Dusty Footprints in Time - chapter 6
Helena found Myka standing by the window in their room, gazing out at the beautiful landscape.
“Darling?” she said and walked over. “Is everything all right?”
Myka turned and smiled at her. She nodded and sighed.
“Yeah. Everything is just fine.”
“There’s something you’re not telling me,” Helena said, her dark eyes filled with worry.
“Would you like to take a walk?” Myka said and smiled.
“No, I’d like you to tell me what’s going on,” Helena said and grabbed Myka’s arm. “You’re scaring me.”
Myka cupped Helena’s face and brushed her lips against Helena’s in a gentle kiss.
“Don’t worry sweetie,” she whispered. “I have something amazing to tell you, but I’d like to do it someplace special.”
“All right,” Helena said a little hesitantly.
“The swing in the picture, where is it?” Myka asked.
“The swing?” Helena said and frowned. Myka nodded. “It’s in the back over by the pond.”
“Will you show me?”
*** *** ***
Myka touched the rope on the swing. She knew it must have been replaced numerous times since Helena had used it, but it still gave her a much needed connection with the past. Spotting a bench across from it she took Helena’s hand and led her over there. She sat down facing Helena, holding her hands. She smiled at her.
“I have something to tell you. I hope it will be a wonderful surprise,” Myka said and tried to keep a smile on her lips, even though her stomach was a knot of tension and fear.
“Just tell me,” Helena pleaded.
“That phone call,” Myka whispered.
“Yes?”
“Helena, that phone call I made earlier; it was to Old City, to Dr. Helen Magnus,” Myka said and looked Helena in the eyes. “I know her.”
“What?” Helena blurted out. “That’s impossible. She would be as old as I am.”
“A hundred and fifty seven as a matter of fact,” Myka said and chuckled.
“Are you serious?” Helena whispered and tugged at Myka’s hands. “Helen is still alive?”
Myka nodded. “And as beautiful as ever.”
“How is it possible?”
“I’ll let her explain that when we see her this weekend.”
Helena covered her mouth with her hand and stared at Myka. The tears started slowly. Myka pulled her close and just held her as Helena cried.
“Helen doesn’t look a day over forty,” Myka whispered as she stroked Helena’s hair. “She’s as brilliant as you are. The work she does is truly amazing.”
“She hasn’t aged?” Helena said surprised.
“A little probably, but not much,” Myka said and shrugged.
Helena got up and paced in front of Myka.
“I knew she had not told me the entire truth about that visit to Oxford in the spring of 1886,” she mumbled to herself. “Still, not aging in a hundred years is truly mindboggling. Perhaps they found a way of gaining immortality.”
Myka felt the knot in her stomach getting tighter as she watched Helena.
“Do you still love her?” she whispered.
“Of course I love her,” Helena said empathically. “I’ve loved her since I was a child.”
“As a lover?” Myka whispered.
Helena stopped short and turned and finally looked at Myka. Noticing the pained look on Myka’s face she rushed over. Kneeling by Myka’s feet she took Myka’s hands and kissed them.
“No darling,” she said seriously. “I have given my heart to you, and it will be yours to keep until the day I die. Helen is part of it, but not as a lover. I care deeply for her, and I hope you do too.”
“I do,” Myka whispered.
*** *** ***
On their last night in England, HP had arranged for a grand-scale Wells family dinner. Myka had started to get used to the myriad of Wells family members around her and had a great time. She found it easier now when she knew the people and recognized the faces. HP’s niece Sophie had taken it upon herself to make sure that Myka felt at home. The six year-old had not let go of Myka’s hand for more than a moment until dinner was served. After dinner when they were again sitting in the large family room, little Sophie happily settled in on Myka’s lap, playing with Myka’s hair.
“May I braid it?” she asked and smiled at Myka.
“Sure,” Myka said and chuckled.
The girl squealed and jumped off of Myka’s lap. Standing behind Myka she grabbed handfuls of Myka’s hair and started to braid it.
Helena tried to hide an amused grin behind her cognac glass as she watched Myka make a face when the girl tugged at Myka’s curls.
“It appears that I am not the only one captivated by Myka’s beauty, and her hair,” she teased.
“Far from it,” HP said and grinned at her.
“You are not eying my fiancée, are you, dear cousin?” Helena said and laughed.
In the preparation for the wedding and the public announcement of Helena’s existence they had agreed on calling her a distant cousin. The cover story was somewhat farther removed than that, but it was easier than explaining the exact relationship.
“I would never entertain such thoughts cousin dear,” he said and winked at her.
Helena laughed and raised her glass at him.
“Look!” Sophie said and laughed. She held on to the end of the thick braid.
“Very pretty, darling,” Helena said and smiled.
HP cleared his throat and smiled at Helena.
“Helena the family and I have something to share with you and Myka.”
Myka looked up at him and pulled Sophie closer when the girl again claimed her spot on Myka’s lap. Helena beamed at him.
“I know that you’ve shared with us that you’re getting married later on this year,” he started and smiled at them. Helena nodded. “I don’t know if you’ve made arrangements, or even set a date yet, but no matter what, we would be honored if you would consider holding it here, at Wells Hall.”
Helena gasped and looked at Myka. Myka just smiled at her. Helena turned back to HP.
“We haven’t actually set a date yet,” she admitted. “This is a very pleasant surprise.” She glanced at Myka as if unsure how to answer HP’s offer.
“Helena, I can’t think of any place more beautiful and meaningful to both of us, than here.”
“Oh darling,” Helena whispered. She turned to HP again and nodded. “We gladly accept your offer.”
“Wonderful!” he said cheerfully. “I was pretty sure you would agree, so I’ve actually taken the liberty of tentatively booking a tent and made arrangements with a wedding planner.”
“You have?” Helena and Myka said surprised.
He nodded and made a face as he shrugged.
“How do you feel about a June wedding?”
Helena laughed and squeezed his arm affectionately. She smiled at Myka who again stared at HP.
“That’s only about three months away,” Myka said slightly panicked.
“I know, but we can make it happen,” HP said reassuringly.
“Can I be a flower girl?” Sophie asked and eagerly looked up at Myka.
“Yes sweetheart, you can,” Helena said and smiled at her.
Sophie beamed and put her little arms around Myka’s neck, hugging her.
“There’s another thing,” HP said and pulled out an envelope from inside his jacket. “I know it’s a bit early, but we had a family counsel last night and everyone was in agreement about this,” he said and handed Helena the envelope.
Helena raised an eyebrow in question as she took it from him. He just smiled and nodded for her to open it. She pulled out the thick stack of papers inside and started reading. Her jaw fell and her hand sank to her lap as she stared at HP with tearful eyes.
“HP?” she whispered. “I can’t begin to tell you what this means to me,” she said and wiped a tear away. “Are you sure? This is a very expensive gift.”
“We are sure,” he said and nodded. “As I told you, we discussed it and all of us are in agreement.”
Helena glanced around the room and noted each smiling face until her eyes finally landed on Myka’s confused face. She smiled at her.
“Darling, they have given us the Cottage.”
“What?” Myka said and gaped.
Helena had showed Myka the Cottage earlier in the week. It had been the original house on the grounds, prior to the building of Wells Hall. Helena had lived in it for a while when writing Dr. Moreau, but most of the time it had been used as a guest house, or for the butler.
“We wanted to be sure that Helena, and you,” HP said and smiled at Myka. “felt that you belong here. We understand that you cannot live here permanently, but this way you will always have a tie to Wells Hall, and to us.”
“HP, it’s an amazing gift,” Myka said stunned. “I don’t feel that this is my decision to accept, or decline. This is for Helena,” she said and smiled at her fiancée.
“You are about to become part of our family too Myka,” he said gently. “We already love you as if you were.”
Now it was Myka’s turn to get choked up. She felt Sophie hug her harder and she pulled the girl closer and kissed her dark hair.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
To be Continued…
“Darling?” she said and walked over. “Is everything all right?”
Myka turned and smiled at her. She nodded and sighed.
“Yeah. Everything is just fine.”
“There’s something you’re not telling me,” Helena said, her dark eyes filled with worry.
“Would you like to take a walk?” Myka said and smiled.
“No, I’d like you to tell me what’s going on,” Helena said and grabbed Myka’s arm. “You’re scaring me.”
Myka cupped Helena’s face and brushed her lips against Helena’s in a gentle kiss.
“Don’t worry sweetie,” she whispered. “I have something amazing to tell you, but I’d like to do it someplace special.”
“All right,” Helena said a little hesitantly.
“The swing in the picture, where is it?” Myka asked.
“The swing?” Helena said and frowned. Myka nodded. “It’s in the back over by the pond.”
“Will you show me?”
*** *** ***
Myka touched the rope on the swing. She knew it must have been replaced numerous times since Helena had used it, but it still gave her a much needed connection with the past. Spotting a bench across from it she took Helena’s hand and led her over there. She sat down facing Helena, holding her hands. She smiled at her.
“I have something to tell you. I hope it will be a wonderful surprise,” Myka said and tried to keep a smile on her lips, even though her stomach was a knot of tension and fear.
“Just tell me,” Helena pleaded.
“That phone call,” Myka whispered.
“Yes?”
“Helena, that phone call I made earlier; it was to Old City, to Dr. Helen Magnus,” Myka said and looked Helena in the eyes. “I know her.”
“What?” Helena blurted out. “That’s impossible. She would be as old as I am.”
“A hundred and fifty seven as a matter of fact,” Myka said and chuckled.
“Are you serious?” Helena whispered and tugged at Myka’s hands. “Helen is still alive?”
Myka nodded. “And as beautiful as ever.”
“How is it possible?”
“I’ll let her explain that when we see her this weekend.”
Helena covered her mouth with her hand and stared at Myka. The tears started slowly. Myka pulled her close and just held her as Helena cried.
“Helen doesn’t look a day over forty,” Myka whispered as she stroked Helena’s hair. “She’s as brilliant as you are. The work she does is truly amazing.”
“She hasn’t aged?” Helena said surprised.
“A little probably, but not much,” Myka said and shrugged.
Helena got up and paced in front of Myka.
“I knew she had not told me the entire truth about that visit to Oxford in the spring of 1886,” she mumbled to herself. “Still, not aging in a hundred years is truly mindboggling. Perhaps they found a way of gaining immortality.”
Myka felt the knot in her stomach getting tighter as she watched Helena.
“Do you still love her?” she whispered.
“Of course I love her,” Helena said empathically. “I’ve loved her since I was a child.”
“As a lover?” Myka whispered.
Helena stopped short and turned and finally looked at Myka. Noticing the pained look on Myka’s face she rushed over. Kneeling by Myka’s feet she took Myka’s hands and kissed them.
“No darling,” she said seriously. “I have given my heart to you, and it will be yours to keep until the day I die. Helen is part of it, but not as a lover. I care deeply for her, and I hope you do too.”
“I do,” Myka whispered.
*** *** ***
On their last night in England, HP had arranged for a grand-scale Wells family dinner. Myka had started to get used to the myriad of Wells family members around her and had a great time. She found it easier now when she knew the people and recognized the faces. HP’s niece Sophie had taken it upon herself to make sure that Myka felt at home. The six year-old had not let go of Myka’s hand for more than a moment until dinner was served. After dinner when they were again sitting in the large family room, little Sophie happily settled in on Myka’s lap, playing with Myka’s hair.
“May I braid it?” she asked and smiled at Myka.
“Sure,” Myka said and chuckled.
The girl squealed and jumped off of Myka’s lap. Standing behind Myka she grabbed handfuls of Myka’s hair and started to braid it.
Helena tried to hide an amused grin behind her cognac glass as she watched Myka make a face when the girl tugged at Myka’s curls.
“It appears that I am not the only one captivated by Myka’s beauty, and her hair,” she teased.
“Far from it,” HP said and grinned at her.
“You are not eying my fiancée, are you, dear cousin?” Helena said and laughed.
In the preparation for the wedding and the public announcement of Helena’s existence they had agreed on calling her a distant cousin. The cover story was somewhat farther removed than that, but it was easier than explaining the exact relationship.
“I would never entertain such thoughts cousin dear,” he said and winked at her.
Helena laughed and raised her glass at him.
“Look!” Sophie said and laughed. She held on to the end of the thick braid.
“Very pretty, darling,” Helena said and smiled.
HP cleared his throat and smiled at Helena.
“Helena the family and I have something to share with you and Myka.”
Myka looked up at him and pulled Sophie closer when the girl again claimed her spot on Myka’s lap. Helena beamed at him.
“I know that you’ve shared with us that you’re getting married later on this year,” he started and smiled at them. Helena nodded. “I don’t know if you’ve made arrangements, or even set a date yet, but no matter what, we would be honored if you would consider holding it here, at Wells Hall.”
Helena gasped and looked at Myka. Myka just smiled at her. Helena turned back to HP.
“We haven’t actually set a date yet,” she admitted. “This is a very pleasant surprise.” She glanced at Myka as if unsure how to answer HP’s offer.
“Helena, I can’t think of any place more beautiful and meaningful to both of us, than here.”
“Oh darling,” Helena whispered. She turned to HP again and nodded. “We gladly accept your offer.”
“Wonderful!” he said cheerfully. “I was pretty sure you would agree, so I’ve actually taken the liberty of tentatively booking a tent and made arrangements with a wedding planner.”
“You have?” Helena and Myka said surprised.
He nodded and made a face as he shrugged.
“How do you feel about a June wedding?”
Helena laughed and squeezed his arm affectionately. She smiled at Myka who again stared at HP.
“That’s only about three months away,” Myka said slightly panicked.
“I know, but we can make it happen,” HP said reassuringly.
“Can I be a flower girl?” Sophie asked and eagerly looked up at Myka.
“Yes sweetheart, you can,” Helena said and smiled at her.
Sophie beamed and put her little arms around Myka’s neck, hugging her.
“There’s another thing,” HP said and pulled out an envelope from inside his jacket. “I know it’s a bit early, but we had a family counsel last night and everyone was in agreement about this,” he said and handed Helena the envelope.
Helena raised an eyebrow in question as she took it from him. He just smiled and nodded for her to open it. She pulled out the thick stack of papers inside and started reading. Her jaw fell and her hand sank to her lap as she stared at HP with tearful eyes.
“HP?” she whispered. “I can’t begin to tell you what this means to me,” she said and wiped a tear away. “Are you sure? This is a very expensive gift.”
“We are sure,” he said and nodded. “As I told you, we discussed it and all of us are in agreement.”
Helena glanced around the room and noted each smiling face until her eyes finally landed on Myka’s confused face. She smiled at her.
“Darling, they have given us the Cottage.”
“What?” Myka said and gaped.
Helena had showed Myka the Cottage earlier in the week. It had been the original house on the grounds, prior to the building of Wells Hall. Helena had lived in it for a while when writing Dr. Moreau, but most of the time it had been used as a guest house, or for the butler.
“We wanted to be sure that Helena, and you,” HP said and smiled at Myka. “felt that you belong here. We understand that you cannot live here permanently, but this way you will always have a tie to Wells Hall, and to us.”
“HP, it’s an amazing gift,” Myka said stunned. “I don’t feel that this is my decision to accept, or decline. This is for Helena,” she said and smiled at her fiancée.
“You are about to become part of our family too Myka,” he said gently. “We already love you as if you were.”
Now it was Myka’s turn to get choked up. She felt Sophie hug her harder and she pulled the girl closer and kissed her dark hair.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
To be Continued…