By
Jan
Chapter 3
Nikki stared in disbelief at the
sight of Helen. Her head had been filled with nothing else but the woman in
front of her and she couldn’t quite believe she was here under her own roof. She
grabbed hold of Helen’s arm in a vice-like grip and spun her round. "What
the hell are you doing here?" she demanded shakily.
Helen looked up into Nikki’s
menacing face and gasped as the grip on her arm tightened. "You're hurting
me," she wailed.
"Hurt you? I'll ring your
bloody neck!" she snarled. "I told you I didn't want a slut like you
in my house."
Helen drew back at her hateful
words, which only made her arm hurt more. Tears stung her eyes and she lowered
her head hoping Nikki wouldn't notice but she obviously had by her next words.
"And don't turn on the
waterworks," she sneered.
Helen’s chin rose proudly.
"I wouldn't give you the satisfaction."
"Oh, I'm sure a woman like
you could give me a great deal of satisfaction. Short lived, maybe, but
satisfaction."
"You're disgusting!"
she exclaimed.
"And you're beautiful. Even
more so when you're angry. I can see why no man can resist you. You should be
more careful when it comes to birth control though."
"Your mother is the one who
should have practised birth control," she spat, then yelled out in pain as
Nikki’s fingers bit deeper. She hung her head, unable to stop the tears rolling
down her cheeks.
Nikki laughed cruelly then as if
realising Helen’s tears were real, loosened her grip but did not release her
completely. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you."
Helen shook her arm free.
"Yes, you damn well did!" she retorted.
"I told you not to come
here. You should have listened to me."
"Your grandmother wanted me
here."
"But I don't."
"Why? What have I ever done to you?"
"Because women like you
make me sick. You may look like butter wouldn’t melt in your mouth but deep
down you’re just a slut."
"You shit! Don't call me that again!" She raised
her arm, but Nikki grabbed hold of her wrist.
"Your indignation almost
does you justice, but I'm not the one with three illegitimate children."
Before Nikki realised what was
happening, Helen had jerked her wrist free and slapped her face with all her
might.
"You bitch!" Nikki
gripped Helen’s upper arms and shook her until she was dizzy and she lurched
forward. As she fell against Nikki her arms encircled her. Long fingers tangled
in her hair and the anger in her eyes turned to a blazing passion as, with a
groan, she lowered her head and captured Helen’s mouth.
"Auntie Helen, I'm
thirsty," Jemma wailed from the bottom of the stairs.
Her niece's voice cut into
Helen's muddled brain. She tore herself from Nikki's arms and fled headlong upstairs,
taking Jemma with her as she went.
Nikki laid her forehead against
the wall. What was going on? They
were Helen Stewart’s children. The
other nurse had said so, but the child had called her 'Auntie Helen'. She was
going to have to get to the bottom of this.
She walked slowly upstairs and
along the corridor to her grandmother's room, where she tapped softly on the
door before entering. Only a bedside lamp lighted the room but she could see
Emma was still awake.
"Nikki!" Emma's face
lit up. "When did you get back?"
"Just now." Nikki bent
and kissed her brow then sat on the edge of the bed.
Her grandmother reached up and
touched the cheek Helen had slapped. "What's that?"
"It's nothing. I think I
must have had an allergic reaction to something." Nikki removed her hand
and clasped it in her own. "How's my favourite girl? Have you been
behaving yourself?" she teased affectionately, trying to change the
subject.
"I feel better now I'm in
my own bed and Hel...the nurse has been looking after me very well."
"I know she's here,"
she said stonily. "I told you I didn't want her in the house."
"But why? She's very good
at her job. Why do you dislike her so much?" Emma studied her
granddaughter closely as she waited for his answer.
"It's too much for you,
having young children running around the house." It was a lame excuse but
it was the best she could come up with. She could hardly tell her grandmother
how much she desired Helen Stewart. That the thought of her under the same roof
was almost more than she could bear, or the idea of her having three children
with a man, or men, made her sick with jealousy.
"The children are very
good,” Emma continued. “You'll hardly know they're here."
"Just how many children has
she got?" Nikki demanded impatiently.
"Three."
"And they're all
hers?"
"Of course not," Emma
replied indignantly. "Whatever gave you that idea?"
Nikki frowned. "So, how
many of them are hers?"
"None of them."
"Run that by me again. She has
three children but none of them are hers. Whose are they then?"
"Her brother's, of
course." Emma looked at her granddaughter as if she were stupid.
"And where's he?"
"He and his wife were
killed in a car crash a few months ago."
"So, the children are her
nieces?" asked Nikki, the light suddenly beginning to dawn.
"Niece, only one, and two
nephews. She's had to look after them and hold down a full time job as
well."
Nikki stared down at the carpet.
Dear God, what had she done? She'd treated Helen Stewart like a common...She
was filled with remorse. How could she face her after tonight? It was her own
fault though, she should have told her the truth. The fact that she hadn't
given her a chance to say anything in her own defence totally escaped her.
"Nikki, are you alright?
You're very pale." Her grandmother asked with concern.
"Yes, I'm fine, just a bit
of jet lag. I'd better go. You get some sleep." She stood up, kissed her
brow and switched off the lamp. "'Night, Gran," she said absently, as
she left the room. She went down the corridor and hesitated outside her bedroom
door, before turning away and running downstairs. She went into the lounge,
poured herself a brandy and took a long swallow. There was no way she could
sleep with Marcia tonight or any other night from now on come to that. She was
in love with Helen Stewart!
In her own room, Helen clutched
Jemma's tiny body to her, to stop herself from shaking. How could anyone be so
vile? Was she going to have to take verbal and, even worse, physical attacks
from Nikki Wade every time they met? Just because she was only an employee
didn't give her the right to maul her. She would have to find another job and
soon but it wasn't going to be easy with three children in tow.
"Why was that woman kissing
you, Auntie Helen?”
Helen looked down at the little
face and tried to force a smile. "She was just...just thanking me for
looking after her grandmother," she lied. "Do you want to sleep in
here with me tonight?" There wasn't a lock on the bedroom door and she
didn't want to run the risk of Nikki Wade dropping in on her but she felt sure
she wouldn't bother her if she weren’t alone.
When she entered the kitchen the
following morning, Nikki was leaning with her back against the sink unit
drinking a cup of coffee. She stopped in her tracks when she saw her and turned
to leave.
"Helen, please don't
go," Nikki said as she straightened and placed her cup on the draining
board.
"I have to go to your
grandmother," Helen replied stiffly, over her shoulder.
Nikki moved forward. "Gran
can wait. Don't go, please," she begged. "I owe you an apology. Gran
explained everything. About the children, that is and I’m really sorry."
"And that makes it alright,
does it?" Helen snapped, keeping her back towards her.
Nikki shrugged. "What else
can I say?"
Helen whirled round to face her.
"I don't recall your being lost for words at our previous meetings,"
she exclaimed sarcastically. "But then again if 'slut' isn't one of the
words, maybe your vocabulary is limited."
She flushed. "It was a
mistake."
"Yes, mine, for coming
here. As soon as I can find alternative employment, I'll give your grandmother
my resignation."
"But you can't."
"Don't worry, I won't tell
her why I'm leaving. I don't want to ruin her image of her precious
granddaughter."
"What about the
children?"
"They're my problem."
"If you leave here on my
account, then you've made them mine. I swear what I said and did won't happen
again. Won't you please accept my apology?"
"I'm hungry, Auntie
Helen," Tommy spoke behind her.
Helen looked from Nikki to her
nephew. She had to make her peace with Nikki Wade for the sake of the children.
They were happy here and she hated the thought of uprooting them again. She
gave an audible sigh then looked at Nikki. “Alright, I accept your apology.”
Nikki’s lips broke into a
relieved smile. “Thanks. Now, why don’t you go and sort my grandmother out and
I’ll make the kids their breakfast?”
“I can’t let you do that,” Helen
protested.
“Why not? Afraid I’ll poison them?”
She teased and Helen found herself blushing at the alien feelings the woman was
stirring inside her.
“I’ll go to your grandmother,”
she murmured softly. As she left the kitchen, she thought she heard Nikki
chuckle and wondered what she found so amusing.
When she went back downstairs,
the four of them – the three children and Nikki – were out in the garden
playing football. As she went outside, she saw Nikki slip on the grass and fall
over. Much to her amazement the children piled on top of her. “Careful, kids,”
she said worriedly. “You’ll flatten her.”
“I’m OK!” Nikki’s voice came
from under the flailing arms and legs.
“Nikki, have a little more
dignity!” Marcia spoke from the doorway.
Helen turned to survey the
newcomer, raising amused eyebrows when she saw the woman. “Come on, kids. Let
Miss Wade get up,” she called, trying to suppress a smile as Nikki stood up,
hair tousled and wearing a broad grin, in complete contrast to the ice cold
brunette with elegant clothes, immaculate make-up and perfect hair.
“You didn’t come back to bed
last night,” Marcia said accusingly as Nikki reached her.
Nikki could feel Helen’s eyes
boring into her back as she replied, “Can we talk about this in private?”
“Well?” Marcia demanded when
they were in the kitchen.
Nikki looked at her guiltily.
How could she admit she hadn’t gone to Marcia because of the way she felt for
her grandmother’s nurse? “Sorry, babe,” she said apologetically. “I got talking
to Gran and must have fallen asleep in the chair.”
“Well, I’ll expect you to make
it up to me tonight,” Marcia drawled, seductively running her fingers down
Nikki’s cheek.
“Excuse me, I didn’t realise you
were still here.”
Nikki closed her eyes when she
heard Helen’s voice. She couldn’t have chosen a worse moment to come in.
“Er…I’ve got to go and call my office,” Nikki muttered. She moved forward to
kiss Marcia’s cheek then, realising Helen was still in the room, thought better
of it and strode off.
Marcia eyed Helen disdainfully.
“Would you get me a coffee?”
“Sorry, I’m Mrs Wade’s nurse,
not the maid,” Helen replied stonily. “And I have to attend to my
patient.” She turned on her heel and
with as much dignity as she could muster left the room.