The arms of an Angel

Chapter 6:

There are secrets in this life I can't hide.

~ 3 doors down, When I'm gone

After a week or so in the hospital, Helga and the twins had headed for her old home in the city. She knocked on the door and Bob answered, " What are you doing here?"
" Can I come in dad it's cold out here and I've got the twins."

" Where's Chad?"

" I don't know! Can I come in?"

" Sure but call that husband of yours."

" Umm there is something about him I need to tell you…"

*****

Arnold strolled aimlessly down the sidewalk. Ever since he left L.A. his mind had been on no one but Helga. " I wish there was something I could do for her," he said passing by the Pataki house.

****

" What do you mean he beats you?" Bob asked his face as red as a tomato.

" He hits me Bob, Over and over again. And don't even think about telling me to go back and 'try to work things out' because that is never going to happen." She said crossing her arms and sitting back on the couch.

" Chad was so nice when we met him are you sure you're not just accident prone?"
" Yeah Bob that's it," she said disgusted, " I 'accidentally' tried to cut my own throat."

" He tried to cut your throat?"

" He missed and got the side of my neck instead. I've got 12 stitches."

Bob squinted to get a better view of his daughter's neck, " She's right. I'm sorry I didn't believe you…"

" It's all right dad."

" You know you can stay here as long as you need to."

" Thanks…"

" Is there anything you want? Anything you need?"

" No I'm good."

" Are you sure?"

" Well… there is something I need…"

" What's that?"
" A nap."

" Go ahead. I'll watch the twins." Bob smiled at the children sitting quietly beside their mother."

" Thanks dad." Helga said getting up and trudging slowly up the stairs. She settled down in her old bedroom. Not long after she fell asleep the telephone rang. " Helga it's for you…" Miriam called.

" I'll take it up here. Thanks mom. Hello?"

" What the hell do you think you're doing?"

" Chad?"

" You think you can get away from me?"
" Leave me alone."

" I can't do that. I Love you and our kids. We have to be a family Helga don't you see that?"
Her eyes grew wide with fear. " I found those little divorce papers on the table, you think that's going to stop me?"

" Whether you like it or not Chad we're getting a divorce."

" No we won't. If I can't have you no one will. I'll kill you first. I know where you are. I'm watching your every move. I would keep a close eye on the twins if I were you. Children tend to disappear these days." with those words Chad hung up the phone.

Helga quickly got up and ran down the stairs. Trent, Jenna, and Bob were gone.

" Trent! Jenna! Where are you?!"

" Helga calm down. B took them…."

" Trent, Jenna!! Mom…mom where are they? Where are my children?" she screamed bursting into tears.

" Helga it's all right. Calm down. B has them. He went to pick up your sister. She's at the airport."

" Oh thank god," Helga said sighing and running her hands through her hair, " Mom the next time someone calls for me just take a message."

" Who was that on the phone anyway?"

" Just someone."

*****

Olga and Helga had been home for almost 3 weeks. Olga was concerned about her sister. Although she was proud that her sister left the bastard, she wanted Helga to find her own place. " Hey Helga how long have you been staying here?"

" About three weeks. My real estate agent found a new house today. Me and the twins are going to check it out today."

" The last five houses were fine."

" I know but I really want a play room for Trent and Jenna."

" Playrooms should be the least of your worries. You need to find a house for your you and children."

" Well excuse me for wanting my children to be happy with their house. Besides those other houses were so obvious. Chad knows my likes and dislikes. He would know I would buy something like one of those houses. I need something inconspicuous."

" Chad isn't worried about you."

" Oh isn't he? Then why is he calling a thousand times a day threatening to kill me?"

" Do you honestly think he is serious?"

" Do you even now how many times he's tried to kill me?"

" No…"

" He's tried smothering me with a pillow, he's tried stabbing me god knows how many times, and he's beaten me with a golf club twice. So no you don't know. So why don't you go back to that stupid husband of yours."

" He may be stupid but at least he doesn't beat me…"

Helga's angry expression quickly changed to a hurt one.

" Oh Helga I'm so sorry. I didn't mean that."

" No Olga you're right you're right. As far back as I can remember everyone has always judged me by what you did. It was always like Olga did this and Olga won that and Helga why can't you be more like Olga?"

" I never meant…"

" Ya know ever since I was little all I ever wanted was for mom and dad to stop comparing me to the great glory of Olga. You were so perfect and I was so not. And when I met Chad it was like I finally met someone who accepted me for who I was. After the first time he hit me and he started begging me to take him back I figured I would never meet someone like him. I mean he told me he loved me. No one had ever told me they loved me before. That's why I took him back all those times. Maybe that's why I married him. But of course Olga would never do that because she so damn perfect. So why don't you prance around like miss sunshine and I'll fade into the background. Olga will get all the praise and Helga will get the cold shoulder. That's the way it's always been and that's the way it's always going to be." Helga shook her head and disappeared down stairs.