Brave Face

Chapter Seven

Loretta POV

"Who can I run to (who can I run to),
To fill this empty space with laughter" ~Xscape (Who can I run to)

It is a Friday and it has been a long trying day. First my alarm clock didn't wake me up, I lost a huge client and my man, all writhing 24 hours.

I woke up at 11:52 already two hours late for work. I rushed in a panick to get myself together. I took a speedy shower, placed a phone call informing the shop of the situation and tore up my room, searching for matching clothes. I settled for teal bottoms with a purple, polka dotted top. I slapped my hair into a high bun, then hightailed it to work.

When I got to work I haphazardly parked my car, which later got it towed, and went inside.

The Wilkins were there waiting on me, as they had for the past hour, to present them with a sample menu for their wedding. When I gave them the menu they were less than pleased, they were pissed to be exact.

Apparently someone in the family has a nut allergy that they forgot to disclose to me, meaning many of the menu items had to be revised. They were annoyed that the menu wasn't right the first time so when we started going back and forth shooting ideas to each other, they decided none of the ideas would be right for them, and took their business else where.

I was pissed. How could you forget to disclose key information then get mad at me about it? That bad event caused a ripple effect throughout my day, or maybe it was me waking up late.

The next few clients were divas, I couldn't get my duck to perfection and I burned myself four times. Four! I never burn myself at all.

Around 3pm I finally snapped and closed the shop early. I needed time to regroup and get my mind right. After cleaning everything up I locked up and left.

When I got home all I wanted to do was to take a hot bath and relax, ufortunately I didn't get to do any of that.

I took off my jacket and hung it on the coat rack in the foyer and kicked off my shoes. Dropping my bag at the bottom of the stairs I trudge to the top and head towards my room.

Going inside I heard voices, laughing. After listening for a few seconds I determined they were coming from the bathroom. I slowly made my way over and open the door as quietly as possible.

Low and behold Earl and Nicole. No not my employee Nicole, but his old college friend Nicole. Nicole with the white face, red hair and small waist. Nicole that we took in and fed, when she had no place to go. Nicole that was supposed to be only a friend to us, not taking a bubble bath with my husband.

I lean against the door, with a humorless smirk across my face. "So this is what we do now. We invite people into our home, take care of them then sleep with them," I ask, in a calm voice.

Earl whips around so fast, it's a miracle his neck is still in tact. "Baby, it is not what it looks like," he tries to reason reaching for a towel. Nicole, jumps up so quick and hops out the tub, breast swinging and all.

"Oh really? Well it looks like you are in a bath tub, with someone other than your wife," I state as they scramble to put her clothes on.

I calmly walk out of the bathroom and grab a suitcase. I begin packing my essential things in it, when they come out.

"I'm so, so sorry, Loretta," Nicole says.

"No you are not. You are sorry you got caught but that's ok. For Christmas I'll get you a sweatshirt that says jezebel and we will laugh it off," I sarcastically say, zipping up the bag.