December 2004
“Hello? Mom?”
“Helena, honey, what are you doing?”
“I just got off the phone with my editor. That’s why you couldn’t reach me on the house phone.” Helena had heard the buzz from ‘call waiting’ while she was on the other line, but had ignored it.
“I just talked to Missy and wanted to let you know when they’ll be flying in. She said Alan can’t leave until afternoon on Christmas Eve and she’s managed to get tickets into Austin at around 9 p.m.”
“Do you want John to pick them up?”
”No, she said not to bother. She got a rental. It’ll be nearly midnight before
they get all the luggage together and get here, but she said they would handle
it.”
“Why didn’t she just fly to Houston? We could have all flown over together.”
“No flights left. And she didn’t want to make you that late.”
The other phone rang. “Mother. I’ve got another call coming in. I’ve got to take it.”
“All right, Sweetheart. You and John and the babies will be here earlier on Chirstmas Eve, right?”
“I’ll have to let you know. Probably. The airstrip isn’t rated for a night landing. We’ll call you. Mother, I’ve got to go.”
“See you soon.”
Helena picked up the house phone and was immediately talking to her agent about several lectures she wanted to schedule in January and February. She pulled out her calendar and went over it. The lectures were always worthwhile; monetarily, she didn’t care much, but she relished any chance to pass on the information she had learned. But being in Southeast Asia for most of February wasn’t something she really looked forward to. She rubbed her eyes. John was in New York, again. She really wanted to talk this over with him.
“You know, Helena,” Doris, her agent said. “I realized this means being away from home quite a bit. Have you considered a faculty position somewhere? You’ve had several offers, and we could put out some feelers if there’s someplace you really want to teach. Just about any research university would put out the red carpet for you.”
“I’ll need to think about it.” She heard Sammy screech from the baby monitor. He’d been napping this morning. The nanny’s voice cooed at him and she knew he was being lifted from his crib and tended to. She had initially turned down a position at any particular school so she could keep her schedule more flexible and be with John and the children more. She wasn’t sure how well that was working out. She didn’t want to spend February in Kuala Lampur.
She hung up the phone as Rebecca peered in the door, Sammy in her arms. “I need to pick Tori up from nursery school. Do you want me to take Sammy with me?”
Helena shook her head as Sammy leaned toward her, arms outstretched. She stood and took the baby boy with blue eyes so much like his father’s. Sam cuddled against her neck with a sigh. He always had a hard time waking up. She moved away from her desk and sat in the rocker next to the window. “It’s still raining,” she warned Rebecca. “Take my Volvo and drive carefully.”
“I will!” Rebecca called cheerily.
Sam settled in for a good cuddle and Helena talked softly into his dark curls. Her cel phone rang and she sat forward reaching for the phone. Sam grumbled and she hushed him as she answered the phone, smiling at the id on the small screen. “Hi, honey.”
“Hello, beautiful,” John’s beloved voice said softly in her ear. “Is that my boy I hear?”
“Yes, he just got up from his nap.”
“Let me talk to him.”
She put the phone to Sam’s ear and could hear John saying hello to his son. Sam smiled and looked around for his father as he heard his voice. Helena had to smile too. She took the phone back. “Sam wants to know when you’re coming home.”
John sighed. “I’m afraid I’m calling to tell you I’ve been delayed. I’ll probably be here another two days. I’m sorry honey.”
Helena nodded. She’d been through this before. Prior to the children, she would most likely have been in New York with him. But it was too complicated to travel with the two children on short trips. Especially this close to Christmas. “I understand how it is.”
“I know you do. You’re wonderful. Look, I’ll definitely be home in time for the Christmas party Wednesday evening. I told Tamara at the office to call you if she had any questions about arrangements for the party.”
“To call me?”
“I’m sure everything will be all right. But I am hosting the thing. Look, they’re calling the meeting back to order. I’ll try to call tonight, but it’ll be late. I love you.”
She didn’t have time to reply before she heard the click and dead air and knew he was gone. She wondered if he would still think she were wonderful after she’d been in Kuala Lampur for nearly three weeks. She sighed and stood. Sam was waking up and becoming more restless. He’d want a bottle soon. And Tori would be hungry when she got home. She headed for the kitchen and the phone rang as she was putting Sam’s bottle in the microwave.
“Mrs. Koenig? This is Mrs. Collins from KinderCollege.”
“Yes, Mrs. Collins. Is everything all right?”
“Oh, fine, fine. I was just calling the parents who didn’t pick up the children personally. About Wednesday. We’ll be having a little Christmas party for the children.”
“Oh.”
“I’ve got a list and we’re asking all the parents to sign up for something. We still need someone to bring cookies for Tori’s class. Can we count on you?”
Helena thought about the three chapters due to the editor by Friday. “I suppose.”
“And I wanted to remind you of the rules for gift giving here at KinderCollege.”
“Gift giving?”
“Yes. Tori is in the advanced Pre-2 class. She has a teacher and an aid. We ask that you limit the gift to each to fifty dollars. And Tori’s class exchanged names. Tori has a note in her backpack with the name of the child she drew. That gift limit is also fifty dollars.”
“I see. And these gifts are exchanged at the party? Tori is our first child in school.”
“Of course. Yes, they’ll exchange gifts at the party. The note has all the instructions. She’s to bring a wrapped stocking stuffer for each child’s stocking, plus the wrapped gift for the child whose name she drew, and it is the last day before Christmas break so the gifts for the teacher and aid should be brought in at the same time.”
“Thank you. I’ll see that it’s taken care of.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Koenig. And happy holidays.”
Sammy took his bottle solemnly as Helena hung up the phone. “Looks like we’ll be going shopping for your sister’s party, Mr. Sam.”
Sam watched with big blue eyes.
The phone rang again before she could put it down.
“Dr. Koenig?”
“Yes, this is Dr. Koenig.” At least someone knew she was still a doctor, although some days she didn’t feel like it.
“This is Children’s Hospital Charities. Dr. Carleton gave us your name.”
“Everett Carleton? Yes, I know him.” They had worked together in London before she had gone to Alpha.
“He told us that you had helped organize a party for the children when you worked together. We organize the party for the Children’s Hospital here and we hate to call you so late, but we’ve had several people on the committee come down with the flu and we’re just desperate for some help. Dr. Carleton remembered you were living in the area and he thought you might be able to help.”
“What do you need?” Helena thought about writing a check and mailing it to them. She thought she could find the time to do that.
“Actually, we’re holding the party on Tuesday afternoon and we have teen volunteers all lined up, but we need some help getting the presents organized. Could you spare a few hours on Thursday morning to help sort the presents to make sure they get to the right children?”
Hours she didn’t have. But she knew the charity and owed Everett Carleton a favor. He had traded duty with her so she could spend New Year’s Eve with John that year before they went to Alpha. “What time do you need me there?”
“Oh, thank you, Dr. Koenig. The party will be a three in the afternoon, but we have about three hundred presents to sort through. We’re trying to get some people to come in at eight that morning to go through them.”
After receiving instructions, Helena hung up the phone and settled in the living room with Sam. She watched the lights twinkle on the Christmas tree as Sam drank his bottle. She didn’t have time for that, but Christmas was for kids and she knew those kids would have few joys. She kissed the baby curls on Sam’s head, feeling thankful for her two healthy little ones. When was she going to find time to shop? She thought she had finished all the shopping and cards.
When the phone rang again she gritted her teeth. She didn’t need anyone else demanding her time.
“I’m calling to vent.” A familiar voice said.
“Mel?”
“Hey. You know, Christmas was much easier without kids. And when did you find the time to get your Christmas cards done?”
Helena had to laugh. Her sister had read her mind. “John got his secretary to do the envelopes. We just signed our names and pulled out the ones we wanted to write personal notes to.”
“I’m sure that’s cheating.”
“So what are you venting about.”
“I have no time! None at all! We have three parties to go to this week, plus a parade to be in. I’m on the boat putting up the lights now because Alan hasn’t had the time to help, and the water parade is tonight!”
Sam spit out his bottle and Helena shifted him to burp him. She stood and headed toward the kitchen to put some soup on. Tori would be hungry when she came home.
“I haven’t even had time to get my hair done,” Melissa complained.
“Oh my gosh! My hair! I forgot to make an appointment. John’s big party is Wednesday night. I’ll never find the time!” Helena had a sinking feeling and turned from the can of soup to look through her phone book for her hairdresser’s number. She would have to do a lot of pleading to get an appointment at this late date.
“I know how you feel. And Mother has been calling every twenty minutes with changes in the menu. At the moment, I don’t care if she decides to serve us hot dogs and macaroni.”
“I care!”
“Well, I suppose I do too. And I should be grateful, I suppose, or I’d be at the grocery store fighting for a turkey on top of everything else.”
“Things are always hectic this time of year, Mel. I’m feeling overwhelmed too.”
“Really?”
“Really,” Helena assured her. “You should hear the instructions for the party for Tori’s nursery school.”
There was a clatter on the other end of the line and Melissa muttered a curse.
“Are you all right?” Helena asked her sister.
“Yeah. Just got tangled in a line. I need both hands to finish this up before the boys wake up from their nap.”
“I need to go too. I’ll see you next week. The day after Christmas, we’ll commandeer a vehicle, shop all morning and have a long lunch to talk things over.”
“It can’t happen soon enough. Hugs.”
“Hugs.” Helena sat the phone down and headed for the stereo. She turned on soft Christmas music and put Sam in his playpen by the Christmas tree. “Tis the season to be jolly,” she hummed along with the music as she turned back to fix Tori’s lunch.
A noise from the back of the house told her Tori was home from school. "I'm hungry!" Tori shouted from the back door.
"I'm in the kitchen, Sweet Pea." Helena half chuckled before children she never had pet names for anyone -not even John. However, Victoria Koenig had changed all that. Now, the names can easily almost instantly at times. It was just a part of parenting. She understood why her parents still insisted on calling her Cake. She suspected that whatever pet name stuck to Tori would remain her entire lifetime.
Tori teemed into the kitchen with enough commotion to upset Sam. He immediately burst into a loud wail. Victoria jumped from the loud noise and she too immediately started crying. Before she knew what was happening, Helena was surround by crying children Tori was wrapped around her ankles limiting her movement and Sam was wailing in his high chair. Helena didn't know which child to comfort first. She half dragged Tori across the kitchen as she reached for Sam, pulling him into her arms. When she had a hold on Sam, Helena reached down tugging Tori into a standing position. Once she had her standing, she was able to pick Tori up and sit her on the counter. As she tried to comfort both children at once, she began to hear a boiling sound. Tori's soup was coming over the sides of the pan. "REBECCA!" She shouted over the crying children.
Rebecca came into the kitchen in a rush. Helena pointed to the stove at the bubbling soup. Chicken and stars were all over the stovetop by the time Rebecca moved the pan off the heating element. With one crisis solved, Rebecca came over to assist Helena with the two screaming children.
"Shh...Tori… what's wrong?" Rebecca cooed at Tori as she gently pried her arms from around Helena's neck.
"Sammy... Sammy's crying so loud." Tori wailed.
"It's okay. Let's go into the other room and let your Mom settle Sam down. Then, we'll come back and I'll fix you a snack." Tori reluctantly let go of her mother and allowed Rebecca to pick her up off the counter and carry her into the next room.
Helena took a deep breath. One problem was solved for the time being however the other one was still in her arms crying into her ears. She walked out of the kitchen with the screaming baby into her bedroom. She gently sat down in the rocker by the window and began to rock. The drapes were pulled and outside the afternoon sun shone brightly. Sam's crying began to subside as his attention was drawn to the window. Helena looked down at her content little boy. She leaned back in the rocker and closed her eyes. She needed Calgon to take her away!
John paid the cab driver and slid out into the rain. He was late to his own party. It had been snowing most of the day in New York and he was lucky to make it back at all. Good thing he had packed his tux. The marquis in the hotel lobby indicated the direction to the room where the party was being held.
The room was already crowded. It was decorated with holly and twinkling lights and there was a small band of brass and strings in one corner of the room playing Christmas music. He spotted Helena on the other side of the room. Their eyes met and they exchanged a smile. He headed toward her but was stopped by one of the guests, a scientist he had known for years. He hadn’t seen Helena for nearly a week, but he relaxed into the inevitable. He would have to work his way across the room to her, exchanging greetings with everyone as he went. Sometimes he hated politics.
During the next hour he spotted Helena several times, exchanged glances and was swept back into the part. She wore this incredible dress that had red sequins swirled on shimmering black fabric. It went over one shoulder and clung tightly to her from shoulder to hips, then flared into a full swirling skirt just below her hips. Her hair was swept up into a pile of curls on top of her head. He hadn’t realized her hair was long enough to do that. She wore a corsage with a white orchid and red bow. He hadn’t thought of getting her flowers. She had taken care of everything.
His secretary caught his arm.
“Tamara. You did a great job.”
She shook her head. “It wasn’t me. It was Mrs. Koenig. There were about a million disasters and she came in yesterday afternoon and just took over. Got it all straightened out.”
“She’s good at that.” He smiled at her across the room again and she smiled back. “I’m going to go thank her then. Merry Christmas.”
Tamara wished him a Merry Christmas and moved off.
When he finally made it to Helena’s side she offered him her cheek for a chaste kiss.
“You look fantastic,” he murmured into her ear.
“Thank you.” She placed a cup of punch in his hand.
“Sorry I haven’t been here to help this week. Has it been bad?”
She gave a mysterious smile. “It could have been better.”
“Tamara said there was some kind of problem with the party.”
“Oh, let’s see. The hotel double booked, the DJ canceled and the menu was lost. Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
He put his arm around her. “Better you than me. How are the kids?”
“Sam has a bit of a cold, but he’ll be over it soon. Tori came home from school today with a stomach ache. Too much Christmas cheer at her party this morning. She’ll be fine tomorrow.”
He looked down at her and noticed a look in her eyes. He realized suddenly that she was tired, very tired. With the lightening quick decision-making he was so good at, he made a plan. A waiter passed and offered them champagne flutes. He took one for each of them and handed one to Helena. “Thanks for the help with the party. I knew I had left it in good hands.” He leaned down to kiss her cheek, as she smiled at him.
There were many people to greet at the party and before long the two were separated again by a crowd. He used the opportunity to work his way toward the hallway and slip out. He pulled out his cel and quietly made a few phone calls. The hotel gift shop caught his eye and he headed for it. He had a few things to pick up.
The party started breaking up around eleven. It was early, but the next day Christmas Eve, and some people had to work. John had managed to dance with Helena several times and he drew her toward the door, nodding at several colleagues. He had already discussed a few things with his secretary. She would handle closing down the party and would have the next day off.
John steered Helena into the hall and away from the ballroom.
“I parked out that door,” Helena said, pointing toward the back exit.
“Let’s take the elevator instead.”
“To the parking lot?” she laughed.
He pulled a small plastic keycard from his pocket. “To our room.”
“Our room? I didn’t reserve a room. Rebecca is expecting us home.”
“Not any more. She knows we won’t be home until morning. She’s not leaving for the airport until noon. She said the kids were all packed and ready to head for Miller’s Bluff, so we sleep in here and go get the children before she leaves.”
“But… I didn’t pack for this. I don’t have anything with me,” Helena protested as he led her into the elevator.
He pushed the button for the twenty-second floor and wrapped his arms around her. “What’s the matter, Doctor? If you don’t have any pajamas packed, don’t you think I can keep you warm?” he murmured in her ear.
She shivered at his touch, and not from cold. “Oh, I think you can probably do the job.”
“It’s all taken care of,” he assured her. “We’ll make do with what’s in the room.”
They stepped off the elevator and he took her hand, leading her to the end of the hall and opening the door.
It was a small corner suite, with the lights of downtown Houston spread out around them. There was a table to one side, set with a light dinner, a bottle of champagne chilling, and candles ready to light. Around a partition was the bedroom and bath, a large Jacuzzi tub looked inviting. The bed was already turned down and two thick robes hung in the closet. On the bathroom counter were two new toothbrushes, toothpaste and an array of her usual shampoo, powder and face cream. She took this all in with surprise. “John, how did you?”
“What? You don’t think I notice what’s in our bathroom?” John asked innocently. He would go to his grave without admitting that the phone call to Rebecca been for more purposes than just arranging for the children’s care. Evidently her advice had been sound.
Reassured that all was in order at home and the party below, Helena entered into the spirit of the adventure. She took one of the robes from the closet and headed for the bathroom. “Pour the champagne,” she ordered. “I won’t be long.”
“Yes, ma’am,” John grinned. He pulled off his coat and tie and headed for the living room.
True to her word, it was only a few minutes before she joined him, looking every bit as sexy in the robe as she had in the evening dress. She had taken down her hair and it was now a shoulder-length curtain of liquid gold, shimmering in the candlelight.
John’s was unable to speak as she walked toward him with a sultry look in her eye. She took the champagne flute from him and gave him a small salute with the glass before she took.
“Would you… would you like some dinner?” he asked softly.
She ran a manicured finger down the tucks on the front of his shirt. “Maybe later. Why don’t you join me in that Jacuzzi?”
“I’d like that.”
She smiled again, took his glass from his hand and headed for the bathroom. He was mesmerized by the way her hips swayed. She paused at the bathroom door. “Don’t take too long,” she warned.
“I’ll be right there.”
She had such an incredible effect on him. He pulled his clothes off quickly and headed for the bathroom. Her robe lay abandoned on the floor, and she sat forward in the tub, showing the tops of round breasts. She held out the glass of champagne to him. He joined her quickly, pulling her into his arms.
She settled beside him comfortably and he buried his face in her golden hair. “Oh, Helena,” he moaned and their hands began to roam over each others’ bodies.
It was a long time before they were ready to leave the tub. John knew she was tired. He coaxed her out of the tub, dried her carefully then led her to bed. He settled her into bed, and turned to shut off the lights through the suite. By the time he returned to bed she was soundly asleep. He curled protectively around her, pulled up the covers and joined her in sleep.
Always a light sleeper, John awoke when he heard the Houston Chronicle hit the floor outside their door the next morning. He listened to the thump, thump, thump as the paper was delivered down the hallway. Helena never stirred beside him. She was thoroughly exhausted and soundly asleep. They didn’t need to be home until nearly noon so she could still sleep for hours yet. He slipped out of bed and looked over at his bags in the closet. He pulled out a pair of sweat pants he had taken to New York to exercise in, but as usual, his schedule quickly became too hectic to make it to the gym. A box rattled onto the floor. Even in the dim light it was a distinctive blue color tied with a white bow. John tucked the small box in his pocket. He hoped she liked it.
He moved into the other room. After putting Helena to bed he had corked the remains of the champagne and put it in the small fridge. They could have a champagne breakfast when she woke up. He put on a pot of coffee and opened the door to get the newspaper. He called room service and ordered breakfast to be delivered at nine and settled by the window to catch the light from the rising sun to read the paper.
Sports first, then international news, then the comics. That was his usual routine when he had time to read the paper. On his way to the comics, he passed the social pages and a familiar face caught his eye. He knew there had been a reporter there last night and had spoken to her briefly. He didn’t remember this picture though.
Helena looked like royalty in that black and red dress. She had just stepped into his arms as they prepared to dance and was giving him that ‘come hither’ look of hers that was always a promise of things to come later in the more private part of the evening. The camera was just over his shoulder and she looked so incredibly captivating, her eyes on him. There were others in the picture as well, but he saw only her. There was a sidebar story about the party and how successful it had been. He remembered Tamara telling him how Helena had straightened out everything about the party the day before, making sure everything was just right. She was one incredible lady. He thanked his lucky stars that she was his.
There was a rustle by the bedroom door. Helena leaned provocatively against the doorway. She was wearing the dress shirt John had discarded the night before and nothing else. He was mesmerized by her long elegant legs.
“Buy me a cup of coffee, mister?” she asked in a sultry voice.
“All the coffee you want for a kiss,” he replied with a grin.
She smiled and glided to him, folding herself into his lap. She leaned forward teasingly and gave him a peck on the cheek. He enfolded her in his arms and pressed his lips against hers, deepening the kiss.
Her hand moved from his neck down his chest. Her other hand moved behind him
and down to his hip. “I feel something hard,” she murmured against his lips.
“You noticed.”
“Not that,” she laughed. “Although that’s obvious too.” She wiggled her hips significantly. She patted his pocket. “Here.”
“Ah,” he said with a smile, leaning back. “That.”
“Well?” She prompted as he gave her a speculative look.
He rubbed her back and considered. “I was going to give it to you tomorrow, but the kids will all be opening presents and things always get a little crazy. You might lose it. Maybe I should give it to you today.”
He reached into
his pocket and pulled out the small blue box. At the distinctive color, Helena
caught her breath. “Oh, John!”
She held it in her hand, examining the small white bow. It said “Tiffany’s” on the ribbon. “John!”
“Well? Don’t you want to open it? I’ll have to go to New York to take it back, and I don’t want to go back there this week.”
She put her arm around his neck and pressed her forehead to his. “I don’t want you to either.”
“Don’t you want it?”
She looked back at the box. Of course… but…”
“But what?”
“John! I’ve never gotten anything from Tiffany’s before.” Her eyes were tearing up. “Just let me enjoy the moment, okay?” she said with a shaky laugh.
John leaned back and smiled. He watched her look at the box, turning it over in her hands with awe. He mustered all the patience he could to wait while she examined the box carefully. He ran his hand up and down her bare thigh. She cut her eyes at him and smiled, then tugged at the white bow.
Inside the little blue box was a small velvet box. She pulled it out and held
it carefully in her hands until John stirred with impatience. She opened the
box slowly and stared at the sparkling ring nestled carefully inside.
The golden lattice work looked like vines woven into a circle. Among the vines were a scattering of leaves, and berries, the leaves being marquise cut diamonds and berries round cut diamonds, each surrounded by platinum. She pulled it from the box and he took it from her and slid it on her finger. It fit perfectly.
“I suppose this would be more appropriate for an anniversary, but when I saw it, I thought of you, and I couldn’t keep a secret until March. Helena, I can’t possibly express how much you mean to me, my wife, my lover, the mother of my children. I depended on you so much when we were on Alpha, and I still depend on you.” He touched her cheek. “You’re everything to me.” He leaned forward and kissed her softly.
She placed her hands on his neck and deepened the kiss. His arms drew her closer to him and they continued to kiss until they were both breathless. She drew back and stood. He could see tears glistening in her eyes. She held out her hand and he took it. He rose and she led him to the bedroom. It was nearly two hours before breakfast arrived. They put the time to good use.
Maureen J. Long
