The Glass Slipper Project

by Girard, Dara

  She snapped her fingers. “I know. You think it’s too early for dessert. But I saw something on the table that I think you will love. Just wait right here.” She turned and left before he could reply.

  “Don’t worry,” Alex said sensing Tony’s tension. “Once we’re married, I’ll get her out of trying to feed everyone.”

  Tony abruptly turned. “I’d better go.”

  “Why? It’s still early.”

  “I think I’m coming down with something.”

  “But —”

  “Tell Gabby…” He took a deep breath. “Tell her I’m sorry.”

  Alex stared at him confused. “Sure. Take care of yourself,” he said and watched his friend disappear into the crowd.

  Tony didn’t remember driving home. He just knew he needed to escape. He needed to escape the chatter, the food, the people and even the bright day. He sighed. If only he could escape his feelings for Gabby just as easily. At home he took a shower then prepared something to eat. He wasn’t hungry, but he needed something to do.

  Unfortunately, cooking reminded him of the time he’d spent with Gabby, so he didn’t linger in the kitchen too long. He eventually ended up sitting in the living room eating whole wheat toast. He sat with the lights low and flipped on the TV. When someone knocked on the door he ignored it until they knocked again. He got up from the couch and reluctantly answered. He stepped back stunned when he saw Gabby.

  “You’re supposed to be at the party,” he said in a gruff tone.

  Her astute brown eyes remained fixed on him. “You left the party early. Alex said you weren’t feeling well. I was worried.”

  He gripped the door handle until he was afraid it might break in his hand. “You don’t have to be. I’m feeling better now.”

  “Then come back to the party. It’s not the same without you.”

  “Nobody will miss me.”

  “I’ll miss you.”

  He lowered his head. “I can’t go back.”

  “Why not? Is your leg hurting you?”

  He absently rubbed his leg. “A little. You’d better go.” He turned.

  She touched his arm and he spun around so quickly she cried out in alarm.

  “I want you to leave,” he said. “I want you to go back to your party and your family and your fiancé and forget about me. Is that understood?”

  Gabby blinked back tears. “No, I don’t understand. I thought we were friends. We use to have good times. Remember when we were tasting the food from the different catering companies and driving into town for paintings for the house because Alex didn’t have the time? Lately I hardly know you. You’ve been so cold and distant. What have I done?”

  He sighed as though he felt the whole world was about to crush him. “You haven’t done anything.”

  “Then tell me what’s wrong.”

  He grabbed her shoulders and peered deep into her eyes. “I’ve fought a lot of battles in my life. I like to think of myself as a loyal friend, but right now I’m questioning myself. For once in my life I envy Alex because I can’t fight his youth, his looks or his money.” He briefly shut his eyes. “And worst of all I cannot fight how much I love you. I want to marry you.” He stepped away from her. “There. Now you understand.”

  She stared at him speechless. Tony hated the silence. He hated not being able to tell if she was looking at him with horror or pity.

  He patted her head as though she were a little girl. “I know it sounds silly to you. I’m a lot older and —”

  Gabby stopped his words with a kiss. She gripped the lapels of his shirt and kissed him as though if she stopped he’d disappear. Then she pulled away and said in a breathless rush, “I love you, too. I didn’t know it until this moment.” She caressed his cheek. “Yes, I will marry you.”

  Tony stood as if he’d been unplugged. “Are you serious?”

  Gabby grinned. “Do you want me to kiss you again?”

  “No.” He slid one arm around her waist. “I’ll kiss you this time.” He crushed her soft body to his solid form, his mouth covering hers with all the passion he’d pent up for months. She moaned with pleasure as his hands skimmed her full curves with deliberate enjoyment. “I can’t believe this,” he said in a barely coherent grumble.

  Gabby kissed his chin. “Will you take me as I am?”

  “Definitely.” Tony unzipped her dress and lowered her sleeves.

  Gabby laughed at his eagerness and shook her head. “No, I mean would you run away with me?”

  He paused. “Oh.”

  She drew away from him unsure of what his response meant. She wrapped her arms around herself as though suddenly chilled. “I can’t go back. I can’t face all those people. Especially…” She gazed up at the ceiling blinking back tears then returned her gaze to his face. “Especially my sisters. I’m letting them down.”

  Tony gently cupped her face in his hands. “We don’t have to do this.”

  Gabby turned and kissed his palm, which had felt warm and safe against her cheek. “But I want to.” Her tears slowly dried with the warmth of her love as she studied him. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  Isabella scanned the festive crowd with growing concern. She’d managed to escape her new sea of admirers and wondered where Gabby was. She’d seen her slip away over an hour ago and hadn’t seen her since. She knew something was wrong, but Isabella remembered her sister being very vague when she’d questioned her at the time.

  “Alex said Tony wasn’t feeling well,” Gabby said, looking like a child who’d just had her favorite balloon popped.

  Isabella lightly touched her shoulder. “Don’t let that worry you. I’m sure he’s okay.”

  “It’s not like him to just leave a party.”

  “Gabby, he’s a grown man. I doubt anything is wrong.”

  Her shoulders sagged. “You think I’m being silly, don’t you?”

  “No,” Isabella said carefully. “I just think it’s odd that you’re worried about one person when you have so many people here.”

  “You’re right. It doesn’t make sense.” She looked at Alex with the same careful consideration she’d had all those months ago at the Montpelier Mansion. “Alex is very handsome.”

  “Yes.”

  “And kind.”

  “Yes.”

  “And rich.”

  “Yes, but of course that’s not everything.”

  Gabby suddenly turned and stared at her as though realizing something. “You’re right. I could leave everything behind.”

  “What?”

  She quickly kissed Isabella on the cheek. “Thank you,” she said then walked away and Isabella hadn’t seen her since.

  Nobody else appeared to notice her absence. They were too busy enjoying the fine food and drink, the opportunity to brag about recent accomplishments and gossip about the misfortunes of others. Isabella saw Velma speaking in low tones to Mrs. Tremain. Although the women stood close, there was no warmth between them. Again she wondered about their connection. Could Mrs. Lyons’s rumor about Velma running off with Mr. Tremain be true? Was that how she had been able to afford giving Alex money for his business?

  “I hope you know that you look absolutely ridiculous,” a condescending voice said behind her.

  Isabella turned and saw Mrs. Lyons stroking Nicodemus. She wore a shimmering blue blouse that added an odd unearthly tint to her pale skin. “So glad you could come.”

  “You’re parading about as though you’re the one who is about to get married. But I know the truth. You’re unemployed and soon you and your sisters will be an unwelcome burden to the Carltons. Or do you expect them to cheerfully dole out an allowance?”

  “No, I expect them to rent us a cardboard box. What do you suggest?”

  Her keen eyes slowly measured Isabella. “I would say that you look like your mother, but I would be lying.”

  Isabella smiled. “And I would say you look like a rotted fish and I would be telling the truth.”

>   She narrowed her eyes then sighed with disappointment. “I suppose I can’t scare you anymore. Shame. I enjoyed it.” She looked down at the cat she cradled in her arms. “When I am gone, I will need someone to look after Nicodemus. I think you’ll do. He hasn’t been the same since you…” She glanced up. “I will pay very well of course. You know how generous I can be. I also know you need the money, so don’t be stubborn about it. I will drop him off next week. Ms. Timmons will give you the exact date and time. All I request is that you feed him and play the piano for him, at a minimum, twice a week.”

  “I don’t think —”

  “How does this number sound?” She gave her a large figure.

  “Sounds very good.”

  Mrs. Lyons nodded pleased with herself. “I thought so.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” She looked Isabella up and down again. “I still think you look ridiculous.”

  “I think she looks stunning,” Alex said as he approached the two women.

  Mrs. Lyons transferred her cool gaze to him. “Typical. Carltons always appear at just the right time.” She turned and left, Nicodemus’s tail swishing back and forth under her arm.

  Isabella shook her head. “What did she mean?”

  Alex leaned close to her and whispered, “Where is your sister?”

  “I don’t know.” When he softly swore she said, “She probably went to get some fresh air.”

  “We’re outside for goodness’ sake, how much fresh air does she need?”

  Isabella walked towards the parked cars then stopped. “Her car is gone.”

  “And Tony’s gone, too.”

  “You don’t think…?”

  “What am I supposed to think? He was fine one minute then sick the next. He’s up to something.”

  “Gabby wouldn’t do that. She wouldn’t leave without telling us.”

  “Prove it.”

  She nodded. “I will.”

  Chapter 16

  They rushed over to the cottage and Isabella led Alex to Gabby’s bedroom. She opened a closet and rustled the clothes hanging there. “See? She hasn’t taken anything. Everything is as she left it and —” She stopped.

  “What?”

  Isabella tossed her hat on the bed and waved a dismissive hand. “It’s probably nothing.”

  “I’ll decide that.”

  “She talked about leaving everything behind.”

  Alex turned and stormed out of the room. Isabella followed him down the stairs. “But that doesn’t mean anything.”

  He walked out the front door. “It means everything.” He marched to his truck.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To prove a hunch.”

  “I’m coming, too.”

  Velma came around the corner and called out to them. Alex opened the driver’s side ready to jump in.

  “At least hear what she has to say,” Isabella said.

  He sent her a look then slammed the door closed.

  Velma approached them breathless. “I’m glad I found you. People are beginning to wonder if the future bride and groom were enjoying an early honeymoon.”

  Alex leaned against his truck and folded his arms. “There might not be a wedding.”

  Velma’s confused gaze darted between them. “What do you mean?”

  “Gabby ran off with Tony.”

  “We don’t know that,” Isabella said.

  He turned and got in his truck. “We’re about to find out.”

  Isabella squeezed Velma’s hand. “Don’t say anything until we get back, okay?”

  Velma nodded.

  At his apartment, Alex found the proof he needed when he walked into Tony’s room: Tony’s suitcase and clothes were gone. Alex walked back into the living room where Isabella stood waiting.

  She looked at him expectantly. “Did you find anything?”

  “No, which proves my point. They’ve gone off together.”

  Isabella fell into the couch. “I can’t believe it. How will they live?”

  “They’ll probably pawn my ring and live well on that for a while,” Alex said in disgust.

  “Gabby wouldn’t do that. That would be really bad manners.”

  He stared at her dumbfounded. “Bad manners?” His voice cracked. “You don’t think jilting your fiancé at your engagement party and running off with his best friend is bad manners?”

  “I didn’t mean it like that.”

  His voice rose. “Then what did you mean?”

  “I don’t know.” She covered her ears. “Stop shouting.”

  Alex raised his voice louder. “Why? Because a refined rich man doesn’t shout?” He kicked over a chair. “Because a refined rich man keeps his feelings hidden?” He grabbed a vase and threw it against the wall where it shattered, leaving a wet stain. “He’s not coarse and loud and obnoxious, right?” He picked up a picture and smashed it against the table.

  “Alex, stop acting like a child.”

  He sent her a cutting glance. “What did you say?”

  “You heard me.”

  “You think I’m acting childish?” He gave a mocking bow. “I’m sorry I don’t meet the Duvall standard of maturity. I guess that opinion runs in the family considering your sister decided to run off with a man nearly twice her age.”

  “This isn’t about you.”

  Alex laughed without humor. “Funny, it feels like it’s about me since I have to tell a whole bunch of people what just happened.” He collapsed into a chair and held his head. Isabella reached for him then stopped. She tapped her foot not knowing what to do or say. She wrung her hands and toyed with her necklace. After five minutes she said, “It’s not your fault.”

  He groaned. “Damn, now you’re going to give me the dumped speech.”

  “The what?”

  He looked at her. “The ‘it’s not you, it’s her,’ ‘it’s probably for the best’ speech. Things people say that are supposed to make you feel better, but never do.” He held his head again. “April 23rd,” he mumbled.

  “What?”

  He sat up. “That was the day my father left. I thought I would die, but I didn’t. I survived that and from that day forward I knew I could survive anything and I will.”

  She stared at him a moment then softly said, “That’s why.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Every April around that time I used to see you sitting in the alcove staring out the window as though you were expecting someone. You’d be there all day, but I never made the connection with the date. You were waiting for him to come back.”

  He shook his head. “I wasn’t waiting. I never expected him to come back.”

  “Then why did you go up there?”

  He hung his head and was silent for a long time. Then he began to speak, his voice was deep but clear, echoing the pain of his memories. She gripped her hands into fists so that she wouldn’t reach out to him. “I wanted to hide,” he said. “I always felt that everyone else remembered. People usually looked at me with pity or disdain, but somehow for me that day was different — their looks hurt more. And I didn’t want to remind my mother because I was his son. I didn’t want to see or talk to anyone except —”

  He abruptly stopped, but he didn’t need to continue. She knew what he was about to say. He’d only talk to her. Perhaps because she was too young and didn’t know the shame or didn’t pity him. She never questioned why he was there or when he would leave, they passed the hours away sharing stories, listening to music and playing games. They could be together for hours without tiring of each other’s company.

  Alex looked at Isabella as though remembering too. He stared at her with such intensity that she grew uncomfortable and stood. “Let me clean up this mess.” She went to the closet and grabbed a broom then began to sweep the remnants of the vase and shattered glass from the picture frame.

  Alex watched her in wonder as though seeing her clearly for the first time. Why hadn’t he noticed before t
hat she’d been the one he’d always turned to, that she’d always been a comfort to him. He had been upset when they’d cancelled the tutoring session because he knew he would miss her and he did — more than he should have, he could admit that now. He knew what he needed to do.

  He stood and walked up behind her. “Stop sweeping for a minute.”

  She kept her gaze on the ground. “I’m almost done.”

  “Isabella,” he said his tone a tender command.

  She looked up in surprise. “Yes?”

  “I want to ask you a question.”

  “You can ask me while I sweep.”

  “No, I can’t.” He gently took the broom from her. “I need you to look at me.”

  She met his eyes. “What’s your question?”

  “I was thinking that we could help each other. You need money and I need…We make a good team and I thought we should get married.”

  Isabella took the broom from him and began sweeping again, the sound of the shattered glass scraping across the floor, penetrating the silence.

  “Didn’t you hear me?”

  “Yes, I did,” she replied in a flat tone.

  “Then what do you think?”

  “You wouldn’t want to know what I think.” She bent and lifted the dustpan.

  “Yes, I would.”

  She flashed him a look of such venom that his gut clenched. “I think you’re cruel, arrogant and selfish. But I believe we’ve discussed your faults before so I don’t need to go any further than that.”

  “Cruel?” His voice cracked. “I’m offering you a favor.”

  “I don’t need your kind of favors. Excuse me.” She began to move around him, but he blocked her path.

  “What’s wrong? I’m offering you a great compromise.”

  “How did you ask Gabby to marry you?”

  He glanced up at the ceiling exasperated. “That was different.”

  “You mean she was different.”

  “Yes.”

  “What did you say to her?”

  “I don’t remember.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  “It doesn’t matter now.”

  She shoved past him and marched to the kitchen. She dumped the glass in the trashcan.

  “I said that she was beautiful,” Alex finally admitted. “And that any man would be happy to come home to her and I would like to be that man.”