Rocket to the Moon

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Mrs. Mueller

. . .

"How does it sound? Helga Mueller…. Your dream, isn't it?"

"Huh?"

"You ready for that?"

"No… I mean… I don't know… -I wouldn't be the first one."

. . .

"Oh, it's nothing like that." Arnold grumbled almost against his will "Not that bad, I mean…. I think." he concluded

"But, are you still living with her?" The woman asked as she taped up another file box. "Or you moved out. I'm not sure if I understood."

"I just moved out..." He admitted reluctantly as he placed another file box in the cart. "Two days ago."

"It took you a while, huh?" She insisted, noticing how the young boy avoided her sight. Grace smiled wisely. She always knew Arnold was a gentleman through and through. He wasn't one to talk openly about his problems; or about his exes, as in this case.

"I was sleeping on the couch as of late." He chewed out.

The woman looked briefly at him as he placed a third box on the dolly cart and she ended sealing her own box. It was awkward for him, she knew. But seh also knew he looked like someone in dire need to get some heavy stuff out of his chest. She could make a better shoulder to cry on than those loose-lipped coworkers of him, right? Besides, she really liked Arnold. The boy had earned his place by his own right in the office's setting. She wasn't going to betray his – if he ever gave in, that's it - trust.

"And you said she didn't give you any answer?" Grace went back to a previous point in the conversation. Arnold looked briefly at her before shaking his head. "Nothing at all?"

"No," he huffed as he stewed the boxes straight "Not a single word. She doesn't admit or deny anything." He grumbled.

"She's tough, huh?" For all answer Arnold raised his brows. "And can't you go back to the guy who give you the tip and ask him what he meant?"

Arnold directed his gorgeous green sight to the doorway when Stan Wright and Mike Davis walked past it not without throwing them a curious look.

He shook his head. "That's not possible." He said curtly.

Grace hummed in thought. "And what do you think he meant?" She insisted on. "Because you have to have an idea, don't you?"

"Yes, I do." He came to pick up the small file box she'd just taped up. After he placed it on top of the others he went on "I think she either interrogated him-" he shrugged "Or she was indiscreet." Grace frowned so he offered details "Claire's like that, you know? She assumes things and then she goes and talks about them as if she really knew what she's talking about."

"She likes gossip, huh?"

"You don't have idea" Arnold rolled his eyes.

"So what are you going to do now?"

"Well, for one I'm really busy getting accustomed to my new apartment." He pull a face "It feels strange. I mean, even getting used to a new frying pan is the dead!" He exclaimed. Grace smirked. Seemed that he didn't like to be alone.

"That's why you waited so long? I mean, it's been over two months that the thing started. I'd thought you'd leave sooner."

Arnold still looked distressed when his hands ran through his hair. He then exhaled with uneasiness.

"It wasn't easy," he frowned and looked at her despondently "I mean, I had plans with the girl. I loved her. I thought we…" he trailed off. "we-"

"You thought you were going to be happily ever after?" she sneered.

Arnold pouted. "No." he paused "Actually, I realized a while ago that we didn't belong together." He admitted "But even so… I don't know… it's hard to think that's not going to happen now, you know? Even when-"

"Even when you know she's not the one." Grace ended for him "I know. Believe me, I know."

She then let out a yearning sigh. She actually also knew how it was when you knew who was the one but the guy in question just didn't seem to think the same way.

'Probably just because he was already married', her mind reminded her.

"Yeah." His reply brought her back from her own thoughts "She's not the one." He nodded. They remained silent for a while until he asked "Where does everything go, huh?" He has a funny look on his face "The wedding reception that's never going to happen? The idyllic honeymoon? The cute kids that are not going to exist anymore?"

"Seems that you were really smitten," She threw him an understanding look.

"I wasn't, actually. But that doesn't mean that I stop wondering."

"What ifs," Grace pronounced aloud, like a complain. "What would be of our despair without all those what ifs?" she exhaled. Looking again at the boy she added "It's too recent, Arnold. I guess it's normal that after all those years together you're now experiencing some grieving." She smiled with sympathy "It wouldn't be normal if you weren't."

"I guess you're right," he finally said letting out a sad smile.

Grace smiled back.

"I appreciate your trust," she said.

Arnold patted her arm and walked to the end of the room. The construction workers that had been working here had just left leaving a mess behind. It was almost three pm and being a Friday it mean that people in the office were more excited than usual; getting ready and waiting for the clock to tick five o'clock so they'd finally go off to enjoy their weekend.

She had already managed to find a place to accommodate Arnold in Floor 29th, but first some modifications needed to be made. The place used to be a storage and copy room. The copy room was going to be relocated under the stairs where Arnold desk used to be. The files that were stored in there should be now relocated in the building located on 106th and Madison.

"And what about your new place? Is it pretty?" she asked.

"It's tiny!" Arnold laughed "but yeah, it's cool and… I don't know," he wriggled his blond brows in mock arrogance "Fashionable."

She laughed at his expression "It's Soho, right?"

"Yeah, it is." The boy couldn't help but let that the satisfied smile remained on his face.

"Congratulations!" she said with sincerity "What did you do to get a place over there? Who did you have to sleep with?" she teased "They say there is a waiting list to get a place all over Downtown."

"I'm actually in friendly terms with a guy who owns some places down there" he said without the slightest hint of arrogance in his voice. This really was a lovely and special kid, Grace thought. She was happy Henry had developed a fondness for him too. Arnold deserved it.

"Really? What's your friend name? Donald Trump?" she joked.

Arnold laughed wholeheartedly "Yeah sure!" he snorted "He-who-wants-to-be-our-future-president you mean?" he rolled his eyes.

"God help us!" Grace crossed herself quickly. Arnold looked at her with amused eyes and she dared him with her sight to question her catholic principles. He didn't as she supposed. As she'd stated before, Arnold was a nice kid. They continued with their job.

Well, it was her job, actually. Arnold had gentlemanly offered his help when he realized the amount of extra work that the modification brought over her already busy agenda. He was frowning again when she decided to go on.

"So… do you miss her?"

Arnold shrugged his shoulders without turning to her.

"I guess." He finally said "It's weird. I miss funny things, you know? Her weight on the other side of the mattress, for instance." He exhaled "Her smell. The way she arranged things around…"

"She kept the old apartment for herself? Or she also left?"

"She kept it." He informed "Her best friend moved in actually."

Grace nodded. The nostalgic tone Arnold was using made her remember when she left her old house in Dakota to come to the big city for good. She exhaled. There was too much emotion back then with all the people that moved along than she didn't pay much attention to the fact that she was actually leaving her hometown. Actually, there was a bunch of people who left their hometown back then, but everybody had their own way to deal with it. Helga had been one particularly happy, Grace recalled. She'd loved the moving and her fervent enthusiasm and hopes for the future helped her to get over her own melancholy really quick.

Helga Geraldine…

Grace couldn't help it. She evoked her face, her hard-features... and how they hid an extraordinarily kindness. Not all the people who knew her got to know the real Helga. Those who did would never forget her. Grace's heart always filled with so many emotions when she thought of her. Guiltiness was the one that roamed over the rest of them, even when it included lighter feelings like gratitude and friendship; or darker ones, like jealousy or envy.

"I think we're ready." Arnold's optimistic voice brought her back from the depths of her mind. He pointed to the end of the room when he'd put order in the rest of things that were going to remain in there. For now.

"Oh, Arnold, thank you." She hugged him and kissed his cheek. "You're the best!"

Arnold snorted, amused. "I just put those things together."

Grace waved her hand and then turned around to look for her tablet.

"You know the guys from maintenance never replied my request?" she raised her sight "I think it'd be on us to take this to the lobby and then to the van." She threw him an apologetic look.

"No biggie." He shrugged his shoulders. "At least they supplied the cart."

She felt like kissing him "Always looking on the bright side!"

"Someone has to," he replied enthusiastically. Grace chuckled. Something about this boy made things look brighter.

"We're not leaving anything behind I hope." She said as she led the way out of the room and to the elevator as Arnold pushed the cart behind her. It was three and a quarter now. The office was in full swing. They stalled as she made sure she has her things with her and Arnold went to pick his messenger bag from his desk. Then they waited a little longer as she checked the transport would be waiting for them downstairs. Once confirmed, they headed for floor 26th where the official exit was located.

Being a sunny late afternoon almost the beginnings of spring, a weekend and moreover a payday made Grace be aware of the good mood that prevailed on the place. As they waited in the hallway people keep waving goodbyes, teasing them and whatnot. Then it repeated itself again and again as they waited for thesecurity guard so he approved the 'shipment'. She rolled her eyes when she and Arnold locked eyes after knowing the guy was 'really busy' and they have to wait a little longer.

"I think I owe you a dinner after all this work you've been through." she said.

"Sounds like a date! I'm flying solo now, as you know." He winked at her. Grace played along fanning her face with her hands and pretending bashfulness.

"So the van is already here?" Arnold asked after a small pause.

"On its way." She nodded "They said they'll be here at 3:30." She informed looking into the screen of her tablet again; then motioning for him to avoid the bunch of people from Human Resources who just left their meeting room.

"The elevator keeps coming and coming now that we're stuck here." Arnold complained. Grace turned to him with an indulgent smile.

"I know. When we want to leave we won't see it anymore, I bet you." She grumbled "And you know what is worse? Three and a half it's the time when people in lower floors get out." She recalled, raising her brows with annoyance.

Arnold made a face, but that was all. Other than that he didn't seemed bothered at all for being stuck with an old lady like her the rest of his workday and probably a few hours into the evening.

He stood patiently and as they waited; trying to look anywhere but to the hall, where people were still working. She looked at him as he entertained himself with his cellphone.

"Thank you for listening." He said a minute later; his voice low. "I think I really needed let things out."

"No need to thank, honey." She smiled to him "As I said before I appreciate your trust." She paused "You know where to find me anytime you feel like you need an ear."

"Thank you," he nodded.

"Do you have any friends…? I mean… friends that you can talk about this?" she asked then.

"Yes, I do." He nodded, looking briefly down the hallway. "But he lives in Washington. He's married and has a daughter." He smiled. "It's kind of hard to match our free times."

"I see," Grace nodded understanding. "What about Helga? Do you talk to her, at all?"

Arnold turned to her.

"Uh huh." He nodded tightly "Though I haven't talked to her about this whole situation... with Claire." He said somewhat bitterly.

"Why not?" Grace frowned.

He snorted. "Well, she seems pretty busy with all her work."

"Oh, come on. She's a nice girl. I'm sure she'll find time for you. You're good friends after all, aren't you?"

"Yeah, yeah, we are, of course." Arnold raised his brows "But… well…" he vacillated "You know…." He seemed insecure about how going on. "I bet she had her share of problems. She doesn't need more things to worry about."

"I see," Grace bit her lip. "I guess you heard about the ugly discussion she and Dick had last Monday, didn't you?" Arnold threw her a knowing look.

"Last Monday too?" he mocked.

"Alright." Grace let out a defeated moan. "In their defense I'd say they are always at odds; at all times; since the very day they met. I think they're gonna end their days fighting over something stupid and they'd die happy." She added with frustration "They are like children, and Henry's done no good playing the indulgent father's part that incites competition instead of comradeship."

"But Henry is not their father." Arnold scoffed.

"But they both see him as a father." She shrugged off his words.

"Really?" Arnold scoffed. She frowned, surprised to see the nice Arnold showing an unpleasant emotion for the first time. "Dick is always antagonizing him on purpose…"

"Just like a son would do." She bowed her head in partial agreement.

"And Helga…" he said with resentment "I really doubt Helga sees him as a father at all. They are… they are together, for God's sake! They are-" he lowered his voice.

"Arnold!" Grace hurried to stop him before he said something he'd regret "Henry and Helga aren't a couple." She took him by the arm forcing him to look at her. "They are not together." She assured him.

"Come on!" He protested. "Henry's-"

Grace shook her head seeing his disbelief. She knew all too well why he thought that way; why some people thought that way, in any case. She always knew this wasn't going to end well. It was Henry's fault after all; he could be really stubborn when an idea came to his mind. She huffed. If only it wasn't her who had to deal with the consequences of his acting.

"Arnold. Listen. I know Henry. I've known him for over fifty years. I can tell you for sure that he's never seen-"

She stopped herself. They both turned towards the hallway where an agitated murmur arose.

Forgetting the surroundings and all that it enclosed, Grace found herself beaming instinctively at the man that was coming over, leaving a trail of excited giggles in his wake.

"My, oh, My!" she hooted, feeling invited by his self-satisfied smile. Giving a step forward she checked him out openly; making evident her sight took its time to admire his lean muscular legs. Deliberately, she went up to admire his flat abdomen and the rest of his well-formed body clad in a tennis tee and shorts. Her hands pricked to touch him but truth was that she feared his reaction. She settled by taking him by his arm. "Where to?" she squeezed it.

Dick's put his phone aside to pay her his whole attention.

"You choose, m'lady." He mumbled with husky voice and mischief in his eyes.

"My Goodness!" she almost choked "What if I choose something that just can't be said aloud." She said low enough to be heard only by him. She turned around as she pretended she was fanning her flushed face. In order to have a good look at him, some girls had gathered down the hallway and in every possible place where the elevator hall was visible. She grinned their way. How could she blame them? It was not a daily occurrence that a fine specimen of a man walked around the office showing too much skin. Grace frowned shaking her head pretending to scold them all. Then she provoked a new wave of jealous complains when her arm rounded his waist and hugged him tightly.

"You're so warm," she moaned "but baby, you know it's still cold outside?"

Dick chuckled. He turned around then. As on cue, most of the girls turned their heads away and played dumb. Grace scoffed. She then looked at Arnold and caught him giving Dick a quick once over.

Grace laughed quietly. It was quite a surprise to realize Arnold possessed similar feelings with the rest of men population; that he also got jealous when another man stole girls' attention. She kept looking at the young blond as his attention was fixed on the elevator's display while he feigned indifference. She didn't know why she'd supposed Arnold was different, but then she realized that the fact that he wasn't was, actually, a comforting awareness. What kind of man would you be if you didn't feel envy at least once in a while?

She was about to say something to the young blond when another realization struck her. She looked at them both with attention. Dick stood good-naturedly as he drew out his silver iPhone again, but he was pouting. An over-conscious Arnold was checking the stacked boxes. What was going on? Weren't they in talking terms? Wasn't Arnold Dick's lawyer actually? She looked up with a frown. 'What've you done this time?' She asked in her mind to the taller blond.

Dick glanced at her and wriggled his brows. She snorted. Then, reluctantly, she freed him of her grip. She'd disregarded it was quite an inappropriate gesture for the office. She'd blushed in embarrassment but the look in his blue eyes was kind as he took the phone to his ear. She sighed, contentedly. It was nice to see him in such good spirits.

"Where the hell are you?" He asked imperiously on the phone. Grace rolled her eyes. At least she'd enjoyed it as it lasted. "I'm waiting by the elevator. Bring your ass down here in this moment. The car's already-"

He was interrupted when the staircase door swung open and Helga Pataki came through it.

"Geez!" she grumbled "Hold your horses, you Roger Federer!" she pointed at his chest with her cellphone "Some people are actually busy, you know?!"

"The driver is already waiting."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." She dismissed him with a bob of her head "He can keep waiting." She threw her phone into her bag and then fumbled with all what she had in her hands. "Here." She handed him a jacket that matched his ensemble. "Wow!" she stopped to give him a good look "Looking good, Mr. Molinero!" she whistled, mockingly.

Dick snorted. "You ready to kick some asses?"

"As ready as it gets!"

"Good." He nodded. "What are you gonna do with that?" Dick asked then looking with distaste at her laptop case and her huge handbag.

"What do you think I'm doing?!" She countered "Working! Doi!"

"Now?!" he asked with disbelief.

Helga rolled her eyes and smiled briefly to her before pressing the elevator button that was already lit.

"Yeah, now. Right here in the elevator." She pointed at the boxes "On top of Arnold's boxes, how about it?"

Dick let out an exasperated exhalation. "I need you focused." He uttered with annoyance.

Helga pressed the button again. "At your command." She mumbled, turning around and leaning her back against the wall. She turned then to her. "Gracie…" she threw her a slanted smile "You're not coming to cheer us up?"

"Nope" Grace shook her head apologetically "We have to take these things to the old building," she pointed to the cart. "But you know I wish you the best. What about Henry?"

Helga shrugged her small shoulders gracefully. "He said he'd see us over there." She threw a cautious look towards Dick as the blond put his jacket on.

"That's a nice outfit." Grace pointed to their clothes. The plated white-and-red court skirt she wore barely reached her mid-thigh and showed off her also long and toned legs. Helga curtsied with mock coquetry "Did you buy them?"

"Nope," Helga bowed towards Dick "Kaitlin did. Has she good taste or what?" she gave a little turn as the elevator doors opened and she stepped inside once it was empty. "Don't even think." She warned to the couple of guys who arrived just now and intended to board along them. Then she kept the door open as she, Dick, a too quiet Arnold and his cart got in.

"What about the racquets?" Helga asked Dick once the doors shut close.

"They are in the car." He replied casually. Helga was about to ask again when he went on "Of course I brought up your favorite." She nodded in appreciation. Her hand slid into her bag to take her phone when he glared. "For God's sake! Gimme that!" Taking the heavy bags from her hands he censured "I thought you were going to take the rest of the day off."

Helga whined unenthusiastically "I'm having problems with a damn report."

"Forget it. You're not gonna fix the world tonight, Helga. When it's not a financial statement then is a budget. Work never stops coming. You know that."

"But,"

"We all know that." Grace butt in "He's right, Helga. Just relax. Focus on the competition. Do your best. Regardless of the outcome you guys should go then to a nice place to celebrate." She suggested them.

They both scoffed. Dick mumbled something on the line that without a victory there was nothing to be happy for.

"Really?!" She scolded them. "And what if you lose? Who cares? Nobody's gonna miss another trophy in the Trophy Hall. Come on! Lighten up. Have a couple of drinks. Nothing is going to happen. Your workload will still be here, waiting for you on Monday morning, I promise."

They both stirred uncomfortably. Grace grumbled as she shook her head. These two would never change. They rather die than share some social time together. Then she pointed at Arnold.

"Arnold here and I are going to have dinner together." She said with delight "We've worked hard. We've earned it."

Arnold confirmed her assertion turning around with a small nod.

"That'd be a nice change!" Dick mumbled with scorn.

Grace turned to him with a questioning look but he ignored her.

"Hey, Arnold!" Helga chirped "I don't know why, but I'd swear I've seen you out there wherever I go."

"What?!" Arnold frowned.

"Yeah! At first I really believed it was you and that was odd that never managed to get you. I don't know. I guess I was just seeing things." She chuckled. "Last week it happened in Tijuana. I clearly saw you towards the end of the hallway, and went off determined to find you once and for all, but when I reached the place and asked the guy over there he told me there was no 'gringo' in the plant. Well, no other than me, that's it." She narrowed her eyes "You sure you haven't been in Tijuana lately?"

"Nope." Arnold looked at her with a frown, but then he smirked "Not since college anyway." He shrugged his shoulders casually. "What?!" he smirked seeing Helga's expression "I was a sad and lonely freshman."

Dick chortled heartedly. "Too bad that I was at the other side of the country." He said.

Helga rolled her eyes. "Guys!" She moaned.

"What?" they both replied.

Grace saw Helga elbowing Dick playfully, and then he shoving her back in response. Grace hid a satisfied smile. Through the mirror doors she kept her eye on the couple clad in white and red as they stood as far as they could from each other. Helga gasped suddenly and turned to her companion. "Damn it, Dick!" she exclaimed humorously "It was you, right? You finally got that damn Time Machine fixed, right?" She pushed him playfully. "That's why I'm seeing Arnold all around the world, right?"

"No." Dick replied with a dead serious frown. "What we fixed was The Cloning Machine. I thought I've already told you so."

"And you're making Arnold's clones to send them everywhere? Football-headed slaves who work for free?"

Grace laughed at the nickname. Arnold only shook his head with resignation; as if he was already used to be named that. Dick glanced briefly his way before replying.

"They actually need tons of lubricant." He grumbled in complain. "But hey! Can you blame me? I needed some efficient body." He shrugged his shoulders in mock innocence.

"Well…" Helga threw Arnold a quick once over. She added then, half-convinced "I guess you could've made a lot worse."

"I know! It could be you." Dick put on his frightened expression "God forbid!"

The doors opened right then and Helga shoved Dick out of the cubicle and into the congested hall. "Get out of here, bucko!" She turned around to face them "Can you believe this guy?!"

"Aw, Helga." Grace let out a delighted response "It's just the way he shows his care." The old lady heard Arnold's snort at her side. Helga only rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, sure!" She grumbled as she followed out.

Grace also stepped out. She and Arnold wished them luck after Helga waved goodbye. Her old wise eyes followed the couple as Dick took Helga by the elbow and guided her through the busy hallway and to the main lobby; and then to the set of double doors that lead to 45th street where the Mercedes was waiting to take them all the way to Flushing Meadows, Queens; where the Chamber of Commerce held their Annual Tournament.

She beamed proudly seeing that the pair of tall blonds attracted most of the sights in their way out. Dick leaned towards Helga as he spoke. She nodded amiably just before they were out of sight. Grace sighed deeply feeling the fresh air she just inhaled reaching the last of her alveoli. It was a wonderful sensation.

"You seem very pleased with yourself today." Arnold's miffed voice made her blink twice. He had managed to get the heavy cart into the hallway all by himself. She felt a pang of guilt that made her give him a thankful smile.

"I really appreciate your help and company today, Arnold." She said.

The blond boy nodded as he looked at her with a nice smile. Then he directed his sight to the entrance doors and sighed deeply.

Grace recalled Henry telling her that he suspected Arnold had a crush on Helga. 'What a shame!' Henry had pronounced sorrowfully. He suspected Arnold's infatuation had probably started once he saw what had grown into the girl he'd let go when he was young and inexperienced; all what he'd lost back in the days when he valued shallower qualities instead of the force of nature that was in front of him.

But who could tell, right? Who could know if Arnold really cared for her? And if he did, how deeply was his care?

"They look so handsome together, don't you think?" She couldn't stop herself. Maybe she only wanted to see his reaction. Or maybe she finally dared to say aloud something she'd been wanting to say in disregard of whatever uneasy feeling the young boy at her side could be experiencing. He kept looking into the distance. There was no reply. He only let out a faint shrug. Grace went on. "Seeing them like this makes me go back in time. It's a shame that she never got to see it. Helga. It was her dream, you know? She always said they'd end up together…" she paused "That it was only matter of time that they-"

"Her dream?!" Arnold scoffed with skepticism. "It was Helga's dream?!" She smiled observing that manifest impatience again. She couldn't help but smile. It was really odd seeing him like that. He almost looked like a spoiled kid "You have to excuse me here Grace, but I think you're dead wrong. As far as I know Helga, I know she'd nev-"

"WHAT?!" She couldn't believe her ears! He stopped himslef probably a cause of her expression. She'd put her hands on her hips and was looking at him with a cocky smile. The cheek of this boy, she puffed. Pointing towards the doors, she said matter-of-factly. "That's not the Helga I'm talking about."

"Not the…?" he paused, following her pointer finger "She's not- . Then what? - Who? - I mean-" she was able to read in his eyes his confusion "Who are you talking about?" With a deep frown and weak voice he finally managed to ask.

"Who do you think I'm-talking-about?" she drawled "Gosh!" she rolled her eyes "Helga Mueller of course!"

"Helga Mueller?!" Arnold coughed. Grace scoffed despite his shock. There was no way he didn't know!

"Come on Arnold! You spend your days with the nose glued to those old books!" She yapped "Don't tell me you never saw Henry wife's name in there?" he looked at her with round eyes "Helga Geraldine Mueller...?!" His green eyes became so huge that it was funny; his jaw fell to the floor "Yeah! That's her!"

"She has Henry wife's name?!" he asked with a puff.

"Yep!" she patted his cheek playfully "I bet this was Henry's exact expression back then when he met her!" She snickered. "I mean, just imagine that! To know all of a sudden that Big Bob Pataki named his girl after YOUR WIFE?!" She rolled her eyes "It has to be a shocker!"

.

. . .

No poseo Oye Arnold!

.