We were all relatively quiet while we were inside the car as they drove me home.
"Do you guys want to have dinner with me? I'll cook." I said trying to make things less awkward between me and Ed.
"That sounds nice." Jeff agreed. Willing to diffuse the tension that we can feel emanating from Ed.
I knew he wanted to ask questions. I knew he felt something was off between me and Ashton. He may not always show it but I know he is a keen observer.
When Ed just kept quiet, Jeff and I just looked at each other. After sometime, I knew that he decided not to take my offer when I saw him driving towards the outskirts of the city. I looked at him in surprise. Does he know where my parents live? The road that he is taking would lead us towards my parents vacation house where they are permanently residing right now since we all grew up and left to lead our lives.
I breathe a sigh of relief when he stopped at a restaurant by the beach. I really though he knew where we lived.
He opened the door for me and I looked at him with questioning eyes.
"I thought you might like some fresh air and other people's cooking instead of eating yours. We are always at your house eating your cooked meals, I thought you would like a new environment." he said bashfully.
"Awww, that's so sweet of you Ed. That really touched me heart." Jeff chimed in. He apparently heard Ed's whispered explanation of why he brought us here. He just can't resist the temptation of teasing Ed and his gestures of love for me.
I smiled at Ed while coming out of the car. When I had my two feet firmly on the ground, I tiptoed and gave him a peck on his cheek which clearly surprised him and said "Thank you. I really mean it. I'm really glad I met you."
I heard his sharp intake of breath. I guess I underestimated how he felt about me. I now know that mere words coming from me could affect him so much. I started to walk away from him to follow Jeff, but he held me back.
He looked at me intently for a few moments.
"You know we have to talk about it some time, Helena." he said carefully. Trying to gauge how I would react. "I know I promised you that I will wait for you until you are ready but I need to know the truth about everything. And do not give me the crap about you and Kempt coming from the same high school because if that is all there is to it, you wouldn't be looking like a lost kitten when you came out of the elevator. And I wouldn't feel like Kempt is going to take a swing at me every time I come near you." he said.
"I know I owe you an explanation, Edison." I said caressing his hands that held me back. "I know that. I will tell you everything. I will when the right time comes. But now is not the right time. What we need to do is enjoy this evening."
When he made no move to let go of me and he just kept looking at me as if trying to pry all my secrets with his gaze, "Please?" I begged him.
He just threw his arms around me and started walking towards the shore. He never said anything in agreement but it was clear that he was willing to drop it for my sake. This is what I really like about Ed. He knows how to give in to what I need.
Which was the opposite to what I had with Ashton. It was always me who had to cater to what he needed. At first, I thought it was my duty to do that since he had to give up everything for me. But then he still left me even when I had given him everything. I sighed. My sigh reached Ed's ears. He stopped me and turned me so that my back was against Jeff and looked at me.
"Forget about what bothers you, sweetheart. Especially if you do not want to talk about it. Hearing you sigh like that makes me want to sit you down in one corner and pry your heart open. Please if you want me to let it go for now, help me by not thinking about it." he said firmly.
"And besides, it drives me crazy when I think that you are thinking of some guy other than me." he said in a half joking manner trying to ease me tension. "I'm tempted to drive back to the city to hunt him down." and winked at me.
This made me laugh. I know that he is more than capable of doing that. I know that he can hunt Ashton down. But I also know that he will not do that if I asked me to.
"Alright. Let's have another nice memory." I said. I always have good memories when I am with them. They brought comfort to my painful existence. They brought security to my uncertain future. They brought smiles and gentleness to my somewhat dreary and harsh life.
Just like the family that I was once given and I had abandoned. It was time for me to make up with my parents. It was time for me to start atoning for my sins. It was time for me to live my life like how I wanted and how I knew my family would want me to.
I took off my shoes and started playing with the waves. My smile was bright and full of life. It was different from the smile that I would usually wear when I was at the office. But I was not aware of that.
But both men were. They knew I am different when I was at the office. I was more restricted, more guarded especially when I was with Ashton. That is the reason why they would spend their free time with me, because that is the only time they get to see the real Helena Smith.
The unguarded, the innocent and the carefree young woman who is always in hiding.