Summary: Part 6 has arrived at last! A little on the short side, but trust me, the story will be getting better.
Disclaimer: I own everyone and everything from "The Practice". In fact, I'm actually DEK. If you believe that, then next I'm going to tell you about how Lucy never means to cause any trouble…
Feedback: Always appreciated! Thanks to the many, MANY people who have reviewed my story like crazy. Your nags are what keep me going!
Only a Matter of Time
Part Five: Stranger From the Past
Helen sped down the streets of Boston carelessly, her foot never leaving the accelerator. She slowed only briefly at a red light before taking off once more. She didn't think she could stop if she tried.
Her head was pounding and her hands were shaking. She couldn't believe she had been so stupid! She actually allowed herself to trust Bobby again, and what did he do? Betray her once more! She should have known better!
Poor Lindsay! She must have caused her best friend so much pain…going back and forth with Bobby. Then again, it was Lindsay who first stole Bobby from Helen. Didn't that justify all of Helen's mistakes with Bobby, then?
A silent tear trickled down her face, burning her flushed cheeks. She couldn't believe herself. Here she was, driving at ninety miles per hour, crying like a naïve, little schoolgirl, and for what? For Bobby Donnell? She despised herself for allowing Bobby to control her emotions like this. She was supposed to be the one in control, not him!
Helen slammed on her breaks instantly, as a black BMW came speeding around the corner. The two cars skid, and were barely an inch from colliding when they stopped. Helen jumped out of her car frantically, praying that she hadn't hit the car.
"Are you okay?" the man from inside the BMW questioned. Helen nodded slowly. She opened her mouth to apologize, but no words came out. She was in too much shock to speak.
"I'm sorry," the man said, climbing out of his car. "It's my fault. I was in a hurry to get to a meeting and…" He paused, squinting in the sunlight. A slow smile crept over his face. "Helen Gamble?" he asked, curiously.
Helen strained to get a better look at the man. "Oh my God," she said slowly. "Pat! I barely recognize you. Wow, you've changed a lot since college!"
He smiled sheepishly as he walked closer towards her. "Well, Helen, you haven't changed a bit. You're still as gorgeous as the day I first laid eyes on you."
Helen laughed. "Yeah, okay," she remarked sarcastically.
Pat smiled. "It's true. You're as beautiful as ever."
Helen grinned. "Stop," she insisted.
"Oh, I'm sorry about nearly destroying your car," Pat said suddenly. "I was in a rush and…"
"Oh, no, it's okay really!" Helen insisted. "I thought that this whole mess was my fault. I'm…well, I'm kind of in the middle of something, and I was thinking clearly, and well…you know."
Pat nodded, looking her over more carefully. "Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Helen replied.
"Because your face is all tear-stained," he concluded. "You've obviously been crying."
"No, no," Helen began. "I mean, yes, I'm fine, but no I haven't been crying. It's the bright sunlight…you know how it can cause your eyes to tear up…"
"Oh, right," Pat remarked, completely unconvinced. "Did they teach you how to lie like that in law school?"
Helen stifled a smile. "Nope. It just comes naturally I guess."
Pat grinned. "Say, why don't we go grab a cup of coffee or something? I know I could use something small to eat, and if I recall correctly, you have the appetite of a horse, yet are fortunate enough not to gain a pound."
Helen smiled. "But I thought you had a meeting that you were in a rush to get to?"
"I'm sure they'll survive without me," Pat insisted. "Come on. We have a lot to catch up with. I can tell you all about my first marriage…then my second…then third…"
Helen laughed. "Oh only three times, huh?" she asked, eyeing his finger for a wedding ring.
"Yeah, divorced all three," he replied. "Who would have thought that people would actually marry me just for my money," he joked.
Helen ran a hand through her hair and bit her lip, debating whether or not to take him up on his offer.
"Well…?" he asked again.
She had nothing else to lose. Lindsay probably hated her. Bobby obviously didn't give a damn about her…
"What the hell," she remarked, smiling.
TBC…I know, short…but it'll get good!
