Gloria Ch. 02

Please read "Gloria" before reading part 2. This story will make more sense that way. I received several comments suggesting a part 2 to Gloria. This again based on actual people. Jason really did receive a letter several years after he and Gloria split. There is no sex in this story. Comments are requested and appreciated.

A word about comments and then we get on with the story. I like to get comments on my stories. As with all authors, I'm something of an egomaniac and constructive suggestions and critiques are welcome as they will help me grow as an author

Thanks for taking the time to read my story. ENJOY.

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The return address on the letter transported me back in time. It read Gloria Sterling, St. Louis, Mo. I hadn't heard from the bitch for four years. What could she want? Why was she writing me? Hadn't she screwed with me enough back then? Four years ago Gloria and I had a "thing" for a few months.

I was working in the college town where she was going to school and met her through a mutual friend. I had used this elaborate plan to get close to her but she knew exactly what I was doing and called me on it. That was how our relationship started. It ended after eight months, when Gloria's fiancée came to our apartment.

I am Jason Raymond Russell and I'm now 28. At the time that Gloria and I met, I was 24. I had been a player with the ladies until I met her. Once I met her, no other woman could get or hold my interest.

Gloria was heiress to the largest stock and pet food company in the country. Her father and uncle owned the company and she was the only heir to the fortune. That wasn't why I loved her. I didn't know about the money until near the end of our relationship.

I thought we were in love and would be together for a long time. That idea was flushed down the tube when her fiancée showed up at our apartment. His name was John Sterling and he told me she had these little affairs all the time.

When Gloria left me she told me that she did care for me, maybe even loved me. But she had to go home and do her duty and marry this Sterling guy. Now using hindsight, I think she just wanted a boy toy for as long as she could have one. I was that boy toy, at least one of them anyway.

Her fiancé told me I was only one of three or four such guys. She had given me some going away presents. I had five or six expensive suits, a great watch, a year's lease on her luxury apartment and a year old Corvette. Pretty good pay for the time I spent with her. I would have rather had Gloria.

Two years after we parted I saw the story and pictures of her marriage in the society page. Even after two years it had still bothered me. I hadn't quite gotten over her at that time. When Gloria left, I pulled into a shell. I ate, slept, went to work, and then went home to start the cycle all over. I wasn't a player anymore; I didn't have the heart for it. I wasn't having a lot of fun. The only time I went out was to a coffee bar once or twice a week.

About three months after Gloria left me and went back home, I ran into a very pretty young lady, Donna Mason, at the coffee bar. I already knew her, Jim one of my co-workers, had introduced me to her and she had in turn introduced me to Gloria. Donna knew all about Gloria and I and that Gloria had dumped me. I hadn't really planned to do more than just nod at Donna. In a way I had used her to get close to Gloria and I wasn't proud of myself for doing so.

"Hey Jason, how are you?" Donna surprised me with her greeting. "I haven't seen you around lately. Don't you like us anymore?"

"Hello Donna, I guess I don't travel in the same circles anymore," I replied.

"You know just because Gloria is gone, doesn't mean you can't come to the parties anymore. Jim and I, among others, miss you."

"To be honest, I haven't felt like joining you guys. I'm still a little groggy over Gloria's leaving and I'm a little ashamed about the way I used you Donna." I have heard that confession is good for the soul, but I felt like crap telling her that.

Donna smiled at me and said, "Don't worry about it, I don't. I knew why you wanted Jim to introduce us. Your eyes kept glancing at Gloria and I realized then that she was who you were after." When she finished, she laughed at the look on my face. "Come on you can buy the coffee and tell me all about what happened."

After we got our coffee, Donna took my arm and sort of led me to a booth in the back. We spent more than an hour talking about Gloria and me. Somewhere during that discussion I started to come back to life. I begun to think I was going to "live" after all.

As Donna was getting ready to go back to her dorm said to me, "I think Gloria made a big mistake in leaving you Jason. I also think you need to get your head out and go on with your life. Give me a call sometime." With that parting shot she left.

She was right; I was acting like a little boy that lost his favorite toy and was pouting. It was time to grow up, straighten up, and get on with my life. I called Donna a few days later and we went for pizza and beer. It was a very enjoyable time. We began to see each other, more as friends than anything else. I can't pin point when the relationship changed from friends to something more, I just knew that it did.

I was still living in Gloria's apartment as the lease had another 3 months before expiring. If I was ever going to get over her and get my head out, I needed to get a place of my own. Donna had invited me to her dorm several times, but refused to set foot in my place. I finally got it through my thick skull, why.

I rented an apartment over the garage at an elderly lady's home. Maintenance around the house, such as painting and taking care of the yard was part of my rent. Donna helped to get my place comfortable and livable. In addition I sold the Corvette and got a Mustang. Out with all the baggage I had been carrying.

Donna and I dated right up to her graduation, a period of nine months or so. We didn't run wild nor did we rip each other's clothes off and have wild monkey sex all the time. The intimacies we shared were special. The relationship grew and was not just about the sex.

Our time together was more quality than quantity. But I was having a hard time fully committing to Donna and our relationship. Guess I was still hung up on Gloria. The night after her graduation, Donna brought it all to a head.

"Jason I have been waiting for you to get over Gloria. I had hoped you would, but I can see that you are still thinking about her." I started to interrupt but she put up her hand. "No don't deny it. You are holding back and we both know why." She hesitated and then said,"I have accepted a good job in San Antonio and I'm moving there next week."

"I thought you were going to work and live in St. Louis," I questioned her. "Then we could see each other on weekends and such."

"I was going to do that, but I can't anymore. We can't and I won't continue like this. You are still thinking of Gloria half the time and I'm getting short changed in our relationship. I won't go on. If you ever get over Gloria come and see me." Donna left the next week and I didn't even get to see her to say good bye.

There is an adage that says, "You don't know what you've lost until it's gone". I guess it's true, maybe that's why it's an adage. It didn't take long before I realized how much I cared for Donna. I didn't know if I was ready to love her, but I did know I missed her a lot.

Three weeks after Donna moved I wrote a letter to her. In it I told her how much I missed her and hoped she was doing okay. Nothing much, just letting her know I was thinking of her. Instead of a return letter, I got a phone call. That was better than a letter. After that call we would talk on the phone two or three times a month and maybe write every month or so.

I asked Donna a few times about coming to see her. Her answer was always the same, "Have you got your head back in the game yet? Until you can truthfully say yes, there is no need to see each other."

Our calls continued for about two months and something new begun to happen. I would get her voice mail more frequently and have to leave a message. When and if she returned my call, I didn't mention her being out at night more. I didn't feel I had the right to question her. This continued for a month.

Then I called Donna a little late on a Friday night, about 11:30. To be honest, I thought if I called at a later time I would get her and not the answering machine. I got the machine. The next morning I called her again at 7:00, I was becoming somewhat of a stalker I guess. A man answered the phone.

"Oh, er er is Donna there?" I was a little shocked and wondered why a man answered her phone. Who is this guy?

"Yeah, but she's still sleeping. If it's important I can wake her up or I can take a message." He was trying to be helpful, which just pissed me off even more.

"No, no real message, just tell her Jason called and I won't bother her again."

"You sure Jason? I can wake her up if you want me to. She needs to get up anyway. We have to shower and get dressed, because I have a plane to catch." He actually sounded like a nice guy.

"No, it's not necessary. I don't think it would matter anyway. Thanks and good bye." I hung up. Real smart, jerk face, you should have just asked her to call.

I guess I thought after my little tantrum Donna would call me back right away. It didn't work out that way. Two weeks went by with no call. I guess I'll have to face it, we are history. That's just great, absolutely great. First Gloria leaves me for dead and now I have lost Donna too. I know, losing Donna was my own fault but that doesn't make it hurt any less.

Three weeks to the day after my last message to Donna, she called. It was 10:00 on Saturday morning and I was still in bed. The previous evening I had decided to see if I could still drink as much as I used to. I can't. My head was throbbing when I answered the phone.

"What?" I yelled into the phone.

"My, aren't we a ray of sunshine this morning?" Donna said laughing. "Are you okay Jason?"

"Donna? Is that you? Why are you calling me?"

"You don't have to bite my head off, you know. I haven't heard from you in over two weeks and I wanted to make sure everything was okay,' she told me.

Oh hell I'm sorry. I guess I'm hung over, no wait I know I'm hung over. My head is pounding and my mouth tastes like old sweat socks."

"Its okay, now why haven't you called?"

"I did, about two weeks ago early on a Saturday morning. Your boyfriend answered the phone. I gave him a message for you," I answered.

"I never got a message and I.......Wait my boyfriend? What do you mean my boyfriend?

Donna sounded puzzled. "When was this again?"

"It must have been on the 13th. The guy said you were still asleep, but he could wake you up. You and he had to take a shower and get him to the airport. I told him to tell you I had called." Since she hadn't gotten the message, I wasn't going to tell her about my little temper tantrum.

"I'm so sorry Jason, I never got the message. That wasn't my boyfriend that was my stupid brother Bill. He has been staying with me for the last month. Wait until I get hold of him, I'll teach him not to give me messages."

"Your brother?" My mood changed for the better.

"Yeah, Bill was staying with me while he worked on a project here. He finished his work and went back home."

Okay dummy, I thought to myself, now is the time to tell her how you feel. Enough of this friendship bullshit. You have nothing to lose but some phone calls that make you feel worse than you did before anyway. I had made a decision.

"Donna I need to talk to you about something important. Have you got some time right now?"

"Sounds serious, sure I have all day. Go ahead," she responded.

So, I spilled my guts. I told her that I didn't know how much I cared for her until she left. I told her that I had my head on straight like she said. I told her that I could truthfully say that I didn't love Gloria. Finally I said, "Donna remember you telling me that you couldn't go on the way we were? Well that's where I'm at; I can't go on like this. If you don't want to be more than friends then let's stop the torture. At least it's torture to me. So what do you think?"

Donna was quiet for a moment and then said, "I think you should come to San Antonio next week end."

"I don't want to wait, I'm on my way. See you soon." I called my boss and arranged for some time off. I made the two hour drive to St. Louis and jumped a plane for San Antonio. Donna met me at the airport.

"How did you know what flight I was on?" I was surprised that she was there.

"A little research online. There are several flights from St. Louis but this was the first one. I was going to meet each plane until you showed up," Donna informed me.

The next month was wonderful. I spent the weekends at Donnas' or she was my place. I found that I had moved on and was ready to commit fully to Donna. My company had a division in a suburb of San Antonio and I was able to transfer there. I moved in with Donna and life was good. There was some adjustment but the transition went smoothly.

Donna and I were married and started our new life together. We had only been married a short time when I saw the pictures of Gloria's wedding. That was the only hint of a problem in our marriage and that was mostly in my mind. I didn't know if I should mention the story to Donna or should I keep quiet about it. If I said something would she think I still had feelings for Gloria and if I said nothing would she think I was trying to hide feelings for Gloria.

I put down the Sunday paper and looked at Donna, she was making breakfast. Maybe I should defuse the situation and not let it develop into a problem. "Hey babe, here is a story about Gloria's wedding. I guess John Sterling finally got her to do the deed. About time he pulled in her reins."

Donna looked at me with a little smile and said, "I know, I opened the paper to that story and left it for you." She almost laughed at the surprised look on my face. "I wanted to see how you handled it. You passed with flying colors by the way."

Gloria and our relationship was never mentioned again. That is until I received that letter four years after she dumped me. As I said before, what does the bitch want? I opened the letter to see why the hell she was writing me. Especially after all this time.

The letter was in Gloria's handwriting and read:

Dear Jason,

It's been a long time and I know you are wondering why I'm contacting you now, after all this time. The truth is that I couldn't take it anymore. Even though I fought the temptation for years, I finally had to contact you.

When I left you I did so because I had too. If I hadn't gone home, my father would have quit paying the bills. After my father's ultimatum, delivered by John, I had to go home and grow up a little. I enjoyed my lifestyle too much to give the money up. I delayed the marriage for two years but at last decided to go ahead with it.

Being married didn't change anything and I still live the way I want. I just have to be careful and discrete. John is my husband in name only, but he doesn't mind. As my husband he is ensured of a life of leisure. He also has his outside "interests" and is also very discrete.

My problem is that I have never forgotten you, Jason. I told you when I left I really cared for you. That hasn't changed. Time has only made me regret my decision that day. I should have talked you into moving to St. Louis. We could have continued seeing each other on the side sort of.

I will be in San Antonio next month for one week and thought we might have lunch or maybe dinner to rehash old times. I would love to take a ride in the Corvette with you. What do you think?

Please let me know your decision before the 21st of next month. If we are going to meet, I will have to adjust my schedule. Hope to hear from you soon.

Love,

Gloria

I was totally shocked. Also, I was totally pissed off. She had dropped me like a bad habit and now she wants to just waltz back into my life. I was right four years ago. She was a round heel bitch that just got caught by daddy. Not only no, but hell no. The only question was should I tell Donna. That evening Donna was about an hour late getting home. After dinner we sat out on our deck and I handed Gloria's letter to her.

"What's this?" she asked me.

"Look at the return address and then read the letter honey," I told her.

Donna looked at the return address and read the letter. As she read, her face started to get red. Red as in anger, red as in I'm going to kick some one's ass, red as in are you going? She finished the letter and fixed me with her stare. She was pissed.

"Hold on just a second," I ordered her. Donna was about to explode. "Now read this letter."

The letter read:

Dear Gloria,

It was really nice to hear from you after all the years. I'm sorry but I sold the Corvette about six months after you left. Never mind that, it would be nice to see you.

My wife, Donna, and I would love to join you for dinner and a few drinks. When you get into town, just give us a call and we will meet you. Our number is listed below.

Thanks for thinking of us and hope to hear from you soon.

Bye for now

Your friends,

Jason & Donna

When Donna finished my letter, her face was still red. This time it was red because she was laughing so hard. Finally she quit laughing and leaned over to kiss me.

"That is a great way to tell her to go to hell. Very devious lover. I'm proud of you. You did make one small mistake though," she informed me.

"What was that?" I thought it was perfect.

"I was late getting home tonight because I was at the doctor's." She paused until I motioned with my hand, come on. "If we did meet her I wouldn't be having any drinks with you guys."

"Not that we are going to meet her, but why no drinking for you?"

"Pregnant women shouldn't drink alcohol. It's not good for the baby."

The rest of the evening was spent cuddling, discussing which bedroom to turn into a nursery, and name for babies.

Strange, we never did get that phone call from Gloria.

Quote: Life goes on