Rocket to the Moon
Chapter Thirty
Breakfast at Tiffany's
AN. I'm sorry it took so long. I had a bad time because of work and stress for a family issue. I'm kinda better now but I feel a void inside me; like insensibility; like no passion. Like Helga when she drank Madame Blanche's love potion. I keep going though; I pulled this off. It covers all what I wanted to in this chapter but I'm afraid Arnold turned out a bit dull -like if he's on Prozac -. I hope it doesn't turns boring to you and that it answers one third of the answers that are about to be answered. I already have next two chapters in drafts and I really hope doing a better job with them. Thanks for your understanding and loyalty.
. . .
"Hold on."
There was an impatient exhalation in the other end of the line. He knew Arnold was fretful as he waited for him to give him an answer.
"Gerald!" his friend grumbled.
"Just a sec." he put the phone down and stood with his little girl in his arms. Walking up to the crib he tried to put her down. "Shit!" the girl stirred. She opened her eyes and complained. "Alright, alright." He said softly. Gerald heard then Phoebe throaty warning in the other room and moaned inwardly. Then took Minerva in his arms and walked back to the rocking chair to lull her to sleep again.
He observed the dark curly eyelashes of his daugther flickering until her eyes close and only then he took his cellphone again.
"I don't know, man. Why are you asking me that?! What happened?!" he asked quietly after letting out a long exhalation.
"Did you know?" Arnold asked in a rush.
"That Helga was named after Henry Mueller's wife?" he asked back. "Of course I did. It wasn't precisely a secret. How's that you never heard of it?"
"How's that I never heard...?!" his best friend of his entire life grumbled in the other side of the line. "Really?!"
He resisted the urgency to roll his eyes. "Man! You're asking me?! You're been there for how long? A year now? And you knew nothing?"
"No one ever told me. I never read it anywhere- I just-"
"Hold on, man" –he moaned because Minerva complained again. Gerald was sure she could feel his uneasiness and that's why she refused to fall asleep. The door open ever so slightly and Gerald could see Phoebe's form silhouetted against the light of the staircase. He managed to hide his phone as he directed her an apologetic smile. '
''What is taking you so long?'' She grumbled in low voice.
He shrugged his shoulders, pointing to their girl. Phoebe shook his head with dissapointment and walked off. Gerald pulled out his cell phone again and lowering his voice he resumed his conversation.
"Sorry man, but Phoebe's moody; bad day at work. It's kinda hard to talk right now." He whispered. He rocked in the chair as he pacified the girl who kept stirring uneasy in his arms. He hated what his friend could be thinking of him. The former cool ladies-man 'devenu' a harassed husband and father-of-one. "Can it wait?"
"NO WAY!" Arnold almost shouted.
"Shit, man!" Gerald was tempted to hang up on him. Surprisingly the girl didn't move this time and he breathed deeply again "What the hell happened? Why are you asking me that?"
"I just found out where Helga's name comes from." He informed "How long you've know it?"
"I don't know. Haven't given a thought in long time, bro. And actually I didn't care. It's just a odd story from the past."
"Why you never tell me?"
"Who knows? ... But it's not as if I was trying to hide it from you."
"Let's say I believe you, ok? ... Now tell me... What do you actually know about it?"
"I know is that it's a long story-" Gerald started. "-that I don't remember right now. Phoebe does, though. I'm sure she'd make a better teller than me."
"I believe you," Arnold exhaled "Put her on the phone."
"Yeah! Sure!" Gerald cracked a laugh but then he shushed himself immediately when his daughter shook in his arms "Not a good time, Arnie!"
"You're afraid of her?" he had no idea what his friend could've heard in his voice that he laughed. "Are you telling me Phoebe is some kind of cruel matron that punishes you?" Arnold snorted "And here I was, thinking you two were the picture-perfect couple; the perfect family."
"Yeah! Your dreams can go through the drain now." He retorted with sarcasm.
He could tell Arnold was rolling his eyes.
"Gerald! Come on! No more beating around the bushes. I need to know!" he insisted.
"Need? You 'need' bro?" now it was Gerald turn to laugh. "Alright. What do you need to know?"
"Why Bob Pataki gave Helga the name of his ex-boss wife?" Arnold asked right away.
"That's easy." Gerald replied without missing a beat, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world "He was in love with her."
He could hear Arnold's snort in the other side of the line.
"He was in love with her?! That's it? You drop it just like that?!" he scoffed "Weren't you Hillwood's most famous storyteller? The urban legends' keeper?"
"Weren't you the world savior? Goody—two-shoes Arnold?" he retorted "Since when you became cranky? Spending time with the Pataki does that to people?"
"GERALD!"
"Alright man. That's what I know."
"So it's true? He was in love?"
"You already knew it or what?
"I…" Arnold hesitated "I'd lie if I say the idea didn't cross my mind... but I thought it was too far-fetched. So is it true?"
"That much is true."
"She loved him back?"
"Mmmm-" Gerald paused "As far as I'm concerned, she didn't. She had him in great esteem. They were good friends. Bob – mmmm" Gerald hesitated "I think back then Bob was like-"
There was a faint noise in the other bedroom and Gerald's next words died in his throat.
"GERALD!" A muffled but demanding voice was heard. To be such a petite girl Phoebe could really be frightening "Who're you talking to? It'd be better Minerva is asleep or I swear to you-"
"Gotta go!"
"But-"
.
.
No buts. The line went dead and Arnold tossed his phone to his side. He exhaled containing his fury. He needed to know! He leaned back in his couch as he closed his eyes. He recalled the scene that took place in the afternoon, back at the lobby of the building.
.
.
He'd frozen. Grace had shaken her head. His confusion amused her. She walked on. It took him an entire minute to follow and reach her by the set of doors.
"Why Bob Pataki named Helga after Henry's wife?" he'd asked. Truth was that there were several questions in his mind but that one was ready to be shot.
"Why indeed?" She replied, still entertained. "Seems that The Brute had a tender core after all."
"The Brute?" Arnold frowned.
"One of the secretaries - don't remember her name - called him that. Once. Long ago. Bob had just beaten up…" she stopped herself and turned to look at him "Someway, the name stuck. People kept calling him that after the incident. It was after Bob was fired, of course. He wasn't around anymore."
"Why did they fight? Bob and Henry?" Arnold asked, playing dumb 'Why two men get into a fist fight, Arnold?' He remembered Henry asking all those months ago. "Was it because her?"
"Shhh!" Grace's expression turned serious "We don't talk about them, Arnold! Never! Let alone in public!" she chastised him in that old fashioned way only an old lady could do. And with that she turned her nose up in the air and walked on.
Later, during diner, Arnold brought the subject back but Grace had changed her mind. She didn't look that amused anymore.
"Look Arnold. I know you mean well and… I guess it's only natural that you feel curiosity, being Helga your friend and all, but," Arnold was surprised to see her looking actually coy "The same way I'll keep your secrets forever I also keep theirs. Henry is not only my boss. He's my friend; I've known him my entire life. And Helga… Helga deserves all my respect." She became too serious now "She was a great woman; an excellent human being who doesn't deserve that we talk about her in a bad way… or in any way either. I wouldn't dare to say a thing that could tarnish her memory."
"I don't intend-"
"Please," her green eyes looked at him pleadingly.
The magic word settled the matter.
.
.
Arnold came back to reality. He looked at cellphone to check the time. Eleven thirty-five. He shook his head. In Washington it was only eight and a half, for God' sake! Arnold shook his head thinking back in his harassed-looking friend. Poor Gerald! So much for the former ladies' man! He snorted.
He stood and walked to his window and let out a contented exhalation. Truth that he had a terrific sight. It was not the perspective particularly, but the fanciness of the neighborhood itself. Then something brightened in his mind. Fanciness! Rhonda Lloyd! He hurried back to his coffee table and took his phone. It was kinda late for a call so he went right for the reliable Whatsapp.
A: "Hi Rhonda, " he added an smiley for good measure. He hadn't talked to her since that evening in October.
A: "It's been long!
A: "How'r you doing?"
A: "Remember we said we should keep in contact? Well, I meant it. I'd be nice to see you again."
A: "What'd you been up to? I'd like to see you, you know, to catch up. I just moved to Soho this week. We're almost neighbors now. What about going for breakfast one of these days?"
A: "Send me a line whenever you feel like it."
And he left it at it. He hoped not to sound too lame. Or too pushing. He got up and went to the kitchen where he cleaned up a bit before going to his bathroom.
He didn't know what had coming onto him, why he felt this fever for knowing everything. Why Bob Pataki named Helga that way? He frowned to his image on the mirror as he washed his teeth. He remembered Bob always calling Helga by her sister name. Wasn't that ironic? Why to put to your daughter a name of a woman you're supposedly in love -but you weren't married to - only not to use such name to call her in a daily basis?
He left the bathroom and fell onto his bed. Did Bob actually love the other Helga? For real? What about Miriam then? What about his 'perfect' family?
He frowned again as he threw his covers over himself. He thought about the past. He tried imaging the old furniture store. And the bunch of people working in there. He pictured it like if watching an old black and white movie; like that one of the Coens starred by Billy Bob Thornton. A big store located in the main street of a small town. A young Henry in there; and his father; and Bob, the other Helga, and a bunch of employees and customers. The offices located to the bottom of the store, an old fashioned cash register…
What the hell had happened in there? What stories developed? Why it was so important for him to know?
Did Helga –as Helga G. Pataki – know the whole story? What did she think about it all?
"Geez!" he grumbled to himself. "All these times that I judged Claire for being so annoyingly curious and here I am! Feeling like I can't keep living anymore without knowing!"
He closed his eyes when his phone chimed on his night table. He opened an eye and lazily took it. He knew most of the newsletters he was subscribed to arrived in the early hours of the morning, but got surprised when he saw Whatsapp having a new message. It was from Rhonda. He opened it right away.
"Hey Arnold! Nice to hear from you."
"I've been trying to to contact you too but then I never did."
"Sorry :("
Arnold was smiling as the messages appeared one behind the other at a surprising rate.
"I'm happy you did it though :) Great we're almost neighbors now"
"Mmm. What about tomorrow? Ten o'clock at Tiffany's?"
'Tiffany's? Arnold frowned. Wasn't that a jewelry?
Half seconds later a map appeared on the screen.
"Let's say eleven. I'm not an early bird on weekend ;)"
"See u tomorrow, babe."
He started typing then.
"Got it."
"See you tomorrow Rhonda."
"Have a good night."
Still smiling, he put his phone at his side on the bed and rested his head on the pillow again. He looked to his right side, realizing he kept leaving that side of the bed alone. Puffing, he shifted so he occupied the center of the mattress.
"That's better," he mumbled to himself. Then his phone buzzed against his chest. He looked at the screen.
"Oh, I'll do it. ;)"
He grinned. The winky face gave everything away. At least, someone was having fun tonight.
.
.
.
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The next morning he woke up early. He couldn't keep himself from the excitation of knowing he was meeting Rhonda. He'd finally be able to understand the past that linked the Patakis and the Muellers. Why it was so important to him was something that he'd probably never get. What would Rhonda think of him? Because his hunger for knowing? It kinda worried him but, - Would she care? Or she'd appreciate the opportunity to tell a juicy story to an eager listener?
After a quick shower and getting dressed in a pair of jeans, a tee and casual jacket he left his apartment. Tiffany's –for real- was a short walk. It was still early when he located the place so he decided to go for a walk to kill time.
The city was showing its spring colors. There were more green in the streets and more blue in the skies than the previous week. The parks and sidewalks were decorated with colorful flowers; it was a nice change from the cold, long and dark days of the receding winter. Arnold recalled then. Helga's birthday was coming on with the beginning of the Spring. He looked at his phone. Next Thursday? He frowned. So Helga would turn 31 on Thursday? He bit his lip. He should start thinking what he could do on Thursday to celebrate her; what could he get her?
The thought clung to his mind the rest of the way until he was back at the diner. He asked for a coffee and while waiting he observed the decoration of the place -based on Breatfast at Tiffany's, Audrey Hepburn, pearls and her little black dress - until a very well-known voice called his name.
"A... Arnold! Hey!" the voice hesitated "Wha… what a coincidence!"
Arnold blinked twice. "H- hey!" he stuttered. What a coincidence indeed. Claire was standing by his booth; her wide smile almost dazzling him. Wow! She was pretty.
"How're you doing? Getting to know your new neighborhood?" She asked. Looking at the empty seat in front of his with a half smile, she added "Having breakfast all by yourself?"
"No, not at all." Arnold stood awkwardly. Should he shake her hand? Hug her? What was the protocol in this case? Meeting your ex for first time since… "I'm waiting for a friend," he informed "I guess I came in early."
"Right," her smile turned sly. He frowned, confused for a second, but then he recognized her expression.
Wait a moment! Was that pity?
"What about you?" he cleared his throat.
"I came in with some friends actually… to have, you know… Breakfast at Tiffany's." She bit her lip. Then pointed to a booth situated in the opposite end of the place. Two guys and one girl were throwing curious smiles their way. Brenda wasn't in there.
"Who's your friend?" she called back his attention. "The friend you are waiting for, I mean?" she cleared.
Forever curious Claire, Arnold smiled to himself. Then he paused.
Or maybe she didn't believe he was waiting on someone. Could be that possible?
"Rhonda…" he started "I don't know if you remember her. The girl…"
"Vogue girl?" Claire asked with a strange smile. Arnold nodded. "Are you two… seeing each other?" she bit her lip awkwardly "Or-"
Forever tasteful Claire, Arnold thought with disdain; wishing he'd be as impolite as her to dare to roll his eyes right in her face. She looked again at the seat in front of him and he gestured for her to take it, which she did without vacillations.
"No." Arnold replied calmly. "We're just friends. I… I'm not seeing anyone yet. I don't think I'm ready." He turned to her table where people in there still watched them with interest. "What about you?" he leaned in.
"Oh," she had the decency to blush. "You mean because of Joshua?" Joshua! Arnold resisted the urgency to gag "Of course not, silly!" she waved her hand dismissively "He's just a friend. He's Gina's friend actually. I only met him yesterday."
"Have you slept with him yet?"
"ARNOLD!" she chocked. Her face turning beet red.
Arnold snorted, not knowing how to feel by the fact that she'd already moved on "Just kidding!" He looked back to the other table. "I had the impression that he was jealous." Arnold shrugged his shoulders as if nothing; wishing he'd feel actually indifferent but not being able to pinpoint what did he feel exactly. It was an uncomfortable feeling though. Looking at the guys he realized he had no idea which one of those dorks was Joshua. Not that he cared, really. He only wanted to….
What did he want, he asked himself.
"Really?" a smug smile appeared on her face but she didn't look back to the other guys. Her rich brown eyes were fixed on him. "And…. How are you doing anyway? How… how are things at work?" She asked after a small vacillation.
"Good. As always." He said shrugging his shoulders "I finally got my own place, you know?"
"Wow! That's great news!" Arnold nodded. She seemed actually happy for him. Truth was that Claire's interest on his wellbeing was never in doubt actually; as it was the fact that she didn't care that he looked like a fool in somebody's eyes. "Seems that Dick's tantrum of the other day got a result, didn't it? Made that the ugly old lady finally got you a place."
"Don't call her like that." Arnold chided, looking at her in the eye. Claire shrugged her shoulders dismissively. "You might be right. His tantrum might force them to find me a place. Lucky him, don't you think? Always getting what he wants. Nothing like me. My tantrum only got me to be thrown out of my own house!"
"Jeez!" Claire cursed, looking to a side. "Let it go, Arnold! I came in peace."
"In peace?!" he scoffed "What is so terrible that you couldn't tell me?! That you can't still tell me even to this day that we are not together anymore!"
"It's not terrible!"
"Then why Dick seems to think so badly of you?"
"It's nothi-" she frowned and looked at him fixedly "Really? He thinks badly of me? You never said that before."
"What was the point?"
"How badly?" she bit her lip.
"What the hell should I know?" Something in her attitude annoyed him.
"Really? Why the hell you brought it up?!" she retorted defiantly.
He looked at her while his head shook with annoyance. But then it took him only a second to change his mind. So she wanted to know? Well, this was going to be harsh.
"He seems to think you're whore." He uttered plainly.
"WHAT?!"
"Sorry. I didn't want to say it, you but you insisted."
"You mean he said THAT?"
"Well, not in words…"
"Then why did you say it? It's your opinion?" she puffed "Are you're making this up? Why? To get us even? Are you still so angry because I dumped you that now you're making this up?!"
"I'm not making this up! Listen to me! I don't know what makes you think you know him." he grumbled angrily "You don't know him. I do. And I know what he thinks because I've heard him speak ill of people thousands of times before. His vision about everything is very particular. So, if he got to talk about someone in pejorative terms is because he thinks the worst of them. Now, I wonder what you could possibly do -or say- to make him think that way."
"I…" Claire observed him with a mix of awe and embarrassment. Arnold wondered if she still doubted his words. She might choose to think he was making this up instead. "Are you sure? I mean… aren't you mistaking his-"
"I'm not mistaking his words." Arnold snorted "Every time something happens I know a disdainful note is coming my way. Last night in the elevator it happened again."
She frowned "What do you have to say about me anyway?"
"I don't even need to. It's not only about you, you know? It'd become some sort of trend topic. You know how it is, someone brings up wives or girlfriends and he's always up to make it about me; always jumping to the jugular and he does it with great pleasure-"
"With great pleasure…. that he took it after me?" Arnold looked at her with disbelief. Was she thrilled? It was unbelievable. Who the hell this girl was?
"You seem to like it." He couldn't help but comment.
She shrugged "I never thought I'd make an impression."
"When it comes to Dick I'm not sure that's an achievement." She shrugged her shoulders again, fighting back her odd smile. "What did you say to him that could make an impression?"
She snorted and kept her smile as she looked back at her table. "Come on, Arnold! Just stop it!"
"What?" he kept his voice calm "I have nothing to lose. I mean, what else can you do? You already dumped me and threw me out of the house…"
"You make it sound as if it was a terrible thing to do."
"You throw me out."
She exhaled.
"I… I came over to see how you were doing-"
"I'm doing fine"
"You sure?" she frowned, somewhat worried "You don't seem that fine to me. I came in peace and you only keep questioning me about the same things that make us break up in first place. I don't know you, but I'm over that point…. Can't we be friends?"
Arnold exhaled and looked outside through the windows. Why was he being such a dick? It wasn't as if he really wanted her back, was he?
"I guess we can." He said in low voice.
Claire smirked. She extended her hand to put it on top of his.
"I'm happy to hear that." He nodded, calm, looking at her hand on top of his. "So, how about your new place? Is it pretty? Do you like it?"
"Yeah, it's nice."
"I don't know why you keep complaining. Soho is by far a better neighborhood than where up there." She patted his hand "And it's closer to your job."
"I'm not complaining."
"How did you do to get a place so soon?" she looked at him fixedly, getting serious "Did August help you? Is it one of his places?"
Arnold didn't reply. He turned to see her group again. They seemed to be ready to leave. Arnold pointed to them with his chin. "What about Brenda? It's kinda odd not seeing her by your side."
Claire made a face. "She's not feeling well."
"Why not? Is she sick or something?"
She looked at him with a frown "August dumped her." She informed.
Arnold leaned back in his chair "Oh, I see…. Sorry to hear that"
Claire's shrugged. "It had nothing to do with you, I guess," her eyes narrowed. "Although… Are you still friend with him? August I mean?" Arnold nodded slightly. Claire looked at him with suspicion then "Have you talked to him?"
"I… Nope. Not lately." he lied. He had been never a good liar and Claire knew it.
"When was the last time you talked to him? Yesterday?" she asked with high pitched voice. "Did you know they broke up the day before yesterday?"
"I… didn't." he evaded her eyes "You just told me."
"Oh, my god! I can't believe it!" Claire leaned back shocked "It was you, right?"
"Wha…"
"You were 'the friend' that talked him out of the relation? The one who told him Brenda was 'no good' and that he should dump her?"
"I…"
"That he could do a lot better?"
"Ok, Claire, listen. You're making this…"
"I can't believe you, Arnold! Who are you? What kind of man you've become?"
"Look, those weren't my words exactly" Arnold defended himself "In fact, you know I'd never…"
"So it was you?!"
"I didn't deter him from being with Brenda if that's what you mean." He exclaimed.
"Why did you have to mess with them? What did you care?!"
"He already wanted to break up with her! He had taken the decision. I only happen to be the friend who knew it beforehand."
"And you didn't trying to stop it?"
"Why would I? August had his mind done. I didn't tell him to dump her!"
"What did you say, then?" Arnold hesitated. "Arnold."
"I just told him there was no point in being together when a relationship doesn't make you happy."
"Oh, really?! Aren't you a hypocrite?" Claire almost shouted "It wasn't you who didn't want our relationship to end even when we haven't been happy for - I don't know - eons now?"
"I was happy…" Arnold countered "And as far I was concerned you were happy too." Then he added, biting "Or maybe you just were pretending."
Claire seethed. Arnold could see as her round eyes became slits. "Pretending?" She hissed. "I got you totally fooled, asshole!"
Arnold blinked twice, shocked "Are you saying that you cheated on me?!"
"Is it the only thing you can think of?" Claire snorted. "Nothing else? Something like I wasn't that happy anymore? No wondering why or when I stopped being happy?"
"Was that it? Aren't you changing-"
"The fact that you started paying more attention to -"
"Arnold! Is that you? Oh my God! I almost missed you!"
.
.
She gripped the back of his chair to effectively make a halt. The sudden darkness of the place took her unprepared. Usually her magical 2015 Spring Collection Prada sunglasses adjusted themselves to the excess or lack of light in a flick, but today it was other story. She took her shades off to find Arnold getting up and welcoming her.
"Arnold, darling!" she kissed him the French way (twice each) "Sorry I'm late." She turned to the girl seated across him and smiled down to her "You didn't warn me we'd had company. I'd show up earlier." She extended out her hand "Hello there, Rhonda Lloyd."
"Claire…" the girl stuttered. Rhonda kept her plastic smile. This vacillation was not a surprise; she was used to girls like Claire reacting this way to her. They'd had barely time to give her a quick once over before being forced by social conventions to show manners. Didn't she know women needed time to give a good appraisal to the potential threats, especially one as chic as her? "Claire Walker."
"Oh, that Claire!" her smile broadened "Finally! It's a pleasure getting to know you-"
"She was about to leave," Arnold rushed in. "Right, Claire?"
"Oh," Rhonda said with disappointment. "Really?"
"Yeah," the girl slid off her seat "I was only keeping him company until your arrival." She threw an apologetic smile her way "I'm glad we finally met, Rhonda."
Rhonda nodded. "Same here," She had barely time to bid farewells when the girl scurried away. Rhonda directed Arnold a questioning look before taking the seat Claire'd just left.
"Did I… interrupt something?"
"No. Not at all." Arnold pursed his lips.
"You sure? She looked kinda upset."
Arnold hesitated for a few seconds "We're not together anymore".
"Oh, that explain everything." she made a pause "I'm sorry to hear that, Arnold."
Arnold nodded, tight-lipped. "It's alright." He shrugged his shoulders
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah," he nodded "Now I'm good."
"You want to talk about it?"
"Nah!" He shook his head "There's no point. It'd be a waste of time."
Rhonda observed him carefully before nodding "You're really alright, aren't you?" he fixed his sight on her "I mean you don't look hurt. You look… annoyed if anything, but not hurt"
"It has a long way coming, Rhonda." He exhaled "I knew it would happen, sooner or later. She knew it'd happen at some point too."
"How are you holding up?"
"Fine I think. It's… strange getting back to being single again. Surprisingly, it feels like if nothing happened."
"I guess I know what you mean."
"But enough about me. What about you?" he asked her, eyeing up and down. "You're beaming. It's that a new look or what?"
"Oh my God! You noticed?" she squealed. Rhonda couldn't believe it. That Arnold, a straight guy, would notice it. "Yeah, I had a haircut with Gunther; who is - as you must know- one of the most sought after hairstylist in town!" she buried her fingers in her mane of hair to shake it, feeling how it was full of life "I chased down this appointment for like weeks, oh" - she rolled her eyes. "but I'm happy I did!"
"Great for you!" Arnold chortled. Rhonda inhaled deeply. It was so nice to see Arnold. She'd forgotten how it was to enjoy the company of a guy with a nice attitude for a change. "And I guess you're also doing well in the…" he vacillated "dating department."
"Why you'd ever say so?" she leaned in with a playful smile in her lips.
"Because your text from last night." He also leaned in and pointed a finger to her nose.
"Well," she leaned back in the seat and exhaled "I guess it has no point on deny it." She giggled with delight.
"That's what I always say. If you're happy you should show it. I don't know why some people insist in hide it." He exclaimed.
"I totally agree."
They both got silent as the waitress reached them. She brought her a coffee and refilled Arnold's cup. Once they placed their orders Arnold went on "Where were we?"
"You were talking about people who hide their relationships." Rhonda stopped herself once said that. She looked at him attentively.
"Right." He was observing her with curiosity and then asked probably in sight of her slight reserve "Why do you think they do?" Yeah, Rhonda confirmed her suspicions. Arnold wanted to talk about Helga.
"I think sometimes it's not easy to going public… maybe?" She shrugged her shoulders.
"Not your case I guess?"
"Not now."
"Yeah. Last time I saw you I think you said you were dating a…" He took a sip of his coffee then cleared his throat "-married man"
Rhonda let out a chuckle seeing his prudery, - So no Helga, huh? - but then exhaled with resignation "Let's not talk about that."
"Fair. We're even I guess." He took another sip of his coffee.
"Besides, we came here to spend a nice time, didn't we?"
He nodded. They made small talk for a while; catching up with their respective jobs; then they talked about Arnold new apartment. It turned out that they lived just a few blocks away from each other. The waitress came with their orders in no longer. Rhonda smiled seeing Arnold's plate containing bacon and eggs, pancakes and a milkshake. It included apple slices, of course."
"You like your breakfast balanced, I see. Carbohydrates, fat, whole milk… fruit of course."
"Hey! It's the most important meal of the day. Nothing to do with yours, I guess," he pointed her plate. "What's that? Birdseed?"
"This is a high-protein breakfast" she showed off her plate. "Spinach and egg white omelet - no yolk- alfalfa sprouts and chia-birdseed juice." She said as she pointed each item with her fork.
"Sounds delicious." Arnold said, mockingly.
"Why you…!" Rhonda exclaimed eyeing his plate again, thinking of a scathing retort, but then she just shrugged her shoulders "I'll let go just because you're just coming from a break-up."
"Oh, thank you Miss Lloyd."
She smirked as she started eating. Arnold did the same.
"So," Rhonda started after a while "I must confess I was surprised when I saw your text."
"Sorry it was that late. It was just that I've been wanting to call you for a while but I never manage to do it. You know how it is."
"Yeah, I know" she nodded her head in understanding "You're already in bed when you remember. Yeah. It happens to me all the time."
"It made me happy to see your prompt reply. That you're also up for this."
"Well, I've also wanted to give you a call and all; just like you. I was happy to see your message. The other time when we met at Helga's place it felt so short. We didn't have time to talk everything we wanted to."
"Yeah, I know." Arnold made a pause, as if thinking. Then he went on sounding genuinely attentive "I guess after so many years apart a few hours are just not enough. We should make it again. Now that I'm all by myself again we could meet at my place."
"Sounds great."
"You said you and Helga keep meet religiously every month, right?" he asked, interested.
"I wish!" Rhonda snorted "But that's not quite right, you know?"
"Really? Why not?" he asked, apparently surprised by the info.
"Well…" she directed him a thoughtful frown "Let's see…. You joined us when?"
"October," Arnold informed, seeing as she took a bite of sprouts to her mouth.
"Alright," She nodded. "We met again on November, but we skipped December and January."
"You missed two months?"
"Yeah," Rhonda nodded "The plan was meet every month, but you know how it is. Carrying it out is not always easy. Work and… stuff… get in the way."
"Understandable," Arnold agreed "I remember Helga being out of town most of December."
"That-" she took a sip of juice "And you know that the beginning of the year is the Award Season: Golden Globes, SAGs, Oscars..." she puffed "The office it's like a mad house. It was a miracle that we made it last month." She exhaled "You don't have idea how much both of us need it." She gave him a solid stare "We'd gotten so used to meet each other frequently and when we fail like this it feels like we're missing something vital. It's like coming home, you know? It gives us the chance to re-energize and touch base; it's our feedback."
"Like reconnecting with who you really are?"
"Exactly!"
"I know what you mean; I felt it too, you know? After I saw Helga again first; and then again when the three of us met last October."
Rhonda leaned in. "Yeah!" she beamed "Then you know what it is. I don't know what I'd do if we ever stop. We both appreciate it. Helga and I. That's why we try to not lose it even; not when we're seeing someone seriously. That's the biggest risk, you know?" Arnold stopped eating to look at her with attention. She went on "We can fail a month or two - like we'd probably do again- but then we just know we're in debt."
"Are you missing the reunion this month?" Arnold face fell "Why?"
"I'm afraid we'll do." she also made a face "Yesterday should be our Friday… but Helga had already told me she wouldn't make it."
"Why not?" Arnold perked up again, but feigned nonchalance. Rhonda hid a smile.
"She had plans," she said casually. What was the point in being explicit? Arnold made a questioning sound as he ate. Rhonda smiled that know-it-all smile of hers and snorted "Oh, you know - plans."
Arnold frowned and his sight got lost in a distant point behind her.
"She said yesterday she was having problems with a report." He mumbled. 'Surely that was what kept her from a restful sleep last night' Rhonda snorted to herself. Arnold resumed eating and then took a sip of his coffee. "You know," he went on "Yesterday I learned something…" he made a purposive pause "odd…"
"How odd?" Rhonda raised her sight ever so slightly; almost uninterestedly. Arnold let out a small smile.
"About Helga Mueller." He finished.
"Really?" she frowned "What did you learn?"
"Her name, actually." He stated simply. Rhonda looked at him blankly for a second. Then blinked.
"You mean you didn't know her name?"
"I did not know her name…" he nodded. "I didn't even know Helga middle name was Geraldine; I swear I never did!" He cleared up probably because of her unwavering frown. She leaned in, showing him he'd got her interest "And now – suddenly - I learn that Helga, you know, our Helga, the old Helga G. Pataki was named after Helga G. Mueller!" he made an odd gesticulation "After Helga Mueller nonetheless; Henry's wife. I mean…" he paused for drama "Is there a story or what?"
"You mean you don't know?"
"What is there that I don't know? Are they… related or something?"
Rhonda snorted. "Of course not." She left her fork aside and leaned in. "So you didn't know anything?" Rhonda felt the anticipation she used to feel when you know something the other part doesn't; and the pleasure to know that that other part –in this case Arnold- is dying to know. Her eyes shone. Oh God! She still has it on her. She was The Gossip Queen to the end. "Nothing at all?"
"I don't know what to think." Arnold shook his head. "The only think I could think of is that Big Bob was the most devoted employee - ever?"
"As - if!" Rhonda scoffed, waving dismissively her hand in his face and leaning back in her chair with gluttony. "That's not what Henry Mueller thinks. Quite the opposite, in fact."
"Big Bob was not trustworthy? That's what Henry thinks?"
"Well, I guess he was trustworthy… to his wife." She raised proudly her brows.
Arnold looked at her in awe. "You mean… Bob and she… Helga?" he seemed to have problems to call late Mrs. Mueller by her first name.
"Of course not." She waved her hand again, but now in an admonishing fashion. "Helga was a decent woman. Henry didn't deserve it, but Helga fidelity never faltered."
"Meaning?"
"Oh, Henry was such a dick! He was not the most faithful of the husbands."
Arnold blinked twice. "And Bob and… well… her?"
"You mean Helga?" Rhonda smirked at his prudish manners. "They were just friends." She paused in sight of his doubts "I don't know Arnold. I guess we must understand that back then the enterprise was younger; smaller. When Henry started the expansion he traveled a lot. The old furniture store was left in Helga's hands. Then, as Henry spent more and more of his days out of town and only God knew in whose arms, Helga was left behind. She was an old fashioned woman," she smirked "-an almost extinct type whose values were obligation, work and sacrifice. She worked hard for the family; she loved her husband and her child. She was raised to believe it was normal that men behave that way. She had to be there to be the rock." Rhonda's dark eyes looked at him fixedly "But that doesn't mean she didn't appreciate having by her side someone to rely on; someone who'd help her; someone who listened to her and made her laugh."
"Someone who appreciated her and… Why not? Maybe loved her… in silence… someone who asked nothing in change..." Arnold put on a sad face. "I can't believe that someone could be Bob Pataki?" he added in a murmur.
Rhonda observed him carefully "Hey!" she chided him "Everybody has the right to fall in love."
"Yeah…. But Bob Pataki?!" Arnold asked in disbelief "I mean, you remember the guy!" he gestured something tall and big.
"You think the man had no feelings?" Rhonda snorted "He was Helga's father after all! Maybe he was as crazy and passionate as her!"
Arnold blinked, apparently surprised, like he'd never thought about it. Sure thing that Rhonda had been surprised too, back then. Who would have thought, right? But when you think twice you realize Helga must have inherited such passion from someone; the odds that it was Bob and not Miriam were right there.
"What happened then?"
Rhonda pouted.
"Henry found out. And as the macho man he was he just couldn't stand it. "
"Well, it wasn't as if his wife was cheating on him, was it?"
"No. But there was another man blowing sunshine in her ears; a man who one day dared to call his attention in public about the way he neglected his wife." Rhonda said pointedly "As you must guess, Henry didn't like a bit Bob's insolence and things went ugly."
"They fought…"
"Sure they did."
"Because of Helga"
Rhonda pouted thoughtful "Most likely because they both were a pair of machos who wouldn't let the occasion pass on."
"And Bob ended beating up Henry's ass." Arnold smirked.
Rhonda looked at him with a frown. "I don't know what you are talking about Arnold. It was Henry the one who rose victorious."
Arnold left his coffee aside "I heard Bob knocked out Henry."
"Well, yeah, but Henry fired Bob and left Helga without her platonic love; without her right arm." Rhonda said matter-of-factly. "Bob lost his work; his motivation." Arnold hummed "What did Henry lose?"
Arnold puckered "Respect?" he ventured.
"You think?" she paused "To men like Henry respect is given by what they achieve in the business world, and he achieved tons. A fight, a blow and losing an employee mean nothing to him in the end."
Arnold fell silent "That sounds cold." He finally said. "Cruel."
"That's life." She sighed. "It isn't fair."
Arnold remained thoughtful for a while. "I still find hard to believe Bob was in love with…" he snorted "It's a weird coincidence."
"Yeah, it is." Rhonda also seemed thoughtful. "It's a coincidence. Weird or not."
"And then Bob went to name his daughter after the woman he loved?" he frowned "I mean, Miriam – his wife- had nothing to said?"
"Miriam didn't know. So far I know they used to call Helga by her pet name: 'Hellie'." Rhonda raised her hand to call the waiter "So she went by Hellie or Mrs. Mueller. That's the name Miriam always heard."
"It must have been a surprise when she finally found out."
"Tell me about it!" Rhonda snorted "I can't even start to imagine her shock. Not only to discover your husband is crazy in love with other woman but that your own daughter has her name! I mean, not yours or his mom's, but hers. The other woman's name. Forever!"
"Well," Arnold pulled out his collar "Bob didn't cheat on her. It was only-"
"Really Arnold?!" Rhonda threw him a hard look "Your girlfriend… ex-girlfriend, what's her name? Claire –alright- you marry her; she falls in love with some other guy. She dreams of him; she thinks of him all the time; she puts your son his name. Should I go on?"
"I get your point." Arnold raised his hands defensively in front of him.
"Of course you get my point!" Rhonda nodded accusatory.
"That's why she became… Miriam… you know?" Arnold made a gesture of drinking.
"Pretty much I guess." She nodded. He remained thoughtful
"And I guess that was also the reason behind Bob stopping calling Helga by her name? He used to call her 'Olga'."
"Did you know Bob used to call Helga by her sister name?" the blond guy nodded. "How so?"
"I don't know." He shrugged "I just did. I kinda remember Bob scolding Helga and telling her she should wear the nametag he bought her so he didn't get confused". He frowned perplexed and added to himself "I don't know where that came from."
"Well, I'm not sure about that one. Truth that I didn't ask Helga that much. As you must remember, Helga doesn't talk that openly about the past."
"I thought she'd come to terms with her past."
"Well, yeah, but that doesn't mean she talks about it all the time and to everybody, right?" Arnold nodded in agreement "But pretty much I suppose it was why Helga stopped being called by her own name and being paid that little attention. I guess, like any other couple experiencing problems, they just tried to ignore it; to hide the elephant in the room. They failed to see they actually hurt deeply their own daughter by doing so."
"Helga told me she'd forgiven Bob before he passed on."
"He asked for her forgiveness and she complied," Rhonda made a pause "But Helga never got to know all this stuff but until years later."
"Really?" Arnold looked surprised.
"But she did know Bob worked for the Muellers in his youth, right?"
Rhonda nodded "That's why she didn't want to sell to them in the first place. And why she insisted in keeping Big Bob name in the stores after she did."
"But she eventually did."
Rhonda shrugged "Well, they paid good money for it. I should've sold too!"
Arnold exhaled. Rhonda turned to see her phone when a new email arrived.
"Isn't strange that she ended coming in close contact with the Muellers? After all what had happened between them and her parents?"
"Well," Rhonda raised her sight from the screen of her phone and turned touchily "I don't know why people think is weird. It's not fair!" she protested "There wasn't bad intention from her part! It just happened!"
"Well, I didn't mean…" Arnold apologized but Rhonda went on.
"Helga…" she paused "Miriam- Miriam wasn't there for her. After Bob passed her condition worsened. Helga was too young to deal with everything. Besides you know her. She was too stubborn for her own good. After some struggling she finally accepted their… attention, love. To the Muellers finding her was a blessing. A daughter! Fell from heaven! It was their second chance to be parents"
"Their second chance…" Arnold mumbled as to himself.
"To Helga it was a second chance to have a family; a loving father. It's just-" Rhonda stopped herself "See? There was no ill intention. It just happened. It was a blessing."
"That's what Helga means when she says that hers and Henry relationship is about…"
"Second chances?"
"'The gratefulness of second chances'?" He quoted. Rhonda nodded. "That's all? Henry's like... her father?" She nodded again "Then why they act like they are-?"
"Oh, come on, Arnold! It's just a tease." She smiled a knowing smile. He started talking again at the same time she did "The intended target weren't you."
"Why did you…?" He stopped himself to let her go on but then another chime went off in her phone and she put an excited expression.
"Why did I-?" she raised her sight briefly before going back to her phone.
Arnold hesitated "Why did you say Mr. Mueller called her the other day when we were at her place and she received a call that…" he hummed "-upset her?"
"Because he did." Rhonda affirmed absentminded. She opened the mail to see the attached photos.
"But-" he was about to start again but Rhonda chimed in.
"Look! I was waiting for this." She showed him the screen of her phone "These are from yesterday. The Chamber of Commerce Annual Tournament. Arthur just sent me these snaps."
Arnold leaned in "Arthur?"
"Our photographer."
"Is that Helga?" Arnold took the cellphone from her hand and she slapped his hand.
"Hey! I haven't seen them myself!" she chidded him and then laughed. She rounded the table and sit at his side so both of them looked at the snaps "This one is Helga." she enlarged it "There are several from them. Of course I'm going to publish at least one of her. The perks of being friend with one of the editors, right?"
"Did they win?" Arnold asked seeing the photo where she and Dick were receiving the trophy from hands of the President of the Chamber.
"Of course they did! They always do." She showed him another shot of Helga and Dick raising enthusiastically the golden object in their hands.
Another mail arrived then. Sylvie -her coeditor - asking for her chices for the publication.
"I'm sorry Arnold" she apologized. "I have to go now. Work calling." She left her phone to him while she looked for her wallet.
"Oh, no!" Arnold's hand stopped her from keep looking "My treat. Please."
"You sure?" he nodded handing her phone back.
"Yeah." He leaned back. He looked so sad all of a sudden.
"I'm sorry." She apologized again. She felt bad for leaving him like that, so she made him promise to have breakfast together next Saturday. Arnold agreed after she allowed him to choose the place. Rhonda smiled seeing he looked happier she got up and kissed him goodbye. She left the place just in time to receive a call from her new beau and a text from her impatient boss at the same time. She rolled her eyes.
"So much for a restful Saturday!"she complained to nobody as she took the call first.
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I don't own Hey Arnold!
Thanks to Nep2uune, Presley Rox, Jose Ramiro and CarlinJ83 for your reviews. I love you! Your words make me keep going, guys. Thank you everybody else for being here. Have a nice Spring Break/ Semana Santa/ Easter or whatever! See you soon!