Outside the mother’s room at the hotel, Jason waited for Helen. Competing emotions caused his stomach to churn unpleasantly. First the good news, he thought. He’d finally met the girl he’d had a crush on for so long. He’d even rescued her from a nasty situation and so earned from her some degree of affection and gratitude. On the other hand, she came complete with a baby and he would probably be up on an assault charge. As he waited he also watched anxiously for the return of her angry boyfriend. As the minutes ticked past with no sign of Mark, he started to relax. Perhaps, against the odds, his luck would hold and no complaint would be made. After all there were no other witnesses and so the charge would be hard to prove. Jason was confident Helen would not implicate him.
In a short while Helen emerged with her baby. Chance looked sleepy and satisfied. She gave Jason a grateful smile and he thought he would burst with pride and happiness.
“How’s the little fella doing? He looks a bit happier now.”
“Doesn’t he just. I think he was as much frightened as hurt. Imagine leaving him alone in the car like that! I can’t believe it.”
An awkward silence ensued. There was the small matter of what would happen next. As if reading his thoughts Helen offered, “I can’t go home. Not tonight anyway.”
Jason nodded. A plan had already formed in his mind. He had nothing to lose.
“You and the kid could come home with me. I’m off shift in half an hour.”
Helen looked closely at Jason. His expression was hungry and intense. She’d ached for months to see that look in Mark’s eyes.
“O.K,” she said easily.
Jason could not believe his luck. Surely it wouldn’t be this simple? She didn’t even know his name.
“I’ll just go say goodbye to my friend,” said Helen, remembering Konrad.
Reentering the gaming room, she found the old man sitting once more at a machine. He raised his gaze as she approached and she saw his eyes were filled with concern.
“Are you alright, my dear?”
“I think so,” answered Helen.
“Meet Chance.” Konrad regarded the sleepy child with a delighted smile.
“He is too beautiful for words. My life is empty of children. It stirs many memories for me to see this child.”
Helen felt a welcome but unfamiliar sense of pride at hearing his words. Few people in her life responded to her and her baby with the sort of sympathy and affection displayed by Jason and Konrad. Helen was starved for acceptance and praise. It made her vulnerable.
Konrad followed her out to the cafe. He cooed over Chance until Jason emerged in his street clothes a few minutes later. Konrad looked slowly back and forth from Jason’s face to Helen’s. The truth was apparent.
“So. You and your son do not go home tonight?”
“No,” admitted Helen, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed.
“Then take care, my dear,” was all Konrad said. He failed to mention the emeralds.
Jason gathered Helen and her things together in undue haste, fearful his luck might run out. Taking Mark’s car, Jason drove them home. He wondered what the evening might hold. Helen, on the other hand, was more certain. She desired her handsome saviour as her lover. They arrived at Jason’s small, ground-floor flat. Helen carried Chance inside and by pushing two lounge chairs together quickly fashioned a makeshift cot. The tired infant fell asleep immediately. Helen turned to Jason, who was bringing in an armful of baby things. She walked up to him and put her arms around his neck.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Having this gorgeous girl so close was too much for Jason. He kissed her, tentatively at first, frightened he would scare her. Helen responded instantly to his kiss. With an enormous effort, Jason pulled away. Holding Helen’s head firmly in his two large hands, he inspected her expression for any sign of doubt, realising with a jolt how disappointed he would be if she stopped him. However Helen was not in a shy mood. She nodded and smiled, doing her best to reassure him. When he failed to respond she closed her eyes and kissed him harder.
This was all the encouragement Jason needed. Holding her close, he guided her into his bedroom, acutely aware of the unmade bed and the discarded clothes on the floor. He hoped like hell that she would keep her eyes closed until they both lay down. It surprised Jason that he worried so much about what this total stranger might think. Playfully, Helen pulled at his belt and unbuttoned his shirt. With extravagant care he undressed her. He thought her astonishingly beautiful. Her breasts, now no longer engorged with milk, were large, soft and shapely. Her flawless skin glowed golden brown, thanks to endless sessions at the solarium. Her body was slim, yet sensuously curved, well proportioned with generous hips and a narrow waist. Jason caressed her all over, kissing her tenderly, hoping against hope that this was no dream, praying that she would not change her mind or regret her actions.
Helen revelled in the moment and relished Jason’s ardour. Since Chance’s birth she had almost forgotten what this felt like. Helen wanted very much to be wanted. In some ways she defined her self-worth by the extent to which men lusted after her. Jason’s passion and powerful erection convinced her that she was, after all, a seductive and successful woman. But her faithlessness was also motivated by revenge. If Mark did not appreciate her, she could easily find someone who did. And Jason proved to be an excellent lover, considerate but forceful enough to take charge of the action. This suited Helen very well. While not an imaginative partner, she certainly was an obliging one once aroused. The frustration of the last few months added to her passion.
Jason was in heaven. Weeks of fantasy became reality. They made love time and time again, Helen responding enthusiastically to his every move. Hours later, tired and satisfied, they slept in each others arms until daylight crept in the window. Helen woke to Chance’s cry, demanding his early morning feed. A minute or two later Jason woke and reached for Helen. He was alone. For a moment or two he thought she had left and he experienced a wave of gut-wrenching disappointment. But the sounds of someone moving around in the kitchen soon calmed him. He lay, his head pillowed in his hands, and relived the events of the previous evening. Jason was in love. Not just in love. He was gripped so powerfully by the emotion that he found it hard to breathe. He ached for her, even though she was just in the next room. This was uncharted territory. The only thing he was completely sure of was that he needed to somehow keep her in his life.
He sat up and tried to gather his thoughts. A sudden fear that she was about to leave rocketed him out of bed and into the kitchen. He needn’t have worried. Helen was sitting at the kitchen table breastfeeding Chance, wearing nothing but one of Jason’s old towelling robes. He was ridiculously happy to see her. A broad grin spread over his handsome face and he felt himself again getting hard. Helen noticed his growing excitement and was delighted. She felt important, powerful and irresistibly beautiful all in the space of a breath. She thought of Mark. How dare he treat her so shabbily! She would show him. Sweet as her night of passion had been, she fully intended to return to her treacherous partner. There was unfinished business there.
“Good morning, gorgeous,” said Jason.
“Good morning. Would you be a darling and get me a cup of tea? I always get really thirsty after feeding Bub.”
Jason pulled on some shorts and busied himself in the kitchen. Helen laid Chance on the chairs and then went to shower and dress. When she emerged from the bathroom, Jason was waiting with tea and toast. The young woman sat down and sipped her tea, feeling a little awkward. After all, she barely knew this man. Jason sensed his happiness slipping away.
“You don’t need to go back, you know. You can stay here, at least for a day or two,” he urged.
“That’s wonderful of you. But I’m afraid I really do need to go home. Mark, that’s my boyfriend, and I have a lot to sort out.”
Her use of the word “boyfriend” and the mention of his rival’s name filled Jason with jealous misery. He despised the man who could legitimately make any claim on Helen. Still, he couldn’t for the life of him think of any way to respond. Barely believing his own folly, he helped Helen gather her things and put them into the car. Before long they were driving into the hotel car park. Vainly Jason searched for something else to say, something that might change Helen’s mind. He remained blank. In the end he said nothing except, “Call me if you need me,” and pressed his phone number into her hand. Helen offered him an appreciative smile, causing his heart to jump with hope.
“What the hell, call me even if you don’t need me,” he laughed, feeling bolder.
Jason’s obvious infatuation with her flattered Helen and she realised that she would miss him. He drew her firmly towards him and passionately kissed her goodbye. Reluctant as he was to let her go, he knew it was time when she leant over to open his door.
“I really must go,” said Helen, beginning to think he would never leave. Jason chucked Chance under the chin.
“See you, kid. Look after your Mum for me.”
Helen quickly moved into the driver’s seat. With a brief nod she pulled away, leaving a dejected Jason standing forlornly in the car park, wishing like crazy that he’d done something differently. The anti-climax was almost unbearable.
Helen drove home slowly, taking stock. She felt enormously comforted by her tryst with Jason. Her self esteem soared. Like Jason, she was consumed by a new passion. Unlike Jason, it was not for her new lover. It was for revenge. Although she regarded it more as a requirement for justice. As the spurned one, she held a legitimate right to even the score. What was important to Mark? Status? Money? Beth? His children? He valued all of the above in roughly that order. It was only fair that he should lose these things. With a little planning, Helen felt confident that she could accomplish this. However right now she was exhausted and needed sleep. Maybe later, at the hotel, she could discuss it with Konrad. His advice might be useful.