As Chester found out forty minutes later when he'd successfully turned the whole house upside down and had gone through all of Brock's files and journals, the affair had been going on even before he became her lawyer. Rita Beasly had been Brock's childhood sweetheart and he'd earlier promised to get married to her before he discovered his sexuality. Chester choked in tears as he skimmed through the heartfelt notes and poems Brock had written her for Christmas last year.
He'd been fooled all along and what made his heart heave the more was that his husband still had feelings for her and they'd hooked up for most weeks now.
Right under his nose.
Through the letter, he also learned that Rita had been urging Brock to divorce him. She listened to a couple of reasons; that Chester didn't worth much and was too engrossed with his miniature candy business to ever care about him and also she pointedly told him that she'd give him a legal child - preferably a male if he could do this. After all, she was a woman and surrogacy wasn't in vogue these days.
The messages grew more demanding, more sexual following the new year. Brock told her that he wasn't getting satisfied anymore and Chester wasn't always in the mood to talk with him - to share his interests, his passions. All they ever did was sex and ask about how each of their days went. Rita told him that the romantic feelings were wearing off and she could make a difference. Maybe Chester was tired of him.
He dumped it all on the table and sank onto the bed - gloomy. All these years, all these time Brock had felt dissatisfied with him. It made his heartache; that his efforts at making the marriage work weren't appreciated. That no matter what he did he still couldn't be enough.
His business was stressful alright and there hadn't been time to sit back and chit chat like normal couples did. He'd tried severally to fit Brock into his schedule but things didn't look up the way he'd planned.
He became an object of scorn with Rita always on hand to list out his weaknesses. She referred to him as 'little husband' like he was a disgusting old rag or a dwarf. He laid back to calm nausea spreading all over.
Noon snuck upon him in a matter of minutes.
Reluctantly stepping onto the shower, he let the dripping cold water take over his thoughts. Standing before the bathroom mirror, he examined his ragged cheeks and the fierce bags beneath his eyes - his skin pales like silver dust. He was aging and it increased his contempt. Maybe that was why Brock found her beautiful. Now that her husband was dead, She had enough money to spend and keep her young and full of life for a hundred more years to come.
Perhaps it was time to change that perception.
He couldn't leave. His parents would laugh out loud and long if they found out he'd quit his marriage and he couldn't allow them the pleasure. It was time to face the obstacles. It was time to confront them.
He hurried downstairs to prepare lunch. Preston had mentioned once about knowing a thing or two about makeovers. Although the idea made him cringe, he was all the more willing to seek help and see how it'll all go.
A soft rap distracted him from the frozen beef casserole he was poking. It sounded from the front door and as he unlocked it and stepped aside, Preston hopped in.
"I'm sorry for showing up unannounced," his bright green eyes scanned the living room discreetly. "But I have nothing to do back home. Rex comes back by half past midnight and I was wondering if I could spend the day here. I promise to be good and help - "
"Actually, " Chester cut him off breathlessly, barely able to contain himself. "There is a way you could help me. I need a makeover and you're right - a lady's makeover. I trust you're still familiar with the works?"
Preston raised a brow conspicuously. "What do you need a makeover for?"
He was staring at Chester intensely now, slowly stepping forward - too late forward. Chester found this daring but masculine too fair enough.
Suppressing a sigh, he narrated all that happened - Brock's affair with his client. As he replayed all he knew, Preston gaped in disbelief then fright. The Vampelts never had squabbles or misunderstandings so this was a disappointment to the young employee. He might as well learn that relationships could also be smeared no matter how perfect they seemed to be.
"Okay, I'll help." he looked Chester over. "But I can't guarantee that whatever you have in mind would play out. A simple appearance change won't keep him if he has decided to leave."
Chester gave him a wary look. "That'd be up to me. I'm willing to risk anything. Be anything for him."
"Hmph," Preston scoffed. "You're sure he's worth all the trouble? He may be warming up to throw you out of this house once he gets back."
Chester's face hardened. " Things are a little bit heated but I want him back. Every bit of him."
"I'm with you then. Let's go shopping!"
-
Downtown at Schuster's accessories, Chester took one look at the price tag on a multicolored plaid shirt and blinked in annoyance. "Forty-three dollars?! For this nitpick!"
Preston tried on some jeans. "Take it as a piece of motivation. You'll cherish and wear it more because you want to get the best out of your hard-earned cash."
After shopping, Preston led Chester to his basement where his cozy salon still functioned. He washed his hair, dried and applied a soft white substance that smelt of roses. He sterilized a black short curt wig and fitted it on.
When Chester glanced at his shapely enhanced features in the mirror, he tried not to squirm in delight. "It looks lovely. I can't believe you pulled this one-off. I'm paying you." he declared.
Preston blushed quietly. "Don't be silly Sir..." but before he could say anything further, Chester stuffed a twenty into his pocket and retreated into the main house.