“Sara!” Helene’s face turned three shades of pink from embarrassment. “Ye shouldnae say things like that.”
“Remember you aren’t back home anymore. That kind of talk is totally permissable.”
“I dinnae believe I’ll ever get used to it.”
Sara rummaged through the racks of jeans and handed her a pair. “These.”
“They look to be torn, Sara.” Helene examined the jeans and put her fingers through the frayed strands in the leg. “Ye’ll be able to see me legs!”
“It’s supposed to look like that.” She handed them to the clerk. “A jacket and some boots, oh and some jewelry. You are going to be so hot!”
“It wasnae verra warm outside. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
Sara laughed so hard she was gasping for breath.
“Why do ye laugh?”
“Never mind. I’ll explain later.”
Helene tried everything on and Sara gave her a nod of approval. “Sara, are ye supposed to see the shape of me body so clearly?” She turned to look in the mirror and gasped at the sight of her backside encased in the tightjeans.She looked herself up and down, feeling a mix of emotions. She knew she looked good, but these clothes were lacking in modesty.
“You look sexy, lady!” Sara said.
Helene turned three shades of red. “Oh, my. I dinnae think I can wear this.”
“Yes, you can and you will.” She grabbed the clothes Helene had been wearing and went to the clerk. “She’ll wear them. Can you put her other clothes in a bag please?”
The clerk was happy to oblige. Sara paid for everything and then took Helene down the street to a salon where a woman painted Helene’s fingernails and toes. Helene couldn’t stop looking at them. “They’re so pretty,” she said.
“We’re not through yet. We’re going to get you a facial and get your hair done.”
Helene knew she must look completely confused.
“Don’t ask. Just go with it. You’re going to be even more beautiful than you already are. If Dougall saw you now, he’d be so sorry he let you get away. The men will be knocking down the door to get to you.”
“I dinnae wish for anyone to knock down Zeke’s doors.”
“It’s just a saying. Don’t worry. This is all for you. I want you to feel good about yourself and not worry that you did something to cause Dougall to be with someone else.”
“But I did. I was born the daughter of servants.”
“That’s crazy. It shouldn’t matter.”
“I didnae believe that it did, but Dougall’s father would rather see me dead than married to his son.” Thinking about Paddraig MacRae, Helene realized she was much better off here in San Francisco, even if it meant she may never see her friends at Breaghacraig again.
“Let’s not talk about that anymore. We’re having fun today.”
Helene smiled warmly at Sara. “Yer right. I will be happy and think nae more about the past.”
Afull scheduleof classes and interviews with new students kept Zeke’s mind occupied most of the day. The few moments he’d had to relax and take a deep breath were a revelation to him. It seemed whenever his mind wasn’t on the school, it was on Helene. She was an unexpected surprise. She came into his life at a time when he wasn’t prepared to get involved with any woman, not even one as charming, beautiful and sweet as Helene. And yet, he kept seeing her face, her sapphire eyes, her sweet smile, not to mention hearing the soft sound of her adorable Scottish accent. It was creating feelings in him that had remained dormant for some time.
“Hey, I’m going to head home unless you need me for something else,” said Wade Granville, his second in command, interrupting his thoughts.
“I think we’re good for today. Have a good night.”
“See you tomorrow.”
Wade walked away, leaving Zeke to pick up the remaining practice items that hadn’t been put away by his students. He’d have to remember to talk to them about respecting the tools they’d been given and not taking them for granted. This was something he’d learned a little late in life, but he found it to be important and wanted to pass that along to his students. Next he neatly piled the mix of applications, score sheets and progress reports into the labeled boxes behind his desk. He’d have plenty to do tomorrow morning when he arrived, but for now he was unusually happy to be going home.
