A/N to all of ART (if you're reading, you're a member) for their constant support and encouragement.
To AsgardianBlade for comfirming that Eileen would have the perfect gift.
And to tanner12 for educating Eileen (via the typist) on how to make 'the perfect cup' of tea.
The outfits and gifts are shown on Pinterest under ManhattaniteNYC.
Love and Friendship by (Emily Bronte)
Myka awoke the next day and quietly lay there. She turned on the television to get the weather, but muted the sound. Splashed across every channel was the lead story of their upcoming nuptials. Many called it the – 'fairytale wedding of New York's Royalty' – and Myka marveled at the fact that they were talking about her wedding. It was like a dream come true for her – to finally be with the one person she was meant to be with. Never in all her life could she have imagined that her One was going to be the HG Wells, and that HG Wells was going to be a woman – a woman in the 21st century. Myka felt indeed like the luckiest person on earth.
She gently slid out of bed without waking Helena, whom she exhausted skillfully last night. The buildup of Myka's promise put Helena in a sensitized state for most of the day. Her eventual ascent into climax was wave after wave of tingling jolts from head to toe. Deferring gratification had its benefits.
Myka slipped into her yoga pants, t-shirt and donned a sweatshirt, rubbing her hands up and down her arms to stay warm. She heard murmuring in the haute couture closet and opened it. There, at the far end, was the latest cache of interns from the Fashion Institute of Technology, busily working around the dresses for the bridal party.
"Good morning," they all whispered in unison, each smiling.
"Oh hi," Myka said, quietly closing the door behind her. She walked to the middle of the closet and saw all the beautiful dresses, each one different in appearance. Myka smiled at the black and white two piece ladies suit. "Mrs. Frederic?" she asked, laughing because the outfit looked like a fancier version of what she wore every day. "Yes," the intern working on it said happily.
"Let me guess," Myka said of the long gown in the same black and white, but with a plunging neckline, "Ms. Cummings?"
"You're right!" the intern said.
Then she looked a similar dress, but without the low-cut feature. "Ms. Sullivan?" Myka asked, on a roll now. "Yes," the intern working on Eileen's dress said.
"That leaves," Myka said, looking over at the remaining dress. "Tracy's."
"We want to thank you and Ms. Wells for allowing us to be a part of this occasion. We are doing our very best work and will make sure everyone is pleased with their outfits," the intern in charge said.
"Thank you," was all Myka could say because Helena had made this decision on her own. Myka wasn't surprised that Helena would distribute the work and allow the dedicated students to have a part.
Sarah Styles already had her hands full with the bridal dresses. She had completed the dresses for Helena and Myka and was working on the alterations. She had brought the attire to the office and when Helena saw them, she assured Sarah that she would have to let Myka's dress out on top. Sarah tried – foolishly – to assure Helena that she had taken Myka's exact measurements, but Helena assured her back – that she knew Myka's exactness, too, and the dress was going to be too close-fitting across the bust. When Myka tried the dress on and Sarah saw that indeed, the dress was tight, she mentioned it to Helena when she did her fitting. Helena smiled broadly. "I have a very high acuity for measurement. I'm a kinesthetic learning," Helena assured the designer.
Myka returned to the bed, kissed Helena, and woke her up.
"Marry me," Helena said as soon as her eyes opened a little.
"Oh I'm sorry. I would, but I have already promised this other woman that I would marry her," Myka teased.
"Then I shall challenge her, and she will lose, and you will marry me," Helena said, in a King Arthur kind of way.
"Oh I don't know; she'll be hard to beat," Myka said. "Unless of course you exploit her weakness," she said, sliding down next to Helena so she was close to her ear. "You see, first, …..you tease her all day," Myka said, now running her fingers up Helena's bare leg, "…and promise her that the wait will be well worth it," Myka continued as Helena bit her lip and turned into her. "Then maybe, in her weakened state, you might get a jump on her."
"I was …not….. weakened," Helena tried to say, but her body had already signed over to Team Myka and was chanting her name.
"I had to physically hold you up," Myka reminded her.
"OK, maybe….. momentarily," Helena said.
"I had to help you up the stairs," Myka reminded her.
"I may have leaned... a bit," Helena huffed.
"You didn't have the strength to put your nightgown on," Myka said to the woman who had simply stood there – waiting – for Myka to undress her.
"Well now, that was just a ruse to get you to do all the work," Helena scoffed.
"Admit it, Helena, I was too much for you yesterday, and you lost," Myka said, proudly.
There was silence as Helena considered if she could possibly win this debate. "I'm hungry," she finally said, and Myka laughed and started to tickle Helena. "Say it, Wells. Say it, you lost," Myka insisted, as Helena pulled her body up in the fetal position, trying to get away.
"Never," Helena screamed between fits of laughter. She was ticklish.
"Say it," Myka demanded as she continued her feather-like torture.
"Okay, okay….," Helena said, gasping. Myka stopped poking her with her finger. Helena relaxed and caught her breath. Myka lay back next to her, laughing at their silly antics.
"I will never say it," Helena shouted, grabbing her robe and bolting from the bed. Myka shot up and leapt out of bed, trying to catch up. Helena raced out of the bedroom, down the length of the hallway to the top of the stairs, all the time screaming.
"Come back here," Myka yelled, trying to catch up, her long sleek legs closing the gap between them.
Helena was on the top steps when she looked down the long flight and saw Irene standing by the table in the center of the hallway. There was no disguising what was going on. Helena knew in an instant that going down would present a worse fate than going back up. She yelped and turned around, running back up and right into Myka. Myka caught her as their bodies gently collided. Myka fell backwards onto the plush carpeting, Helena on top of her. They instantly burst into a fit of giggles. "Say it," Myka said, her legs locked around Helena's and her arms holding her in place.
"Irene! Help me!" Helena screamed, knowing fully well the woman wouldn't dare. "I am the CEO of a Fortune 500 Company!"
"You, Ms. Wells, are nothing more than putty in my hands," Myka said, pulling Helena down farther into her own body and kissing her lips.
"What is that noise?" Leena asked, as Irene came into the kitchen.
"That, Leena, is the Bering-Wells version of Brides-Gone-Wild," Irene said, and then added; "I pray for your sake, it's a temporary state."
"I'm glad to hear they're not nervous about everything that has to be done," Leena said, pouring Irene a cup of coffee.
"You know, I've never seen Helena happier," Irene said smiling. It gave her the warmest feeling in her heart.
Leena was right. It was the day before the wedding and the only ones who didn't seem to have a care in the world were the brides-to-be. Mrs. Frederic had called the bridal party and others to the townhouse to go over every detail to ensure that things went off without a hitch.
"Except for the brides, right?" Pete asked when Mrs. Frederic used the expression. "You want them hitched, right?"
The bridal party members, sans Tracy, who was having her dress delivered, were to try on their outfits. As Myka and Helena stood up, still laughing from their antics, Bridget Cummings came through the door. She stopped in mid-hallway, looking up at the pair; she put her hands on her hips and then waved a finger at them.
"I am very annoyed at you two," she said.
"The extent to which I do not care, cannot..." Helena started and Myka poked her right in her ticklish side.
"What did we do?" Myka asked, as they came down the stairs.
"Your question assumes guilt, Counselor," Helena pointed out.
"As it should. Do you know because of the speed of this event, I cannot throw you guys a bachelorette party!" Bridget complained. "Do you have any idea how much I would enjoy getting you drunk…again," she teased Helena. "So when you come back, you owe me one night on the town."
Helena's response was a sharp glare, but they were becoming increasingly ineffective against the woman. "Do you guys have your 'something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue'?" the maid of honor asked.
"Oh," Myka said, not having given the requirements any thought. She looked at Helena, who was aware of the custom, but had not thought of it either.
"Really?" Bridget asked in disbelief. "It's an old English custom. I thought you of all people would remember it," the teasing continued. "Sixpence in her shoe? Ring a bell?"
"I'm sure it's on Irene's list," Helena said, admiring the woman's tenacity for the first time.
"Yes, it is," Irene said, walking into the hallway. "Right after – have interns make shawl to accompany Ms. Cummings' dress."
Bridget would take on anyone – she would tease the Pope if he walked through the door, but she knew danger when she saw it and right now, danger was standing in front of them. It didn't mean she would be quiet.
"Good morning, everyone," Irene said pleasantly. "Myka, your mother has asked that you each carry your grandmother's handkerchiefs to fulfill the old requirement. Since there will be no veils, we will use your dresses as the new."
"I heard about your old boyfriend showing up, so we got our blue I guess," Bridget smiled at Myka.
"I don't think someone's mood counts," Irene said.
"Oh yeah, his mood. That's what I meant," Bridget said, her eyes sweeping the floor. The reference was obvious to Myka who spit out her laugh and had to cover her mouth.
"Well, Ms. Styles has embroidered your names and the date of your wedding in blue inside your dresses, so the color requirement is taken care of," Irene informed them.
"She is good," Bridget said of her girlfriend. She had hardly seen the woman since Myka moved the date up. Sarah was laboring day and night to get everything exact.
There was a rush of people coming in from the kitchen as Pete, Eileen, Jane and Claudia arrived.
"In there, please," Irene said and when they opened the doors to the dining room, Sui Generis was already seated at the table. In front of him were stacks of cream colored envelopes. He smiled at the group, as both his right and left hands held Mont Blanc pens and wrote on the cards, engraved with the Bering-Wells name in gold.
"What the hell is he doing?" Bridget asked.
"He is writing thank you notes, some from Helena, some from Myka, in their handwriting and at the same time," Claudia practically squealed. She was very proud of the program she had written with Helena to make this happen.
"I know a set of twins who would really appreciate that dexterity," Bridget commented.
"Detective Tierney, I hope you have everything in order for Ms. Bering's request?" Irene asked.
"Yes, we're all set. There will be barricades set around the perimeter of the structure that will keep the crowds at bay. Then, after the ceremony, Ms. Bering and Ms. Wells can walk the barricade to greet the public," Jane reported.
It was something that Myka had come up with. They had received so many cards and gifts from the general public, that Myka wanted to share their day with them in some small way. She thought they could thank some of them after the ceremony outside, before they went to the reception.
"We're all set with that?" Irene asked Pete because of the extra security needed.
"Yes, we are. And I'll be right there," Pete said, assuring his favorite couple.
The group dispersed as interns brought out the dresses and suits for people to try on Irene, however, continued to stand there crossing things off her list.
"Aren't you going to try that on?" Helena asked, of the black and white suit that an intern held up.
Irene looked over at the outfit, scanning it from the below the knee length black skirt to the three quarter sleeved white jacket with black piping. "It will fit," she said and the intern left.
"Ms. Bering, could I please see you?" Eileen asked from the kitchen.
"Did you try on your dress?" Irene asked, because the girl was doing things out of order.
"Yes," Eileen lied and added it to her list of things to confess.
"Sure," Myka said, kissing Helena goodbye even though they would only be a couple of rooms apart.
"I need you in here," Irene said to Helena, pointing to the library.
Myka walked into the kitchen, aware that the young Wells had a serious, yet pleasant look on her face. On the island were two teacups. Myka really didn't have time for tea.
"Is everything okay?" Myka asked, because the expression on Leena's face said something was up.
"It will be," Eileen answered and pointed to the stool where Myka should sit.
Myka looked at Leena, who simply shrugged her shoulders. "Sounds more and more like her," Leena whispered as she made her exit.
"Ms. Bering," Eileen began.
"Isn't it time you call me Myka?" Myka asked and threw the girl's pace off. Light blue eyes flashed how much thought she was giving this.
"OK, but not at work," Eileen compromised. "Myka, I couldn't decide what to give you for the wedding."
"Oh that's very sweet, Eileen, but….," Myka tried to assure her, but the youth put her hand up to stop her. Myka was beginning to understand what Leena meant.
"So I decided to give you something that I think you both will enjoy," the fair bridesmaid said.
"That's very sweet, Eileen," Myka said, even though she had no idea what it was.
Then there was silence. Nothing was said and no noise was made. "Come around here, please," Eileen finally asked Myka, who did as she was asked. Surely the girl knew that time was of the essence.
"Is there something you want to talk to me about… over tea?" the lawyer asked, unable to figure out what was going on.
"No, Myka. My gift is this. I am going to teach you how to make Helena's tea," Eileen said.
Myka stopped in her tracks. She, more than anyone, knew what this ritual meant to Helena and to the young woman who made it her mission to produce the perfect cup of tea daily. Eileen had spent weeks, under the tutelage of her Aunt Rose, learning the basics. Eileen then made her own improvements that made tea making an art form for her boss. Myka swore it wasn't the ingredients, or the method, as much as it was the love and energy this kid put into making it for Helena. Master Chefs didn't take as much care as Eileen did in making the perfect cup of tea.
It tied her to Helena – even before there was a blood connection.
"But you love to…no," Myka said, and tears welled up in her eyes. This wasn't just a gift, it was a sacrifice.
"Yes, I do, Eileen affirmed. How many Saturday mornings had she made the trip from Brooklyn to Manhattan just to prepare the beverage for Helena?
"And she…," Myka pointed to the direction of where Helena was. Myka had witnessed the transformation the hot liquid caused in Helena.
"Yes, I know. That is why I must teach you. This way, she will have two people who can make her tea whenever she wants it," Eileen said, her voice cracking just a little.
"But … I can't make tea like you do," Myka said and both understood she meant there were several reasons.
"Oh, but you can, Myka, you can. And you will, because you will put as much into it as I do," Eileen said, taking Myka's hand and squeezing it.
"First, we'll start with the water. It must be filtered, or she won't drink it," the experienced tea maker said. "So I use bottled spring water," she said, handing Myka the bottle and indicating she should pour it in the tea kettle.
"The water has to come to a rolling ball, because the tea is a black tea," the instructor said. Myka had to smile at how careful Eileen was giving her the instructions.
"This is called the infuser," Eileen said of the silver ball. Myka looked down at it and then glanced at the little black box that had the exact indentation in it. She carried the ball in its own case.
"Does this have the ….," Myka said, turning the ball in her hand. There on the side was the distinct Wells logo.
"Oh yes, I had them made for her," Eileen smiled and shrugged her shoulders about the perfect gift. "Now she likes it strong, so you'll take one teaspoon of the loose tea in it…," and she waited for Myka to do as she was instructed.
"Now place that in the tea cup," Eileen said and watched as Myka did. "Check the water, is it rolling?"
"I think so," Myka said, never having given thought to the different types of boiling water.
"Now I use a six ounce cup, this way you don't have to measure out the water," Eileen said, having learned a thing or two along the way.
"Well, this doesn't seem too hard," Myka said out of relief that she was getting it. Those were the wrong words to say and she knew that by the crinkle in her teacher's forehead. In spite of the physical differences between the relatives, Myka swore Eileen was…glaring at her. It was only for a second, but it was definitely a Wells glare. "I just …meant," Myka tried to get back in good graces.
"This is the …..," Eileen said, and looked around the room to make sure they were alone, "…secret to the perfect cup of tea. It's all in the steeping time."
Now Myka knew this because she had challenged Helena to discern between different cups of tea, brewed to slightly different times. She couldn't. So Myka assumed that the timing wasn't as big a deal as Helena made it out to be. But over time, it wasn't the exact second of Eileen's tea that Helena knew. It was Eileen's tea from any other. No matter what Leena tried, it just never measured up and Helena's expression was nothing short of being tortured.
Myka may have had the secret now, but she doubted she would ever possess the panache that Eileen had in knowing exactly when to bring Helena her tea.
While the tea master was gifting her secrets, Irene was in the library with Helena. They sat near one another on the couch, Irene's pad in her lap as she reviewed the last few items.
"Well, I think that takes care of everything for now. Are you both spending the night here?" Irene asked, one of the last items on her list …for today. She put the pad on the table, next to her pocketbook.
"Yes, of course," Helena said, having lost interest several minutes ago.
"I'm not one for superstition," Irene tried, but Helena gave her a knowing look. "OK, well let's say I am, I think it would be good for you to sleep in separate rooms," Irene said, pulling on her suit jacket as she took a deep breath.
"Why? I don't want to…..have you told Myka this?" Helena said all at once.
"No, I am speaking to you. I'm merely suggesting that one night apart might help with the anticipation of all that will happen tomorrow," Irene said. Then the woman put her hand on Helena's and said; "It goes by so quickly, Helena. I want you to enjoy every moment of it."
Helena knew her friend was being sincere, even if she didn't like her suggestion. "I will talk to Myka," Helena said.
"Good, now there is one more thing," Irene said, but didn't look at her pad.
"Surely, you've run out of things to take care of …or paper…..by now," Helena moaned.
"I would like to offer you something. Now, they are not very fancy and may not go with everything else," Irene said, as she reached into the flattest handbag known to humankind. She pulled out a small gold box and handed it to Helena.
"It's not an earpiece so you can give me directions throughout the ceremony, is it?" Helena teased.
"Don't be silly. I'm your maid of honor. I'll be right near you. Besides, I'm that little annoying voice permanently fixed in your head," Irene lobbed back.
Helena scoffed and opened the box …..and immediately, the emotions rushed at her. Tears blurred her vision as she looked down at the pair of pearl and diamond earrings.
"I thought this could be your something borrowed," Irene said as Helena fought back the tears. "I wore them on my wedding day, as did my mother and her mother before that."
"I …would be honored," Helena said, and lunged to across the couch to hug Irene tightly.
Emotions were not easy for Helena – in spite of the fact that this was the second woman in her life that she cared so much for. The tightness of Helen's embrace surprised Irene.
"She's a lucky woman, Helena," Irene said, embracing the woman who was more like a daughter to her.
Irene smiled when she felt Helena fall into the embrace, allowing her head to rest on Irene's shoulder, and not stiffen as she often did. "A very lucky woman, indeed," Irene whispered and held on until Helena gently pulled back.
"Thank you, Irene," Helena said after clearing her throat so her voice would return. "For …everything." This gift was further confirmation that her beloved friend and former One, loved her like a daughter.
Back in the kitchen, Eileen asked Myka to pour the water into the cup with the tea infusion container. "Now anyone can make a cup of tea, Myka," Eileen said and Myka knew she was referring to her before this lesson. "But the secret is in how long you allow the tea to steep."
"I got you this, for the beginning," Eileen said reaching into her pocket to take out a little box.
"Thank you," Myka said, and opened it. Inside was a digital timer, the size of a quarter.
"Ms. Wells' tea must be steeped for three minutes and nineteen seconds," Eileen said, making sure Myka got that very important detail.
"Three minutes and nineteen seconds," Myka repeated on cue and Eileen smiled. "The timer is specifically set to that time. So when you pour the water with one hand, you can start the timer with the other."
"Oh," Myka said, feeling like the law bar was an easier exam than this.
Then the moment came. Eileen instructed Myka to pour the water, and at the same time, start the timer. Myka poured the water into the cup gingerly as she was almost certain a missed drop would count in her final grade.
"Too long and it's acidic," Eileen said, looking down into the cup. "Not long enough and she'll refuse it."
As Myka watched the seconds pass, she was about to let Eileen know when the exact time was up, but the woman had an internal clock.
"There!" Eileen said. She showed Myka how to take the infuser out, and instructed her on carrying it into Helena.
"Never look at the cup, Myka. Always watch where you're going," the youth instructed.
Myka almost did a double take on hearing those words. She knew they came out of Eileen Sullivan's mouth – but her voice was all Wells.
"Now put it on the table, Myka. Let her drink it. I'd like you to surprise her when you're on your honeymoon. She won't be expecting it," Eileen said, having thought it all through.
Claudia came out of the dining room now and knew the lesson was complete.
"How did she do?" she asked Eileen as if Myka weren't there. Myka had to smile at them.
"Very well. A real natural," Eileen said, encouraging her student.
"Ain't she something?" Claudia whispered to Myka, her eyes locked on Eileen.
Helena came out of the library with Irene and immediately went for the tea and drank it.
"How's that tea, boss?" Claudia asked. A very small part of her was hoping Helena would notice the difference. As much as she hated an empty bed some Saturday mornings, she loved that Eileen was the only one who could do this for Helena.
"Pardon?" Helena asked. "It's very good, as always."
Myka smiled and bounced on the balls of her feet. Eileen smiled and left with Claudia. Irene watched the entire thing and wondered what was going on.
"Well ladies, the next time I see you will be tomorrow morning where the house will be crowded with people and you two will be getting ready," Irene said, looking down at the pad.
"Good God, woman. There can't be anything left on that list," Helena said, embracing the warm cup and putting it to her lips.
"One more thing," Irene said, putting on her coat. "Take the day off," she smiled as she left.
"Last one up is a rotten egg," Myka yelled as she raced up the stairs.
"Oh please do grow up," Helena yelled because Myka had a head start. Helena put the tea cup down and looked at it. Then she took the steps, two at a time to catch up to Myka.
"You lost again, Helena," Myka yelled to goad her lover.
"You will regret that," Helena warned playfully.
She glanced over the railing at the teacup for a second. Her attention may have been diverted, but there was no denying it.
Something was different about that tea.
Are your surprised Helena knew?
* Thank you to CdB55 for this wording. I use it with her permission.