Chapter 1
Helen Stewart stood in front of the sink in her quaint kitchen looking out into the little garden she and Nikki had put so much effort into. They had spent countless hours out there digging, raking and planting. The previous owners had obviously not had a green thumb amongst them as the garden had looked more like a jungle than something you would expect to find behind an up market London duplex. "What an amazing difference a little love, loads of hard work and a few hundred quid could make," she thought as a smile crept onto her face. They had had so much fun transforming that jungle into their little corner of paradise…
The sound of the kettle boiling brought her sharply back to the present; she turned away from the window and standing on her tip toes, reached for two mugs from the top shelf of the cupboard. "Where is Nikki when you need her," she thought as she rubbed away the twinge of pain in her lower back. The kitchen cupboards were obviously fitted by giants without any consideration for those of shorter stature, even Nikki at 5"10 had to stretch to her full height to reach the top shelf.
As Helen spooned coffee and sugar into the two mugs she heard the sound of Nikki's footsteps coming down the stairs. "Now that's what I call good timing", she thought as she filled the mugs with water from the kettle. Picking up a mug in each hand she turned just as Nikki came to a halt a few steps through the kitchen doorway. The black pinstripe skirt suit fitted Nikki's tall frame perfectly and the bright blue shirt added just a hint of colour.
"So what do you think?" She said, holding her arms out to the sides and giving a little twirl. Helen, still standing with a steaming coffee mug in each hand, raised her left eyebrow as a smile spread across her face and replied, "That skirt better be for my benefit, you know how sexy I think those long legs of yours are."
A smile quickly replaced the tense look on Nikki's face as she stepped forward, taking both mugs from Helen's hands and putting them down on the kitchen table. "How is it that you always know exactly what to say to make me feel better?" she said as she pulled Helen towards her. "I'm just that good," Helen said as she rested her head on Nikki's shoulder. Helen's favourite place in the whole world was exactly where she was at that moment, curled into Nikki's arms. She caught a faint whiff of Nikki's perfume as she nuzzled her neck; it was the scent she had given her this past Christmas. "That perfume better be for me too," she said fining severity as she snuggled even closer to Nikki. "Of course my love," Nikki said as she stroked Helen's silky locks. God, how she loved the smell of Helen's hair. It was intoxicating.
"Right, you better get a move on darling, else you're going to be late for your first day of work and we wouldn't want that now would we?" Helen said as she reached out for Nikki's coffee mug on the table, "drink up, before its ice cold." Groaning, Nikki took the coffee cup and took a sip, "couldn't we just stay at home and spend the day curled up in bed instead, I could think of a few things that we could do that would be much more entertaining than working," she said as a mischievous grin lit up her face.
"Easy tiger," Helen said with a little chuckle. "As much as I'd prefer that to missing you all day long you know very well you'd regret blowing off this job later. You've worked so hard to get here; don't let a small case of nerves get you down now." "Come on," she said, taking Nikki by the hand and leading her toward the front door, "you're going to knock their socks off!"
Helen helped Nikki into her coat, it was chilly out and a light rain was falling steadily. Nikki placed her hand on Helen's heavily pregnant belly and stooped till it was at her eye level, "you look after your mum while I'm gone bean. And no more kicking her in the liver you hear, I know you fancy yourself as a footballer but there will be plenty of time to practice when you get out of there."
She kissed Helen's round stomach and bent further to pick up her briefcase from beside the coat rack. She'd packed it last night and then checked it repeatedly thereafter to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything. Rising with the case in hand she let out a nervous breath, "now or never I suppose" she said looking into Helen's beautiful green eyes, so full of pride.
Helen reached out and caressed Nikki's cheek, her skin warm and soft under her fingers, "you'll be fantastic my love, I have no doubt about it." Nikki leant into her touch and covered Helen's hand with her own. She could never understand where Helen's unquestionable faith in her came from. God knows she'd given her many reasons to doubt it over the years, but somehow it never seemed to fade.
Just knowing that Helen was with her every step of the way gave her the strength to strive for what she wanted in life. Smiling into Helen's eyes, she gently pushed her hair away from her face, bent her head forward and kissed her passionately. "I love you Helen," she said as she reached for the door handle. "I love you too babe," Helen said while giving her a gentle push out the door.
Opening her green umbrella Nikki stepped out into the rain and began walking briskly down the front path. She stopped at the small gate and turned back toward the house, Helen was leaning casually against the doorframe, one hand resting on her belly, watching her departure. When she saw Nikki turn at the gate she blew her a kiss and said, "Go on now, else I won't have a chance to miss you." With a smile and a small shake of her head Nikki opened the gate and started making her way down the street toward the underground.
Helen watched her go until she lost sight of the green umbrella when Nikki turned the corner. Stepping back into the hallway she closed the door and placed both hands on her swollen belly, "O.K bean, let's go find something to keep us busy so we don't miss her to much, what do you think?"
