Chapter 36: What Helga Wants…?

Six weeks had come and gone, and Arnold's leg was back to normal. Well, normal as it would ever be. He still felt some pain every now and then, but nothing that kept him from walking.

They had to postpone the date of their wedding. Helga had sent out the announcement the day after Arnold had been released from the hospital. On such a short notice, some people had informed her that they could not make it, for they had already made plans for the new date. However, a good size of friends and family would still be there.

She also had to call the venue, and tell the owner of the reasons for the delay. Helga had mentioned that her earlier offer still stood regardless of the date change, and the owner of the large estate had "understood perfectly."

After that, she had to call the bakery, the florist, and the catering company.

Helga had never made so many phone calls in one day, and when she was done, a large glass of wine was more than welcome. If she could have, if it were possible, she would have married the glass along with Arnold. After all, wine was a girl's best friend, right up there with diamonds.

It was around 10 PM in the household of Arnold and Helga. Arnold, who had just gotten off a long day at work, and had recently began driving again (much to the surprise of the doctors, who had recommended he not drive for an additional two weeks), was up stairs sleeping, leaving Helga alone on the couch, watching Say Yes to the Dress.

"Ugh, no! Not that one! Ugh, you look like a fucking cream puff!" Helga hissed at the screen at a particularly pretty red head came out of the dressing room to model off a wedding dress that looked more like a huge tub of pudding than an actual dress.

Helga wasn't really watching the show, as she didn't have any interest in things like this, even with her own wedding coming up. Truth be told, there was nothing else on, except for news and soap operas.

As Helga sat on the couch watching the show, her mind fluttered elsewhere.

Miriam had been an enormous help during the last six weeks.

Helga has set ground rules for this. She would be the one to help Arnold to the bathroom, help him dress, and help him shower (she had ordered a bench put in), but Miriam did all the rest. Never was she late to pick him for work at 6 in the morning. Never did she let them down when she offered to grow grocery shopping so they could have a decent and homemade meal.

All of the things Helga wanted Miriam to be, responsible and reliable, what the woman couldn't do when she was married to Bob Pataki, she could do in just a mere six weeks.

In truth, Helga was both angry and impressed. She knew, down deep inside, her mother had always had it in her. But why, why, WHY, couldn't she have been the person that she was now all those years ago?

Once upon a time, Helga both ignored and resented her mother. Resented her for not trying. Resented her for not caring. Resented the fact that most of her friends had mothers who took a keen interest in the lives of their children, when all she got for a mother was Miriam. Eventually, the resentment melted, and born for the first time was hatred.

Could Helga really continue the cycle of hatred? Could she really cut Miriam out of her life, once and for all?

If she had, then she knew Miriam would never bother her again. If she had, she would go on pretending that Miriam either no longer existed, or died. She could finally move on with her life, with her soon-to-be husband. It was something she has always wanted more than anything.

If she hadn't, she would be opening herself up to more disappointment. If she hadn't, she would be kicking herself, for refusing to know what could have been.

Helga gulped down the last sip of wine. Come morning, she knew what she had to do.

She finally knew what she wanted.