[This story was inspired by the Florida Universe, but because of timing issues, does not actually fit into the Florida Universe timeline. Consider this a parallel universe to the Florida Universe. It takes place prior to Breakaway.]
The day started out like any other day. John Koenig grabbed his bagel
and coffee and tore off in his GTO, late for work. Helena Russell took her time
eating her grapefruit and cereal, and arrived at work with time to spare. Both
eagerly awaited their date that night not knowing that it would be their last.
Helena was grateful for a slow day at work. Having completely finished her reports, she decided to leave work early to better prepare for her date tonight with John. She relished the extra time with a glass of her favorite red wine, soft jazz, and the difficult task of choosing the right outfit. She and John had been dating for over a year now. She dared not call it love to quickly but knew their relationship was certainly something special. There was a connection she’d never felt with anyone and she struggled with keeping up her guard so as not to get hurt. She’d been hurt too many times to put her complete trust in someone so quickly. This was the relationship to take slow. She stared in to her closet for almost 20 minutes before finally choosing the perfect dress. It was a tight long black dress that polished her sophisticated look. It was the perfect choice.
Work for John was busy and rushed. Nothing was completed to his satisfaction and he stayed over time to get it done. He kept looking at his watch knowing he had limited time to get ready for his date with Helena. He knew she was someone special but wasn’t willing to make any commitments. It was difficult for him to choose one woman and settle down.
Suddenly there was a voice shouting to him from a distance.
“You’re late John!” It was his closest friend, Victor Bergman. He walked down the stairs to confront him. “You don’t keep a woman as special as Helena waiting.”
John smiled in agreement and immediately put down his charts. “Would you think she’d mind much that I was late?”
“Are you kidding? Are we talking about the same Helena?” Victor asked.
“True. We are talking about the same Helena who wouldn’t have anything off schedule in her life,” John laughed.
“Not if she can help it,” Victor agreed. “Now stop talking and get out of here.”
John nodded and quickly filed his paperwork. The car was waiting for him with the top already down and a fifteen-minute trip to his house ahead of him. He thought he had the entire night easily planned out. He was wrong.
ohn arrived at the restaurant early and proceeded to the bar for a drink. Halfway through his martini, a young woman sat down next to him and introduced herself. Her name was Kate Smallset. He couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she was and didn’t mind that she started a conversation.
She took a sip of her cosmopolitan and smiled. “Oh this bartender does make a mean martini, doesn’t he?”
“He does indeed,” John responded.
“This is one of my favorite restaurants. Can’t beat the prime rib.”
“No, you can’t.
“So are you meeting someone here?”
“Yes, my girlfriend.”
“She’s very lucky,” She quipped.
John smiled and took a deep breath before taking a long sip of his drink. The martini had given him too much confidence in the fact that Helena wasn’t due to arrive for another 30 minutes. He had time to enjoy her company—no harm.
“So you come here alone often?” John asked surprised.
“I like the food here. What else can one do when one is single and wants to enjoy a good meal?” Kate responded with a devilish smile.
“Good point,” John responded.
Kate ordered another drink with hopes of continuing to get to know John. She had checked his ring finger as soon as she sat down and figured he was fair game. Nevermind that she was at least 15 years younger than he was. Little did John know she knew exactly who John was and was position he held at the space center. Their conversation continued and before John knew it, Kate was inches away from his lips; his arms were around her shoulders, and his hand on her leg caressing her knee. The guilt he felt began to overtake him and he pulled away suddenly.
But it was too late. Helena was standing in the doorway to the lounge in shock. Instinct made John look around to see if he’d been caught and his heart sank when his eyes met Helena’s. She wasted no time in leaving the restaurant. John knew that chasing after her would futile.
“Something wrong? Kate asked.
“I’ve got to go,” he said solemnly and dragged himself from the lounge. He heard faintly in the background the mater’ d calling his name for the table and continued to walk out the door. He saw Helena’s car still in the parking lot with her in it. He could see that she was crying and decided to approach her. His head was filled with things to say but none of them seemed appropriate. Before he reached her car, she had spotted him and quickly left the parking lot.
Helpless and ashamed, John went back in to the lounge to have a few more martinis. It wasn’t long before he was cut off by the bartender and seated outside the restaurant on a bench.
He knew this was the second time he’d done this to Helena and that she was too good a woman to take him back. He stayed on the bench for almost an hour, contemplating calling Victor, going somewhere else to drink, or returning home. Finally the idea hit him to get in the car and drive. He didn’t care where. He just wanted to drive until he could forget everything. By dawn he was sitting on the cold morning sand in the Keys without a hope in the world.
* * * * * *
Dawn came quickly for Helena as she had fallen asleep after a few drinks at home. She walked out on to her patio and stared at palm trees lining the beach. Going to work that day seemed difficult but was the obvious alternative to staying at home, miserable and alone. She slowly dressed and went to work. Victor was the first to greet her and ask about the date. Fighting back tears she swallowed and dryly explained what had happened. Victor felt embarrassed that his best friend would be capable of such hurt. He almost physically forced Helena in to his office, locked the door, and tried to reason with her.
“I can’t condone what John’s done. I’d love nothing more than to –“ he held back his anger and tried to stay unemotional for Helena’s sake. “But look, you two are perfect for each other. I’ve never seen two people connect like you have. Isn’t there any way you’d talk with him?”
“No. I just want to work,” she stood as she walked to open the door. Victor beat her to it and forced it shut. “Victor, let me go,” she pleaded.
“Not a chance. We’ve got more to talk about.”
After a few deep breaths, Helena couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. “Victor, please,” she pleaded. “There’s nothing more to say.” She struggled with him to get the door open and finally left the room. Her office was just a few doors down and she secluded herself there…ignoring all calls and knocks to her locked door. She just sat there and starred out the window until she had composed herself well enough to return to work.
While making her rounds to check on the few patients she had that day, she was confronted by the space commissioner. “Dr. Russell.”
“Yes sir?” She responded.
“I’d like
to see you in my office as soon as possible,”
“Of course, sir,” she added. She knew what he wanted. He was anxious
for her report on the long-term effects of a tour of duty in space. She had
it completed the day before and brought it to him as he requested. As she turned
to leave his office, he asked her “Have you heard from Koenig? He hasn’t reported
in today.”
“No sir. I haven’t,” she said flatly. She stood there in silence waiting for him to dismiss her.
“Thank you. That is all,” he said.
Helena couldn’t wait to get out of there and prepare to leave for the day. She wanted nothing more than to go home and hope tomorrow would be a less painful day. She gathered her things in her briefcase and started out the door. To her dismay she ran in to Victor.
“Have you heard from him?” Victor asked.
“No.”
“He didn’t show up for work today.”
“So I heard,” she added. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Victor.”
“I’m sure he’ll call,” he added as she walked away. He said under his breath, “He’d better call.” He shook his head and gingerly strolled back to his work.
A week had passed before anyone had heard from John. Victor couldn’t help but worry that something had happened to him, and whether Helena would admit it to anyone, she was also. Her anger had subsided and now all she felt was the hurt and the pain of missing him. This was so unlike him. Victor and Helena were called in to the commissioner’s office for questioning.
“Have a seat,” he instructed both of them. “John Koenig hasn’t reported in and has been MIA since Friday. He has been suspended indefinitely until an investigation can solve this. Do either of you have any information that could help out?”
Victor spoke first, knowing how uncomfortable this was for Helena. “No sir. The last I saw of him was last Friday at work.”
“Dr. Russell?” The Commissioner asked.
“No sir. I haven’t seen nor heard from him.”
The commissioner shook his head in disbelief. “Look, I know you’re good friends of his. It’s in his best interest that you provide us information. I’m just trying to help him”
Helena had nothing more to say. Victor answered, “We realize that sir. We’re as baffled and concerned as you are.”
Victor and Helena walked down the corridor together. “John hasn’t called me. Honestly.”
“I didn’t ask if he did,” Helena responded surprised.
“I know you’re wondering. I know you’re worried.”
Helena took a breath then responded. “I am. I’m terribly worried, Victor. I mean, this is so unlike him. His job means everything to him.”
“I’ve gone by his house a couple times. He hasn’t been home in days.”
“Well he can’t be in a hospital somewhere. They wouldn’t have notified the space program,” Helena explained.
“Exactly. Where could he have gone?”
“I don’t really care. As long as he’s alright,” she said.
* * * * * * *
That night, Victor finally received the phone call he’d been waiting for. John called. Victor was so relieved to hear his voice.
“John?” Victor shouted in to the phone anxiously.
“Yea, it’s me. I thought I’d better call,” he answered.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m alright,” unsure of his answer.
“Where are you? Everyone’s wondering—“
John interrupted him and asked, “Does she talk about me?” His voice sounded intoxicated and desperate.
“Ah, not really. She doesn’t talk at all, actually,” Victor answered. “Where are you?”
“In the Keys. Anyone at work miss me?” John asked.
“Well, apparently so. You’ve been suspended.”
“I figured as much. I’ll smooth it over when I come back. If I come back,” he added.
“You’re coming back John. Pull yourself together. Where’s the man I know?”
“He’s gone, Victor. Really, I couldn’t care less what happens to me now.” John’s attitude turned light-hearted and added, “You know margaritas go well with just about any dish…any mood…anything.”
“John come home,” Victor pleaded.
“I’ve got to go. I’m out of limes and salt.”
“John wai—“ Victor was cut off. The caller id listed John’s cell phone. At least he now had an idea where he was and knew he had to inform Helena.
He immediately called Helena with the news only to get her voice mail. Helena was sitting alone, with a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other, starring at her phone as it rang. She didn’t care who it was. She contemplated going out that night. She’d wasted enough tears and time on that man she’d loved. It had been over a month and that was long enough. She forced a smile on her face as she marched to her bedroom to pick out a nice outfit for the evening.
It wasn’t long before she was dressed and heading out the door. Only to be confronted by Victor. “Victor! What lovely timing. I’m going out!” She stated with confidence. “Join me.”
She shut the door behind her, pushed her way past Victor, and then turned to grab his hand.
“Come on.”
“I know where he is,” Victor stated flatly.
“Who?” She asked naively.
“You know who. He’s in the Keys. He called me about 30 minutes ago. He’s very depressed.”
“Good,” she quipped. “Are you coming with me or not because I’m going to have a good time tonight.”
“Helena, let’s go. I’ll drive down with you. We’ll find him. Somehow.”
“Forget it, Victor. I’m tired. I’m tired of feeling hurt and I’m moving on,” she insisted. “Now would you like to join me or not? I’ll bet you haven’t eaten.”
As upbeat as her mood appeared, she was surpressing her desire to follow Victor’s lead. She would love nothing more than to forget this whole incident and get back together with John. There was no doubt she missed him terribly. However, her determination to protect herself from getting hurt again prevailed. “Thank you Victor, but no. It’s over between us.”
Victor starred straight in to her eyes, and said “Dammit Helena, I’m serious. John sounded terrible and I’m worried. If you don’t care about him as his girlfriend, at least care for him as a human being. He desperately needs our help.”
Helena ignored Victor and secluded herself in her car. Victor shook his head with disappointment and walked to his car. Before he could turn the ignition key, Helena was standing at this window. Victor rolled down the window and waited her for to speak.
She hesitated, took a deep breath, then said, “Give me a minute to get my things.”
A smile of relief broke on Victor’s face. He had high hopes the two of them would be able to convince John to reclaim his life. Helena couldn’t help but care for his welfare, but knew she wanted nothing more than to make sure he was safe.
Victor did most of the driving and they were in the Keys by ten o’clock. They split up to cover more ground in looking for John. They started first with the hotels then moved on to the bars figuring he’d be in one place or the other.
Helena walked in to one bar and immediately found a booth so that she could rest. She ordered coffee with hopes of waking up and slumped down in her chair from exhaustion. After a few sips, she looked up from her cup and saw him. Her first instinct was to slouch further down in her chair to hide. She was astonished by how bad he looked. He was wearing some old jeans and a cheap tourist T-shirt with a bar name on it. He wasn’t wearing shoes and was limping due to what appeared to be a badly sprained ankle. He walked straight to the bar and rested on the barstool.
Still frozen with uncertainty she sat motionless in her chair. It wasn’t too late to hide and turn back. However, the more she stared at him, the more she felt compelled to help him. There he was. Sipping on his margarita on the rocks, loaded with salt and despair. He saw her in the mirror and turned slowly to face her.
“What are you doing here?” He asked in shock.
“You look like hell,” She responded.
John took a deep breath and said, “You look beautiful.”
Both were at a loss for words after that. They just stood there and stared at each other. Jimmy Buffett’s song “Why Don’t We Get Drunk and Screw” started playing over the jukebox that finally broke the silence. Helena couldn’t stop the smile that broke upon her face as she fell in to his arms in an embrace. John never felt more thankful in his life as he returned the embrace. They just stood there holding each other and wondered why it took them this long to find each other again.
The End