Tremaine walked into the room
in silence, closing the hardwood door softly, stopping to look over Helena; she
was standing so still, her slender arms wrapped around her slim body, biting
her lip, looking at the floor not even noticing him. He leant his back against
the door, he didn’t feel like having intruders, and he paused to look her over
again.
“Hey, gorgeous. Are you going
to tell me what’s up?” He had always called her ‘gorgeous’, ever since he
developed a crush on her after his treatment had ended years ago, and the
compliment had stuck and became a nickname.
Looking up from the floor,
she offered him a warm yet nervous smile. Instead of moving closer to him, she
kept her distance, opting for a chair facing him at the dining table.
A silence took hold but
before it could turn awkward Helena asked the question she was so nervous to
ask. “Is it true that you love me?”
Tremaine immediately tensed
at her soft spoken question. He was no longer leaning against the door but
stood up, straight backed and a little defensive.
“I don’t want lies or half
truths, Tremaine. I want—”
“Yes.” Before she could even
finish her sentence Tremaine had answered her question. “Yes, I do love you.
You’re my best friend, Helena, of course I love you.” He explained.
“You know that’s not what I
mean.”
Tremaine paused for thought
after hearing a catch in her throat. Was she upset? Why was she upset?
Concern grew in his eyes, she
saw it. “I just need to know.”
Crossing his arms over his
chest, his eyes burned into hers as he tried to figure out why she was asking
such a dangerous question but it was useless to even try – Helena didn’t give
away any clues. But she did look helpless, and he hated that. “Yes, Helena, I’m
in love with you.”
She closed her eyes as she
felt the heartache twisting around her heart.
“I’m in love with you, ok? I
don’t know when it happened but for as long as I can remember, I’ve been in
love with you.”
Silence. She wasn’t saying
anything. She still had her eyes firmly closed.
He crossed the room to her,
got down on his knees, and shook her by her arms. “Damn it, woman, will you say
something?” She owed him that at least, didn’t she? After it nearly tore his
heart out to admit his love to her...
Her eyes finally opened after
his shaking had stopped. Her pretty blues looking into his darkened browns and
she reached out to caress his cheek. “I’m scared that I’m in love with you,
too.” She admitted in almost a whisper.
His breath caught in his
chest as his heart beat faster. This was crazy - completely and utterly crazy.
“I don’t know when or why or
how it happened but I think I’m in love with you, Tremaine.”
He caught her hand and held
it still against his cheek. “It’s ok, Helena. You don’t have to be scared.”
“Yes I do.” She told him, her
eyes beginning to well. “I do because I love my husband so much too. I love my
husband, Tremaine, but I love you too.”
Warm tears began streaming
down her cheeks only to be caught by his thumb wiping them away.
“Listen to me, sweetheart...
Don’t you feel better for telling me?”
Considering his question, she
inhaled some deep and calming breaths. Did she feel better? Yes. She nodded her
head to confirm.
“Now...we both are married
and we both love our partners, don’t we?”
There was another nod in
answer.
“We’re best friends who
happen to be nothing but very close to each other, do you understand?”
Helena nodded.
“It’ll be ok.” He half helped
her up so he could wrap is arms around her and hug her. “It’ll all be ok.”
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