Chapter 1 HG Wells Plays Cupid
"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind." William Shakespeare.
Helena loved sharing Valentine's Day with Myka. She marked each one with traditional British flair by making her own cards and writing her own verses. It appalled the authoress when she saw the display of ready to buy valentines in a card store. It was met with her outward display of disapproval and she read the cards out loud and scoffed. Usually the person reading the same card replaced it in the rack, certain it was not worthy of their intended loved one. "Go home and write what is in your heart," she instructed a young man who said he could not imagine doing that. "I could not imagine living in America, but here I am, so go and get pen and paper," she instructed the love struck youth.
Helena sat one morning before the holiday with Myka in the diner for breakfast. An early run to the post office and stationary store afforded them time to eat before the establishments opened.
"Myka, I worry that our friends do not have enough opportunity to meet people," HG shared with Myka.
"Yes, this job does put a damper on that," Myka agreed.
"Myka, don't you think Pete would like that girl over there?" she asked nonchalantly gazing around the eatery. Myka picked her head up from the menu and tried to glance over discretely. There in a booth for two sat a woman in her late twenties sipping on tea and reading the paper. "I guess. What makes you say that?" Myka asked going back to the selections. Helena was answering, but all Myka could her was her inner voice asking 'do I want to eat healthy or do I want to enjoy this?' If Myka had been listening, she might have heard Helena say what her intentions were. No sooner had their orders been delivered than HG noticed the woman getting ready to leave.
"Wish me luck," HG said to Myka and with that she was up and out of her seat.
Myka turned quickly to see HG saying hello to the woman and asking if she could sit in the empty seat. The woman hesitated only momentarily, a little startled by the Brit's appearance, but seemed pleased then to invite HG to sit down.
Myka tried to be careful turning around, but people were noticing her and she smiled uncomfortably and returned to pick up some of her food. She could hear Helena's laugh and it seemed to Myka that she was being awfully friendly in so quick a manner. If Myka didn't know better, and she did, she would have mistaken Helena's demeanor as flirting. Myka knew it was the same manner she used when slowly encasing someone in her web and within minutes, this woman would probably agree to almost anything. But what Helena wanted from her was the question?
Soon enough Helena returned to her seat opposite Myka, wearing her victory smile. It was her 'job well done Helena' look and Myka knew it well.
"Helena?" Myka asked wanting the explanation.
"What?" the Victorian asked eating her food.
"What were you doing?" Myka asked, putting her folk down.
"Oh that? I was inquiring as to whether or not that young lady would like to come to the B&B in the near future," HG said. Myka folded her hands in front of her. "Because?" Myka prompted.
"Oh because I think she would be ideal for Pete," HG said. "I asked you that before I went over, remember?"
"Helena, did you tell Pete? I mean you're setting him up on a blind date," Myka said.
"Oh she wasn't visually impaired at all, darling," HG corrected her friend.
"No, I mean you're inviting someone to meet Pete and suppose Pete doesn't' …. Well, I mean suppose he's ….," Myka struggled with the rest. She really couldn't think of a reason Pete wouldn't want to meet a woman.
"The only concern I have is - is she too tall?" HG pondered. "I mean, some men find height intimidating, but you're tall and I don't think you intimidate Pete at all," HG reasoned.
"Well, thank you Agent Wells," Myka said trying to call HG's attention to what she just said.
"Hmmm, I may have to rectify that," HG said decidedly and Myka wasn't sure she wanted to know what that entailed.
As Myka shopped for the list of items Artie has asked for, HG took it up on herself to scour the aisles. There were several patrons who were stopping in before work started in the store. Helena looked the women over and when she thought she found an appropriate subject, she struck up a conversation.
"Are these pens any good?" she asked taking the same ones as the woman next to her.
"Excuse me?" the woman asked.
"These pens? Are they any good? I have a dear friend – his name is Pete and he asked me to get pens, but I have no idea which ones to get," HG proclaimed.
"Oh well I use these all the time and they're good for the price," the woman offered and started to walk away.
"Oh good," HG said following her now. "Because Pete is just the nicest guy and I really would like to get him exactly what he needs … I mean… wants," HG said slyly. The woman frowned and smiled. "You know, you might like him. I mean, you have something in common," HG tried.
"Pens?" the woman asked.
"Mightier than the sword they say," HG smiled back. Helena perceived the resistance and would have let go except this woman seemed a more appropriate height. "Are you already spoken for?" HG inquired. The woman was hesitant, but big believers in things happen for a reason.
"No," she said slowly. HG caught a display of party supplies and that was it took for the seed to be planted.
"We're having a dinner party - at the B&B next weekend, perhaps you'd like to come?" HG said. "You could meet Pete," she added.
"Well, I don't know," the woman said because who in their right mind accepted an invitation from someone in Staples. "Wait, isn't that where all the IRS Agents live?"
"Ah yes, we are…. IRS Agents…. Yes," HG said forgetting that they were somewhat of a known quantity in town.
"Can I bring a friend?" she asked feeling a little more comfortable knowing something about the woman standing with her.
"A friend?" HG said wondering how that would work out if one of them was chosen and the other not.
"Well I don't go to strange places alone," the woman explained.
"Well then, of course. Bring a friend," HG said feeling only slightly that she was losing control.
"OK …," the woman said waiting for Helena's name.
"Helena Wells," HG answered.
"Grace, " the woman said back. "Is this an event on Facebook that I can get all the details?" the woman asked as she got on line. If it weren't for the fact that HG deemed her a perfect specimen, she may have thought about her response. She was certain Grace was the top contender.
"Oh yes, look for my Facebook number," HG said.
"You mean page right?" Grace asked back.
"Page, yes how silly of me," HG smiled.
Myka thought it just the slightest bit odd that Helena added a paper tablecloth and cups with red hearts on them when they checked out. Helena didn't share with Myka what the plan was just yet. She would get Claudia to help her set up the social media page and slowly break the news to Leena that they were having a dinner party. On the way back, HG told Myka that she had met another woman in the store whom she though Pete would like.
"Since when did you decide to play Cupid?" Myka asked laughing but it planted another seed in the Time Traveler's mind. If she could do it for Pete, she could do it for all of them.
"Myka darling, I just want our friends to be as happy as we are," HG said with feeling. She meant it – it was truly her motivation. She saw a problem – the lack of companionship for her fellow friends and she had made up her mind to do something about it - come Artie or high water.
When they returned to the Warehouse, Myka encouraged Helena to let Pete know that she was girlfriend shopping for him. She assured Myka she would, but had other things on her mind. She had a lot to do if she was giving a dinner party. The first thing she needed was for Claudia to help her set up the event on Facebook.
"Claudia dear, do you remember the page you made for me with the friendly faces on it?" HG said cryptically.
"Yes, what about it?" Claudia asked understanding the Brit.
"I need to set up an event," HG explained.
"Really? You? What kind of event are you having?" Claudia asked with great interest. "There going to be an inventor's convention in town that I don't know about?"
"Oh I hope not," HG said sincerely. "No, I'm having a small dinner party for some women," HG explained.
"Myka know?" Claudia laughed at her own joke.
"They're not for Myka darling. They're for Pete," HG clarified.
"So what are you doing – auctioning him off?" Claudia teased and then noticed the look on Helena's face. "You can't actually auction him off. You know that HG, right?" The third seed was now germinating.
"We'll call it a charity dinner," HG said, running with the idea. "If Pete agrees, we'll auction off a date with him."
"Wait – you're serious aren't you?" Claudia said.
"Yes, it makes perfect sense. People think we're the IRS – so why not hold a charity dinner where they can win a dinner with Pete and get a tax right off," HG said. Claudia just stared at her.
"Artie made me read the IRS Regs," she explained.
"I don't know HG. My spidey senses are tingling. What about Artie?" Claudia asked.
"Ah yes, Artie. Well, perhaps we could arrange for Dr. Calder to take him to dinner that night," HG said checking that off the problem list.
"And you're going to ask Leena to cook?" Claudia tried.
"No, we'll have it catered. Finger sandwiches and refreshments," HG answered.
"Well look at you, you're all like Martha Stewart meets Patti Stanger," Claudia said, but the references were lost on HG. "She does all this crafty stuff …..and ….the other is the matchmaker. Never mind."
"Now you are going to get Pete's approval right?" Claudia asked.
Helena smiled confidently. "Do you really doubt Mr. Lattimer will say no to the opportunity to have a few women bidding on him?"
"You know HG - a few women won't raise much money. And what charity are we donating the money to?" the logically minded millennial asked.
"It has to be a 501c3 in order for people to get the tax deduction," HG said.
"Wow you really did read those manuals," Claudia said.
"Well, I'll ask Dr. Calder for a recommendation. And besides, Artie is always saying we should give back to the community," HG said.
"Are you sure that's what Artie said?" Claudia asked, but HG ignored it.
"We can't just invite women – that might raise suspicions. You and Leena will also participate," HG said unequivocally.
" Wait a minute HG - how do you know who will come to this?" Claudia said.
"I will personally interview them. I will invite the best candidates," HG said.
"Well, I don't know about this….," Claudia said listening to her spidey senses.
"Oh come on, it will be great fun and all for a worthy cause," Helena said convincingly.
"Well, if Pete and Leena say okay then I'll do it too," Claudia said allowing her libido to overtake the arachnid wisdom.
Helena felt even more energized in her ideas when Pete said yes before she even got up to the charity dinner. She simply asked if he would like to meet some women and he bear hugged her. Convincing Leena was slightly more challenging, but when HG explained it was for a good cause and she was having it catered, Leena was on board. HG took a deep breath, full of self-satisfaction that she was well on her way to solving all the romantic angst in the house.
And then she turned to face her biggest challenge – Myka.
In spite of it being fluff - I do appreciate your comments and feedback as always.