43
Selah
I smile as I take the batch of brownies out of the oven and place them on top of the stove.
It’s a gorgeous afternoon and I’ve been alone at Beckett’s rental cabin for a half an hour now and decided to make a nice treat for everyone to share when they return this evening.
Beckett took Edison to his first therapy session in Charlestown, and said they had to run some errands afterwards. I offered to come, but he said they were going to have some “male bonding time” so I was more than happy for them to get the time alone. Meanwhile, Dragana is in town at the Senior Center she has been frequenting more often, playing bingo with a few ladies she has befriended.
I hear the bell ring right when I take off the oven mitts, and turn my gaze towards the hallway, wondering who it could be. When I go to the door and look through the peephole, I see Helen standing on the other side.
I frown, unable to say that I missed her while she was back in New York working at the main office.
Things between us have still never been anything more than quietly cordial, and it was kind of nice not feeling awkward when she was around. She was in a slightly better mood the weeks that her wife was in town, but even then, we still barely spoke.
Beckett has told her that he will be moving to Upwood and offered to have her continue as his assistant through teleworking, only needing her to come into town here one full week a month for now. I’m happy they were able to make a compromise because she really is a great assistant to him.
I wipe my hands on my apron, then pull open the door to let her inside. “Hi Helen. How are you?” I greet, forcing a smile.
“I’m well. Thank you, Selah,” she responds in her usual impassive tone, stepping inside the foyer. She’s carrying a bunch of binders, and has her laptop bag slung over one shoulder.
“Mr. Kade and I are supposed to review these documents I’ve been organizing for him here,” she explains, holding up the black binders in her hands. “I know he should be back soon, so I figured maybe I can just finish up working here. I mean.. if that’s all right with you?”
“Sure, of course,” I agree, motioning for her to follow me. “You can set up where you two always do in the dining room.”
We head into the dining room and she puts her things together. I stand there awkwardly for a moment before I decide to offer her an olive branch.
“I..I made some brownies. Would you like one maybe? And some tea? I was going to make a cup for myself,” I offer, fidgeting with my apron.
She blinks at me in surprise, but then her stern expression softens. “That would be amazing actually. Thank you, Selah,” she responds with a timid smile.
I nod and turn back to the kitchen, but she calls out to me, “Wait! How about I help you make the tea?” She offers, looking uncertain.
I stare at her for a moment before finding my words. “Oh..yes! Ok!” I say, offering a smile.
She goes to grab the tea kettle and some mugs while I cut up the brownies into squares. We work together until we have our mugs of chamomile vanilla, tea, and brownies, then sit side-by-side at the island to eat.
We are both quiet for a little while, until I finally decide to break the silence.
“Helen, I just wanted to ask you something,” I start, waiting for her to look over at me. She nods her head, so I continue. “Is there something that I’ve done that upset you, or are you just not happy working here in Upwood? I just feel like we’ve never really gotten along, and I don’t really understand why.”
Her eyebrows pinch together, and she shakes her head adamantly. “I have no issue with you at all, Selah! I’m sorry if it came across that way. I guess that I just knew from the first time Mr. Kade looked at you that this was all inevitable, and it made me nervous,” she explains, tapping her fingers against her mug.
My mouth falls open, “Wai-what?” I ask bewildered.
She laughs, nodding her head. “Yeah, I kind of have a strong intuition when it comes to matters of the heart. I saw that same spark in his eyes I remember seeing in my wife’s eyes when I met her. I knew as the days went on that it was only a matter of time before he realized that he wouldn’t be able to live without you, and I had a feeling that life for him soon wouldn’t be in New York,” she says, taking a sip of her tea.
My heart warms knowing that she could see Beckett’s affection for me even at the earliest stages of our relationship. I thought I imagined the way he looked at me at first until he confessed his feelings for me.
She tilts her head at me, and her expression turns serious again, “I guess that I was just feeling selfish. I didn’t know what that would mean for me, or my job. I worked my ass off to get this position with Kade Tech, and as tough as he is, Mr. Kade is an incredible boss. I thought he wouldn’t need me anymore. I’m sorry if I projected my nervousness towards you, Selah,” she says.
I shake my head, “I completely understand that, Helen.”
She sighs, sitting back in her chair, “I know I can come across pretty cold to people.”
I give her a crooked smile, not bothering to deny it. “It’s ok. When you explain it all it makes perfect sense why you felt that way. I wish you would have clued me in on Beckett’s feelings though. I think I was pretty oblivious for a long time,” I laugh.
She laughs along with me, “Mr. Kade can be a hard man to read. But not when it comes to you, Selah. It’s obvious to anyone who is around you two how much he truly loves you,” she responds. “I wish you two nothing but the best.”
I get up to give her a hug and she stands with me. I’m so glad I decided to try to talk to her instead of letting the awkwardness between us continue. We just needed to understand each other better.
We sit back down and continue to eat, the mood between us lighter now. “These brownies are enough to make anyone fall in love with you,” she murmurs around a big bite.
I lean over towards her, dropping my voice, “I have a secret ingredient,” I whisper conspiratorially. “ Potato chips .”
Her eyes light up with excitement, “Oh my gosh! My Nana used to put that in her brownies! No wonder these are so amazing! They taste like my childhood,” she sighs happily.
“Well I’m glad you love them,” I say, holding up my mug to clink it against hers.
◆◆◆
That evening, Beckett insists we all go down to Coco’s for dinner. Dragana, Edison, Beckett, Helen, and I all share a meal together, talking and catching up with each other about our day spent apart.
When we leave, Edison asks to go across the street to the park, and Beckett agrees. Beckett takes mine and Edison’s hands to lead us across the street, and it reminds me of when I did this just a few months ago with the two of them.
I get the same butterflies now that I did then, and Beckett smiles down lovingly at me as if he is sharing the same exact thought. We get to the park and Edison takes off on a sprint to the playground.
Beckett leads me over to the area where we had Edison’s birthday party, and I stop short when I see two familiar faces staring over at us.