Faces of Love

by Lily Orevba

  Gloria was the smart one! Gloria was the strong one! Gloria was the brave one!

  Alice felt resentment take root in her heart for Gloria. It was all Gloria’s fault! The entire fire was Gloria’s fault. If Gloria didn’t turn out to be a conniving, lying, heartless, shameless, gold digging prostitute, perhaps Alice wouldn’t have been too tired to stay up with Stuart. And if Alice had stayed up with Stuart, there wouldn’t have been a fire!

  But nobody knew that. They all worshipped Gloria, kissing the feet of the soiled dove that defiled the bed of a kind soul such as Howard.

  Alice watched with increased anger as Howard planted a kiss on Gloria’s lips. Did Howard know how many men had a taste of Gloria’s lips?!

  Alice folded her arms as she watched Howard stare at Gloria with pure adoration, knowing the time had come to tear open Gloria’s closet and let lose all her skeletons.

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

  “I can manage,” Stuart grumbled.

  Gloria let out a soft giggle as she carried the clean sheets to bed and placed it on top.

  “It is just for a while, Stuart. Howard will have your room rebuilt in no time,” Gloria assured him, walking over to where he sat on a settee. She leaned down and planted a light kiss on his cheek.

  Stuart took hold of her hand, motioning for her to sit beside him. With a smile, she settled beside him and watched as his features became troubled.

  Stuart adored his room and after losing it in the fire two days ago, he had become a lot more restless. It was difficult getting him to accept a new one, but even he knew he had no other option, and Howard had already begun rebuilding the room.

  He sat silently beside Gloria, his aged face crumbling into a frown.

  Gloria leaned to the side and placed her head upon his shoulder in a bid to reassure him. She loved him as dearly as she loved her father and she hated seeing him go through the same thing her own father went through.

  “I know it’s my fault,” Stuart finally spoke. “No one will admit it to me but I know I burned down my room and nearly burned down the entire house.”

  Gloria didn’t speak. Nobody blamed Stuart for what happened but she couldn’t lie to him about it either.

  “I’m going crazy, Gloria.” Stuart’s voice was laced with deep sadness. “I’m losing my mind.” Tears welled up in Gloria’s eyes but she fought to keep them hidden as her head rested on Stuart’s shoulder. “I know time will come when I’ll forget everything,” —he heaved a breath before shifting slightly and turning to her as she rose her head up— “including our deal.” His hand dug into his pocket and he pulled out a piece of paper. “The money I promised.”

  He placed the paper in her lap. Gloria was afraid to look at it. It was true she had been married to Howard for over five months and it was most definitely true she only married him for the money. But things had changed. She changed. She fell in love and the money, seated in her lap, helped remind her of who she truly was—a prostitute.

  Her tears spilled down her cheeks. It was a contract, and she couldn’t go back on it. In seven months, she was required to pack her things and leave. But she knew she couldn’t.

  Would Stuart accept her as a daughter-in-law, for real? Sure, she was a disgrace to the mighty, respectable name of the Sullivans. Sure, she was unworthy to bear that name. But Gloria wasn’t here for the name, she was here for Howard.

  She swallowed as she stared at the cheque in her lap. “Stuart, I can’t,” she whispered.

  “Why not?”

  She looked down, unable to look at his horrified expression if he knew she loved his son. Yet, she knew he deserved the truth.

  “I’m afraid…” She heaved a breath. “It’s not about the money anymore, Stuart. I…well, I…” Her heart raced in her chest. “I’m in love with Howard.” Tears fell down her cheeks. “I know this isn’t what we agreed on and please forgive me. You have to understand it wasn’t intentional.”

  Her words were followed with silence. For a moment, she thought Stuart left the room and she couldn’t blame him; she was unworthy. In what planet did she think she could get away with a past such as hers and live happily ever after?

  Stuart’s silence filled her with shame; a prostitute, thinking she could marry into prestige like it was the simplest thing on earth.

  She sobbed then, her body being overcome by grief. Howard would reject her. He’d find out of her past and reject her just like his father had done.

  “Gloria.”

  “I’m so sorry!”

  Stuart’s wrinkled hand settled on her chin as he lifted her face up so she could look at him. Her eyes came to rest on the kindest brown eyes she had ever seen her entire life. “I’m honored to have you here, as a daughter, my daughter.”

  Stunned, Gloria fell into his arms and wept for the news of his acceptance filled her with unspeakable joy.

  ***

  Alice’s body trembled violently but she wouldn’t let anxiety turn her away from her course. She pushed Stuart’s bedroom door wide open and stepped in to find him seated comfortably on a settee, a cup of tea in his hands.

  “Brought those cookies, Alice?” He offered her a welcoming smile.

  Alice returned his smile. She thought was doing the right thing. A man such as Howard deserved the best and Gloria was far from it. Stuart deserved a great daughter-in-law who wouldn’t soil his family’s name. “Not today, Stuart.” She settled beside him. “We need to talk.”

  “Something wrong?” He placed the tea cup on the tray before him.

  Alice nodded, taking in his new room. It wasn’t close to the grandeur of the one he lost in the fire but it was manageable. The decor was a light brown, heavy curtain covering the two windows that lined the wall and the queen-sized bed stood to the far end of the wall.

  “It’s about Gloria;” Alice began, knowing she couldn’t wait a second later before she loses the courage. “She’s a prostitute.” She breathed, closing her eyes. “I know you won’t believe me…”

  “Are you in love with Howard?”

  Stunned, her eyelids snapped open as she turned to look at Stuart. “Pardon?”

  “Are you, Alice, in love with my son?”

  Alice let her mind dwell briefly on the question. Howard was a likeable man with a kind heart. A heart Gloria was bound to destroy. Yes, Alice thought Howard deserved a better woman, an honourable woman with a good name. Did Alice think she fit the profile? Certainly!

  She wasn’t the one with a soiled reputation, and there were times she laid awake at night thinking of Howard. But that wasn’t the issue at hand. The issue was Gloria! “Did you even hear a word—”

  “Answer the question, Alice.” Stuart held her gaze.

  “Yes.” Alice breathed. “But that has nothing—”

  “You’re fired!”

  Shocked beyond words, she turned to stare at Stuart who had anger written clearly on his face.

  “You, Alice Princeton, are no longer welcome here as my nurse. I want you out of here by tomorrow morning,” Stuart said as he rose to his feet and walked out of the room, leaving a stunned Alice behind.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  “I heard you fired Alice.” Howard quirked a brow as he addressed his father who sat comfortably on a sofa in the living room with a newspaper in his hands.

  “‘She out yet?” Stuart furrowed his brows, his eyes scanning the paper before him.

  “You know, Father, you’re terribly difficult!” Howard couldn’t believe the old man who sat before him with his nose buried in a newspaper. Not only was his father’s illness progressing, but with it was his stubbornness too.

  Howard didn’t think he could deal with any of it anymore. With a part of the house being reconstructed due to the fire and the expense of throwing a ball his father was adamant about, he didn’t think he had any energy left to handle his father’s incredulous attitude.

  “Tell me about it!” Stuart answered with sarcasm.

  “I won’t deal with this
right now, and Alice’s not going anywhere.” Howard turned to leave the room.

  “What?!”

  He heard the newspaper in Stuart hands crumble as he drew it close. Turning to face his father, he said, “I’m not getting rid of a woman it took me forever to find.”

  “No, you’re not, I am! And I just did.”

  “You can’t fire someone you didn’t hire, Father!”

  “Says who?!” Stuart rose to his feet and folded his arms. “I don’t need a nurse but if you insist on one, I’m not going to deal with Alice caring for me.”

  Howard could feel emotional fatigue wash over his body, leaving him feeling drained.

  “Don’t give me that look, Howard.” Stuart motioned to the frown on Howard’s face. “I’m not letting you take away my luxury to decide on who gets to be my nurse.”

  “Do you have any idea what I have to deal with!?” Howard half-yelled. “You, Father, are high maintenance but that doesn’t even bother me. What bothers me is why in God’s green earth would you decide to wake up one morning and fire a woman who has cared for your every need all of these months?”

  “I don’t like her.”

  “Oh, cut it out, Father!” Howard released a frustrated puff of air. “You know what I think?” Stuart shrugged. “You’re trying to drive me crazy and I can’t handle all of this madness all at once! Alice stays!” He held his palm up as Stuart opened his mouth to protest. “The ball is in three days. Focus your feisty energy on trying to pull off a fantastic ball seeing as you insist on one even though the house is partly destroyed.” Howard turned to leave the room, annoyed.

  “Next thing I know, you’ll be trying to get me a nanny,” Stuart grumbled loudly behind Howard.

  “Trust me, Father, I tried.” Howard reached the door and pulled it wide open. He turned to face Stuart. “Turns out, no woman’s willing to take on the burden of a cranky old man.” He turned and walked out of the door, exasperated.

  ***

  Gloria placed the jug of freshly squeezed oranges on a tray and turned to pick up the cups. The men working on the rebuilding of Stuart and Alice’s room had been working for hours and Gloria knew they’d be thirsty, which was why she had worked all afternoon peeling and squeezing oranges. She rinsed her hands in the sink and placed the tray of sandwiches a maid had helped prepare, right beside the tray containing the jug of juice.

  Gloria felt her life was perfect. She was permitted to love Howard, and she was accepted by Stuart. She hadn’t laid eyes on Marcus in days and it almost felt as if she could finally leave the past behind.

  A smile settled on her face as she stared at the snacks before her. It would be wonderful if she could have snacks like this ready for her children—if God was kind enough to bless her with children—every afternoon.

  “Need help?”

  Gloria’s head jerked abruptly to the female voice that beckoned her.

  “Hello, Alice.” A smile settled on her face at the sight of Alice who seemed distant lately.

  “I figured the men working on Stuart’s room could use a snack break. Do you mind?” Gloria motioned for Alice to help her pick up a tray.

  “I came to say goodbye.”

  Confused, Gloria stared at her.

  Alice heaved a breath. “Stuart fired me.”

  Gloria gasped, sympathy filling her eyes. “I’m sure Stuart didn’t mean any of it. He’s cranky now, what with his illness and all.” She offered Alice a reassuring smile. “I could talk to him if you want.”

  Gloria all of a sudden felt sorry for being nasty to Alice from the beginning. Perhaps her own insecurities had helped to fuel her dislike for the nurse.

  Alice shook her head. “I’m leaving. I already told Howard goodbye. I thought I’d come say goodbye to you as well.” Her features seemed guarded and perhaps furious.

  Gloria took a step to her and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I will talk to Stuart. You don’t have to go. Really, Alice.”

  Anger reflected in Alice’s eyes. “Do you feel remorseful?” Alice breathed.

  “What?”

  Alice opened her mouth to speak again when the sound of the door opening behind her, stopped her. Howard stepped into the kitchen.

  “Alice, there you are!” Howard said, taking in the scene before him. His eyes settled on the tray of sandwiches and made his way to the table where he picked one up and stuffed it in his mouth.

  Gloria gave him a disapproving look with a smile on her face. “Look who’s hungry,” she teased.

  Howard grinned. Turning to Alice, he said, “My father apologizes for firing you. You may stay.”

  Alice stood rigid by the door, anger sparkling in her eyes. Gloria couldn’t understand but she was happy Howard didn’t want Alice gone either.

  “I can’t stay, Mr Sullivan. Stuart doesn’t want me around, and I’m not going to force myself on an unwilling patient.” Alice released a breath then walked across the room, covering the distance that stood between her and Howard. She reached him and enveloped him in an embrace.

  Gloria felt a sharp stab in her heart as she watched Alice embrace her husband. It wasn’t a feeling of jealousy; it was a feeling of fear. She feared that a day would come when another woman would take her place in Howard’s arms. Terrified, she shut her eyes and fought against her pounding heart.

  “Am I still invited to the ball?”

  Gloria heard Alice’s whisper and opened her eyes to find Alice standing before Howard and staring up at him.

  Howard offered her a small nod. “Of course.”

  “Thank you.” Alice smiled, and then turned from him. Without another word to Gloria, she made her way out of the Sullivan mansion.

  ***

  Alice Princeton sat silently in the bar, her eyes scanning the drink that sat before her as it fizzled in the cup. She wasn’t much of a drinker but she needed to be here if she was going to meet the man she came for. She didn’t know why, but she was certain she’d find him here. Every unscrupulous man in Eureka Springs could be found in this bar and she knew she’d recognize that cropped hair cut anywhere.

  She sat alone for over two hours, warding off drunks who tried to solicit for her attention. She wasn’t here for them. She’d sit here all night if it was required of her.

  Three hours later, he finally walked in, a woman on his arm. Rising to her feet, Alice walked over to where he stood, leaning over the counter.

  “Excuse me, mister.”

  He turned to her, his face brightening up at the sight of her. “What can I do for you, pretty lady?” He quirked a brow, a weird smile on his face.

  Alice had to admit that he was handsome. He stood tall, towering over her. If it wasn’t for the fact that she had seen him soliciting Gloria publicly, she could have easily fallen for him herself.

  The thought of Gloria, lying comfortably in Howard’s arms while she sat shamelessly in a bar, infuriated her. Stuart fired her for Gloria! The house almost burned down for Gloria! Howard was an idiot for Gloria!

  Alice knew that exposing Gloria was the right thing to do; she owed it to Howard. She couldn’t let him go on thinking he married a good woman, a woman without blemish when in truth, he married a dangerous prostitute.

  Yes, she nodded; she was doing the right thing. Gloria didn’t deserve to be pitied. Gloria was deceptive and needed to be exposed.

  “I saw you with a woman…”

  “I’m always with women.” He smiled.

  “But this woman, I’ll bet you cannot forget her. Her name’s Gloria.”

  She saw his eyes light up at the mention of Gloria. Good, she had his attention.

  “I need your help showing her husband just who it is he’s married to.”

  He folded his arms and watched her, a questioning smile on his face. “Now don’t get me wrong, pretty lady, but why exactly would you think I’m interested in Gloria or her husband?”

  “I heard you…”

  “So?”

  “Stuart, the father of t
he man Gloria’s married to, seems to know who she is. He’s willing to pay any amount to keep her reputation hidden, for whatever reason. I found a cheque he wrote to her; it’s for three thousand dollars.” His mouth fell open at the mention of the money. “I found it in his bedroom.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  “Get Stuart to pay to keep you quiet, and I’ll get Gloria to leave Howard,” she heard herself say, sounding strangely evil in her own ears.

  He leaned forward, a broad smile on his face. “Tell me, darling, just how are we going to pull this off?”

  “Get your best suit, Mister. We have a ball to attend.” A coy smile settled on her lips.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Gloria took a step back from the vanity mirror and stared at her image clad in a white ball gown that bore a striking resemblance to a wedding gown. But for the bright red lipstick that was smeared on her lips and the absence of a veil, she’d have believed herself a bride.

  Her eyes perused the length of the gown; it had an off the shoulder neck line and a corseted bodice. Her hands were covered in elbow length gloves, and her hair was slicked to the back of her head to form curls that fell to her neck. It was gorgeous.

  She smiled, shaking her head slightly; she was gorgeous.

  She almost couldn’t believe the woman who stared back at her was the same one who left San Francisco over five months ago. It wasn’t a change in her physical appearance, yet, she thought she looked twice as beautiful as she ever did her entire life. Her green eyes shone with unspeakable joy and fulfilment. She was no longer a woman to be scorned and set aside as diseased; she was an honourable woman with a good man by her side.

  Standing nervously before the mirror, her hands trembled at the thought of going down the stairs to join the ball. She, however, knew she couldn’t tarry for long for her absence would hardly go unnoticed in a ball thrown in her honour. So, with one last glance and a deep breath, she pulled open the bedroom door and made her way down the stairs.