Chapter 12 (Present day)
"Helen!" Nikki called up from the bottom of the stairs, "you are making us horribly late." Helen grabbed her scarf from the hook behind the cupboard door and draped it haphazardly over her shoulders. "Alright, alright. Don't get your knickers in a twist," Helen huffed as she manoeuvred her way down the stairs. "No offence bean, but I'm looking forward to the day when I can see my own feet again," she said stroking her stomach. "What?" she said, looking down at Nikki smiling up at her, "One minute I'm in trouble for making us late and now you have a huge smile on your face." "You look beautiful, that's all," She said, taking a step up and offering Helen her hand. "Don't worry, I've already let Dominic know that we would be late," Nikki said with a chuckle as she helped Helen into her coat.
They arrived at the McAllister residence twenty minutes late, Helen looked over at Nikki apologetically, "I promise to try harder to be more punctual, scouts' honour," she said, holding up her index and middle finger in salute. Nikki snorted a laugh as she open Helen's car door, "I'm sorry my love, but I just don't think that's possible. Actually, I find your poor punctuality to be one of your most endearing qualities. It lends to the anticipation of seeing you. Good things come to those who wait." Helen smiled, "Every now and then I forget why you're such a good lawyer, it's moments like these that I'm reminded. Your silver tongue has no limits," Helen said as she slipped her arm into Nikki's and walked up the garden path to the front door. "Well, you do have more experience with my tongue than any other person so I'll take your word for it," Nikki said, giving Helen's arm a squeeze. "That is not suitable dinner table conversation, but I'd love to continue this little chat latter. And you know how much better I grasp things with a little practical demonstration," Helen said as she rang the bell.
Dom opened the door and smiled welcomingly at his guests. It had been ten years since he'd seen Helen in the flesh, and she was still as beautiful as he remembered. "Hiya Helen," he said as he took her in his arms and hugged her, being gentle so as not to damage her precious cargo. She held him at arm's length and gave him one of her smiles, "Dom, you look fantastic mate." Even now she could still make him blush, Nikki found it amusing. He led them through to the kitchen where the tantalising smell of lamb drifted on the air. "Oh my word, that smells absolutely amazing," Nikki said as they walked through the door. "It's one of Nat's specialities. Greek style lamb shank," he said as his wife turned from the stove to greet them. "Welcome, it's so lovely to finally meet you two. Dom talks about you ladies often, it's good to finally put faces to the names, photos just don't have the same effect," Nat said with a smile. "I hope you ladies are hungry, I may possibly have overdone it a bit and cooked enough for an army." Helen laughed, "Trust me, I'm pretty sure I can find some space for a few extra helpings, if it tastes even half as good as it smells you might have to roll me out of here later. She immediately turned to Nikki and silenced her unspoken quip with a playful stern look.
Nat's lamb shank was fabulous, and Helen had managed more than one extra helping. She sat on the couch with her tea cup in hand admiring the art work on the walls. "These pieces are stunning Dom, who is the artist?" she asked? "Nat did all of these actually, she loves to paint. She says it's her escape from the real world," he said, putting his arm around his wife's shoulders, he smiled down at her. "It's just something I do in my spare time, Dom insists on putting them up all over the house. I haven't quite figured out how to quietly hide them," She said. "You shouldn't hide your talent Nat, they are really beautiful," Nikki said as she gazed at the landscape nearest to her, "In fact, I could do with a Natasha McAllister original in my office. Name your price." Nat laughed, "Oh no Nikki, I should pay you to take one off my hands, and they are starting to clutter our spare bedroom because Dom here won't let me throw any of them out." "One day, when you are famous, you are going to thank me for not turning your work into recycling," Dom said as he kissed his wife's forehead.
"So Dominic, Nikki tells me you are back at Larkhall. I didn't see that coming, I thought you had sworn off the prison service for good?" Helen said as she sipped her tea. "Well, just after I left the service I had no intention of ever going back but the longer I was away the more I started thinking about how bad things inside were. I felt like a bit of a traitor, just walking away when I should rather have been doing something to improve the system. It took me a long time to get to grips with everything going on in my head and in the end, believe it or not, it was something you said to me all those years ago that made me get back into the ring so to speak. You had faith in me Helen, which was the little nudge I needed. I went back to uni, did a few courses and came out the other side with a few more tools that I can use to help turn things around. I think I can make a difference." Dom said with passion. "I'm glad you didn't give up Dominic, The prison service needs men like you," Helen said, giving him a genuine smile.
"I appreciate that Helen," Dominic said as he lent forward, "I actually have a bit of a favour to ask of you, I have a feeling that your first instinct is going to be to say no, but I'd like for you to at least consider it before turning me down. It is actually your plan to begin with so it's only fair that I ask." Helen looked at him in confusion. "Sorry, I'm being a little cryptic. Let's start at the beginning shall we? Do you remember when you were number one at Larkhall and you spoke about converting at least part of the prison into a lifers unit?" Dom said. Helen nodded. "I have sort of being mulling over that idea for a while now. I recently worked out and wrote up the proposal for the prison board and it was reasonably well received. They want to use G wing as a pilot study." Dominic looked at Helen expectantly. "That is fantastic Dominic," Helen said, smiling at him, "But I still don't see what this has to do with me, you certainly don't need my permission if that's what you are asking for."
"Well, no. I want to ask you if you would consider being a part of it. You are fantastic with the woman Helen, I have seen you work your magic and there aren't many like you out there. I'm looking for revolutionaries and who better than the woman who inspired it all? I get to hand pick my team and I want you on it." Dominic said, looking into Helen's eyes in anticipation. He saw the doubt on her face. "You don't have to answer me right now, just think about it," he said. He knew that he had planted the seed in her mind and that was all he could hope for right now. With a little luck that seed would grow and blossom in Helen's imagination and if that started to happen he was pretty sure he had her.
Later that night as Helen lay in bed she played Dominic's words over in her mind. Nikki could see the cogs turning in Helen's head; she could feel the restless lie in her body, she could always tell when Helen was in turmoil. She pulled her closer and ran her lips over her bare shoulder, making her shiver. "You know you want to do it," Nikki murmured in her ear. "Do what?" Helen asked distractedly as she stroked Nikki's arm. "Work with Dominic," Nikki said softly, "I've seen that look before, you should go for it Helen. It was your idea, and besides, he's right. He needs revolutionaries and there is no better way to explain you. He needs you." "I don't know," she said uncertainly, "I walked away from that place for a reason Nikki. I'm not sure I could ever go back there. I know it sounds strange because my work still involves the prison service, but it's different when it's just on paper. I'm not sure I could deal with it if this ended up pear shaped. It just feels like everything I tried when I was there just fell flat. I'm not very good at being a failure."
"Hey, where is this coming from?" Nikki asked giving her a squeeze, "You are my hero. You saved me from that hell hole, and I'm not the only one. You made a difference in there Helen. You touched people's lives in a way that they will never forget. We can't let that place have some kind of a cult status in our lives. And if there is a way that you can help people with this project you need to do it. I spent far too much time fearing and hating that place after I got out, and where did it get me? I couldn't go back, I lost touch with my friends, and I lost Yvonne. I don't want you to make the same mistake and regret it later. If this is something you really want then take it."
Helen turned to look into Nikki's eyes; it was there that she found the strength and determination to make a decision. "Do you think it's too late to ring Dominic?" She asked. Nikki Chuckled, "I think he can wait until morning."