Cant Help, But Love The Characters

Dress

c. 1951

by Jacques Fath

Dress

c. 1879

Satin, trimmed with applied beading, chenille tassels, needle lace, lined with cotton, whaleboned

England

London, England November 1888

This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening. If John found out— Don’t think about that. But how could she not? It was only a matter of time before she couldn’t hide it anymore, and then neither of them would ever be safe from him. Strange to think that a year ago this would’ve been the happiest day of my life. “Helen?” Startled, she looked up to see James and Nikola in the doorway, peering at her with concern. “What are you two doing here?” “Tesla heard you crying.” James entered the room and came to sit next to her on the bed, taking one of her hands in his. “Darling, what’s the matter? Has something happened?” Helen opened her mouth, then closed it again. She sniffled and used her free hand to dab at her eyes with a handkerchief. Her first instinct was to deny anything was wrong, to keep this from as many people as possible— but these were two of her closest friends in the world, and if she couldn’t trust them, who could she trust? You trusted John too, once. Before Helen could make a decision either way, Nikola suddenly squatted down in front of her, his gaze fixed intently on a point just below her torso. He cocked his head slightly to one side, as if listening for something, then he abruptly straightened again, his eyes wide with astonishment.  “Helen… you have two heartbeats.”

Regrets collect like old friends,