Chapter 9: Helen

"Ruby, will you please take out the garbage?"

"Sure, mom."

Helen stands over the stove stirring the pot. She hears the back door close as Ruby walks out.

Flashback

Helen heard the back door close as she stood over the stove. She felt strong arms wrap around her body and instantly relaxed against the figure, knowing it could only be her husband.

"Hello my love," he whispered in her ear.

Helen put the spoon down on the counter and set her arms atop both his. She rested her head against his chest as a contented smile graced her face. She lifted her head and looked down at his arms. They weren't as she expected them to be.

She turned around in his arms and looked at him. "You're clean."

He kept his hands loosely around her waist and sitting on the small of her back. He cocked an eyebrow in a cheeky way. "What? Does that surprise you?"

"Considering you always come home dirty, yes it does."

"Aww, I wanted to surprise you."

"You've succeeded, but how?"

"I jumped into the lake on the way home."

"Ha, you're funny."

"Alright, you caught me. I washed off at the shop."

"Alright, if you say so, but you still smell like burning metal."

"Yes, but you're used to my being a blacksmith, now."

"I suppose your right."

"So now that I've told you my secret, now you tell me yours."

"I don't know what you mean, Harvey."

Harvey moved her away from the stove fire and literally backed her against the counter. "I think you do. Sofia is here and there's word spreading around town about the king having a new prisoner." He pushed her a little harder against the counter, causing her to blush at their close proximity. "Now, tell me, is Miranda the prisoner?"

"Yes. The castle steward came here in disguise to make sure I would take care of Sofia in Miranda's absence."

"Okay, then that's exactly what we'll do. I'm glad you told me."

Harvey then leaned down and tenderly kissed his wife on the lips. She leaned into him and kissed him back harder. Helen pulled away, reluctantly, and looked up at him. Putting a hand on his dark face, she smiled.

"I love you."

Harvey leaned down and kissed the side of her neck. "I love you too, my darling," he said. He kissed her neck again and pinched the small of her waist, lightly tickling her. She screamed and then laughed. Ruby then came through the door with Sofia and both adults jumped and separated quickly.

"Mom, are you- oh hi daddy," Ruby said.

"Hi baby girl. Come give your daddy a hug," he said bending down and opening his arms.

Ruby smiled and ran into her father's arms. "Oh, I missed you today, sweetheart."

"I missed you too daddy."

Harvey put his daughter down and stood upright, wrapping an arm around Helen's waist. You girls go play some more. Dinner is almost ready," Helen said.

"Okay, Mom," Ruby said. "Come on, Sofia!"

Both girls left the room and Harvey turned to his wife again. He had a look and she caught on instantly. "Oh no, mister. There won't be any more of that. Now wash up before dinner."

Harvey leaned down and kissed her lips one last time before leaving the room. Helen shook her head and smiled at the doorway he walked out of. She then turned around and stirred the pot some more.

Present day

The back door opens again and she hears it shut. Without turning around, Helen says, "Thank you honey."

She hears footsteps that sound heavy. Then she feels a large arm wrap around her and someone kisses the side of her head. She smiles and turns to her husband, who has Ruby in his arm. Helen giggles.

"Sorry, darling. I thought you were Ruby."

Ruby giggles. "That's what we wanted you to think." Harvey kisses Ruby's head and then puts her down on the ground. "Go play until dinner's ready."

"Okay daddy." Off Ruby went.

Harvey put an arm around Helen's waist. "Can I help?"

"Yes. Go wash up for dinner. And leave Sofia be. She needs some time."

"Alright." He gives her a gentle squeeze and pecks her lips before leaving the room.

Helen finally calls Sofia down for dinner, but she doesn't eat but a few bites. The pushes the food around, pretending like she's eating, but not really.

Helen watches her with concern. As a mother, she knows exactly what's wrong, but because of Ruby, they can't talk about it here and now. Helen watches helplessly as Sofia fights back more tears. She looked like she'd been crying already when she came downstairs. Helen didn't want to make it worse. The entire dinner is eerily silent, until a knock sounds at the door. Everyone looks up at the door and over at Harvey. He puts down his fork and wipes his mouth with a napkin, putting it on the table.

"I'll get it."

"Who knocks on the door at dinner time?" Ruby says.

Helen looks at Sofia. She had her head down, hunched over the plate, seeming to not care who was at the door. Helen can't say she blames her. Helen then looks up at her husband who looks out the window. He pauses for a moment and opens the door. Helen can't see the body around Harvey's large frame. No words are spoken. Harvey steps aside and lets the guest inside. Helen covers her mouth with her hands as tears fill her eyes. The guest just smiles as Harvey closes the door. Helen looks over at Sofia, removing her hands from her mouth, tears now streaming down her face. She is so filled with joy and concern at the same time. She is so glad that Miranda is safe.

Sofia, seeing something move out of the corner if her eye, looks up. She drops her fork, letting it clatter on her plate as her eyes grow wide. She gasps and stands up. Her body collides with the other and arms wrap around the other tight.

"Mom," Sofia whispers.

"Oh, Sofia… I missed you so much," her mother says in a shaky voice.

Helen's tears are falling freely now as her husband takes her hand as she stands up. Sofia pulls back and looks at her mother, putting both her little hands on her tear-stricken face.

"It's you. It's really you. You don't look like you've been in a dungeon," Sofia says through her tears.

Miranda chuckles. "I'll explain later."

"Um, I'm sorry to interrupt," Ruby says. "But what's going on? You guys are acting like you haven't seen each other in a week."

"Ruby," Mrs. Hanshaw scolded.

"It's alright, Helen," Miranda says with Sofia still in her arms. "She didn't know."

"Didn't know what?" Ruby asks.

"I'll tell you later, Ruby," Mrs. Hanshaw assures.

"Why don't you go get your things Sofia," Miranda says letting her daughter go.

"Okay mom."

"I can't thank you both enough for looking after my baby girl while I was away. I'm sorry it was such short notice. I know that was unfair."

"It wasn't exactly within your control," Helen says.

"No, it wasn't."

"We are so glad you're okay." Helen paused. "Are you okay?"

Everyone turns when they hear a sound. Sofia practically runs downstairs. She stands next to her mother by the door.

"Thanks again, Helen, Harvey," Miranda says.

"Any time Miranda," Harvey says.

Miranda takes Sofia's hand and Sofia looks up at her mother.

"Let's go home, mom," Sofia says.

Miranda smiles and nods. Sofia thanks Mrs. Hanshaw and Ruby before leaving. Hand in hand, mother and daughter walk back to their village home. Helen smiles as she waves goodbye to them.

"It's wonderful to see them back together again," Helen says.

"Indeed. What a happy reunion it was," he says kissing the side of her head. They turn around and go back inside, coming face to face with Ruby.

"Do either of you want to tell me what just happened? I feel like there was a whole other side to what I just saw."

Helen looks at her husband and he looks at her. "Let's put it this way," Harvey says. "They really missed each other."

"We'll just leave it at that, okay?" Helen says.

"I guess so," Ruby says.

Helen watches her friend walk away, hand in hand with her daughter. She smiles fondly as they disappear down the road, happy that they're reunited once again. She can't help but think that maybe there's something more to Miranda than meets the eye. Perhaps she didn't fully know all about her dear friend. She smiles slightly and goes about the rest of her evening.