Unsinkable
Myka and Helena woke to the sound of hysterical laughter as Bridget and the actresses talked loudly on the stairs outside.
"Bloody hell," Helena said, remembering her house was filled with unwanted guests.
"Good morning, and welcome to the Wells Inn on Central Park West," Myka teased.
"Bering and Wells Inn, you mean," Helena corrected her. Since the moment Myka agreed to move in, Helena never once slipped and called it her home. "Company - and Leena's tea?" the Brit moaned as she dragged herself to get ready.
Myka went into the bathroom to wash up, as Helena let hot water pulsate on her shoulders.
"Why were you up so early this morning?" Myka asked, remembering Helena coming back to bed.
"Your dear friend was attempting an early morning escape," Helena shouted out. She turned off the water and opened the door.
"And you stopped her?" Myka asked, holding the robe open as Helena stepped out of the shower.
"Yes. The only thing worse than middle of the night tea with your friend, would be middle of the night lecture from Detective Tierney – who would, with my luck, find Ms. Cummings and return her to me," Helena said. "Remind me to inform her that not all roads lead to our house."
"That was very sweet of you. No doubt Bridget was feeling left out with the actresses," Myka pondered.
'Yes, well nothing that a cup of tea didn't fix," Helena revealed.
"You made her tea?" Myka asked surprised. She knew this was something Helena would only do for someone she liked.
"Well what was I to do with her? She needs to be in a relationship, and it isn't going to be with either of those women," Helena surmised.
"I wish we could find someone for her. Do you know anyone?" Myka asked, toweling off Helena's hair and leading her exactly where she wanted her to go.
"How the bloody…?" Helena said, but stopped. "Perhaps we could introduce her to someone."
"Oh my God, Helena!" Myka said biting her lip at her cute Helena was when she tried to shrug off her kindness.
"What?" the Brit asked slightly impatient.
"You're going to play Cupid, aren't you?" Myka asked.
"I am doing nothing of the sort. Ms. Cummings' affairs are of no interest to me," Helena retreated.
"But you will maybe….," Myka said in an adorable tone – the one she used when she wanted Helena to do something – "…think about it?" Myka's hands where untying the robe and around Helena's waist.
"Are you trying to bribe me?" Helena asked surprised.
"No. I am asking you to consider it," Myka said, not paying her any attention. "This, is because I love the feel of you naked."
"I ….would…give you my kingdom when you…touch me like that," Helena said between gasps.
"I don't need a kingdom, Helena. I just need …you," Myka said, zeroing in on the spot that made Helena weak at the knees. Of all of Helena's erogenous zones throughout her body, the part of her back just below her waist was one of the most sensitive. All Myka had to do was brush her fingers over it and Helena lost her concentration. There were other spots, of course that Helena wanted Myka to focus on, but this was the place that Myka could count on to distract her lover.
"Yes," Helena said, because that was always what she said when Myka was gliding her fingers across bare skin there.
"More of that later," Myka said, knowing they had guests to attend to. She kissed Helena's parted lips to bring her back.
"I want more of that later," Helena said, because her hearing often didn't work when in the trance that was Myka's touch.
When they emerged from the inner room, their outfits were laid out on the bed. Myka marveled at how the latest intern from the Fashion Institute of Technology managed to choose such appropriate outfits. There on the bed was a Carolina Herrera embroidered ribbon stripe dress with matching bolero jacket. The background was navy with lighter blue stripes. Helena loved Myka in blues because it reflected in her eyes.
Helena's outfit was a Monique Lhuillier original design, consisting of a white skirt and black shell blouse with a to-die-for jacket. The black silk jacket was imprinted with an ink and white swirl design with wings that covered the front and the back. Helena looked stunning in it, and as she bent down to fasten the straps on her Jimmy Choo's, Myka noticed the imprint of two wings on the back of the jacket near her shoulder blades.
"I think those good deeds have earned you more than stripes," Myka teased, touching the design.
"No good deed goes unpunished, Myka," Helena reminded her.
There was chatter coming from the kitchen and Helena moaned her regret as she entered.
"Helena!" Jaime shouted. "Thank you so much for allowing us to stay after we caused that disturbance."
Helena smiled her acknowledgement and took her tea.
"Jaime tells me I was less than discrete last night. I want to apologize. It's just when I get together with her, I do the craziest things," Joanne practically giggled.
Helena nodded, but it was Myka who stared at the woman – her frown conveying the message – remember, we talked about this? The woman hardly remembered last night, let alone Myka's speech.
"Helena, I didn't properly introduce you. This is Joanne Kelly, the actress I told you about," Jaime said.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. Jaime has told me all about you," Joanne said politely.
"This is Myka Bering," Helena said. "I believe you've already met." A smile crossed Helena's lips at the thought that Myka had put the lookalike in her place.
"Would it be okay for us to look at some of the things you said belonged to HG Wells? If we finalize the contracts and Jo and I are fortunate enough to work on your show, we'd welcome the chance to see anything authentic," Jaime said. "God, I love that jacket," the English actress exclaimed, touching the sleeve of the three thousand dollar design.
Helena stared her -'how dare you touch me" look – but it didn't work.
"Helena, would you like me to show them to the library?" Leena asked, because she now spoke Helena-ese.
"I would like you to take them….," Helena said because she found it impossible to be polite and drink Leena's tea.
"Yes," Myka filled in for Helena since there was no reason to be rude.
"Do not put your hands all over everything," Helena said, as if they were children. The way they giggled and scampered out of the room with Leena, it was easy to understand the warning.
Bridget finished her coffee and got up to leave. "Call me, Myka," she said and then approached the Brit and hugged her. "Thanks again, Helena. I appreciate the talk," she said and left.
"See what I mean, Myka?" Helena said. Myka looked at her quizzically. "No good deed."
When John and Kathleen Sullivan got to their jobs that morning, each found a small note tucked in their jacket pockets. Small folded up pieces of paper that simply stated their daughter's love, with her signature. Eileen had not slept much, in spite of being in Claudia's arms most of the night. The news that Helena shared raised many questions – about Eileen's biological parents, her kinship, and her future. Eileen needed to take it in a little at a time.
Claudia knew Eileen had a lot on her mind, and so she kept the joking to a minimum. Even when Eileen jumped up from the table because their breakfast made them late - Claudia refrained from asking who would fire her. The techie knew her girlfriend well, and knew things were bubbling up inside her, and prayed Helena would have a clue how to handle this.
Eileen may have had Wells blood in those veins, but that heart pounding in her chest and sweaty palms were all Sullivan. Claudia couldn't even go to Irene on this because she wasn't sure if anyone knew.
"Remember, I'm a text away if you need me," Claudia assured Eileen as they parted ways.
"No, now be careful with that. Ms. Wells does not want you….," Helena heard Leena said and walked into the room. The actresses were soaking up all they could.
"So, his sister was the real HG Wells?" Joanne asked her friend.
"Yes, isn't that amazing. She was brilliant. I would play her of course," Jaime teased her friend.
"They're like children," Helena said in a low voice to Myka.
"Oh Ms. Wells, I hope you and I didn't get off on the wrong foot last night," the Canadian actress said apologetically. "It's just that I've known Jaime a long time and have always had a kind of girl crush on her. I mean -it's Jaime Murray right?" Joanne tried to explain.
"It isn't my foot you should be concerned with," Helena said, meaning Myka was the one upset. As she was saying it, the snarkiness faded from her tone. The closer the woman got to Helena, and she was getting pretty close, the more Helena slowed down. Helena couldn't help it – it was hard to be curt with someone who looked a lot like Myka.
Myka understood – but didn't care.
"Helena?" she said pulling her out of the oncoming greeting.
To the actress, it was just harmless play. They were performers after all, who were always thirsting for recognition and stroking. There would be neither as far as Myka was concerned.
"I'd love for you to consider me for the role of the …eh, friend," Joanne said, having heard from her fellow artist what the premise was.
"Contact Ms. Sullivan at Wells Corp," Myka said. "She's heading this up for Ms. Wells." It was Myka's first Wells Corp executive decision – based solely on feeling – and without Helena's input.
Myka and Helena backed out of the room, nodding their farewells.
"Oh, the nerve of that woman! Did I not make it perfectly clear to her? She must have been drunker than I thought," Myka said as she put on her coat. Helena didn't say a word – she just enjoyed her jealous lover's rant.
"Myka?" Warren called from the upper landing. Myka had forgotten that her father was leaving. He was packed and all ready to go. Steve was driving him to the airport soon.
"Oh Daddy," Myka said, hugging him when he came downstairs.
"Thank you, Helena for having me as your guest. And for …everything," Warren said. Helena knew what he meant.
"You are most welcome. I hope you and Mrs. Bering will return for a visit," Helena said sincerely.
"We will. Now, you take care of my girl," Warren said.
"Indeed, I shall," Helena assured him.
The father and daughter embraced and he promised to text Myka when he got to Colorado Springs.
By the time Helena got off the elevator, the emotions, confusion, and questions that were boiling inside of Eileen were about to explode. She fixed Helena's tea and brought it in, murmuring to herself the whole time.
"Thank you, Miss….," was out of Helena's mouth when she was cut off.
"You're welcome. Thank you for coming to dinner. Thank you for finding out about my family. Thank you for not hurting my mother," the young woman spouted.
"I would never harm…," Helena tried to say, but was cut off again.
"And thank you for making sure Claudia knows nothing changes between you, because she really cares about you and nothing can change or it would break her heart. So, yeah, thank you for talking to her," Eileen said. She looked up at the ceiling as if her checklist of urgent things to discuss was written up there.
"Anything else?" Helena said, trying to muster up patience.
"Yes! I am not moving into that office!" Eileen snapped and quickly added, "But thank you anyway."
She walked briskly out of the office, shutting the door harder than she planned and cringing when it banged.
"Sorry," she said, poking her head back in and withdrawing it quickly like a turtle. This time the door closed more quietly.
"Ah yes, the undeniable Wells spirit," Helena mused as she looked at her calendar for next week. "Ms. Sullivan?" she asked on the intercom, "Why do I have these meetings scheduled for breakfast, lunch and evening next week?"
Myka was greeted warmly by Millie who brought in her mail and messages. The woman was even more excited than usual.
"Oh Ms. Bering, promise me you'll come to my workshop next week?" the assistant begged.
"Oh well, I …would…well, yes if I can," Myka said, unsure of whether or not that was a good idea.
"Or you know, I could always give you and Ms. Wells a private lesson," Millie said and meant it in the spirit of sharing.
"Oh …," Myka said and couldn't come up with an image of that scenario that didn't make her blush.
"Well, you decide. Remember – it's almost Valentine's Day, and we're going to do chocolate covered strawberries," the woman said, her head nodding with both eyebrows raised.
"Covered chocolate strawberries?" Myka said, tripping over the words.
"What are you getting Ms. Wells for Valentine's day?" Millie asked.
The simple question stopped Myka in her tracks. What was she going to get the woman who had everything?
"I…eh…haven't…," Myka said.
"Don't worry, Ms. Bering, you'll think of something good," Millie assured her and walked back out.
"Bering in big trouble. No ideas for Valentine's Day. We have to help her," was the message the assistant sent out to Eileen, and a few other trusted individuals in the firm.