The Look of Love (3 page)

Elizabeth looked like she’d redone her makeup sometime during the night. Her light brown skin glowed, especially with the morning sunlight streaming through the hospital-room window. Bright red lipstick covered her lips. Even her fake eyelashes looked like they had been curled.

As a child, Eboni and her girlfriends had all wanted to grow up to be just like Miss Queen Elizabeth. Not only did the woman always look amazing and have the best clothes and cool shoes, she owned not one, not even two, but three businesses.

The hair salon, more than her flower shop and the clothing boutique, had the most customers in Eboni’s eyes, and the most buzz. Although she didn’t plan to work in a hair salon for the rest of her life, Eboni definitely wanted to be close to the woman who could guide her into being a success in business.

The morning Queen fainted, Eboni had planned on talking to her about doing a fund-raiser to help renovate the community center. Kids with nothing to do had a tendency of finding dangerous activities to pick up from other wayward souls. Eboni didn’t know how, but she knew she had to break the cycle.

A nurse walked into the room. “Ms. Sommerville, time to get your vitals.” She opened the blinds and allowed the February sun to stream through them. The morning rays reflected off the gleaming-white snow that covered the ground.

Eboni wrapped her camel-colored dress coat around her body. The businesslike apparel didn’t give her a cozy feeling like the poncho her grandmother had made for her. Appearances meant everything for Eboni.

Eboni remembered being a child and watching her grandmother knit the whole thing. She couldn’t wait until she got to a size to wear it. Of course, her grandmother made the garment large anticipating that Eboni would never lose that baby weight that plagued her for most of her youth.

She’d changed. Times had changed. Eboni had to give up childhood fantasies, including finding that one true love. Seeing Elizabeth in a hospital bed made everything real.

“Do you have to wake her now?” Eboni rubbed her eyes. “She just got to sleep.”

The nurse glanced down at Elizabeth’s face and chuckled. “Is she going to an opera later? When did she put on all this makeup?”

“
She
can hear everything you’re saying.” Elizabeth opened her eyes and glared at the nurse before cutting her gaze over to Eboni.

“Darling, you didn’t have to sleep in that awful chair.” She shook her head.

“I didn’t want to leave you alone.” Eboni stretched her arms over her head attempting to relieve some of the ache in her neck. “Besides, I would have slept on the floor if I had to.”

Elizabeth smiled, showing off an impressive set of straight, white teeth. “You’re silly. The staff here would have taken care of me just fine.” She finally turned her smile to the nurse who had already placed a black cuff around her arm and pumped away to get her blood pressure.

As the nurse allowed the blood pressure cuff to hiss out the air she’d pumped into it, she said, “A very loud and angry man called the desk for you last night.” She removed the stethoscope from her ears. “He claimed that this woman is not your daughter.” She glanced at Eboni.

Eboni swallowed but continued returning the nurse’s stare, hoping to convince her of the lie Queen had told. Eboni hadn’t corrected her. In a lot of ways, she did feel like she belonged in Queen’s family.

“That’s ridiculous,” Queen said when she no longer had a thermometer in her mouth. “This beautiful young woman is as much as my child as my sons are.”

Eboni smiled. She stood from her chair and held her friend’s hand. The warmth of it as well as Elizabeth’s words hugged her heart.

“Did you already pick your breakfast items today?” The nurse held up a menu.

“Yes. The lovely woman from food services got my order about an hour ago.”

The nurse nodded and exited the room, partially closing the door behind herself.

Eboni felt her eyebrows draw together. “I don’t remember hearing anyone coming into the room.”

“Because you were out cold.” Elizabeth placed her soft palm against Eboni’s cheek and then brought it down to cover Eboni’s hand. “You will need to go home at some point today to shower and get some real sleep.”

Eboni shook her head. “Until the doctors tell me what’s going on, I’m not leaving.”

“Oh, honey, I know what it is. Back in my day, we called it having the vapors. I just got a little overwhelmed with work and had a little fainting spell. That’s it.” Queen removed her hand from Eboni’s and turned her face away like she wanted to watch something on TV.

Eboni knew better. “I know Virginia is the South, but we’re not that far south. I don’t believe in this vapors nonsense. Something’s going on with you, and I’m not leaving until I know what it is.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “Stubborn. You’re just like Gunnar.”

At the mention of his name, Eboni became quiet. Like when he’d walked away from her ten years ago to pursue his fighting dream, Eboni’s heart stilled again.

She’d thought she and Gunnar would have a future together. Her being African American hadn’t stopped him from pursuing her, not that Eboni thought it would. If he didn’t have a problem with his adoptive mother being black, she knew he would date outside of his race.

Eboni had been surprised the day he’d given her the critical ultimatum--go with him while he trained as an ultimate fighter, or break up with him and stay home. It had broken her heart to turn down his offer, but she couldn’t leave. Not just yet.

“You talked to Gunnar?” Eboni backed up to her chair.

“I called him last night before his thing.” Queen huffed. “I told him he should stop that stuff and come on home.”

Eboni collapsed in the chair. “You told him to come home? Why?” Would the man who’d had no problems running from her ten years ago come home because his mother asked him to?

“Darling, while I’m a touch incapacitated, I’m going to need someone to run the businesses.”

At that bit of news, Eboni’s spine crumpled enough for her to melt her back into the chair. “I thought you would let me run Press ’N Curl.”

“You are running Press ’N Curl. Gunnar will do what I do there.” Elizabeth waved her hand as though this aspect meant very little to her.

“So he’ll have his nails and hair done?” She winked at Elizabeth. The little bit of levity helped her not think of Gunnar.

Elizabeth gasped. “I do more than just have my hair and nails done.”

“I know.”

“Don’t forget eyebrow waxing.” Elizabeth winked.

Eboni laughed. Queen Elizabeth wouldn’t be a success if she’d been an absentee owner. The woman defined hands-on. When a stylist didn’t show, she had no problem taking their clients.

“What in the world am I going to do without you at the shop?”

“You’ll be fine, and Gunnar will be fine in my spot.” Elizabeth nodded. “I’ll eventually have to bring my sons in to the businesses. I was just hoping it would happen later than sooner.” She sighed. “Besides, all three have signed power-of-attorney forms for the businesses in case something happens to me.”

It made sense to have Elizabeth’s sons to acquire the three businesses when something happened to her. Eboni just hoped Gunnar would stay away from her while she worked.

“Speaking of bad timing.” Eboni made sure to make eye contact with Elizabeth. “Before you, um, caught the vapors, I was going to propose that we do a fund-raiser for the Oceanfront Community Center. You know that in my free time I volunteer there.”

“I know. That’s why you haven’t dated in forever and a day.” Queen wagged her finger at Eboni.

Eboni sighed and ignored Elizabeth’s comment about her sad personal life. “Anyway, besides volunteering, I’ve donated all of my tips to the center too. But it’s not enough. You know business at the salon has dropped lately.”

Elizabeth’s expression changed to a forlorn one. “I know. I’ve tried drumming up more customers.”

Eboni held up her hand. “We all appreciate your efforts. That’s probably what landed you here.” She patted Elizabeth’s shoulder. “If the center doesn’t get more money just for operating costs, they’re going to have to close, and at-risk kids will take a wrong turn.”

Queen Elizabeth regarded her for a moment before a broad smile lit up her face. “That’s what I love about you.” She sat up higher in her hospital bed. “Other people would have asked me for money. Hell, my own family has asked me for money just to go to Vegas. Not you. Not my girl. You want to
raise
the money.”

Eboni’s heart beat stronger. “I learned from the best. Working with you, I know that only hard work will get me what I want.”

“You’re right. You know I’m in for anything to help out that center. I know that after your mother passed, that place--”

“And your shop,” Eboni interjected.

“Helped you growing up.” She patted the mattress beside her. “Right now, I’m a little stuck. This is something that needs to happen soon, right?”

Eboni nodded. When a distressed expression crossed Elizabeth’s face, Eboni had a change of heart. “Look, don’t worry about it. I’ll figure something out. I shouldn’t have said anything.” She waved her hands and backed up.

“If I wasn’t out of action, I would love to help you.” Elizabeth’s eyes lit up. “I’m hoping Gunnar comes to town. If he does, he can help. Wouldn’t it be great for you to see him again?”

Eboni swallowed hard. Did she want to see the man who’d been her first love? She wanted to hate him. He’d had a goal like she had when they’d severed their relationship. She and Gunnar had stubborn streaks as long as the universe.

Before she could answer, the hospital room door burst open. Encompassing the entire frame stood Gunnar. He had his dirty-blond hair pulled back into a ponytail. His crystal-blue eyes drew her attention to his strong face. His jaw looked like it had been chiseled from stone. He looked beautiful and scary all at once, especially with the addition of a black eye.

Eboni couldn’t look in his face. She refused to watch any of his matches, but she imagined that his current hard expression matched what he would look like before each of his fights.

Her gaze volleyed between his full, very kissable lips and his barrel-sized chest. The more she stared at him, the more her heart accelerated. This man had given her the deepest heartache she’d ever had. Within a millisecond, she found herself still wanting him. She could kick herself for being so stupid now.

Eboni didn’t remember Gunnar being that immense. Seeing him again made her want to stand up to him like one of his opponents. He’d caused her to cry more than she cared to admit. The hell she would allow him to make her feel less than her best. If confronted, she would let him know that.

“Ma, what’s going on with you, and who’s this daughter you said you have now?” Gunnar’s voice boomed throughout the room, and probably all down the hall as well.

Guess the man came for a fight. She wouldn’t back down.

Gunnar threw his bag on the floor and marched over to his mother. As he suspected, his Queen Elizabeth had her regal face painted. Not a blemish or a wrinkle could be found. As usual, she wore a ring on almost every finger and had silver and gold bracelets dangling from her wrists. She lifted her arms to accept him into a hug and he remembered her telltale jingling that he’d loved listening to as a kid.

Seeing his strong mother in a hospital bed crushed his heart. He could only imagine what she felt inside beneath her tough exterior. The closer he got to her, the softer his steps became until he reached her. He kissed her cheek as she cupped his face.

The feeling of home came flooding back to him in that one touch. All at once, his breathing slowed. His heartbeat decreased in its speed. He’d gotten what he’d wanted since talking to her last night.

“What are you doing here?” He held her hand. Before his mother could answer, he peered across the room and spotted a woman sitting in a chair. “Who are you?”

The woman with an almond-butter skin tone blinked at his inquiry. Her hazel eyes seemed so familiar to him. It had been a long time since he’d been home. She reminded him of Eboni Danielson. No way could she be his old love.

When they’d dated back in high school, Eboni had carried a voluptuous frame that he’d enjoyed touching and holding. In her structured wool coat, this woman looked to be about fifty to seventy-five pounds lighter than his high school girlfriend.

Back in high school, Eboni had light brown hair that she’d kept in loose, natural curls. Once Gunnar had gotten his act together as far as his attitude, Eboni had allowed him to experiment with her hair. He created different concoctions in his mother’s kitchen. Besides his mother and his brothers, no one had trusted him that much.

The woman here had jet-black hair that she kept in waves that cascaded down her shoulders and back. He’d been involved in the hair business with his mother long enough to spot relaxed hair with generous amounts of hair extensions.

Gunnar never understood a woman’s desire to show a false front. If it made this woman feel good, he would respect that. He had to bring his attention back to his mother when the woman licked her lips.

“Darling, you remember Eboni? Good Lord, the two of you were inseparable in school.” Elizabeth pointed to Eboni.

This time, Gunnar had to blink. Now that he stared at her, he saw a glimmer of that woman who had turned him down flat when he’d asked her to join him for his dream.

Eboni stood. He got to assess her from head to toe, especially when she removed her coat. Without the outerwear, he saw how fit she’d become, although her breasts had stayed large, firm, and amazing. Wearing a long-sleeved black turtleneck and charcoal-colored slacks, she resembled a copy of his mother with less jewelry…and fake hair.

Eboni walked closer to Elizabeth’s bed, and Gunnar couldn’t tear his stare from her. He tried to swallow but his throat had become dry. He’d fought absolute beasts in the ring and his nerves never got to him. Yet a woman he hadn’t seen in years managed to make him feel powerless.

“Eboni, I barely recognized you.” Standing on the opposite side of the bed from her, he presented his hand across his mother’s body to shake her hand.