Helena and Penelope

After they arrived to the cottage, Josie went to get the boys from Hope and Raph and Penelope went with Helena to leave her bags. They entered the house and Helena went to her room. Penelope spent few moments in the living room debating with herself if she should follow Helena and ask what was bothering her. She knocked on Helena's door and entered the room. Helena was sitting on her bed texting someone. Penelope was pretty sure it was Kiki.

''Hey mom… What is going on?''

''Can we talk?''

''Sure… What did you want to talk about?''

''Things you didn't say today and why you didn't say them.''

''Oh…''

Penelope took a seat at the bottom of the bed and faced her daughter.

''I am listening.''

''I don't think you should forgive mom.''

That was a surprise to both of them. Helena was not sure if she could ever say it out loud and Penelope didn't expect her to say that.

''Why do you say that?''

''You don't want to hear what I think and have to say on the matter.''

''Yes, I do… Why do you think I don't want to hear?''

''Because right now, things I would really love to say on the topic are things that would make you ground me until I am eighteen when I think of the words I would like to use to describe the situation and address Josie.''

Penelope was taken back by how blunt Helena was. She didn't really think she would say something like that and have those words on her mind when it comes to her mother. No, Helena didn't say them, but Penelope was not stupid. She knew what some of them might be and she didn't like them.

''We said honest conversation.''

''I know… But we also know we can't be really honest. I still need to process how to say some things and make them have sense out of my head.''

''Lucky you… Nothing in MY head has sense.''

''I understand that. I know you are hurt and that makes me even more angry and sure you should not forgive her.''

''Why?''

''Because it was not just sex with someone, it didn't happen just once. Maybe I could understand forgiving someone for one kiss or sex they regretted the moment it was over. But this is different mom. It was something she regretted when she was faced with the fact that you know about it. And before she was faced with it, it was not bothering her to sleep with someone else for six months and get pregnant? It was not bothering her to have sex with him at the same place where YOU sleep mom?''

Penelope listened and she felt sick. Helena had a point and everything she said was true. And that was what made Penelope feel sick to her stomach. Listening her daughter say those things out loud, made Josie's betrayal more real and more hurtful.

''Let me ask you this mom… If you had a client that walked into your office and told you the story of what just happened, what would you advise them to do?''

Penelope wiped her eyes and gave bitter smile to her daughter.

''To get the fuck out of there.''

Helena just nodded…

''So, why are you not taking your own advice?''

''I can't… We've been together for seventeen years… There is so much history there. We've been together through thick and thin and simply…No! I can't betray our relationship and all we worked for just like that.''

''She did.''

Penelope was starting to get angry at her daughter. Rational part of her knew Helena was right, but the other part was still fighting for that relationship and Josie.

''Let me ask you this mom… If you kissed or slept with someone or had a relationship… What would be happening right now?''

''I don't know… But I think it would not be pretty.''

'' Do you want me to tell you mom?''

Penelope was silent, pretty sure where Helena was going.

''You wouldn't be hearing the end of it from everyone. Aunt Liz would be kicking you out from your own house and pretty much burning all your possessions and mama would be sitting in the corner crying because you broke her heart and did that to our family after all the things she did for you and giving you the best years of her life and family. You wouldn't get a second chance to fix the marriage… Hell, if you would have gotten a chance to say you were sorry. Aunt Liz would make sure to make your life a living hell because she always knew you were not good enough for her sister. She would key your car, she would make sure to tell everyone in her restaurant what a cheating bitch you are and how you did that to her sister after seventeen years together and children she had for you. She would make sure that everyone knows your dirty laundry mom. And we know that mama wouldn't move a finger to stop her or assume her responsibility in the matter.''

Penelope listened and she was shocked how accurate Helena's assessment was.

''She would tell all of your friends and we know it would cause a reaction… Not just from your inner circle, but everyone else. Hell, even the PTA meetings would have segment about you being a cheating bitch and Josie your victim. Possibly many of your friends would have sided with her and you would have remained pretty much alone and punished for what you did to mama. Maybe just Hope and MG would stay in your life, but the rest… Not so sure… ''

Penelope didn't talk. She just sat on the bed and stared at the floor. She could feel her cheeks were wet, but she couldn't wipe them. She was so wiped by the truth her daughter so bluntly served her.

''Why are you protecting her mom?''

Penelope just looked at Helena not sure how to answer.

''I get it. I really understand that you've spent so many years together and that that it's not easy to end it. But I think you are making a mistake if you stay mom… ''

''Why do you keep saying that?''

''Because it will never be the same. You will never be the same.''

''What are you talking about?''

''I am talking about the fact that you can't trust her. Every time her phone rings now or she gets a message you will wonder. Every time she says it's me, Lizzie, Hope or MG you will wonder if it is really us.''

Penelope wanted Helena to stop saying those things.

''Let me ask you this… How will our future life look like?''

Penelope had no idea what was Helena asking her.

''You have to go to work… Will you be able to trust mama that she is really home alone, or doing grocery shopping or any of the daily activities? Will you be able to sit at work and not wonder if she lied about her day? How will the playdates with Kirby boys look like? Who would drop the off and pick them up? Will they spend nights in our house or boys there? Will you be comfortable knowing that during one part of the day Landon is home alone and mama is taking the kids there? Will you be able to believe that nothing was going on? And what about family vacations? Can you travel with him and Marry and pretend that everything is ok and that your brand new twins are actually not his?''

''Why are you torturing me Helena?''

''I am not mom… I am just asking logical questions.''

''And I don't have answers for you… It's ok not to have answer to everything Helena.''

Helena noticed that her mother was angry at her.

''I agree, but answer to these questions is foundation of going forward… Personally, I would pack up and file for divorce. You can never trust her completely knowing that the person she cheated with lives ten minutes from us by car and they would see each other often for the playdates. And he will know that babies are his. It will come out… It can't stay secret forever. Someone will tell… ''

''I can't abandon you and the boys…''

''But you are not… You are still our mother… You are still there for us.''

''But not living with you.''

''I can live with you. Twins still need mama and a lot of attention. I could use an empty place.''

She winked at Penelope to cheer her up.

''So, you want me to divorce your mother so you would have a place to have sex at?''

''Pretty much.''

Penelope knew that this was Helena's try to cheer her up.

''I am so confused and have no idea what to do.''

''I know mom… But if I am being honest… I really think you should move on. I find it funny how you say that mom and aunt Lizzie have codependent relationship. Haven't you noticed that actually two of you have more codependent relationship than them?''

Penelope didn't expect that comment.

''I am serious mom… It's not healthy relationship. Just because you were together for so long and she is the only person you were with, doesn't mean that there is not someone better for you.''

''Helena, she is the love of my life.''

''Maybe she is, but it doesn't mean that there is not someone else who would provide heathier relationship for you.''

''Well, you did give me a lot to think about.''

''I am sorry mom…''

''Why are you sorry?''

''For your world falling apart. You deserve the best and I want you to be happy. ''

''I better go and see where the boys are.''

''See you later?''

''Always…''

Penelope left the room and went to their bedroom for a moment to fix her hair and splash some cold water to her face. Conversation she had with Helena was ice cold shower and she really did make some valid points. Now it was up to her to try to figure out where to go from here and what is the best for her family. She stood by the window and saw Josie playing with the boys. Soon Kirby boys joined and Landon was with them. Boys run off to play and Josie stayed alone with Landon. Penelope felt sick to her stomach watching them stand beside each other. He tried to talk to her and she tried to move from him. At one moment he took her hand to stop her from leaving and that's when Penelope had it. She got out of the room and went outside to confront him. She was not having it!