Pierce said.
"You know he's going to ask you." Anna stated.
"It's covered. What about your family?" Pierce said.
"I can't even think about that." Anna said. "Just promise me one thing."
"What's that?" Pierce asked.
"That no matter what happens, you keep them safe." Anna said.
"We will Anna." Pierce said.
"John, is there a chance that I can come back?" Anna asked sadly.
"I'm sorry." Pierce said.
"Where am I going?" Anna asked.
"Classified for now. There is a courier bringing some documents to you today. I suggest you read and destroy them." Pierce said.
"Understood." Anna said.
The remainder of the week was spent getting ready for the weekend and Anna going over various documents that were sent to her from Pierce. By the end of the week, she had a better understanding of what needed to be done. She had no idea when she would be leaving or how they were going to "remove" her from her current life, but she knew this was the greater good. Anna hoped Clay and her family would understand.
Clay had to go out of town but promised he would be back by Friday. The nights he was gone, Anna spent time with her nephews and even took her baseball memorabilia to them. When questioned as to why she was giving this to the boys she simply said that things were progressing with Clay and if things went as planned there would be no room for her various collections and his stuff in one home. She lied but they bought it. Even as a kid, she could always lie to Teresa and fool her.
Friday night before they went to the airport, Clay had stopped by his place to pick up his bags and that velvet box. His plans were ruined when he returned last time; they would not be ruined this time. This weekend at Martha's Vineyard was going to be memorable. He picked Anna up; they drove to the airport and took off for their weekend.