The Glass Slipper Project (12 page)

“Why not?” He widened his eyes, appalled. “You can’t expect me to leave her in the truck.”

She folded her arms and frowned. “You’re being silly.”

He looked down at the urn with mock embarrassment. “You have to forgive her bad manners. Her mother hadn’t taught her any.”

Isabella opened her mouth to protest, but stopped when Alex smiled and winked at her. “Come on,” he said heading down the street. “I’m sure there are places here to eat,” he called over his shoulder.

Isabella glanced around wondering if others were watching him. He made an interesting sight: a tall man carrying a large urn under his arm. When she began to lose sight of him, she sighed and raced after him. “Alex, be sensible,” she said ready to beg if she had to.

“What are you in the mood for?”

She threw up her hands, exasperated. “Alex.”

He stopped in front of a bistro, glanced at the menu in the window then nodded. “This looks good.” He opened the door then gestured for Isabella to precede him.

“I wish I hadn’t bought you that stupid thing,” she grumbled, sending the urn an evil look.

“So you’re not coming with us?”

“No.”

“Okay,” Alex replied then went inside, closing the door in her face.

Frustrated, Isabella paced in front of the restaurant for several minutes then finally entered. She caught up to Alex just as he was telling the hostess that he wanted a table for three.

“You’re being cruel,” Isabella muttered as they followed the hostess to a small booth in the back.

Alex set the urn on the vinyl cushion then sat beside it. “Now you won’t feel left out,” he said to it and picked up the menu. He glanced at Isabella then held the menu up, completely covering his face. “Hold that thought until after you’ve ordered. I’m paying by the way. Aunt Lucille insisted. You wouldn’t want to make me look bad, would you?”

“As opposed to ridiculous?”

He shrugged then laid the menu aside. “Do I have to order for you?”

Isabella picked up the menu then randomly selected something. “I’ll get the Asian salad.”

Alex shook his head. “No, you won’t. You’re allergic to mandarin oranges. Select something else. This time
read
the description.”

She blinked, amazed that he had remembered.

“I can have a little,” she mumbled annoyed.

He sat back and tapped his chin. “If I remember correctly the last time you had a ‘little’ your tongue swelled up like a sausage and you had to eat through a straw for a week.”

She snapped her menu shut. “Don’t look so smug, I bet I remember more about you than you remember about me.”

He leaned forward, a faint light glittered in his eyes, but his tone remained serious. “Is that a challenge?”

It had been, but she decided to withdraw. She lowered her gaze unable to deny that he could be as tempting as a bed to a woman who hadn’t slept for days. Suddenly, she was aware that if she moved her leg only a few inches it would be touching his, that the table wasn’t as wide as she’d thought. She swallowed, determined to ignore the rush of heat to her face or that he could make her skin tingle by just a glance. She opened the menu instead and ran her finger down the selections. “I’ll have this.” She pointed to a chicken dish.

Alex pulled the menu to him then shook his head again.

“What now?”

“You don’t like asparagus. Don’t you read the descriptions?”

“It doesn’t really matter to me.”

“I can see that. It’s probably because you don’t take care of yourself.” He sighed resignedly as Isabella stared at him outraged. “I guess I’ll have to order for you.”

“No, you won’t.”

“Please lower your voice.”

“I’m not shouting.”

“I meant lower it so that I don’t hear you.”

She snatched the menu. “You’re not ordering for me.”

He broke into a wide grin. “Want to try and stop me.”

In the end, Isabella decided — she didn’t want to think that she had surrendered — to let Alex place the order. The choice was perfect and she enjoyed a succulent dish of red snapper with sautéed seasoned vegetables. She enjoyed her lunch so much that she didn’t see what Alex was eating or notice him staring at her until she’d cleared her plate.

Isabella licked her lips. “What?”

A smile tugged on his lips. “You liked it, didn’t you?”

She stared down at her empty plate. “No, I hated it.” She watched his smile grow and continued to tease him. “I hated it so much that I’m going to come back here and order the same dish just to show you how much I hated it.”

The waiter set a large bag on the table. “Here’s what you ordered, sir.”

Alex took out his wallet. “Thank you. I just need the bill.”

Isabella stared at the bag. “What is that?”

“I saw how much you
hated
your lunch so I decided to order more.”

“I know I should be ashamed, but I’m not. It was delicious. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Isabella shot him a glance. “I was talking to Aunt Lucille.”

“I’m sorry,” he said then leaned his ear toward the urn. He nodded then said, “Aunt Lucille says you’re welcome.”

Moments later, they ambled back to the truck under the warm, steady gaze of a late afternoon sun. Once inside, Alex handed Isabella “Aunt Lucille” to hold then began their journey back to town. “I wish my schedule wasn’t so busy. But after we’re married, I think we should spend all day here.”

Isabella gasped.

Alex turned to her alarmed. “What?”

“You misspoke,” she said unable to look at him, her palms growing moist, and her voice unsteady.

“What did I say?”

“After
we’re
married. You meant you.”

“Of course,” he said quickly. “I meant me…and Gabby. After
we’re
married, “I’ll — I mean we’ll — come back here,” he corrected, but somehow his words sounded empty the second time.

“Gabby will love it,” Isabella said in a bright voice, hoping to fill the sudden silence, although her words sounded as empty as his. The truth was that, for a moment, what he had said felt right. She’d wanted it to be true. But she soon hated herself for even wanting it to be real. Alex belonged to Gabby, no matter how much she liked to be with him or look at him or talk to him. He didn’t belong to her.

Alex nodded not knowing what else to say.
What an idiot!
How could he have made a mistake like that? What the hell was wrong with him? He gripped the steering wheel. It was just a slip of the tongue; nothing more than that. Isabella was right, Gabby would like it there and they’d have a great time. He liked Gabby, he liked her a lot. Then why didn’t that make him feel better? The rest of the drive he fought to bring order to conflicting thoughts then felt someone tugging on his arm.

He turned to Isabella who looked at him strangely. “Yes?”

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“I’m fine. Why?”

“No reason. I just wanted to say goodbye.”

He frowned. “Why?”

“Because I’m at my house.”

He blinked then looked around him. He didn’t even remember the drive back. Perhaps it was better that way. “Oh, okay. Goodbye.”

“I buckled up Aunt Lucille for you.”

He managed a smile. “Thanks.”

Isabella glanced at the cottage house where light stood bright against the evening while in the distance the Victorian mansion stood dark and empty like a cave. She turned back to Alex, her hand gripping the door frame. “It was a wonderful day. I had a great time.”

“Yes, so did I.”

“I’m glad…” she said a little too eager. “That we had a good time,” she quickly finished. She waved then dashed into the house. Alex took a deep breath then drove away.

F
or the next two weeks, Alex’s tutoring meetings with Isabella started earlier and earlier. Sometimes they would meet before her appointment with Mrs. Lyons and after, and their sessions became more frequent and longer. Soon others began to notice.

“Do you know what time it is?” Tony said, glancing at his watch as Alex gathered his things prepared to leave.

Alex zipped up his bag. “I’m meeting Isabella.”

“How dumb is she?”

He glared at him. “She’s not dumb at all.”

“Then why do you spend so much time with Isabella?”

“I don’t spend that much time.”

“You met with her yesterday at six and you didn’t return home until nine.”

He shrugged. “It was a complicated project.”

“How could anything be so complicated that it takes you two hours to figure it out? What do you talk about?”

“Antiques.”

“Just antiques?” Tony asked doubtfully.

No, Alex thought. They’d stopped talking about antiques weeks ago. When they met they shared about their ambitions and hopes. He felt comfortable with her. Nothing he said was silly or ridiculous. He knew Tony wouldn’t understand. He didn’t understand it himself. “Look I’m just helping out a friend okay? She’s like a big sister to me.”

“I have a big sister and I’ve never spent that much time with her.” He glanced at the urn on the dining table. “How long do we have to look at that ugly thing?”

“It’s not ugly.”

“Because Isabella bought it for you?”

“It’s not like that.”

Tony nodded, but didn’t look convinced.

Mariella also had her suspicions as she sat in their bedroom and watched Isabella eagerly gather her belongings for her study session with Alex.

“What are you doing?” she demanded.

“I’m going to meet Alex at the library.” Isabella sent her sister an odd look. “I told you that.”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

“Then what do you mean?”

“What are you up to?”

“I’m not up to anything.”

“Oh really?” She crossed her legs and swung her foot. “Then why are you spending more and more time with Alex?”

“He’s tutoring me.”

“He cancelled twice with Gabby because he had a tutoring session with you.”

Isabella slowly zipped up her bag. “I didn’t know that.”

“Well know this.” She uncrossed her legs and leaned forward. “I’m not going to let you ruin a perfect plan by confusing him.”

“But I’m not —”

“Just listen. It’s real easy for a teacher to fall for his student or vice versa.” She looked at Isabella closely. “Or has my warning come too late?”

Isabella blushed. “It’s nothing.” But she knew that wasn’t true and it made her heart ache a little. She felt that she could never reveal her true feelings for Alex any more than she could compete with Gabby’s beauty.

“It’s not ‘nothing’if you have feelings for him. He’s Gabby’s fiancé.”

“I know that,” Isabella said in a tight voice.

“Then you know what you have to do.”

“No, I don’t.” Isabella sat and faced her. “What do you think I have to do?”

“You can’t see him anymore.”

The suggestion crushed her. “But he’s helping me.”

Mariella shook her head with pity. “Izzy, don’t make a fool of yourself. You’ll only make it worse. Let’s face it. It was bound to happen. You’re so…uh…you,” she said for lack of a better word. “And he’s fun and attractive and young. But it’s not what you think. It’s not real. He’s probably just being nice to you because he wants to help you. You can’t see him anymore. You have to tell him that tonight. And if you don’t,” she said in a low warning voice. “I’ll make sure to tell him
and
Gabby how you feel. Now you wouldn’t want that would you?”

Isabella swallowed the bitterness in her throat and said, “No.”

“Good. It’s a harmless infatuation. I’ve felt it twice in my life. You’ll get over it.” She turned to leave. “Remember to tell him tonight.”

Isabella sat on her bed ashamed of her feelings. Even more ashamed that they were so obvious to Mariella. Did Alex sense them too? Did he continue to meet with her out of pity? It was ridiculous to have a crush at her age. She walked slowly down the stairs, her hand running along the railing which was a pale imitation of the one at the main house. The one that had so much meaning to him.

Velma met her at the bottom of the stairs. “Off to another tutoring session?”

“Yes, but don’t worry,” Isabella said passing her. “It will be my last one.”

Velma followed. “Wait. Has something happened?”

Isabella opened the door. “No, I’ve just come to my senses.”

Isabella watched Alex enter the library. Mariella was wrong. She wasn’t infatuated with him. She loved him and that was ten times worse. She could no longer protect herself by remembering the boy he’d been. He was a man now, and every feminine part of her responded to that. As she sat there she wondered what he saw: a poor, plain woman five years his senior who had no education, no money…she was just a name. A Duvall. But that didn’t matter. He belonged to Gabby.

“This will be our last session,” she announced when he sat down.

He paused and stared at her as though she’d suddenly grown antlers. “Why? What happened?” He smiled. “I know I’m a few minutes late, but —”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

She smoothed out her paper not knowing what else to do with her hands. “Class is almost over anyway and thanks to you I’m doing so much better. I don’t need any more help. And there’s so much my sisters and I have to get done planning the wedding and the engagement party.”

“You don’t have to be directly involved with that.”

“Plus, you’ll get to spend more time with Gabby. I think it’s for the best.”

He stared at her, his eyes flat and cold. “Okay.”

Their last tutoring session lasted an uncomfortable hour. Then Alex said, “See you in class,” and left.

Tony was enjoying a slapstick comedy with a large bowl of popcorn when he heard the front door slam. He turned the TV off as Alex stormed into the room and tossed his bag down. “You’re home early,” he said surprised.

“She doesn’t need tutoring anymore,” Alex said in a suspiciously neutral tone.

“You’re upset about it.”

“I’m not upset about it,” he said through clenched teeth. “I have no reason to be upset. So I’m obviously not upset.”

“That’s good because that would be ridiculous.”

“I know that. I’m helping her out and if she doesn’t need my help anymore, that’s fine. It doesn’t bother me.”

“Did she give you an explanation?”

“That would have been helpful, but out of nowhere she says we don’t need to meet anymore. She wants to give me more time with Gabby.”

“How inconsiderate.”

Alex scowled. “I spend plenty of time with Gabby.”

“You haven’t recently.”

“I’ve been busy. She understands. She hasn’t complained, but suddenly my time with Gabby is everybody’s business.”

“It just doesn’t look good.”

“I don’t care how it looks.”

Tony stared at him surprised.

Alex held up a hand. “That’s not what I mean. Don’t try to imply what I think you are implying. There’s nothing going on between us. You know I am a loyal man. I made a promise to Gabby and I’ll keep it.”

Alex made a grand display of his promise to Gabby by showering her with gifts — jewelry, clothes and chocolates arrived at their house at regular intervals. One evening the sisters sat in the living room enjoying his latest present.

“He should have sent you fruit,” Mariella said as Gabby bit into a nut cluster.

“He likes me just the way I am.”

“Well, no man wants too much of a woman.”

Gabby ignored her and took another chocolate.

“You are so lucky,” Daniella said.

“Don’t worry sisters. Once we’re married I’ll get you things, too.” She handed the box to Isabella. “Go on. Try some.”

She shook her head. “They’re for you.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t share. I’ll always share everything with you.”

Mariella sent Isabella a sly look. “Well, not everything.”

Isabella glared at her then looked at Gabby. “Maybe later. After dinner.” But she didn’t come down for dinner. Instead she stayed in her room.

On the last day of class, Isabella looked at her grade then glanced around the room hoping to show Alex. But he wasn’t there. Since their final meeting, he’d started sitting at the back of the class and leaving before she could say anything to him. She left the classroom and headed for her car then saw Alex getting into his truck and called to him. “Alex.”

He turned. “Yes?”

She licked her lip then approached him. “I just wanted to thank you.” She waved her grade.

“You thanked me before.” He opened his door.

“Don’t be angry with me.”

“I’m not angry with you.”

“Then why won’t you even look at me?”

He didn’t move.

“You don’t even talk to me anymore.”

“I thought that was how you wanted it.”

“I don’t. I cancelled the tutoring because…I thought it was for the best.” When he still didn’t look at her she said, “Alex, please.”

He reluctantly turned and held out his hand. “Let me see what he gave you.”

She handed him the grade like a shy pupil. Alex looked at it and frowned. “You should have gotten an A.”

“I’ll stick with my B. I worked hard for it.”

“I can go talk —”

She snatched the paper away. “No, I’m happy with what I got. Besides, no one else will know but me.”

“And me.”

“Yes,” she said softly. “And you.”

He leaned against the truck, studying her. “Why did you really cancel the tutoring?”

Because I love you.
“I told you why.”

He shook his head. “I know. I don’t believe you.” He jumped in his truck. “I’d better go.”

Before he closed the door Isabella said, “Friends again?”

Alex paused. “Is that what you want?”

She hesitated, unsure of his tone. “Of course.”

“Because sometimes I could…” He held out his hands as though ready to strangle someone. “But sometimes I could…” He let his hands fall then shook his head. “I don’t know.” That’s what bothered him the most. He liked to know things. He didn’t like being caught off guard; not being in control. He was usually careful with Isabella. And she’d hurt him — it was stupid, but true–he wouldn’t let her do that again.

Isabella shrugged trying to make light of his sullen mood. “I guess we don’t have to be friends. We’ll be brother and sister soon anyway.” She looked away as if something in the distance caught her attention.

Alex drummed his fingers on the steering wheel ready to leave.

She returned her gaze to his hard profile. This wasn’t the Alex she’d come to know. she touched his leg in a quick, fleeting gesture. “Alex,” she said softly, hoping to break through his hard silence.

At that moment, he bolted from the truck and slammed the door. “What do you want from me?” he asked his voice thick with rage. “Huh? What the hell do you want?

Isabella took a hasty step back shocked by his vehemence. “Nothing.”

“Then why won’t you leave me alone?” He tapped the side of his head. “You mess with my mind. Sometimes I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. I hate it and sometimes I hate —” He turned to his truck, opened the door then slammed it shut again. The sound seemed to echo in the quiet evening and caused a small night creature to run for cover. He hung his head and said in a flat lifeless voice, “I’m getting married soon.”

“I know.”

He spun around and caught her gaze with his. “But do you know what that means to me? It means that I’ll finally have what I want. I’ll finally have a complete family. I’ll have someone by my side who can help me get the respect that I need. I can’t risk…” He balled his hands into a fist and glanced up at the sky as though searching for answers there. “Gabby loves the house.” His gaze fell to her face. “And you don’t.” Though he said the words as a statement they sounded like a question.

“No, I don’t.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “It doesn’t matter anyway. I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore.”

Isabella’s voice was just above a whisper. “I do.”

“You do?”

“You want me to leave you alone.”

He looked miserable. “No, that’s not what I —”

“It’s better that way,” she said quickly. “You’re under enough stress and I have plenty of things to do myself.”

“But Izzy…” He reached for her; she moved out of his grasp.

“I’ll see you around. We’re going to both get what we’ve always wanted soon. I’m going to Europe with Mrs. Lyons and you’ll get married and that’s that. I’d better go,” she said before he could speak. “thanks for everything.” She raced to her car. When she heard Alex call out to her, she didn’t turn around. She didn’t want him to see the tears streaming down her face. She jumped in her car and sped away.

Alex leaned against his truck as though sapped of all strength. He watched her go wanting to feel relieved but instead feeling the opposite and not knowing why. He glanced down at the paper that had fallen from her hand and stared at her final grade until everything seemed to blur together. He carefully folded the paper, stuffed it in his shirt pocket then drove home.

Days later, Isabella stayed in her room trying not to think of Alex, but failing. She heard a soft knock on her door then Gabby entered. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine.”

Gabby sat on the bed, her intelligent eyes searching Isabella’s face. “Are you sure?”

Isabella drew her knees to her chest, she didn’t want to lie to her sister, but knew she couldn’t tell her the truth. “Well, to be honest, I still worry about what will happen to us.”

“But you don’t have to.”

“I doubt Alex will want all of us to live with you.”

“Why not? There’s plenty of room and we all get on so well. It will be wonderful, Izzy. I’ve told Alex about our debts and he’s promised to help us once we’re family. And Izzy, you and I can work on the house and make it what we want it to be.”