Chapter 7 Honesty is the Best Policy

Helena was not intentionally sneaking out of the house but she was being very quiet so as not to disturb her fellow agents. She had it all planned out of course. She would meet Jake by the tea garden and be back in plenty of time for the morning meeting. She felt fortunate that not even Leena was in the kitchen when she left.


It wasn't a really bad vibe that Pete woke up with that morning but it was something that he took note of. Something was off and he got up and searched the house to see if anyone was awake yet. It appeared everyone was still in their rooms but then he heard the kitchen door close softly. He quickly dressed and went downstairs not even stopping at the refrigerator which was a first for Pete. He looked at the back window and saw HG walking in the yard toward the trees. Maybe she was going to check on the tea garden. Pete desperately wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt especially since his vibe meter was not going off. He decided he would this time. The fact that Leena came in and said she was making cinnamon buns for breakfast had little to do with it.


Myka was rolling over in her bed promising herself just five more minutes and she would get up. The prior day's events had worn her out both physically and emotionally. When the adrenalin rush subsided yesterday, her muscles reminded her that she had lifted a very large woman with one arm in one pull. Then she pulled HG to her feet with the other. And all while Pete stood there and watched. 'What was going through his mind?' she wondered.

Being with Helena was certainly an experience. She wasn't just exploring her relationship with HG; she was learning how that very keen mind worked. She smiled to herself when she thought just how sweet Helena was for thinking of having a tea garden built. It was so amazing to Myka, who did things by the book both professionally and in her personal life, that Helena didn't follow any rules and simply moved forward without question. It didn't always turn out well and that, Myka thought, was the lesson Helena was learning. 'I have to take into account that she is still adjusting to a whole new world,' she reminded herself. 'There are so many new things for her to learn. So much has changed. There is so little left of her world,' Myka said silently in her half-awake state.

She had no idea that as she thought these things, Helena was downstairs reaching into the past with a vengeance.


Helena was also talking to herself – all the way back to the garden area where she silently prayed Jake would be fully clothed. She had decided that the effect this man was having on her was simply a combination of her own pent up frustrations as she waited patiently for Myka to come around and that this man was probably a descendant of her lover from many years ago. One hundred and twenty five years ago.

Jake waved to Helena from his truck and came down the slope as soon as he saw her.

"Good morning, Helena," he said as he walked towards her.

Helena smiled and waved back. "Thank you Jake for coming out here so early. I could have asked you all of this on the phone…," and then HG stopped because she didn't know exactly why she had decided they needed to do this in person.

"Jake, this is a rather odd question but do you know anything about your ancestors?" HG asked the young man.

"My ancestors?" he asked quizzically as he scratched his clean shaven face. He was dressed in a buttoned up deep green shirt. "You mean like my father's family or my mom's family?"

"Well, yes but specifically your father's side for now," HG clarified as she noticed for the first time that his eyes were green. Not as light as Myka's but they were green or maybe hazel.

"Well, let's see my dad's family came here a long time ago," Jake said thinking about her inquiry.

"From where?" HG asked.

"Ireland. My grandfather was here in the 1920's. He was a gardener at the White House," he said proudly.

"Lovely," HG said unimpressed because she wanted to go back further.

"And his father?" she asked.

"Hmmm, his father was a gardener for the Queen," Jake laughed at the irony of the conversation. "Yeah, he was working for your country, can you imagine that?"

"Yes, and his father. Do you know his father's name?" HG asked.

"Well, let's see. Hey how come you want to know all this?" Jake finally asked.

"Darling, I'll explain it all when we're done," she instructed trying to get him back on track.

"Oh, Ok so my father's name is Michael, his dad's name was Michael, and his dad's name was Michael and his dad's name was Collin. Isn't that funny? All Michael's except for him and me," Jake pointed out then added, '"But my brother is Michael."

Helena was trying to fit the names and times together to see if in fact this man was the descendant of her favorite gardener.

"And were all of them gardeners?" she asked.

"Well, not just gardeners, Helena. You see way back when; my great great great grandfather came into a bit of money and was able to open up his own business. That's how my great grandfather worked for royalty and my grandfather worked at the White House. My dad could have worked there, too but he wanted to move out here where my mom was from," he said. "That's how I got to be in South Dakota," he finished.

"That is very sweet, Jake," she said thinking how his dad had given up a job like that to marry his mother.

"So is that everything you wanted to know?" Jake asked.

Helena looked at the man's face that stood before her. Yes, there was a great deal of similarity in the eyes she thought. And his lips were so familiar to her that she put her hand out and ran her finger over them.

She was immediately taken back to that summer when Collin kissed her in the rose garden. She had never kissed a man before and it sent explosions of fireworks throughout her body. He was so gentle and warm that she allowed herself to follow his lead into uncharted territory. He brought her unbridled passion to new heights and she would never forget him because you never forget your first.

"Helena?" the young man asked as her fingers slid over his lips that reminded her of Collin. She stopped and looked into those eyes. Fire shot up her spine as memories brought her to that place again when Collin whispered her name in the rose garden. She leaned up her toes to get closer to his face.

Jake was confused by the whole morning. What did his ancestors have to do with any of this? Maybe Helena worked for one of those genealogy places and was conducting research for the town on where the citizens were from. But how dangerous a job could it be that she carried some sort of Taser? He was trying to figure out what the connection was as he stared into those deep pools filled with what he thought was raw desire. He was caught between wanting to be faithful and having just a little taste of what Helena was definitely on the verge of offering.

Helena leaned in further and then she saw it. Her reflection in his eyes. Not his eyes but the Connolly eyes - - Myka's eyes. She pulled back immediately, leaving Jake with his head slightly bent towards her.

"I am so sorry," she said more to Myka than Jake but he heard her. "I should never have tried that."

"It's ok," Jake said. "I knew this probably wasn't a good idea. I told Luanne that," he admitted.

"Pardon?" HG asked waiting to hear the click of a gun and stood back looking around.

"It's OK, Helena. Luanne isn't here. I told her I was coming here because you wanted to see me about something. I tell her everything. I'll probably tell her about this. I mean, you are a very tempting woman, Helena. Any guy would be lucky to have you but I got a good thing with Luanne and I don't want to mess that up," he spoke truthfully.

"You tell her everything?" HG asked more interested in how modern relationships work.

"Pretty much," he said. "You gotta be honest in a relationship or it eats away at it," the gardener slash philosopher told her. Helena stood there thinking about what he said.

"So you suggesting that I tell Myka that I almost kissed you and that is the better thing to do?" she asked her words coated in her thick accent.

"Myka? Well, yeah if that's who it would matter most to," Jake said putting all of this together.

"I mean, Helena, you didn't kiss me. You might have wanted to but you didn't. Myka should know that," he said. "I think she'll be glad to know that."

"Then I shall tell her," HG said affirmatively trusting that the young man knew something about this.

"Take care of yourself, Helena. I will see you in the spring," he said as he left. Helena began her walk back to the house.


This was all new to Helena. Sharing the wrongs that you almost committed? She thought back to that summer and how much trouble she got into with Charles when he found out she had been spending time with the staff. And Charles didn't know the half of it. But he made sure her parents kept close tabs on her as often as they could and he kept a close eye on her at the parties in the evenings. But Helena was on her best behavior at those parties with the other well to do families. The same could not be said for her when she left the parties to see Collin or Michael. Or when she turned in to bed with the help of her maid.

The summer came back to her in vivid color. They lay on the grass under the stars one night as the music played in the grand ballroom in the manor.

"What do you want out of life, Collin?" she asked him and he laughed.

"What do I want? Or what will I get?" he asked being realistic.

"What is your dream, Collin?" the inventor asked him.

"My dream? Where do you get these questions, Helena? Well, if I had to pick a dream, I would say I wish I had money to open up my own nursery and maybe sell the trees and plants to the very best families in England. I would take care of the gardening at the very best homes in London. Maybe your home, Helena," he said as he bent down to kiss her.

"What is your dream, Helena?" Collin asked as he lay back beside her.

"I want to travel," she said.

Leaving Waddesdon Manor at the end of the summer was one of the hardest things Helena had ever had to do. Her heart ached with missing for months after she left her four beloved new friends. She had never known such kindness and tenderness before. She sent money to each of the siblings and asked that they use it for finding their dreams.

At least now she knew, Collin had done so.


If Helena thought Charles' stern look that she saw often that summer was intimidating, it was nothing compared to the look on Pete's face when she came upon him on her walk back. He was standing at the cusp of the woods with Claudia. 'Did these people ever have anything to do?' she thought to herself.

"Oh, hello Pete, Claudia" she said a little startled to see them and then caught sight of his expression.

"Helena?" he said unable to put his thoughts into words just yet but his face said it all.

"What?" she asked innocently because she was not sure how much of this they had witnessed? Most of it was the answer.

"Look, what you do out here with the gardener- god is your business but I'm not going to let you hurt Myka…," he started.

"What? I didn't do anything!" she protested and it was a scene right out of that summer. How many times had she uttered that same phrase to Charles?

"Really? I saw what you did Helena," Pete said to her.

"What did you see? I didn't do anything," she tried again.

"Oh, has the definition of flirting changed a bunch since the 1890's? Cause HG, you were flirting with the guy," Claudia said and it sounded all too familiar to Helena.

"What? I wasn't flirting. I was inquiring. I need to find out about his ancestors," she said and then realized how lame that might sound.

"That is so lame," Pete confirmed. "You better come up with something better than that to tell Myka."

"No, I am going to tell Myka everything," HG shared.

"Everything?" Pete asked and now he sounded doubtful.

"Well, yes. I am going to be very honest with Myka and explain to her what I did," HG announced unequivocally.

Now it was Claudia who asked; "Everything?"

"It has been pointed out to me that the basis of any good relationship is honesty. So I shall tell Myka everything," HG said.

Now Pete and Claudia looked at each other unsure of what advice to give HG. Asking her to do anything else would sound as if they were telling her to lie or hide this from Myka. Yet both of then knew that hearing the truth didn't always bring about the results one expected.

"You're sure you know what you're doing, HG" Pet e asked and Helena smiled at him.

"Mr. Lattimer, I always know what I am doing," the Brit said walking ahead happy that the issue had been resolved.

"She has no idea what she's doing, does she?" Claudia asked,

"Nope," Pete confirmed.


By the time everyone was back in the house, Myka's curiosity was more than piqued considering all of her fellow agents were missing.

"Did I miss a memo?" was her subtle way of saying she felt left out.

"I smell cinnamon," Pete said backing out into the kitchen ungracefully.

"Oh, yeah, dude. Cinnamon," Claudia added unnecessarily. Myka saw right through them. So she turned her attention to the only agent left in the room.

"Why are they acting so weird?" she asked.

"Oh well I am not entirely sure I know why they are behaving so strangely. Actually, Myka I'm glad we have a moment alone here because I do want to talk to you," HG said and left Myka wondering what the connection was.

Pete stood at the kitchen door. "Shouldn't we warn Myka that HG is about to be all honest and open and to give her a chance?" Pete inquired.

"Yeah, you just go in there and do that, dude," Claudia said backing away from the door.

"Myka, I found myself very attracted to that young gardener," HG started and Myka's eyes widened but she didn't move. Helena now walked around the dining room table as she relayed: "At first I couldn't understand it. I thought it might have to do with seeing him practically half naked. I am not used to seeing men like that. But there was something more," she added and now Myka fell back in her chair for support. 'There's more?' she thought.

"I mean he is an exceptional male specimen with incredibly broad…," she went on until Myka said; "I get your point, Helena. I saw him, remember?"

"Oh yes, of course you did. Right-e-o then. Well, I thought about it a lot after I left him that day," HG related.

"The day you fainted?" Myka asked thinking now she understood what happened.

"Yes, that day. There was something about his face that was so very familiar to me. I couldn't stop thinking about it," HG said and Myka grabbed the table.

"You mean when you were kissing me?" she said and finally HG figured it out.

"Oh, Good Lord, Myka no! I meant later, much later. I dare say I could not think of anything but you when you did that," HG said saving herself. "And I fainted because you were touching me."

"Is there a point to this?" Myka asked.

"The point? Yes, of course there is darling. I do no talk just to hear myself," HG said smiling but noticed the stare coming back at her. 'Why was Myka being so impatient? It was not like her,' HG wondered.

"The point, my dear Myka is that I am being totally honest with you," HG said proudly and Myka swore she could hear Pete moan.

"Oh, geez HG," was what he actually had said on the other side of the door.

"About what, Helena?" Myka said as the pain tightened its grip on her forehead.

"That the reason I was attracted to Jake is because he's related to you!" HG said sticking her chest out as if she just solved the greatest mystery.

"What?" Myka asked but even she was unsure which thing she wanted to address first.

Pete was cringing on the other side of the door. What hadn't he coached her?

"It turns out that he is the great, great grandson of Collin Connolly! Your ancestor!" HG said as if this was the missing piece to a big puzzle.

"Helena, how do you even know this?" Myka asked.

"Well, when I met him this morning, I asked him. Myka, don't you know what this means?" HG asked enthusiastically.

"Yeah, it means she's gonna kill you," Pete said and Claudia joined him at the door.

Not being able to wait for Myka's response, HG gave her the answer. "I was not really attracted to Jake, Myka. He just reminded me of Collin. And I didn't kiss him this morning because of you!"

Myka tried to take in the information Helena was spewing. The gardener was somehow related to her and HG knew this because she asked him this morning? Where? When? And she didn't kiss him ….

"Helena, tell me again how you didn't kiss him?" Myka said very calmly.

"Of course, darling," HG said pleased that Myka was finally getting everything enough to ask questions.

"I was touching his lip because they reminded me so much of …. Myka?" HG said when Myka stood up.

"You were touching his lip?" Myka asked her voice raised and HG finally stopped for a minute to realize Myka was upset – really upset.

"Well, yes but only because they reminded me of Collin's ….," HG stopped herself.

"You're missing the point here, Myka!" HG said losing patience.

"Try me again," Myka said trying to calm herself.

"I wanted to kiss him but didn't because of you, Myka. I don't want to do anything that would hurt us. Not even if they reminded me of Collin's. I only want you," HG said almost out of breath.

"OK, that was better," Pete coached from the kitchen.

"You want me to appreciate that you wanted to kiss the gardener because he reminded you of someone you knew a long time ago but didn't because of me. Is that the gist?" Myka asked and Helena thought it over to see if she hit on every point. No wonder Myka was such a good agent. She really did get the detail of things.

"Yes and that I am being very honest about all this. That's important," HG said calmly. Myka extended her lips and shook her head thinking this over. Helena waited patiently while she did.

"This is all new to you, isn't it Helena?" Myka asked.

"The honesty part? Oh, yes I dare say if I ever admitted that back in my day I would have spent the summer in a great deal of trouble. But Jake told me that honesty is important in a relationship. When he told me that he was going to tell his wife about this morning, I decided that I should tell you," the Brit said and Myka could not help but smile at her innocence.

And then you could have heard the screeching as Myka's brain came to a halt.

"He was going to tell his wife that you almost kissed him, Helena?" Myka asked as the image of a large woman sitting on top of Helena came back to her.

"Well, yes. He said he is very honest with her," HG said missing the point and Myka prayed the couple was leaving on their second honeymoon trip soon.

"So, everything is OK, yes?" Helena said because she was losing interest in repeating the story.

Myka looked up at her friend from her seat. She was struck by how naïve Helena was in this regard. Why shouldn't Myka appreciate that she was being so honest with her? Wasn't that what everyone wanted from their partner? Myka was too confused to sort out most of what Helena said but she did understand the important parts.

Helena had not given in to something she wanted to do - because of Myka. Myka liked that. She liked it a lot.