Faces of Fear Read Free Page A

from the baby's twisted face to that of a beautiful, smiling, brown-eyed ten-year-old, Risa saw that she wasn't the only one who took out her checkbook to divert or mask the tears glistening in eyes at every table. Then José Alvarez himself appeared, his face illuminated by both a spotlight and an enormous smile. Running to his mother, he threw his arms around her.
    "It is a miracle," Rosa said, gathering her son to her. "Thank you. Thank you all for making this possible."
    As Corinne Dunn rose to lead the applause for her and then led Rosa toward the garden where the party would continue, Conrad Dunn and his wife rose to follow his sister and their guest of honor. Responding to that cue, the crowd quickly began drifting from the Garden Room into the garden itself, and Risa quickly wrote out her check, adding an extra thousand dollars to the sum she'd initially decided to contribute.
    Lexie Montrose, leaning over her shoulder to peer at the check, whistled softly. "Wow! Really? That much?"
    "If ever there was a good cause," Risa said, "this is it. Let's go find the Dunns—I want to give this to Conrad personally."
    The two women followed the flow of people until they spotted Conrad, standing next to an extravagant dessert buffet. Rosa Alvarez was at his side, and they were surrounded by his guests. Risa and Lexie joined what had become a simple reception line, as tuxedoed waiters circulated with trays filled with yet more champagne glasses. The garden glowed with subtle lighting that made it seem as if the huge old oak trees were illuminating the evening.
    Conrad Dunn managed to greet each guest by name, find a few words for every one of them, accept their checks with an appreciation that was heartfelt but not cloying, and keep the line moving as if by some kind of social magic. He also managed to keep shaking hands while simultaneously passing the checks to Margot, who seemed intent on staying in the deep shadows behind her husband as she discreetly slipped each check into a silk wallet. Even in the soft and flattering light, Risa could see not only how unhappy Margot Dunn was about being on display, but also the scars that no doubt were the cause of her unhappiness.
    "Risa?"
    The soft voice came from behind her, and Risa turned to see Danielle DeLorian. "Danielle! How nice to see you!" Risa kissed the air just far enough from Danielle's cheek so the gesture wouldn't disturb the perfect makeup that was not only Danielle's hallmark, but her trademark as well.
    A year ago, even Risa had begun using DeLorian cosmetics, despite their outrageous price. "What the hell?" Lexie had told her. "So it costs a million to look like a million—the way you're selling these days, you can afford it."
    Drawing back from Danielle's cheek, Risa introduced her former client to her best friend.
    "Risa navigated me through an absolute nightmare of a deal a couple of years ago," Danielle told Lexie in a soft southern drawl that belied her sharp intelligence. "I'll be forever grateful."
    "I'm so glad it worked out for you," Risa said, then turned to see that the line had moved and Conrad Dunn, a bemused expression on his face, was waiting for her.
    Flushing, she quickly moved forward. "Conrad!" she said, handing him her check as she leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. "Thank you so much for including me in this. I'm just—" She hesitated, searching for the right word, then shook her head helplessly. "I'm just overwhelmed. What you're doing is wonderful, and I'm so happy to be able to help."
    "And I'm just as happy to have you here. You know we built the new clinic on that piece of land you helped us buy."
    "Actually, I did know that," Risa replied. "I'm just glad I was able to help." She turned toward Lexie. "Do you know my friend Alexis Montrose?"
    Conrad turned his warm gaze on Lexie. "Thank you for coming." He smoothly eased them toward Margot to keep the line moving, and Risa extended her hand, which Margot seemed hesitant to accept. Even