Here's chapter 4. Cute stuff in this. I know, it's a slow start but I want to do it just right. Enjoy! If you've seen the movie 'PS...I Love You" well, this is sorta the same idea.
I own nothing belonging to Dick Wolfe and SHED productions.
Ps – I Love You
Chapter 4
Helen opened the letter and sat back even more into the soft couch. She curled her feet under her and began to read.
Hello love,
I hope the flight here wasn't too bad. I know how you hate to fly more then 10 hours. I'm sorry love. I promise to make it up to you. Now…how do you like the place? I knew you'd love it. Are you all unpacked?
Helen looked up and just stared at her luggage. Shaking her head she looked back down at the letter she continued reading.
Helen…why haven't you unpacked yet? I know that once you start working you'll completely forget to do it then you'll be living out of that thing for the rest of your stay. So go and unpack…now. I won't be going anywhere. I'll wait here…that's it…up you go…Sighing loudly, Helen got up and dragged her bags to the huge room. She unpacked everything in a hurry. She came back out and plopped down onto the couch and picked up the letter.
Feel better now?"No. Not really"
Aww…come on now love. It builds character…"How is lifting heavy luggage around supposed to build my character? Besides, I like my character," Helen huffed.
I'm only teasing. You know I love every bit of you.Smiling, Helen traced her wife's writing. She could even smell a hint of Nikki's scent on the letter. How she missed her.
Helen…I don't want you to be trapped up in here for the rest of the year. That's not what I want. I want you to enjoy yourself while you're here.
"Nikki…I can't. You know you can't. It hurts…"
I know love. I know it hurts. I need you to trust me, ok? Can you do that for me?Nodding, Helen wiped away the tears that threatened to fall. Even after all this time, she never let them fall.
I'll never leave you. I'll always be there. I know that's hard to believe, but I'll be around you. I know you'll find yourself someone to fancy here…
"Nikki…how can you say that? There's no one I'd want to be with…besides, there is no one like you…" She couldn't believe what she was reading. How could Nikki think that she could ever find someone else?
I know you don't want to, but you will. You're too wonderful to not have someone love you. Helen…I don't want you to find someone like me. I am one of a kind after all…
Rolling her eyes, Helen couldn't help but smile at her wife's teasing. She always had a way of getting Helen to smile.
You know it's true Helen. I also know that there is someone out there that fancy's you. You know who it is but I know you'll fight tooth and nail to try and ignore it. She's right under your nose.
An image of a dark haired detective came to mind and how her smile warmed Helen's insides. Shaking her head, she knew it would be impossible to fall in love again.
I know you don't want to hear this now so I'll stop. You'll know when you're ready to move on. Until then, you're stuck with me.
I've stocked the refrigerator with your favourite beverage – red wine. Now don't finish it all, love. Save some of that for the right time. I've also taken the liberty to list all the nearest places that carry your red wine - just in case you don't listen to me and finish it all in one night.
I've also taken care of your reading material as well as some of your favourite movies. You have nothing to worry about. So sit back and relax and watch some tele. Before you know it, the year will have passed by just like that. And if you behave, you'll be getting another letter from me.
Talk to you soon,
Nikki
PS … I love you.
Helen lovingly caressed the letter. She slipped it back into the envelope and gently laid it on the coffee table. She sat and stared at her loft. Two – stories of exposed brick, wood beams through out the room, stainless steel appliances a huge flat screen.
But what caught her attention was the bookshelf that was lined along the loft wall. It had everything from Shakespeare to the copy of Sophie's World she had given to Nikki all those years ago. She ran a finger over the spine of Sophie's World. A sad smile spread across her face. Helen doubted she could ever open the book again and not want to cry. She stepped back and headed for her room.
She climbed in and wrapped the comforter around her. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep. Images of Nikki and Mackenzie filled her mind.
5:30 pm
Trudging through the hallway, Mack did her best to stay up right. It was an exhausting day to say the least. The moment Mackenzie stepped foot into the station that morning, she was chewed out by the captain and hassled by the others. The one bright spot in her day was meeting Helen. She smiled at the thought of the fiery Scot and wondered how she was settling in.
Mack stopped in front of Helen's door and wondered. Nah…she's probably resting now. She moved across the hallway and slid open her own door. Maybe tomorrow…
Just then, she got hit in the head with a pillow. She turned to see her son giggling. Looks like my evening is already planned out. She smiled as she grabbed a cushion and headed for Alex.
"You better run…" Alex took off down the hall with a squeal as Mack ran after him.
8:45 pm
Helen woke up to a darkened room. She was slightly disoriented but quickly regained her bearings. She sighed and stumbled out of bed and headed for the living area. It had gotten colder while she slept so she made her way to the kitchen to make herself some tea.
As she set the kettle on the stove Helen heard a slight ruckus outside her door. She heard laughter from both a young child and an adult. It sounded as if they were having the time of their lives. Helen smiled warmly.
Helen made her way to the door and slid it open. What she wasn't prepared for was a soccer ball heading her way. A hand came out of nowhere and caught it before it could have done any damage. Helen stumbled back and would have fallen if it weren't for a pair of strong hands holding her up.
"Are you all right?" said the stranger. Helen knew that voice. She felt herself being steadied when she looked up to see a pair of warm brown eyes stare at her with concern.
"Mrs. Stewart?" Said the voice. And for a moment, Helen thought she saw Nikki in those eyes. They look so much like hers…
"Hello? Mrs. Stewart? Are you aright?" Helen blinked a few times and came face to face with Mackenzie.
"I'm…I'm ok. Thank you," Helen replied breathlessly. Still looking at her with concern, Mack just nodded and held on to her waist just a little longer. Helen straightened herself up and took a calm breath.
It donned on Helen that Mackenzie was in her building. "What are you doing here?" Said a confused Helen.
A ghost of a smile formed on Mack's face. She had to look away from Helen's expression or else she would burst out laughing. Clearing her throat and looking back at Helen, Mackenzie couldn't help but laugh a little.
"What? What is so funny?"
"Um…well…nothing actually. I…uh…I live here…" Mack pointed to her loft in front of Helen's.
Eyes wide as saucers stared back at Mack. She couldn't help it, Mackenzie laughed. Just then Alex came running up looking a bit frightened and he hid behind his mama's legs. Mack placed a tender hand on top of her son's head and smiled down at him.
"Did you want to say hi Bud?" She asks softly. Peeking from behind her, Alex just looked up at Helen.
Helen smiled gently at the new comer. She knelt down and softly said hello. Sucking in his bottom lip, Alex gingerly moved from behind his mom but stayed as close to her as he could. He studied Helen for a moment then looked up at his mom to see if it was ok to say hello. Mack smiled and nodded her approval.
Helen watched the two. She was captivated by the young boy and couldn't help but feel a slight pang of pain shoot through her. She and Nikki had been planning on having children one day. Helen had longed for a child of her own but without Nikki, she just couldn't see herself having one with anyone else.
Mack knelt down behind her son and wrapped her arms around him. "Go on…it's alright," she gently urged. Slowly, Alex held out his little hand. Helen smiled brightly and took the hand that was offered and shook it.
"Well hello young man. How old are you?"
"Eight" came a small voice. Helen couldn't help but smile even wider. She glanced at Mackenzie who had been watching her and Helen's smile softened a bit and they both seemed lost in each other. They stayed that for a moment until the sound of shuffling feet brought them back.
Turning her attention to the little boy Helen smiled brightly again. "Wow. That practically makes you a big boy now, yeah?" He stood slightly taller and nodded.
Turning to his mom, Alex said proudly, "see mom. I told you." Both women laughed. Not only does she have beautiful eyes, but a beautiful laugh too. Mackenzie wasn't the only one that thought that.
"I like your laugh…it sounds pretty," said a shy little boy. Helen blushed but smiled brightly. Mack just stared at the sheer beauty of Helen's smile.
"Well thank you. You have a fine laugh yourself young man." Helen couldn't help but fall in love with this little boy instantly. "I'm sorry, but I didn't catch your name…"
"Alex…what's yours?" He asked quietly. Eyes sparkling, Helen reached out and brushed a lock of hair that fell over the boy's forehead.
"Helen…"
"It's pretty," Alex said bashfully. Alex giggled and both adults laughed at the sight of it.
Helen shook her head and got up. Mack followed her lead and picked up her son.
"Ok Romeo. It's time to wash up for dinner. Scram!" Placing Alex down, Mack lightly patted his bottom and he took off laughing. "Hey! Don't forget your ball!" Alex came screeching back and picked it up then took off once more.
"You start them off young."
Turning around Mack saw that Helen had a mischievous smile on her face. Smiling herself Mack blushed.
"Yeah…figured he could use a head start." They both laughed at that. Mack shoved her hands into her pockets to keep from reaching out to Helen.
"You have lovely son."
"Thanks. I don't know what I'd do with out him." Both women fell silent once more. After a moment that felt more like a life time, Mack stared at Helen.
Clearing her throat in the awkward silence, Helen was about to turn and head back for her loft when Mack stopped her.
"Have you had dinner yet?" Mack wasn't sure why she just asked that but felt the need to be close to Helen.
Shaking her head Helen gestured to her place. "No I haven't. I was actually making some tea…" and as if on cue, the kettle began to whistle. Motioning that she was going to be right back, Helen rushed in and turned off the stove and moved the kettle.
Making her way back to Mack, Helen smiled. "I haven't had a thing yet. I thought maybe I could get some Chinese take away."
"Take away? … oh! You mean take out?" Watching Helen nod Mackenzie smiled. "Why don't you have dinner with us?" Seeing the surprised look on her face, Mack quickly added, "think of it as a peace offering for this morning and for almost getting you killed by a soccer ball…"
Helen thought for a moment. It can't hurt. Besides, I'm starving. Slowly smiling, Helen nodded. "Just as long as I can return the favour one day."
Smiling brightly at that, Mack led them to her loft. "Deal!"
