12. Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Theo

I asked the girls for fun date ideas. I didn't tell them they weren't for Helene, just that I needed help. So now I'm bringing a huge picnic basket with appetizers and some wine to the beach. I told Helen it was a surprise, and she mumbled something about not really liking surprises. When I pick her up she's dressed all fancy even though it was a lunch date.

"Can you tell me where you're taking me, Theo?"

"Um, sure. We're going to the beach for a picnic."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I don't want to be difficult, but there's all the sand and the heat at the beach. Why don't we go to some nice restaurant instead?"

"We can do that, one hundred percent. Let me help you get in the car."

She waits for me with what looks like a fake smile spread on her face. I open the door for her, and she gets inside the car. Once I'm in, I hope things start to go better.

"I thought you owned your own business, too." She says.

"I do. I'm part owner of a nightclub here in Miami. Midnight Heat."

"That's a pretty successful nightclub. Why are you driving this around?"

"I don't like flashy cars."

"That's too bad. What do you do for fun?"

"Work kind of absorbs all of my time, but I sometimes like to go to amusement parks to let off some steam."

"Amusement parks like…Disney?"

"Yeah, but my favorite is Universal with the Harry Potter…"

"But that's full of children. Why would you want to go there?"

"I'm a fan of the Harry Potter books. Have you read them?"

"No. I don't read. I spend my free time watching reality TV, like the Bachelor and the Bachelorette. I love all the drama."

"Right."

"Where are you going?"

"There's a great steakhouse near the beach. I thought you might like it."

"I don't eat meat. I'm a vegetarian."

"Oh, I don't know any vegetarian places. You tell me one of your favorites, and I'll take you there."

She rattles off a place about thirty minutes away, and I wonder if I'll last that long in this car with this woman. She wasn't this obnoxious when we had coffee the other day. A memory of visiting Universal with Helene flashes through my mind, and what seems like heartache hits me right in the chest.

We get to the restaurant and go in. The hostess tells me I need to wear a jacket, so she "rents" me one that I can wear during our meal. Helen looks embarrassed, and I think she's feeling bad for me, but when we reach our table, she starts berating me.

"Really, Theo. This is our first real date. You could have put up more of an effort in your attire."

I'm speechless and stare at her. After a second, I pick up the menu I was handed and start looking for something to eat. There's nothing but vegetables and salads on this menu. Sure, some of the combinations seem interesting, and the meat replacements look appetizing in the pictures, but I realize I'm already tired and ready to go back home.

I pick a veggie burger and ask for some wine. I'm going to need it to survive this date.

"I looked you up on the internet," Helen says.

I don't know what to say to her about that. I should have probably done the same research with the correct name now, but my mind has been so busy with thoughts of my goddess that I just couldn't bother.

"Find anything interesting?"

"You and your partners are worth a lot of money right now."

"And this is important, why?"

I'm bristling at every comment she makes and don't know how to proceed.

"A woman likes to know she'll be taken care of after she's married."

"But you've got your own business. And there'll be a prenup, anyway." I state.

"Men have been known to be generous in their prenups. I'm not too worried."

You should be, you gold-digging hussy. When they bring the wine, I practically inhale my first glass. I spend the rest of the meal dodging questions about my financial situation and my assets. This woman is a barracuda. The server offers us some dessert, but she shoos him away like an annoying fly. Truth is, I won't be able to eat dessert under these circumstances. I just want to go home.

I pay the bill and give her one more lie.

"Let's get going, Helen. I forgot I have some errands to run this afternoon. I'll drop you off at home."

I don't know what she was expecting, but her whole demeanor changes like she's wounded by my decision. This time, I don't even bother opening the car door for her. I just jump in and hope the drive back to her house can be shorter somehow. During the drive, she huffs and puffs some more, but I'm no longer paying attention.

This date was a disaster of epic proportions, and I just want to get back to my goddess and do damage control. I know I hurt her when I told her I was going to pursue Helen, and I hope she will forgive me.

I leave Helen in her driveway and take off to find the woman I love. I make a couple of stops to get her flowers and a present and drive to her house. When I get there, I'm relieved that her car is in the driveway. Sometimes she doesn't use it, though.

My stomach is in knots when I knock on the door and it gets worse when I see who answers it.

"Hello," I say. "Marguerite, right?"

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be sowing your oats somewhere else?"

I wince. "Is Helene here? I'd like to see her."

"Why should I let you in? You hurt my sister."

"I'm here to beg her forgiveness and see if she'll take me back."

"Good luck with that." She says as she steps back and lets me into the house. "She just went into the shower. Give her twenty or thirty minutes."

"You're not going to tell her I'm here?"

"I like things to happen organically. I'll see you later."

She turns around and disappears behind one of the doors in the hallway. I had hoped to make her like me, but with this, she'll probably throw my mistake in my face during any future family gatherings. And, yes, there will be family gatherings because I want Helene in my life and I will not give her up for any reason.

After twenty minutes, I hear the water shut down in the bathroom. I go to the door and knock softly.

"I'll be right there. Geez, Mags, have a little more patience."

"It's not your sister."

She opens the door and the most beautiful sight is presented to me. There's a towel around Helene's body, but her hair is wet and dripping. I didn't know her platinum locks would look so dark when wet. I reach for another towel and give it to her so she can wrap it around her head. She does that and looks at me expectantly.

"What are you doing here, Theo?"

"Maybe you should get dressed. That towel is giving me ideas."

She hesitates. "Sure, I'll be a few minutes."

I nod and go back to the living room. Restlessness fills me, and I start pacing around her tiny living room. When she finally comes back, I'm frozen in place. I was such an idiot. I knew I was in love with my goddess. Why did I have to go and be honorable and try and make something work with someone who could have messaged me months ago to tell me she'd had an emergency?

Realizing we're both silent, I clear my throat and remember the gifts. I pick up the flowers and bag and show them to her.

"These are for you. They're the first part of my apology."

"Is that right?"

I put both gifts down on the living room table and step a bit closer. I've never seen Helene like this. Quiet, serious, and without confidence. I did that to her. How do I make it right? I take another step forward, but she steps back and then sits down in one of the armchairs. Legs crossed in front of her like she's going to meditate.

"The date was terrible," I start. "She's a gold digger and only wanted to know how much money I had and what I would give her in the prenup. I've never had a woman talk to me like I was her own personal bank, and she expected frequent disbursements."

"So your date sucked. Is that why you're here?"

"In part, but not completely."

"Then why, Theo?"

"Because I'm a fool, and I want you to agree to be Mrs. Fool someday."