Helen Smith

                    ❝ Yeah, it’s just work. ❞  John’s hand moved to find her own, his voice hoarse, a warm squeeze countering the sigh which preceded it.  How long had he been sitting here? The words had long since blurred across their pages; a watercolour of nodi, his brow beginning to ache from maintaining the frown which had found its perch upon it. He flipped through the file carelessly before discarding it upon his desk, its problems shut away behind the bland manila cover which warned to those unauthorised, ‘CONFIDENTIAL’, stamped in the same red he now caught painted on the nails in the corner of his eye.

                    His hand drifting to her elbow, his mind wandered back to the times he’d pull her gently into his lap, the hours passing in the city skyline whilst the sun warmed them as they sat talking of the future and each other’s steadfast devotion, despite the plentiful upheavals the years between then and now had provided them with. He angled his head back, eyes finding hers as his lips tug into a smile of assurance.

                    ❝ How did Amy’s piano lesson go? ❞  He inquired softly   ———   it had only been her second session, and over the last two weeks it had been difficult to decide which of the pair was more nervous for her, his five-year-old daughter, or himself. 

    His answer, sparse as it was, soothed any stray fears she might feel over his evident frustration.  “Good.”  Leaning forward slightly, she pressed painted lips to his soft, wavy hair in a kiss, still gently rubbing his shoulders as he placed a hand over one of her own.  When the file was shut, the bright red letters displaying its importance, she nearly breathed a sigh of relief that she hadn’t peered at the pages closer, its contents clearly not for her eyes.  Along with his short reply, whatever it was, she didn’t need to know unless he wished to confide.

     When his hand wandered up her arm to rest in the crook, her lips quirked up in a smile once more, even more so once he leaned back to peer up at her.  He was a good husband and perhaps an even better father, she mused, blue eyes nearly sparkling with his question.

“If you insist, Helen.” Mika smiled warmly at her. It was quite a surprise to her, how welcoming and friendly the wife of a top Nazi officer would be. She expected someone more…cold and calculating but Helen Smith seemed like a good woman. A caring mother and devoted wife. She wondered what she was like before the war. Obviously her life had changed drastically but did she view it as for the better or was she just going along with it for the sake of her family. 

Mika cleared her throat and continued, “I’ve been discussing an exchange program with my government,” she explained quietly. “One that would afford some of the best and brightest children in the Reich the opportunity to travel to the Pacific States and learn about their neighbors. The program would be headed by me, as the Emperor’s representative here on the continent, and I think Thomas would be a perfect candidate for it.” She raised an eyebrow and looked around the room. “He says he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and he seems ready to learn. He’s a good kid and I think he’d benefit greatly from this program.”     

    Clasping her hands at her waist as she listened to Mika’s plan, Helen nodded approvingly at the right points.  Such a plan would help dispel some of the misinformation that made holding the alliance between their nations potentially more difficult in any case.  John would certainly approve.   “I think it would be an excellent idea and we are honored you think Thomas would fit so well. You certainly have my approval.”  She paused, head tilting slightly as she gave herself time to think.  “Of course, I’m assuming by exchange you mean children from the Pacific States will come here as well.  And unfortunately, you will have to seek approval much higher than my husband, but I’m sure he will help you as much as he is able.”