Chapter 3: The Other Helene

After we finished eating, Lisa seemed to steel herself and began describing her situation.

“Alright, I owe you all an explanation. This is complicated and stressful; I’m going to ask the three of you to just listen while I try to get through this.”

“Back in the spring, just as Steve and I were getting close to each other, my fucking company insisted I suddenly relocate from Atlanta to western North Carolina. I had to break off with Steve and move away. It was awful, I, well, I guess the word is ‘mourned.’ I mourned for weeks. Days ago, the hurricane destroyed the building I was living in, and the flooding took away my job as well.

“On Friday, when I called him asking for help—for shelter—he instantly agreed. Because he’s, he’s...”

Lisa was losing it, with tears running down her face. Mama held her hand supportively.

“Because he’s our son, and we raised him right,” Dad said.

“Sorry, I’ve gotten out of sequence. In August, I started to go out. Asheville had some interesting bars and clubs to go to. It was around Labor Day; I was nursing a drink when a woman started chatting me up. She was very attractive and charming. Her name was Helene—yes, Helene—and we enjoyed a nice evening together.

“The next Friday evening, we enjoyed another fun evening together. By then, I knew that Helene was a lesbian. After too much drinking and after too many celibate weeks since Steve, I invited Helene back to my place. I hope that my telling you this isn’t uncomfortable for you.”

Seeing our reassuring smiles, Lisa went on with her story.

“Huh. Well, Helene was my very first experience with a woman, and she blew me away. I was so horny, and she played me like a violin. About midnight, she suggested I drink some water before falling asleep...”

“You wet the bed when you come, don’t you?” Mama gave her a reassuring smile, and Dad just grinned. I rolled my eyes; long ago, I realized my parents loved being sexually open, whether or not I was in earshot. For her part, Lisa was startled, but she felt she needed to continue with her story.

“I’m telling you this because Helene drugged my water; in other words, she ‘roofied’ me.”

“Fuck!” I was beginning to know now who deserved to be beaten.

“I guess it was about twelve hours later when I finally woke up. She had stolen my wallet, gone to a casino, and charged three thousand dollars on my credit card. Helene was also African American, and her face was remarkably similar to mine. Their brief look at my driver’s license picture was enough for them to approve the cash advance. I never saw her again, and I never learned her last name, so the cops couldn’t track her down and arrest her.

“I was in the middle of dealing with the identity theft when the other Helene (the hurricane) showed up and wiped me out completely.”

“I’ve lost everything—every single possession except my old pickup truck and cellphone. She took my identification and my credit card. That filthy bitch and then the storm took everything from me. I’m jobless, homeless, and destitute. I endured two sleepless nights in the shelter. I had only a little bit of cash. It was only enough to buy a tank of gas for the trip to Atlanta. I traveled without any money for food—not even coffee.

“Steve opened his door to me and I almost collapsed into him; I was so exhausted and hungry. I managed a shower, then went to bed over there in the spare bedroom. I woke up this morning only minutes before you both arrived here from Athens.”

Lisa screamed, “I’m so ashamed!”

She jumped up, ran back to her bedroom, and locked the door again.

The three of us just sat and stared at each other, trying to understand what had just happened.

Finally, Dad spoke up, looking at me and Mama.

“So, what are we thinking?”

And then, inspiration struck me. I smiled broadly.

“I’m thinking of a June wedding!”

Mama just froze with her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open. Dad started laughing first, and soon all three of us were howling.

When we wound down, I realized poor Lisa, if she heard us, might think we were laughing at her misery. I explained this, but then I continued.

“I know that was completely out of left field. That’s why it was so funny. But seriously, I have such strong feelings for her; they’ve all come rushing back since she walked through my door yesterday.

“I’ve never felt anything close to the feelings I have for Lisa. And I’m convinced she has the same intensity for me. If she can get up on her feet and build her independent life, I think we have a good chance with each other.

“I am asking both of you. I want us all to help her get her life back together. Here I don’t pay rent or a mortgage, so I have some money saved up. First, I want to help restore her identification and credit so she can get a new job. Also, Lisa should be qualified for disaster aid. Her truck needs repairs. She needs all new good-quality clothes and an interview suit. Obviously, some counseling could help her.

“However long it takes, whatever it costs, Lisa Clark is going to get back on her feet. She’s going to be strong, healthy, and self-reliant. She will be independent and confident. And every day, she will know how much I love and support her.

“And, after all that happens, I will get down on my knees, and I will ask her to marry me.”

Over my shoulder, I heard a soft feminine voice.

“And I will say yes, Steve.”

All three of our heads whirled around as one.

“I don’t think I want to wait all that long, actually. Steve, you sound like you already believe in me.”

“You were listening?”

“Well, duh. I just couldn’t imagine why you were all laughing at me, so I slipped back down the hallway so I could overhear you. But what was so funny?”

“After you left, Dad said, ‘So what are we thinking?’ and I said, ‘I’m thinking of a June wedding.’”

“Oh! That’s pretty funny, actually. Good one. But, Steve, if you said anything insincere to your parents, I will stomp your testicles into jelly.”

“I understand, Lisa. I meant what I said, though.”

We used the rest of that Sunday for planning. Mama explained that her school back in Athens was closed from storm damage. Reopening would be Thursday or Friday. So, she would stay over in my house while Dad returned to Athens to work in the morning.

Mama made us a killer supper, as usual, and also taught Lisa her secret peach pie recipe—a high privilege she’d shared with only a few. Lisa was finding her way into my parents’ hearts as well as mine, little by little.