Helios Renewed

by Tawa M. Witko

  “This is nice,” she stated, looking around.

  The room was what they called a Deluxe King room. It had a semi modern feel with lots of solid colors around. In the center stood the king size bed with its white cotton sheets and down comforter and a solid blue throw blanket at the foot. Several decorative pillows lay on the bed with an interesting geometric pattern of blues and grays that matched the interior of the room to a tee. She touched the pillow top mattress and thought that it would do, in lieu of their tried and true bed at home. In the corner of the room, near the window that over looked the city, sat a small yet stylish loveseat, also blue in color. A pretty glass coffee table sat in front of it with a vase of beautiful white flowers and a large candle encased in lead crystal next to it. Against the wall was a small bench with white embroidered cushions and above it the 32 inch high definition flat screen television was mounted. Against the other wall was a small work desk. Madison smiled. This was definitely a lot better than the standard king room.

  “Andrew,” she started to say but then felt his arms move around her waist.

  Andrew didn’t respond, instead he placed his lips against her neck. His hands worked themselves underneath her t-shirt and hoodie, his fingers ghosting over her already pebbled skin. Madison’s arms reached up, her fingers entwining in his hair as his lips gently pecked at her skin. Madison may have moaned, or quite possibly whimpered, as his hands cupped her breasts and he sucked her skin in his mouth. He breathed out in a moan as he removed his hands from under her shirt and grabbed the hem. He lifted it up and over her head as Madison’s heart beat rapidly, before dropping the shirt and hoodie on the floor. He unsnapped her bra, letting it fall down her arms and end up on the floor as well.

  He breathed in deeply as he turned her around, letting his hands cup her breasts once more. He smiled as her eyes closed and her head lulled to the side. Madison’s mouth parted and her tongue poked out sexily as he continued to touch her. With her eyes still closed, he crouched and let his tongue touch her sensitive skin.

  “Andrew,” Madison whimpered.

  He dropped to his knees, giving her a heated stare as he unsnapped her jeans, slowly pulling the zipper down. His eyes never left hers as he yanked her pants to the ground and lifted her feet out of them. He smiled sexily as he lifted her left leg and placed it over his shoulder. Madison’s breath picked up as he kissed along her thighs until finally his tongue reached its destination. He knew exactly how to please her, how to bring her to the brink and then hold it back. Madison’s hands pulled and tugged on his hair as she moaned shamelessly at the way he made her feel.

  “Andrew, pleassseeee.”

  Without further word, he lifted her and placed her on the bed. Madison clawed at his jeans as he quickly shed his hoodie and t-shirt. Soon, he was stepping out of his pants and had pushed her further up the bed. Grabbing one leg and pressing it against his chest and letting the other dangle off the bed, he entered her. They made love passionately, as they always did, releasing all the pent up fear and frustration, and letting each other know how special they were to one another. When he was finished, he lay beside her. She had her eyes closed and her arm draped over her eyes.

  “You asleep, Madison?” he asked before kissing her lips softly.

  “Maybe,” she grinned satisfactorily.

  He scooted closer to her, pulling her body next to his. “Do you want to rest before dinner?”

  She nodded as she twisted so her head lay against his chest. His hand went up her back and nestled in her hair. She did feel tired but she thought perhaps it was not related to the sex they had just had but to what was looming over the horizon. She snuggled closer to him, the steady thumping of his heart serving as a metronome, lulling her to sleep.

  ~*~

  Madison sat on the stylish couch while Andrew finished his shower. Madison had on WNBC as she flipped through the magazine she had picked up at the airport. She heard Janice Luger tell New Yorkers to be prepared for another bitter cold day tomorrow and Madison looked up from her magazine and eyed her, finally flipping her off.

  “Who are you flipping off?” Andrew asked, drying his hair with one of the towels.

  “The chick on the news, she said it’s gonna be cold again tomorrow.”

  He laughed. “And that’s her fault, how?”

  “It just is!” Madison said trying not to smile.

  “Well, I guess if we ever come back to New York we should do it in the summer instead of the winter.”

  Madison placed her magazine on the coffee table and arched her brow. “First of all, we aren’t voluntarily coming back to New York for anything, and secondly, it’s humid as hell in the summer. I think I prefer the dry heat,” she finished with a head roll.

  He placed his arms on the back of the couch and kissed her lightly. “I distinctly remember you saying something to the fact that you’d rather have the humidity of New York than the dry hell or was it heat of Bakersfield any day.”

  “Do you remember everything I say?”

  He pecked her forehead and nodded.

  “Well, just so you know, that’s not fair.”

  “Ya know, your New York is coming out,” he winked.

  “What!” Madison huffed indignantly as she rose from the couch.

  “My feisty New Yorker,” Andrew said as he kissed her again. “Now let’s go. I’m hungry.”

  Madison let her hands slip into his back pockets and kissed him again. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  He smiled and picked up the remote on the table, clicking the television and Janice Luger off. He then set it back down and reached for her hand as they exited their room. They had briefly thought about ordering room service but quickly dismissed that idea, deciding that they wanted to get out of the room, having been cooped up in a plane for several hours. So, after their nap, which ended up being a few hours long, they unpacked and got ready to head out.

  They held hands as they walked through the lobby and exited the hotel. Forty Sixth Street was busy, as it always was. There were a lot of options available to them. It was a cold evening, especially in comparison to what they were used to. Of course, having just come back from Big Bear where it had snowed, they were slightly more prepared than they would have been otherwise. Andrew glanced at Madison, who was trying to adjust her beanie with one hand. As adorable as he found that, he didn’t want her to get sick. He released her hand and stepped in front of her, positioning her beanie over her ears and then did the same with his. He motioned his head to the left and she nodded, figuring they might as well go with the flow of foot traffic.

  The thought of a leisurely stroll was out of the question. People pushed forward, hurrying towards Times Square where they could jump on a bus or train, getting out of the city and heading home to their loved ones. As they reached the corner of 46th and Broadway, they stopped and surveyed, but before they could get a good idea, they were moved along by the current of pedestrians pushing their way across the street.

  “Oh, wait, Helios,” Madison stated and veered to the left, out of the flow and crossing opposing pedestrian traffic.

  “Madison, what the hell are you doing?” Andrew asked while simultaneously offering a murderous look to the business man that was about to say something about being cut off. The man quickly averted his eyes and maneuvered around them.

  “Let's go to Patzeria’s. They have great pie.” When they had crossed the street, she looked at Andrew excitedly but he was giving her a raised eyebrow. “What?”

  “Your New York is definitely coming back.”

  She rolled her eyes and jerked his hand towards the little hole in the wall pizzeria that had been one of her favorites since she was a teen. Outside, a few yards away, an older African American man stood begging for money. Andrew stopped moving and stared at the man. Initially thinking it was his friend Randall and then remembered that Randall was dead. The man, feeling the weight of Andrew’s stare, looked his way.

  �
��Andrew?” Madison questioned, seeing his furrowed brow. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, let’s eat.” His crisp voice was as harsh as the cold air.

  Madison looked in the direction Andrew had been looking and noticed the man immediately, but before she could contemplate it further, Andrew had yanked her arm towards the door. She was soon distracted by the sights and smells of the best pizza she had ever had. Andrew perused the menu while Madison went to the display, inhaling deeply, the scent bringing back so many memories. She came to the realization that there were indeed some things she missed about New York.

  “Do you know what you want?” Andrew asked softer, kinder.

  “Yep, how about you?”

  He nodded and kissed her temple. He immediately felt bad for snapping at her a moment ago. It wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. He just hoped they could get out of the city sooner rather than later. His hand went over her shoulder as they approached the counter. He laid a soft kiss against her beanie clad head as the sales girl looked up at the two of them. She was a young Africa American girl with a wild set of dreadlocks tied in a braid behind her.

  “What can I get ya?”

  “I’ll have two slices of Grandma’s, Caesar salad and a side of garlic knots and … mozzarella sticks.”

  Andrew raised his brows and she shrugged. She thumbed towards a table and he nodded before turning back to the young woman

  “I’ll take a couple of pepperoni and sausage, a Caesar salad, and,” he glanced at Madison, who was looking out the window. “Are those garlic knots and mozzarella sticks enough for two people?”

  “Depends on how hungry you are?”

  “Alright, well, just give me another order of each of those as well.”

  Madison kept her eye on the man outside. People simply passed him on the street. They bore him no mind as they went about their business. She often forgot that Andrew had once lived on the streets. That he had gone hungry many times and that it was rare when people helped him. As she watched the man, she wondered if he had a family that missed him. Andrew’s friend Randall had a family, as did Andrew. She had never actually met Randall, but she felt as if she knew him based on Andrew’s descriptions. He was the closest thing Andrew had to a friend while they lived in the city. His death had been hard for him.

  “I got you a Snapple. Is that alright?”

  “Thanks, baby.”

  He sat across from her and looked where she was looking. His eyes found the homeless man again.

  “Does he remind you of your friend?”

  “Yes,” Andrew replied simply.

  She turned to him. Her eyes were moist with unshed tears. “I’m sorry you never got to say goodbye to him.”

  He sighed and turned towards the counter where he could see that their order was almost ready. He stood and walked over there, not wanting to talk about Randall or how he had died. That had been so difficult for him. It still angered him that he never got a burial and that Andrew couldn’t visit him as he was buried in an unmarked grave at Potter’s Field. A place reserved for those who had no one, except, Randall had someone. Randall had Andrew.

  “Enjoy,” the woman said as Andrew picked up the large tray of food.

  Andrew walked over and set the tray down.

  “This is an awful lot of food, Madison,” he joked, hoping to lighten his suddenly damper mood.

  Madison shrugged and looked back outside. “I thought whatever we didn’t eat we could pack up for him. He’s probably hungry.”

  When Andrew didn’t reply, she turned to see him standing in shock. Madison rose just as he reached for her. He pulled her into his arms, burying his head in her shoulder. Madison knew without knowing what needed to happen to lift Andrew’s spirit, to alter the track his mind had started on. They were, for all intents and purposes, soul mates, connected in a way that was more metaphysical than based in reality. For this reason alone, he knew that he had to keep her safe. He wouldn’t survive a life without her in it.

  11 Corso’s

  Madison sat on the small loveseat in their room, looking out at the building across from them. The structure pierced the winter sky like a knife. It was the perfect analogy of Madison’s life at the moment. Would the city slash into her heart, her life, like the many skyscrapers across the city? She didn’t know; all she knew was that she dreaded this morning. She dreaded having to go meet with Nolan. She couldn’t imagine anything good coming out of it. Of course, she wasn’t exactly sure if her dread was solely based on the meeting with Nolan or the fact that she and Andrew would be having dinner with her mother later that evening. Both options were equally appalling.

  “You ready, Madison?” Andrew asked, breaking her from her wayward thoughts.

  Madison sighed. ”Yes, let’s get a coffee first.”

  “They have that coffee shop here or do you want to find a Starbucks?”

  “The one here is fine. If I hate it then we’ll find a Starbucks.”

  Madison rose and gave him a small smile as she grabbed her purse, slipping the long strap over her shoulder and letting it dangle across her hip. She wasn’t sure whether she should be causal or more professional today. As a result, she had selected what she thought was a cross between the two, a cream colored sweater over a simple pair of black skinny jeans and her black boots. She repositioned her fuchsia scarf as Andrew approached, carrying her black wool coat. Madison eased her arms through the sleeves. She was beginning to button it up when she felt Andrew’s lips on the top of her head.

  “I love you.”

  Madison smiled. “I love you, too, Helios.”

  Holding her face in his hands, he spoke intently, “I’ll be there and won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

  She nodded and wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. Inherently she knew that there was nothing Andrew could really do to prevent anything bad from happening, but she loved that he believed he could. She did feel safe with him, as if nothing could cause her harm in the slightest. He had that way about him, and right now, in the cusp of her insecurity and fear, she relished it. She wrapped his strength and determination around her like the warm coat she currently wore. It would get her through this. She had to believe that.

  “Are you ready, baby?” he asked, running his fingers carefully over her hair.

  She nodded and smiled weakly at him. He laid a gentle kiss on her forehead and then took her hand in his. She was deep in thought as they waited for the elevator. When the bell went off, signaling its arrival, she entered without a word. Andrew was torn with what to say and do. He knew that she wished that Mr. Bennett was accompanying them. He had a hearing this week and was unable to come. Madison had been heartbroken, which, in truth, hurt Andrew a bit. He wanted to be her rescuer, not anyone else. The bell chimed again and they stepped out of the elevator. Andrew remembered seeing the coffee shop on the way in so he directed her towards it.

  “Go sit down, Madison. I’ll get us something.”

  Madison didn’t argue. She simply took a seat at one of the tables near the window. Andrew started to ask her what she wanted but she was already looking outside, lost in thought. He sighed and closed his eyes. Soon, he was distracted by all the amazing smells in the coffee shop. He opened his eyes and walked to the large display case where he bent slightly to inspect the pastries. They all looked delicious. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Madison observing people walking passed the building. Her eyes seemed lost.

  “Can I help you, sir?” the cheerful barista asked.

  Andrew stood up and read the sign above her head indicating the many varieties of coffee and specialty coffees they served. Espresso. Cappuccino. Caffé Latte. Macchiato. Marrochino. Americano. Café Au Lait. As he eyed the unfamiliar names, he wondered why people just didn’t serve coffee with regular names. There were so many choices and he had no idea what to get Madison. She was such a creature of habit when they went to Starbucks and always got the same exact coffee every single time but it d
idn’t look like they carried that particular drink.

  “My fiancée likes those Caramel Macchiato’s at Starbucks so what would you recommend?”

  “Well, we do make a Macchiato but she may like one of our Marrochino’s.”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s espresso with hot cocoa and milk foamed above that. We sprinkle cocoa powder on the top of the froth. It’s very good.”

  “Okay, one of those and I’ll have a straight black coffee. Whatever your strongest one is, and then, umm, could I get one of each of the pastries.”

  She smiled and nodded. Andrew knew it was ridiculous to order one of everything, but hell, he was hungry and they all looked good. Plus, he was ensured of getting something she wanted by doing it like this. Just as the barista was ringing it up, he noticed a cup in the display case. He looked over at Madison again and then turned back to the woman.

  “Can you put our coffee in those mugs there?”

  She turned to see which ones he was referring to and then smiled widely. “Yes, sir.”

  She calculated his bill, and after he paid, he waited near the counter, looking around. Corso Coffee was nice and bright. All white counters and tables with hints of red throughout. They had a few tables near the glass wall which allowed patrons to view the activity going on outside the establishment and then more tables further inside. Large display cases housed the various coffees they sold as well as items with their name on it. The overall ambiance was that of an Italian coffee bar with a distinct New York feel to it. He liked it.

  “Sir.”

  Andrew turned to see that she had set their order on a tray. “I put the pastries on one of the platters so it looks prettier.”

  “Thank you.”

  Just as Andrew lifted the tray, she spoke again. “If this doesn’t cheer her up nothing will.”

  He breathed in and nodded. The last time he bought Madison coffee she wasn’t too into it. Of course, she had just learned that her boss and friend had been killed so maybe that had more to do with it. Either way, he hoped this worked out better for him. When he approached the table, Madison’s eyes widened at the enormous amount of food he was bringing her.