to finally have someone to gush to about just how incredibly excited I actually was. So I squealed out an “I know,” as I fully reverting back to a teenage girl level of enthusiasm.
Helena either had an Oscar in her future, or else she was genuinely thrilled for me, because she grabbed my wrist and squeezed. “Do you realize how momentous this is? Adam never asks anyone out. Like never.”
Well, this was surprising news. “Really?” I asked, incredulous. “You mean Adam hasn’t dated since…” I hesitated. “Well, since Chelsea? I mean that’s a long time to go with no, er, physical contact.” I was shocked—but kind of pleased—by the possibility that Adam was not out there actively pursuing female companionship. Well, other than mine, that is.
Helena gave me a measured look. “I didn’t mean that exactly. I’d hardly characterize Adam as some kind of a monk. I’m just saying he never dates anyone.”
A sick feeling began to form in the pit of my stomach, and jealousy reared its ugly head. The thought of Adam touching some other woman like that just bothered me to no end. Irrational as it was, I felt oddly possessive of Adam. Another sure sign I was falling for the man. Damn.
Helena’s expression softened once she noticed my dejected demeanor. “Don’t let it bother you. You know Nate was just saying the other day that Adam hasn’t even seen Lindsey for a couple of months. So I think that ship may have sailed.”
“Lindsey? Who’s Lindsey?” I cringed. “If you know her name, it must have been something ongoing, something long-term, right?”
“It’s not as bad as it sounds,” Helena insisted. “Just listen.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m waiting with baited breath.”
Helena ignored my sarcastic tone. “Adam met Lindsey in Boston—”
“Oh great, Boston,” I lamented, while dramatically resting my forehead on the table. “Maybe she can meet us while we’re on our date. How cozy.” I knew I was being ridiculous, but it just bothered me.
“Maybe we should talk about something else?” Helena muttered.
“No, no. Go on,” I mumbled into the surface of the table. “I can handle it.”
“Look,” Helena continued, “Adam met Lindsay a while back, but it was never anything serious. It was just a physical thing. And it really sounds like it’s over from what Nate says.”
When I really thought about it, I knew I shouldn’t be worried about this Lindsey-person, hookup, whatever. After all, she was in Boston, and I was here. And Adam hadn’t dated her, according to Helena. But he had asked me out on a date.
I appreciated Helena’s candor, and I couldn’t help but wonder how much more she knew about Adam. I lifted my head from the table and sat back. “Can I ask you something, Helena?”
“Sure,” she replied.
I nervously traced the rim of my coffee cup. “It’s about Adam, and if you don’t want to answer, or you don’t know, I’ll understand.”
Helena reached over and stilled my hand. Our eyes met, and she said, “Maddy, just ask. I’ll tell you what I know.”
I took a deep breath. “Was Adam still in love with Chelsea when she disappeared?”
Helena’s lips set in a hard line, and her face grew serious. She answered with a simple, “No.”
Well, if that had been the case…
Curious about the other part of the allegation from the anonymous sources, I asked, “Do you know then if they were still, uh, sleeping together?”
Helena shook her head and barely whispered, “No, Maddy, they weren’t.”
“Then why was he going through with the wedding? In fact, why was he even still engaged to her?” I asked, desperately hoping she had the answers.
“I don’t know, Maddy. I really don’t,” she said, looking away.
“But you must have some idea? Was there any indication of trouble? There had to have been something? Anything?” I pressed. “Please, Helena.”
Helena leaned back in her chair and rubbed at her temples. Finally she cleared her throat. “Chelsea knew something about Adam. Something nobody else did…and I think she was leveraging whatever it was against him to get her way.” She hesitated, biting her lower lip. “I don’t know what it was, Maddy. Neither does Nate. But I’m sure it was bad, because I’m absolutely positive Adam did not want to marry that girl.”
“You have no idea what it could have been?”
“None,” Helena whispered, voice cracking and tears welling in the corners of her eyes. “I just wish I’d never introduced them. Some days I feel so guilty. Like all of this could have been avoided. But Chelsea wasn’t that horrible