Chapter 12
Zeke’s sister Sara was quickly becoming Helene’s best friend.
Helene had been in San Francisco for a little over a week and Sara had taken her under her wing, not only giving her clothing to wear, but also taking the time to familiarize Helene with all of the strange objects she would be using in Zeke’s home.
An arrangement had been made for Helene to earn her keep.
Zeke could have cared less about it, but Helene insisted that she wouldn’t stay unless she could do all of the things she did back at Breaghacraig.
She now understood the workings of all of the appliances, as Sara had called them.
After she finished her morning chores, Sara was going to take her shopping for some clothing of her own.
“But I have nothing to give in exchange for these clothes,” Helene said. She didn’t wish to be a burden to anyone and she felt uncomfortable with Zeke and Sara buying clothing for her.
“Don’t worry about it, we’ve got you covered,” Zeke said.
“Covered?”
“Jenna and Angelina left money here for emergencies and I imagine this is an emergency of sorts,” Zeke said.
“How will I pay ye back?” Helene asked. Zeke had already done more for her than was necessary. She couldn’t let it continue.
“You don’t have to,” Zeke answered. A warm smile lit his lips as he gazed at her.
“But I wish to.” Helene was not going to allow Zeke to charm her into letting him take care of everything for her.
“Okay. Okay. You’re working around the house. That covers your room, board and anything you may need to purchase for yourself while you’re here.”
“Seems a fair exchange.” Helene determined that she would do her best to earn her place in Zeke’s home.
“Good. Sara will be here any minute. You girls have fun shopping and I don’t want you worrying about spending too much. Got it.” Zeke wrapped an arm around Helene’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze.
“Got it,” she giggled. She was learning to speak like she belonged in this time.
Helene assumed she’d be staying for the foreseeable future and she wanted to fit in.
She liked Zeke. He was easy to be around and not hard to look at.
He ran a medieval martial arts studio somewhere in the city.
He was easily as strong as any of the men at Breaghacraig and he had the muscles to prove it.
She was somewhat embarrassed that her mind had wandered in that direction, but her life was different now.
More so than she imagined it would be when she was Dougall’s betrothed.
As Aunt Saundra said, he was probably happily married and had forgotten all about her.
So that meant she was free to do as she pleased, not that she was anywhere near to ready to find another man.
The front door opened and Sara walked in. “You ready to go, Helene?”
“Aye.”
“I’ll see you later. I might be a little late getting back tonight. I’ve got classes until eight.” Zeke escorted her to the door, where he hugged Sara.
“I’ll have yer dinner waiting,” Helene said.
“How did I ever manage to get along without you?” Zeke raised an eyebrow and gave her a thumbs up, “Have fun.”
“Let’s go. You know, you don’t have to make him dinner every night.” Sara took her by the arm and led her out the door and down the stairs to the street.
“I ken it, but I like to do it.”
“Well, as long as you aren’t doing it out of some sense of obligation.”
Helene looked blankly at Sara. “What do ye mean?”
“Just because you’re living there, doesn’t mean you have to wait on him hand and foot. He can take care of himself. He’s been doing it for years.”
“Och, ’tis what I want to do. ’Tis what I did back home. I dinnae wish to feel useless.”
Sarah led her to the corner and then up one of the infamous San Francisco hills to a street filled with shops and places to eat.
“So, back in your time you were a maid?” Sara asked. “What was that like?”
“’Tis me job to take care of the Ladies of the castle. I bathe them, fix their hair and help them dress. I help in any way I can.”
“What about you? Did anyone ever do things for you?”
“Och, nae. Me days were always full with the needs of the Ladies and now Lady Ashley has a baby. Her name is Emma. So I help with her as well. There’s little time for me own needs, but I dinnae mind.”
“Well, since you’re living here now, you need to understand that women are treated differently in this time. We’re more independent.”
“I dinnae ken.” There was so much to learn here, but Sara was teaching her. Every day she knew more than she had the day before.
“I mean we don’t need anyone – and by anyone I mean a man. We can take care of ourselves. We have jobs and pay our own bills.” Sara explained as they walked. “You know, I have my own apartment. I live by myself.”
“’Tis strange to me that anyone lives alone. At Breaghacraig there are so many people all the time. Do ye never get lonely?”
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t.”
“Why do ye nae have a man?” Helene was really quite curious about Sara. She was very pretty and a lively lass.
“No. No one right now, but that’s okay. That’s what I mean, Helene. It’s okay to be alone and sometimes you need to be in order to get over things from the past.”
“Like Dougall.” Helene knew she needed to get over him, but she still loved him and missed him terribly.
“Yeah. Exactly,” Sara said.
Helene wished to change the subject. She couldn’t talk about this right now. “’Tis a lovely day today.” The weather was beautiful. Blue skies, dotted with feathery white clouds and a gentle breeze made the temperature pleasant. Not too hot and not too cold. Just right.
“How are you feeling today, Helene? I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?” Sara’s face showed she was concerned.
“I be fine.” Helene didn’t wish to hurt Sara’s feelings, so she smiled as if nothing were wrong.
Much to her dismay, Sara saw right through her. “Are you still thinking about Dougall?”
“Aye. I can only hope that some time soon I willnae, but fer now I try not to let it make me sad.”
“I’m here for you. Any time you need someone to talk to, just let me know. I’m all ears.”
Helene laughed at that, imagining Sara with ears from head to toe. “Yer a good friend, Sara. Ye remind me of Ashley.”
“Is she your bestie back home?”
“What is a bestie?”
“Your best friend.”
“Aye. She is.”
“You must miss her.”
“I miss her and everyone else at Breaghacraig.”
“It’s hard to believe you’re actually a time traveller. If I hadn’t seen you with my own eyes right after you arrived, I might not believe it.”
“I can hardly believe it meself.”
“I always loved the idea of it. I mean, I didn’t think it was even a remote possibility, but I thought if I could I’d love to do it.”
“Maybe ye will someday.”
Sara laughed and led Helene into a small clothing store.
The racks were organized by color, which Helene found fascinating.
Color selection in her time was limited to whatever plant dyes they had available.
Here there were so many colors to choose from it became difficult to decide which color was her favorite.
“This one’s pretty,” Sara said holding out a soft grey cashmere sweater with a vee neck. “You should try it on.” She handed it to the clerk, who put it in a dressing room. “Now for some sexy jeans!”
“Sara!” Helene’s face turned three shades of pink from embarrassment. “Ye shouldnae say things like that.”
“Remember you aren’t back home anymore. That kind of talk is totally permissable.”
“I dinnae believe I’ll ever get used to it.”
Sara rummaged through the racks of jeans and handed her a pair. “These.”
“They look to be torn, Sara.” Helene examined the jeans and put her fingers through the frayed strands in the leg. “Ye’ll be able to see me legs!”
“It’s supposed to look like that.” She handed them to the clerk. “A jacket and some boots, oh and some jewelry. You are going to be so hot!”
“It wasnae verra warm outside. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
Sara laughed so hard she was gasping for breath.
“Why do ye laugh?”
“Never mind. I’ll explain later.”
Helene tried everything on and Sara gave her a nod of approval.
“Sara, are ye supposed to see the shape of me body so clearly?” She turned to look in the mirror and gasped at the sight of her backside encased in the tight jeans.
She looked herself up and down, feeling a mix of emotions.
She knew she looked good, but these clothes were lacking in modesty.
“You look sexy, lady!” Sara said.
Helene turned three shades of red. “Oh, my. I dinnae think I can wear this.”
“Yes, you can and you will.” She grabbed the clothes Helene had been wearing and went to the clerk. “She’ll wear them. Can you put her other clothes in a bag please?”
The clerk was happy to oblige. Sara paid for everything and then took Helene down the street to a salon where a woman painted Helene’s fingernails and toes. Helene couldn’t stop looking at them. “They’re so pretty,” she said.
“We’re not through yet. We’re going to get you a facial and get your hair done.”
Helene knew she must look completely confused.
“Don’t ask. Just go with it. You’re going to be even more beautiful than you already are. If Dougall saw you now, he’d be so sorry he let you get away. The men will be knocking down the door to get to you.”
“I dinnae wish for anyone to knock down Zeke’s doors.”
“It’s just a saying. Don’t worry. This is all for you. I want you to feel good about yourself and not worry that you did something to cause Dougall to be with someone else.”
“But I did. I was born the daughter of servants.”
“That’s crazy. It shouldn’t matter.”
“I didnae believe that it did, but Dougall’s father would rather see me dead than married to his son.” Thinking about Paddraig MacRae, Helene realized she was much better off here in San Francisco, even if it meant she may never see her friends at Breaghacraig again.
“Let’s not talk about that anymore. We’re having fun today.”