Part 11 (2/2)
”We do know you,” Marty said. ”You're dating her brains out.”
With Blair out of the way, Helen mingled and found that everyone was at least talking about her idea. There was an air of skepticism combined with an equal amount of enthusiasm.
”Give it some thought,” she said to them. ”Just let me know in a few weeks.”
Helen joined Cory, who was again closerthanthis to Kim. Stacey ousted Judy's alb.u.m and replaced her with Doris Day. What would be, would be.
”It's an interesting idea,” Kim said. ”I'll think about it, and I'd like to have your number.”
”Of course. Before we leave.” She turned to Cory. ”Let's finish our dance.”
”I think you'll win some over,” Cory said. ”Artists love power, and you've just offered us the world.”
Cory placed her hands near Helen's throat. Helen enjoyed the soft stroke of fingers that brushed her neck. It was Cory's favorite resting place for fingers and her lips.
”Helen,” Cory said, ”there's something you need to know.”
Helen's stomach knotted.
d.a.m.n it. She seldom called her Helen unless it was serious. And that d.a.m.n Kim still watched them and smiled. Fine. Tell me you and Kim are seeing each other. Tell me you need your s.p.a.ce. Just go ahead and shred my heart to pieces, right here in front of Marty and Jenny and Jay and Stacey. d.a.m.n it all. I'm falling in love with you. Don't you know that?
”Why doesn't she take her flawless face right the h.e.l.l out of here?” Helen grumbled loudly.
Cory took a step back. ”Excuse me?”
”Kim.” Helen narrowed her eyes toward Kim and then she looked at Cory. ”Is she what you have to tell me about?”
”You think Kim and I-”
”I understand you may see other women-”
”Really?”
”-but you could have chosen a better time.”
Cory grabbed Helen's belt buckle and yanked her closer. ”What kind of a person do you think I am?”
”Ambushes are in your blood. How pompous you must feel having both of-”
”Both of who?”
”Well, look at the two of you. All night. Smiles and giggles.”
”You don't know what you're talking about.”
”You don't know what I'm feeling.”
”It's perfectly clear, Helen. You're jealous.”
”It's not like I've put a ring on your finger, but-”
”I see.” Cory's expression softened. ”Would you like the bottom line?”
”The very bottom line, and don't look so smug.”
”Okay.” She looked into Helen's eyes and with her fingertips drew a line from Helen's chin to the back of her neck. Helen tried not to weaken from her look and her touch, but the situation was hopeless. ”I'm Delphinus,” she said.
Helen remembered the constellation and leaned her cheek into Cory's warm palm. ”What's that supposed to mean?” she asked with all of the weakness that the touch had provoked.
”I want you to take another look, Helen. Look deeper, beyond the surface. You'll find where I am with you.”
Helen searched the eyes that she hadn't resisted from day one, that she couldn't resist tonight, and that she knew she wouldn't resist thirty years from now. That she was sure of. She was also sure that Cory was the most important part of her life. Helen looked long into those eyes and soon caught her own reflection, the reflection of a woman in love. That's what Helen found.
Cory pulled Helen slowly against her. Her arms wrapped tightly around her, and Helen melted into them. Helen kissed Cory's neck, her ear. She nuzzled into her silky hair, wanting her, not wanting to share her.
She's yours, Helen. Tell her.
”I love you,” Helen whispered into Cory's ear.
Cory murmured a soft sound of joy and held Helen tighter. ”I love you, too.” She brushed her thumb across Helen's lips and replaced it with her mouth. Their kiss was gentle and finalized their words. Cory moved back slightly. ”It's early for us, but in the future we might decide to be together permanently. We can't be married in New York, but if we could, I'd be sure to ask you.”
Helen liked the thought. She c.o.c.ked her head. ”Ask me now.”
”Maybe someday you'll marry me? Would you be my bride?”
Having Cory to love and to feel loved by her presented an irresistible package for Helen. But there was one matter that, if they couldn't agree upon it, could change the course of their relations.h.i.+p immediately.
”One of the first things you knew about me is that I want out of the closet,” she said and Cory nodded. ”Living together is a statement without much danger. Boasting about it to an auditorium full of people, however, could prove hazardous to our careers and to our lives. If we're together, I need you on stage with me or we won't work.”
”I'm proud to love you. I'll be with you that night.”
Helen took Cory's hands into hers, pulled her close, and held tightly. At the very least, they could exchange rings with private vows. Maybe invite some friends and maybe not. They could legally take the other's name. Helen Townsend-Chamberlain. She liked the hyphen.
”Yes, baby,” she said in answer to Cory's proposal. ”The odds are in your favor.” As an afterthought she joked, ”Do I get a pre-engagement ring?”
”I had something a bit different in mind. Close your eyes.” Helen closed her eyes and felt Cory's fingers place something around her neck, and then she turned her around. ”Now open them.”
She'd been strategically danced to a mirror. In the reflection dangled a delicate gold chain around her neck with a stunning pear-shaped emerald. It rested gracefully below her throat as if cultured specifically to lie there.
Tears came to Helen's eyes. ”It's beautiful,” she said and ran her fingers along the chain. It was Helen's bottle of Midori, the same chromatic essence that became Cory. She turned back to her. ”Absolutely perfect.”
”Yes.” Cory gathered the stone into her hand. ”It took a while to find the right stone.”
”No, I mean you.” Helen slipped a ring from her hand. An opal was surrounded by tiny pearls. It had belonged to her great-grandmother, Emily Townsend. Helen placed it on Cory's left hand. ”Now it's complete.”
Cory twisted the ring back and forth. Fiery orange and fluorescent green came alive. She'd always admired the ring, had often toyed with it during their hours of snuggle-talk, and she knew the ring was an heirloom.
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