Patience (by Emily Dickinson)

The young assistant ran frantically down the long hall and into the back room where dozens of dresses adorned mannequin models. Sarah was busy putting the finishing touches on most the outfits before they would be packed up and sent to appear on the runway. When the apprentice, who had just started after another had been fired, found Sarah, she told her who was waiting for her.

"I have never seen her in person, only in the papers," the young woman squealed. "OMG! She's drop dead gorgeous! That hair."

Sarah smiled at the excited assistant, took off the pin cushion that was wrapped around her wrist, gave another assistant last minute instructions, and went out to meet her guest. She was surprised to see Helena so soon, but thought she might have been there to pick up something. Sarah really should have known – Helena never picked up anything.

The shop woman, who had greeted Helena, stood nervously as Helena sat down on the couch, threw her arm across the back of it, and looked at her watch. When Sarah finally arrived, Helena's first comment was about how deceiving the length of the shop must be because it took her so long to get there. She didn't mean to be rude, but she was impatient.

"Sit," Helena said, pointing to the other end of the couch, and then she cast an eye at the audience until they quickly dispersed. It didn't matter to Helena that this couch was out in the open showroom. The saleswoman knew to keep everyone at bay.

"Helena, it's so good to see you," Sarah said, and took her seat. She pulled down on her dress and pushed a hand through her hair, concerned with how she appeared.

"Let's not be hasty," Helena said, knowing Sarah's tune might change. Then there was silence, while Helena thought about the quickest way to say what she wanted to say.

"Can I….get you anything?" Sarah finally asked, uncomfortable with the silence.

"You can get me home," Helena said cryptically on purpose and sat up in her place. "Sarah, I was away all day from Myka. I want to go home and be with her. I've really missed her," Helena started and Sarah took that as the end of their visit.

"Of course," Sarah said, getting up, thinking Helena was leaving.

"Oh, dear God," Helena sighed and pointed at a very confused fashion designer to take her seat again.

"I'm sorry, I thought….," Sarah started, but Helena closed her eyes and waved a finger. In spite of all the hours Sarah had spent with the woman when designing her wedding dress, she was still very intimidated by Helena.

And with good reason.

Helena thought again. Apparently, it was going to be one of those days where everyone she dealt with had difficulty understanding her. It simply baffled the woman.

"Let's dispense with the formalities, shall we? Bridget had lunch with Myka and although Myka would never betray her confidence, I could hear the concern in Myka's voice. Being the kind of friend Myka is, she will give this great thought this evening," Helena explained.

"That's very sweet…..," Sarah tried.

"I have other plans for this evening," Helena said, trying to be discreet, but willing not to be if it got her point across.

It took Sarah a minute, but she finally got it from the one raised eyebrow expression on Helena's face. "Oooh."

"Now, let's see what we can do, shall we? I take it this is over something between you and Bridget. I knew at the wedding something was amiss," Helena said, slightly more impressed with that than Sarah was.

"But how…?" Sarah attempted, but it wasn't her turn.

"The point is, I knew you two were on different pages. I could see it in your body language. When that happens, there's usually a clash before you reach an understanding. Is it safe to say that this has already taken place?" the human behaviorist asked. It was a yes or no question.

"Well, actually …the clash was over my indiscretion really," Sarah confessed, biting her lower lip. She looked around to make sure no one could hear, but it didn't matter. She only had to worry about one person and that person had just lowered her head into her hands momentarily.

This was more complicated than Helena had planned. "Your indiscretion?" Helena really had thought it was simply a case of the investment banker being more anxious to move the relationship forward.

When Sarah added the missing details to what little Helena knew, it only irritated the Brit more. She was, after all, only there to relieve Myka's concern.

"We're good, though. I mean, I think Bridget has accepted my apology," Sarah said, trying to sound positive.

Helena was on another track. "You think?" If Bridget was okay with all of this, then Myka would have sounded better the Brit decided.

"I mean, I have over and over again. We're working on it," the designer said quickly.

"Now, you've upset the two most important women in my life," Helena said, crossing her legs and her arms crossed over her lap.

"Myka and Bridget?" Sarah asked.

"What? No! Myka and Irene!" Helena said aghast. "Not that I am not fond of Bridget. I've come to tolerate her sense of humor quite well. And Myka enjoys her company, which is all I need," Helena said.

"Irene?" Sarah asked still confused.

"Well, I spoke too soon. Your actions will upset her when she regales me of how she spoke to Bridget which propelled the woman to visit you that fateful day. Now I will have to tell her she didn't quite accomplish what I asked her to. She likes to brag and when I tell her that things only escalated, well, she gets cranky when she's wrong," Helena shared.

"I don't think I like everyone knowing …what I did," Sarah said, her face getting red.

"No one is more bored by it than I," Helena shared truthfully. "But here we are. Now, darling, let me see if I got this. Bridget is all caught up in the wedding, has champagne, proposes, you're caught off guard, are slow to respond and then say no," Helena said in rapid succession, based on what Sarah had told her.

"Yes, but..," Sarah tried, thinking this was a dialogue.

"Then Bridget is hurt, storms out, Mrs. Frederic calls her, they talk, and as annoying as that woman is, she probably got Bridget to come to her sense. Then Bridget goes back to apologize and discovers your tryst. Is that about it?" Helena summed up.

"Yes, but…," Sarah tried again.

"Not only are you imprudent in your actions, but it was all a set up to have your designs stolen," Helena added.

"I was really…..careless," Sarah confessed, but caught the expression on Helena's face.

"Careless is what I do when I discard my coat when I come through the door at night, Ms. Styles," Helena corrected her and now Sarah could hear the change in her tone. "You hurt the woman who cares for you, refused her, and then bedded a thief. What you did was reckless."

"I know that now," Sarah said slowly. She wanted to defend herself against the harsh words, but knew they were true.

"Good. It takes some people a lot longer. Is the therapist helping?" Helena asked.

"Yes, she's really very good. I think she…...," Sarah said, hoping to offer something encouraging.

"She's not the one you should give thought to. It is what Ms. Cummings will do that should occupy all your thoughts," Helena said. Then Helena went silent for a moment as she thought. She wondered what Myka would do if she were here and knew it wouldn't just be a lecture. No, Myka would offer encouragement.

"Ms. Styles, do you love Ms. Cummings?" Helena asked.

"I do, I swear to you, I do," Sarah said with pleading eyes.

"Then you will work very hard at this. You will accept what responsibility is yours, and from the sound of it, I would say you have the lion's share. And prove to her that you are worthy of her taking you back," Helena said, because that was the Brit's version of encouragement. "Because, my dear, you do want her to take you back."

Then Helena stood up and grabbed her coat as the woman who greeted her rushed to help her on with it.

"I'm sorry if this upset Myka," Sarah said sincerely.

"Myka can handle these things. I'm sure she was a great comfort to Bridget today. Now that we've talked, I can assure Mrs. Bering-Wells that you are going to put all your efforts into making this work and everything will be okay." Helena wasn't asking; she was telling.

"I will, I am," Sarah confirmed.

"Good. Then what are you doing here?" Helena asked, waving her hand at the work place.

"What? I have …there's a show tomorrow," Sarah explained nervously.

Helena's expression turned to a frown and her eyes narrowed. "Have you been listening to anything I said?" the Brit asked.

"Yes! Of course," Sarah assured her.

"Take care of the business that really matters here," Helena said, firmly.

It took Sarah a minute. In all the time they were going to counseling, the therapist had never pointed out that if Sarah wanted Bridget, then Bridget had to be her first priority.

"You're right!" Sarah said and Helena tilted her head, her expression shouted – "I know."

"I'm glad we had this chat then," Helena said, even though it was more of a monologue.

With that, Helena took her bag, let Sarah hug her, and looked around at the showroom. "Sarah?" Helena said, looking around.

"Yes?" Sarah responded.

"What was the thief's name?" Helena asked.

"We fired her," Sarah said and could tell that was the wrong answer. "Dana Fleming."

"Thank you," Helena said, making note of the name. Then she stopped and looked back. "Another thing, Sarah. It's time for you to move on from here," Helena said, aware that the woman was talented enough to have her own design studio. Just as Bridget had encouraged her.

"I was thinking...," Sarah said.

"Stop thinking, Sarah. Do," Helena said - her tone positive, not harsh.

And with that, the discussion was over. In a matter of minutes, Helena had dispersed the best relationship and career advice Sarah Styles would ever get. And she knew it. She waited until Helena walked out of the shop and then picked up her phone.

"Bridget?" she said, sweetly into the phone. "I was thinking, why don't we bring dinner in tonight? No, the dresses can wait, but I can't wait…..to see you," she said into the phone.

Bridget stood on the steps of the townhouse uptown when she took the call. "Really?" Bridget asked. "I am outside Myka's door and just wanted to drop something off," she explained. "Thirty minutes? Sure, I'll be home." Bridget hung up and clutched the phone to her chest, excited by the idea that Sarah was initiating this. Sarah was typically a wreck before the fashion shows. What could have caused this change in her?

Helena got into the back of the car outside and texted Myka. "I'll be home soon," she said, not giving details of where she was.

"You okay, Boss?" Pete asked, because Helena seemed exasperated. The man was simply one of Helena's favorite people in the whole world and that was a short list. He always seemed to have a sixth sense about things and it was just one of the many qualities that Helena liked about him.

"I will be as soon as I get home," she assured him. Pete took off into the City traffic to get her there as quickly as he could.

A minute later, Myka opened the door, expecting it to be Helena. Unfortunately, it was the second time someone was at the door that night that wasn't Helena.

"Bridge?" Myka said, surprised to see her friend there.

"Myka, I am sorry to barge in. I was nearby and wanted to thank you for today," Bridget said, producing a large bouquet of flowers she had picked up.

"Oh Bridget!" Myka said sweetly. "Come it, come in. You didn't have to do that."

"I'll only stay a minute," Bridget said, not taking her coat off and standing in the hallway. "I just really appreciate… you know, our talk today."

Myka took the flowers and leaned in to hug her friend. "Thank you for these."

"You guys have just been great to us. I mean, Helena asking Irene to call me that day. And you just being there for me," Bridget said appreciatively. "It means a lot."

"Of course. We would do anything we could," Myka assured her.

"Sarah just called. It's the night before her showing tomorrow and she wants me to come home so we can have dinner together," Bridget shared still astounded by it.

"Oh that's great," Myka said, squeezing Bridget's hand gently.

"I don't know what has gotten into her, but whatever it is, I like it," the investment banker said, smiling from ear to ear.

"Hello, Ms. Cummings," Irene said, coming out of the library.

"Irene! I didn't know you were here," Bridget said, hugging the woman who had been so gracious to her.

"I had some things to drop off for Helena, but it can wait till tomorrow," Irene said, knowing her boss would not like this barrage. Irene was too slow and before she got her coat, Helena was bolting through the door.

When Helena entered the space, she saw what she wanted to see; Myka standing there waiting for her. Bridget and Irene were to the side, out of view.

"Oh, time was foe, not friend today," Helena said as she moved quickly to kiss Myka. So quickly in fact that Myka had no time to say they had guests. The smell of Helena's perfume, which should have been routine, filled Myka with excitement. Helena's cool lips set Myka's ablaze and the lawyer got lost in her wife's warm embrace. Helena had been waiting hours and she wasn't about to let go of Myka until both needed oxygen. Only then, did she release Myka's lips.

"Wow!" Myka said, the tingling feeling radiating from her core.

"We should go," someone whispered and Helena looked quizzically at Myka. Then she heard the footsteps that followed that suggestion. She turned to see Irene and Bridget trying to sneak out quietly.

"How fortunate can one woman be? To have her raison d'etre in the same room as her nagging conscience and the thorn in her side?" Helena asked.

Myka knew that tone and although she shared Helena's anxiousness to be alone, she tugged at Helena's sleeve to be polite.

"The part of the thorn will be played by Bridget Cummings in tonight's performance," Bridget announced to Irene, her hand covering her mouth.

"We were leaving," Irene said to Helena as she and Bridget started to vacate. Myka gently nudged Helena with her elbow.

Helena let out a sigh of resignation. "You obviously came for a reason," Helena said, forcing a smile on her face for Myka.

"I was in the neighborhood," both women uttered the same excuse at the same time.

"Really?" Helena said skeptically and then turned to Myka. "Maybe it's time to move."

Myka laughed and pulled Helena into her. She was always better at calming Helena the closer she was to her. She slipped her hand down into Helena's, entwining their fingers.

"Mine can wait until tomorrow, really," Irene said, putting her scarf around her neck. That left Bridget.

"I came bearing flowers," Bridget said and Myka pointed to them on the table. Helena wasn't pleased exactly. "But I'm leaving," Bridget said. "Sarah called and we're going to have an early dinner, which is amazing because it's the night before her fashion show and usually she's too busy or too neurotic to even….," and she looked up at Helena's expression. "….and none of this interests you…."

"No, not at all, Helena said, surprising both Myka and Irene. "On the contrary, I am very happy to hear Ms. Styles has come to her senses."

"Yeah, I don't know what got into her, but something did and it's good. I'm really …glad," Bridget said, hugging her friends goodbye.

Then she walked outside, closing the door and waited in the street to see if Irene needed a lift.

"What?" Helena said to Irene who hadn't uttered a word. She still didn't, but she had a knowing look on her face.

"I see that smirk, Helena," Irene explained. It was the slightest upturn of a lip, but Irene rarely missed Helena's expressions.

When Helena saw a similar 'do tell' look on her wife's face, she decided it would be easier to just share her good deed. "I asked you to take care of this in my absence. And apparently, things only got worse, so I had to step in."

"Surely you're not saying I had anything to do with that," Irene said, getting ready to leave.

"No," Helena said, looking at the door that their friend just left through, "…. apparently not even you could keep those two from that impending train wreck," Helena said.

Irene heard the synopsis that Bridget had given the day before and knew it wasn't good. "I'm sure they'll find a way to patch things up," Irene said, knowing Bridget was of sound mind and heart.

"That's where you were?" Myka asked, squeezing Helena's hand. She was touched that Helena would do something to help the couple.

"I thought you were concerned, so I went to see Ms. Styles. After hearing the details, I informed her in no uncertain terms that she was at fault without question, and that she should do everything she could do straighten things out," Helena said to both women.

"Oh, I bet she really enjoyed that lecture," Irene said, imagining Helena's tone wasn't so pleasant.

"She did," Helena concurred. "Now, don't take this as a complete failure on your part," Helena said to Irene, helping her on with her coat.

"What does she have to do with …?" Myka tried to ask, but Irene winked at her.

"If I lose any sleep over this tonight, Helena, I promise you will be the first one I call," Irene said, going out the door before Helena could explain she didn't want to be on that call list.

"She…I do not wish…..I won't….," Helena said, pointing to the door that closed before she got any of her thoughts out.

Myka pulled her wife in and kissed the pouting lips that were still trying to plead her case. "You are so sweet to visit Sarah," Myka said, thinking she understood the change in Sarah. "Your pep talk got through."

"Of course it did. Why wouldn't she listen to me?" Helena asked sincerely.

"Now if you could just get Irene to listen as well," Myka teased, but Helena didn't find it funny.

"I will not take that woman's call tonight," the protest renewed in her mind.

"Don't worry, Helena, you'll be sound asleep. I intend to wear you out completely," Myka said slowly and close to Helena's ear, making her forget about everything else.

Then Myka gently pulled Helena up the long staircase to their bedroom where she ran a warm bath. Within minutes, the protesting had ceased and Myka massaged the tensions of Helena's day away. Helena was pleased that Myka seemed so focused, without anything else to distract her.

Just like Helena planned

Across town, Bridget was pushing her keys into the apartment lock and opening the door. Much to her surprise, Sarah was there to greet her, offering her a warm kiss and a cool glass of wine.

"This is really nice. Are you sure ….you know, you're okay being here tonight?" Bridget asked, knowing how important the night before a show could be.

"I'm right where I want to be," Sarah said, kissing Bridget again.

"Wow," Bridget said when Sarah released her. She had never felt a kiss like that before from Sarah. It was definite and sexy and caring. "This is ….nice."

"Yes, well I had some help," Sarah said, pulling Bridget to sit down on the couch.

"You spoke to Molly?" Bridget asked, thinking the therapist was responsible.

"Someone much more insightful," Sarah said. "She helped me realize today how lucky I am that you are still here with me. Bridget, I will do everything I can to prove to you that I am worth the forgiveness. I will work hard at being the woman you deserve. I will give you whatever you want," Sarah said, tears filling her smoky hazel eyes.

Bridget had never seen Sarah like this – so sincere, so willing. She put the wine glasses on the table and took Sarah's hands.

"I want us," Bridget said, grasping Sarah's trembling hands. "I want us."

Thoughts?

As always, thanks for reading along.

Cheers