A/N Posting a little early as a happy birthday to a fellow writer. Happy Belated Birthday Ajay! As Always, enjoy...


A Slice Of Life

Chapter 54

The day seemed to drag on and on as Travis counted the minutes to the last bell. He's still a little upset over being interrupted in the mail room that morning and is eager to pick up his and Arnold's conversation where it left off. When the bell finally rings, he waits for the last student to leave before turning out the lights and heading over to Arnold's office. He makes it there just as Arnold is packing up some files to take home and work on. Looking up from his desk, Arnold wonders what Travis could possibly want now.

"Hey, Arnold, you got a minute?" Travis says as he enters the room.

"Is this going to take long? My car is still in the shop and I don't want Helga to have to wait too long for me."

"No, it shouldn't take too long. I just have a couple of questions for you is all."

"Okay, well, have a seat and let's talk." Arnold says as he motions for Travis to sit down in the empty chair that sits across his desk. "So, what's on your mind?"

"Yeah, I, uh wanted to talk to you about that day you said your car broke down while you were on your way into work."

"Okaaay, what about it?"

"Well, I was just thinking that where it broke down, that's kind of an out of the way spot considering the direction the boarding house is from the school. Seemed strange that you'd be all the way out there if you were coming from home."

Arnold is beginning to wonder just what Travis's line of questioning is leading up to. "Not that it's anybody's business, but I agree, it was an out of the way route for me to take, but I had no choice, the roads by my house were all torn up and that's the detour route I was forced to follow. Why are you so concerned about that?"

"Wellll, it's come to my attention that you were seen…."

Before he can bring up the topic of Arnold and Amanda being seen at the Travel Lodge, there is a knock on Arnold's door, followed by it being opened, the head of a student peeking around it.

"Um, Mr. Shortman, are you busy?" Comes the voice of April Davidson, a senior on the verge of failing the 12th grade if she doesn't get her act together.

"April, come in." Arnold says as he gets up to greet the student. Looking at Travis he's not too subtle in his efforts to get the man to leave. "I'm not sure what you were trying to get at, Travis, but we'll have to finish this conversation at another time."

Frustrated by his unsuccessful attempt to talk to Arnold he heads for the door. "Oh, don't worry, we will definitely finish this conversation."

As the door shuts behind Travis Arnold opens it a bit so that he and the girl are not left behind closed doors, he motions for April to have a seat. Sitting in his own chair, he gives her his full attention. "Now then, April, what can I do for you?"


xxxxx

It's cold outside and Helga doesn't feel like waiting for Arnold in the car so, working quickly, she straps on a front snuggly carrier and slips Phillip into it. Throwing a blanket over him for good measure, she heads into the school, texting Arnold to meet her in the teacher's lounge. She meets Tonya and a couple of her friends as she walks through the parking lot. They beg her for a look at her son and ooh and aah over his sleeping face.

Tonya smiles at her comrade in arms. "So, I take it all went well?"

Knowing exactly what the girl is talking about, Helga gives a nod of her head. "Yep, everything's just fine and dandy as far as I'm concerned."

"Good." Is all Tonya says as she turns her attention back to Phillip.

Their little meet up is cut short when a car full of campus jocks comes racing by, horn blaring. It's driven by Blake who leads the group in a chorus of catcalls. Most are directed at Tonya and her friends but a lone "Looking good Mrs. Shortman!" can be heard among the shouting, followed by a rash of laughter. As they continue to drive by Blake raises his hands palms up in a "wasn't me!" manner before heading out of the parking lot.

Helga says her good-byes to the group of giggling girls and makes her way to the teacher's lounge. It's empty and she takes a seat on a small couch that sits in the middle of the room. She busies herself with her phone, only looking up when she hears the opening of the door. "Criminy", she thinks to herself as Amanda comes walking into the room.

There's a falter in Amanda's step as she spots Helga sitting on the couch, but she quickly composes herself as she silently walks past her. Neither women speak as Amanda fills her travel mug with hot water. Grabbing a tea bag, she dunks it in the water and loosely puts the mug's lid back in place. They feel each other out, both waiting to see which one will be the first to speak.

Finally, Helga starts to talk to no one in particular as she scrolls through her Facebook posts.

"I've known Arnold for a good majority of my life. As a matter of fact, I can't even remember a time in my life when I didn't know him. That's how far back we go. I knew from a very early age that he was the only man that would ever be in my life. My husband is a good man. Always was and always will be. He's kind, and considerate, a genuine gentle soul. The list goes on, but out of all his attributes, I'd have to say the one I value the most is his loyalty. He's as loyal as the day is long, and there is not one person in this whole world that will ever make me question him. Now, that being said, I, on the other hand, am not so gentle a soul and I pity anyone who tries to test me. Arnold has done a good job over the years to calm my volcanic temper, but that doesn't mean I'm not long overdue for an eruption. If I do finally reach the boiling point, you can mark my words that there will be no survivors."

Amanda's head snaps in Helga's direction, causing her to almost drop the mug of hot water she holds. Aghast at Helga's last sentence she finally breaks her silence. "Are you – threatening me?"

Still not looking at her, Helga lets out a little giggle. "Now why on earth would you think my words are directed towards you? Unless – there was something you might be guilty of perhaps?"

"What? What could I possibly have to feel guilty over?"

"Well now, see, you have nothing to worry your pretty little head over, do you?"

To Amanda, Helga's giggles seem to take on an eerily insane quality to them and it makes her very nervous. Giving the woman a wide berth, she takes her tea and heads for the door. Without looking she swings the door open, practically bumping into Arnold. As she passes she looks him in the eye as she speaks. "That woman is certifiably insane." Helga's laugh follows her as she walks down the otherwise quiet hallway.

As Helga gets up and walks towards her husband he gives her an exasperated look. "Helga – what was that all about?"

Kissing his cheek she says, "Absolutely nothing, I was just having a little fun. Now, let's go home, I have a lasagna to put in the oven."

As they drive home Arnold looks over to Helga and gives her a big smile. "Ten guesses as to what Derek gave me this morning."

"What? Is Derek courting you with gifts now? Is there something between the two of you you're not telling me?"

"Of course not." Arnold says through a chuckle. "You know you're the only man….uh, person for me."

"So I'm manly now. Huh, I'd like to see any man push a baby out of his body like I did Phillip, especially with the size of Phillip's head! No man could take that kind of pain."

"You don't think a man could take the pain of childbirth?"

"Absolutely not. First contraction and they'd be screaming for drugs."

"You can believe that if you want, but I bet I could handle it. What's a little muscle cramp or two?"

"Oh brother! Well you know, they do have those contraptions that simulate what it's like to give birth. We could find a doctor's office that has one and hook you up to it and…."

"No, no, that's perfectly okay. I'm not that eager to prove my point. You'll just have to take my word for it."

"Sure, Arnoldo, whatever you say."


xxxxx

Once home Arnold takes a sleeping Phillip up to the nursery while Helga throws a frozen lasagna in the oven. When Arnold comes back downstairs he has the package from Derek in his hands. Helga looks at it and begins to laugh.

"Oh, no, don't tell me."

"Yep." Arnold says. "Derek said his wife just had to get it for Phillip, to commemorate his first Christmas. Would you like to do the honors, or shall I?

"Why don't you open it while I make a salad."

Opening the box, their suspicions are right as Arnold pulls out a small wooden ornament. They can tell that it's one of Lila's handmade ornaments, this one in the shape of a Christmas tree. The same ribbon is strung through a small hole at the top of the tree that matches the one on the ornament Lila and Stinky gave them.

With dinner cooking Helga joins Arnold in the living room as he hangs the wooden tree next to the other five ornaments. As they sit on the couch admiring their collection, Arnold begins to nuzzle Helga's neck. His hand starts to wander her body as it finds its way under her shirt. She giggles as she tries to stop his advances.

"Arnold, we don't have time for this. Gerald will be here soon."

Not to be thwarted, he covers her mouth with his as he uses his body to push her down to a laying position. His hands expertly work the button on her jeans and once the zipper is down he reaches in, massaging her gently.

"Ahh," she says between pants, "you're not playing fair!"

He smiles as he slips her top off before removing her bra. "So, sue me." He says as he opens the fly on his own pants.

Once they are both freed of their restrictive clothing, he spreads her legs and is about to enter her when there is a knock at the door.

"See!" Helga says as she squirms out from under him. "I told you he'd be here any minute!"

Frustrated, Arnold buries his face in the couch cushion and gives a little yell. "Nooooo!"

"That's what you get, for not listening." She says as she finishes getting dressed. "Now put your pants back on while I get the door."

"Okay, but we're finishing this later!"

Answering the door, Gerald notices Helga's disheveled condition. That plus the fact that Arnold is zipping up his pants as he walks towards the door causes Gerald to give a little blush.

"Uhhh, I'm not disturbing anything, am I?" He asks.

"Don't be ridiculous." Helga says, waving him off. "Come on in, dinner will be ready in a little while. Can I get you a beer or anything?"

Both Gerald and Arnold agree that a beer sounds really good about now so Helga leaves the two alone as she heads to the kitchen. Gerald gives Arnold a questioning look as the two men sit down.

"You're sure I didn't interrupt something?"

Arnold's cheeks flush a bit, answering Gerald's question. "Eh, it's okay, you didn't interrupt anything that can't be continued later."

Seeing Helga reenter the room, the two men quickly change the subject. "Before I forget, I brought something for the Little Phil, from his Uncle Gerald."

Helga and Arnold exchange a look while doing their best to stifle a laugh. Gerald rummages through the backpack he's brought with him and pulls out a small box, handing it to Helga.

"Aw, Gerald, that's so sweet of you. I wonder what it could be." She opens the lid and finds this ornament to be in the shape of a baseball cap, similar to the one Arnold used to wear as a kid. It's even painted in the same light blue color. This time the word "Baby" is replaced with the words "Little Dude".

"Hey, I love it." Arnold says as he takes the ornament from his wife. "It's just like my old hat."

"Well, doi, I'm sure that's why he got it." Helga teases.

At that moment the oven timer goes off just as Phillip can be heard crying over the baby monitor. Helga leaves the two men to handle dinner while she runs upstairs to get her son. Bringing him downstairs she sits at the kitchen table and discreetly nurses Phillip as the three of them partake in a dinner of lasagna, salad and bread from Peterson Farms.

They sit and eat in silence for a couple of minutes when the subject of Phoebe comes up.

"So," Helga starts, "I heard from Phoebe recently." She watches Gerald's face, trying to read his expression.

"Oh yeah?" Gerald says. "What'd she have to say?"

"Oh, not much. Only that she's excited to be coming into town and she asked me if I wouldn't mind picking her up from the airport."

Gerald is a little saddened that Helga was the one Phoebe asked to come get her when her plane landed but he guesses he can't blame her. Trying his best to hide the hurt he gives a little smile.

"I talked to her a few days ago too. She says she'll be staying at her parents. Man it's going to feel like we're back in high school again, me having to pick her up at her parent's house in order to take her out on a date."

"Well, maybe that's a good thing." Arnold says. "It will bring up old memories for her, making her remember the old feelings and what made her fall in love with you."

"Arnold, that's the romantic in you talking. It will probably have the opposite effect and make her wonder what she ever saw in me to begin with."

"Geeze, Geraldo, that's too pessimistic even for me!" Helga blurts out. Softening up a bit, she reaches out and places her hand on his. "Don't over think it. It's going to be fine. Trust me."

Gerald's eyes grow hopeful at Helga's words. "Why, did she say something to you? What do you know that I don't?"

"No, she didn't say anything specific to me, but I know her, and I know her tone of voice. I'm almost sure she's leaning towards forgiveness and I bet you that by the end of her trip the two of you will be back together again."

Gerald shakes his head as he plays with the food on his plate. "I sure hope you're right, Helga."


xxxxx

Once dinner is done, and Gerald has said his good-byes Arnold helps Helga in the kitchen. He wraps up the leftover food as she puts the dishes into the dishwasher. He questions Helga over what she had said to Gerald over dinner.

"So just how are you so sure that Phoebe is going to forgive Gerald while she's here? What do you really know?"

"Like I said, I know Phoebe, and I can tell that she's softening in regards to Gerald. It's not so much what she says, but how she says it."

"Well, I hope you're right, cause I'd hate for your words to build up his hope unnecessarily."

"Don't worry. I know what I'm talking about."

He places his arms around her waist and gives her a kiss. "Okay, I'll trust you on this one. Now come on, we've got some unfinished business to take care of." He says as he takes her hand and leads her upstairs.