'Wait!' Myka gripped her girlfriend's shirt sleeve as a loud knock on the heavy oak door ran through the house. 'I can't do it.' Myka bit on her lip. 'Can't we just hide and pretend nobodies here.'
'Darling.' Helena looked at the brunette with a sceptically raised eyebrow. 'I don't think that is quite going to work when not only did I purchased them tickets to fly here but sent a driver to collect and deliver them to this very door.'
'But…'
'No buts Bering. Anybody would think you're ashamed of me?' Helena produced her best pout.
'Don't be crazy.' The museum curator patted her girlfriends wandering hands away.
The door knocked again.
'Darling I really must protest we must answer the door this instant. Shall I?...Or would you like to go first?' Helena stood back and pointed in the direction of the noisy family waiting outside.
'Oh God. I'll do it! Just wait here…. I'll speak to them first.' Myka bit her lip and gathered what breath she could as she reached for the shiny brass door knob.
'Myka! Mom she's here!' Tracey stood on the door step and called back to their Mother who had begun to wander around the side of the house.
'Did you not hear us?' Mrs Bering chastised her curly haired daughter.
'I..uh ..sorry Mom we were just at the back of the house.' The museum curator rolled her eyes at her useless excuse.
Mrs Bering immediately melted and launched herself at her daughter. 'Oh come here! Let me look at you….. Sweetheart you look so well. Is this where you are living now?' The older lady tried to peak past her tall daughter's shoulder in awe.
'Sort of.' Myka looked nervously at her shoes.
'What does that mean? Myka look at me when I'm talking to you for heaven's sake.' Mr Bering tilted her daughter's chin up.
'I just haven't moved anything in yet.' The museum curator felt like a teenager being forced to describe her day at school.
'But you are living here then right?' Tracey butted in trying to muzzle her way in to the porch. 'You're ACTUALLY living with HG WELLS?!'
'I uhh I guess ….'
'Myka do you know anything about your life? Honestly you're just as flakey as ever.' Mr Bering spoke up from behind the females of the family.
Listening in a few metres away Helena shook her head with a smile at how suddenly inarticulate her clever girlfriend had become. It was time for her to make her introductions.
'Myka darling. Don't be so coy. Of course she lives here now and yes it is with me. HG Wells, nice to meet you.' Helena held out her hand first to Mrs Bering then to Tracey who seemed to be positively buzzing on the spot. The actress reached out across the women towards Mr Bering but found he made no effort to take her hand in return.
Pulling back Helena placed her hand's behind her back and swung on the balls of her feet. 'So shall we take a seat or shall I bring tea out to the porch?' Helena smiled causing a grin from Mrs Bering and a slightly maniacal laugh from Myka's sister. Again Mr Bering kept a straight face; he was not going to give his feelings up very fast at all.
Half bowing Helena stood back and held her hand out in the direction of the living room. 'Please go on in. I'll collect your luggage and be with you in a jiffy.' Discreetly Helena stroked Myka's arm as she passed trying desperately to convey some form of convert. As Mr Bering made his way through the door Helena held her hand out once more blocking his path to the lounge.
'We were a little cramped out there sir. May I just say it is a pleasure to meet you? I have heard so much about your fascinating little book store. I would love to see it one day after all the stories I've heard from Myka. It sounds like a treasure trove.' Helena smiled as Mr Bering squeezed her hand politely in return.
'It's more of a jumbled heap if you ask me.' Mr Bering's posture went straight as if on defence.
'That is not how Myka describes it…. I guess I will just have to see it for myself.' Helena grinned again and showed the taller man through to the sitting room.
Hastily running back through the open front door as promised the actress collected every bit of luggage and delivered it to the correct room before arriving back in the sitting room with a tray of tea and coffee.
'Refreshments ! I'm sure you're all parched after your long journey I hope the flight wasn't too turbulent?' Helena winked at Tracey as she handed her cup.
'Oh Helena, may I call you Helena?' Tracey almost threw her half-filled drink to the floor. ' Of course I can right? You are dating my sis after all?'
'You can call me whatever you like. Within reason.' Helena raised an eyebrow sarcastically.
'Thank you, Helena it is, although you could be shortened to Hels, what da ya think? Wow I think we are going to be great friends. The flight was perfect, first class, you have impeccable taste just like me, we should go shopping sometime, maybe this weekend, in London!' Tracey paused at last for breath and quickly Myka interrupted her sister's garble.
'Trace. You've only just got here. Let Helena sit down at least for christsake.' Sighing Myka fidgeted back into her seat and gestured for her girlfriend to sit at her side.
'Duh. Of course she can sit Mykes. I didn't mean right now. Tomorrow perhaps.' Completely unabashed Tracey continued to stare and mimic every move the actress made in awe of her favourite star.
'So Helena Wells.' Myka's mum started to speak a twinkle in her eye. 'What a whirlwind romance you too have begun. Are you sure you want Myka to live here with you already? She's a terrible cook, she likes clutter too, it'll take a lot of getting used to I would imagine.'
'I am more than up for the challenge. Believe me, Myka has done so much for me, more than she probably realises, the least I can do is the cooking and put up with her collection of artefacts. We have plenty of room; I'm going to set the library as her study.'
'You are?' Myka quickly turned to face her girlfriend.
'Well only if you think it will work? I thought I could knock through into the room next door, set up a desk, cabinets, you should have plenty of room for your work then.'
'More than enough! You don't have to do that though Helena.' Myka felt her heart leap as Helena's warmth wrapped around her heart.
'I want to. It's about time I had a good project to get into. It's going to be the most magnificent office you ever saw. I want to build skylight and set up a long telescope so we can look out into the starts on a wintery evening, I have the blueprints in my mind already. It's going to fold away with a crank like this, then flip up here….and…' Getting carried away by her invention Helena blushed and shook her head but noticed Myka smiling at her goofily. 'I do apologise, the prospect of actually having time to start creating some of my mad hair brain ideas is quite exciting.'
'Yes, because you're no longer employed, at least that's what Jeanie tells me?' Myka's Father kept his voice stern his eyes looking at the actress unapprovingly.
Helena returned Mr Bering's steely gaze with just as much strength. 'Yes sir that is correct but as I have savings well exceeding seven figures I'm sure we will do just fine. I'm going to write as well. Who knows perhaps I will follow in the true HG Wells' footsteps.'
Oogling l at Helena's statement Mr Bering dropped his teaspoon into his hot mug of coffee. He cleared his throat, 'Ah, well, I'm sure you have everything covered then.'
Before Myka could utter a word her sister joined in, 'Dad you do realise how famous Helena is don't you? Christ you are embarrassing! Helena, I am so sorry, ignore him, he is practically a fossil.'
Trying to a suppress a grin at Mr Bering's disgruntled face Helena stood up clapping her hands. 'Right well, I'll leave you all to it for a moment I think. Lunch is almost ready so I best get to the kitchen.'
'Right!' Tracey stood up hands on hips. 'Show me where you need me, I'll wash, serve, whatever you need, my hands are yours!'
'Ah well, I don't really…' Helena tried to speak.
'Nonsense. You have my devoted attention, I'm an excellent sous chef, lead the way!' With that Tracey hooked the actresses arm and stood to attention.
Myka looked at her girlfriend mouthing a silent apology. Helena smiled back warmly, it didn't matter, she would endure anything and anyone for Myka.
'I'd be very happy for your help.' Ever polite Helena took Tracy's grip and guided her towards the kitchen.
'Sooo.' Myka blew the hair from her eyes. 'What do you think?'
Mrs Bering was the first to speak. 'Darling she's wonderful. You couldn't have picked better.'
'Really?' Myka's eyes opened wide with surprise. 'You're ok with this?' The museum curator eyed her Father curiously.
'More than sweetheart. I'm so pleased you have finely started to settle. I was beginning to think you would be a spinster your whole life.' Mrs Bering rubbed her daughter's knee lovingly.
'Gee thanks Mom.' Myka patted her mum's hand yet still held her Father's gaze. 'What about you?'
'I'll get used to it I suppose.'
'Warren!' Mrs Bering looked at her husband in shock.
'What Jeanie? I cannot pretend that this is normal when it clearly isn't. I need to get used to it without all you bloody women forcing me to be happy with something I'm not.'
Mrs Bering shook her head disappointed and looked at her daughter. 'Ignore him Myka. Tracey and I are so pleased for you. I can see this is right, why can't you Warren?'
Myka felt a lump in her throat. She couldn't speak. She knew her Father would be difficult but hearing the words still stung and hurt more than she ever imagined.
Warren looked away and grumbled to the floor. 'This wouldn't have happened in my day. It's just fashionable now to be gay. I never thought you were one to follow the trends Myka.'
'A trend? Is that seriously what you think? I always thought that no matter what you thought you would be happy for me because you love me. Clearly I was very mistaken and just to top it all off you are showing right now that you have obviously never really known me at all!' Myka leapt from her spot on the sofa shaking off her Mother's grip and headed towards the door.
'Myka where are you going?' Jeannie looked at her husband desperate for him to fix what he had done.
'Let her go Jeannie, she's just creating a scene because she can't get what she wants.' Warren looked as his daughter. As he said the words he knew he didn't really mean it but he couldn't stop what he was saying from falling out of his mouth.
'Dad….' Myka felt at a loss for words. 'I've always been the quiet one, the studious one, the sensible one… I've done everything I can to impress you; all I want is for you to be proud of me …. It's now become completely apparent this is an absolutely unachievable goal.' Pulling open the front door Myka looked at her mum with tears in her eyes.
'Please tell Helena I'm sorry I've ruined her lunch…but…. I just need some space.' With that Myka exited the house and slammed the door behind her.
As if on cue Helena kicked open the kitchen stable door with platters of hot food balanced on either hand. 'Dinner is served! Up to the table…' Helena glanced around her living room. 'Where's Myka?'
Jeannie stood up her own tears welling, 'I'm so sorry Helena. She's ..… gone.'
