The Arms of an Angel
Chapter 15
I've been in these chains for so long. I've been freed….Hold my head up high. I'll stand tall. And I swear this time I won't fall. I will do this no matter what it takes.
~ Boys II Men, I will Get there
He came home from work in bad mood. Helga had told him earlier that morning that she had something to ask him. He was happy then and she wasn't afraid to ask him. But he had to leave or he would be late. Now he was back and in a bad mood. " Chad…"
" what?" he snapped looking up from his work.
" The cheese festival is coming to town…"
" And."
" I would like to take the twins."
" who is going with you?"
This question amazed her. She figured he would flatly refused. With a small surge of hope she answered his question, " Phoebe is getting a group of our friends together."
Chad shifted in his chair and said nothing. She held her breath waiting for him to speak.
" Be back before 10:00."
" I can go?"
" Yes."
She stared at him, shocked. "You seem surprised."
" Yeah I just thought you would say no."
" well I want my wife and children to have fun from time to time."
" Aren't you coming with us?"
" No I have some things to do here."
She turned to leave but his voice, now cold as ice stopped her, " However don't think just because I am not with you that you are not being watched."
She inhaled deeply then left to call Phoebe. " Hey Phebs it's me Helga. Yeah I can go. All right see ya then."
Later that night at the cheese festival Helga stood in awe, " Gosh Phebs it's been so long since I've been to a cheese festival."
" Come on let's go play a game." Phoebe said pulling tugging at her arm.
" Trent, Jen. Come on."
As they neared a game booth Trent pulled gently at Phoebe's shirt, " What is it Trent?"
" Will you help my Mom?"
" what?"
" My Dad, he hurts her. Will you help her?"
"I will try."
Trent smiled then joined his sister. Helga walked over to Phoebe, " what were you and Trent talking about?"
"You. Helga tell me: Everything isn't all happy, happy with you and Chad is it?"
" I don't know what you are talking about."
" Yes you do. Trent wants me to help you. He says…."
She was interrupted by Arnold's presence, " Sorry Phoebe but can I steal Helga from you?"
Phoebe glared at Helga over the rim of her glasses as Helga hooked her arm underneath Arnold's, " we'll talk later Phebs. I promise. Watch the twins ok. Thanks."
They walked off. " So how are things between you and Chad?"
She hesitated and Arnold this, " Everything is….Good."
" You're lying."
Helga looked at him. His face was grave, he was dead serious.
" What are talking about?"
" I know Helga. I've always known. But you don't want to leave because you love him right?"
She did love him but not as she use to…
" Yes it's true Arnold I do love him. But I'm not in love with him. At least not anymore. You see I'm in love with you…" realizing what she had said, Helga's hands quickly covered her mouth hoping he hadn't heard what she said.
Arnold smiled, " I've been waiting a long time to hear you say that." he whispered gathering her hands in his, " I love you too."
" I want to leave but he'll kill me if I do."
" You don't have to go back. Come home with me."
" I couldn't Chad would come looking for me."
" I would protect you."
" Arnold…I can't. It's too risky."
" Helga."
" No! I can't." with that she pulled her hands free, " Trent Jenna come on we're going home."
Arnold walked up to Phoebe and sighed.
" What happened?"
" I tried to help her."
Helga opened the front door and flicked on the light. She glanced at the clock. It read 9:45. Good I'm not late," she thought, " Chad we're home."
" I'm kitchen."
" Trent, Jenna why don't you go on upstairs to bed."
" Goodnight." they said in unison.
" Goodnight." she placed a gentle kiss on their foreheads.
They disappeared upstairs and Helga went into kitchen.
" Hey Helga. Did you have fun?"
" Yeah."
" That's good." he said getting up and getting something out of the refrigerator. He then opened a drawer and began rummaging around, looking for a fork. Arnold's words were still ringing loud in Helga's ears. Suddenly she piped up, " Chad…things aren't working out between us….I want out."
Chad stopped moving. She thought he hadn't heard her so she stood and touched the small of his back, " Did you hear me? Things aren't working out…."
Things went in slow motion after that. She really didn't feel anything but a rush of air then a sharp pain. She touched skin underneath her eye and looked at her fingers. There was blood on them. She looked up at Chad. His face was scarlet red and his eyes had the meanest look she had ever seen in them. It seemed like the devil himself was glaring straight at her. He had a tight grip on the fork in his hand. The tines had four red spots on them. He had scratched her face with the fork. She realized how easily he could have blinded her. " You gonna run again?" he shouted.
She backed up and he marched toward her. He pressed the fork into her neck, " I'm never gonna let you go! I will kill you if you ever try to leave me! Am I clear?"
" Yes sir." she was to afraid to say otherwise, she could feel the fork pushing into her skin.
" Good," he released her, " Come on we're going to bed."
*********
She lay awake staring at the staring at the ceiling. She had to get out. She had to get her children and get out. She glanced at Chad. He was sleeping peacefully. " Now is the perfect time to get out," she thought slipping out bed quietly. She tiptoed to the twins bedroom, " Trent, Jenna wake up. We need to get out of here."
" Trent's eyes fluttered open, " Mom?"
" Shh. We've got to go," she picked up Jenna, " come on sweetie. Trent sweetheart let's go." she took his hand.
" What about our clothes?"
" we can't worry about that right now."
She took them downstairs and the opened the front door. She gasped loudly as she was met with Chad's sharp stare. " where you going Helga?" he spat.
He grabbed her hair, " Put her down right now."
" Trent take your sister and …"
He yanked her head back as she put down the startled girl, " I SAID NOW!"
" Get out of here Trent! Hurry go to Phoebe's!"
Trent took his sister hand and led her sister outside. " Trent where are we going to go?"
" Phoebe's…Mom said."
" But you don't know the way."
" Yes I do. Come on it's just a few blocks down."
They began walking until they reached Phoebe's house. Trent knocked on the door. Gerald answered, " Jenna Trent what are you guys doing here? And where is you mother?"
" They're fighting."
" Come on in."
Phoebe walked out of the kitchen followed by Arnold. " What are they doing here?" Phoebe asked pulling them into her arms.
" Let's go Arnold. Chad and Helga are fighting again."
They opened the door only to find Helga standing there. She was panting heavily. " Helga! Are you all right?" Arnold ask.
She said nothing but fell into his arms. " Gerald call 911! She's been shot."
********
Arnold was marching back forth in the waiting room. He couldn't stand waiting. It had been over an hour since Helga arrived the hospital and the doctors hadn't told them much of anything. " Sit down Alfred. Your making us all nervous." Bob said.
" It's Arnold Mr. Pataki and I can't help it. They haven't told us a damn thing and It's really starting to piss me off."
" He's right Arnold. You're making us all uptight." Gerald said.
Suddenly a doctor walked up with his hands in his coat pockets, " Okay we've managed to remove the bullets however we don't know how much damage it's done to her spine." (author's note: I'm not a medical expert. But I'm trying here.)
" So what are you saying?" Miriam asked.
" She might not walk again. The next few hours will be very critical. We're gonna keep eye on her and give you guys as many updates as possible."
The doctor left. Arnold sank down in a nearby chair and put his hands in his hair. " She may never walk again….Chad better be glad the police arrested him before I could my hands on him."
" Cool it He-Man. Helga doesn't need you in jail too. Be glad she isn't dead." Gerald said patting her back.
" Your right I guess."
***********
Within the next few days Helga was wide awake and the doctors were happy to report that she would be able walk. Arnold walked in one bright sunny day while she was sitting up and seemingly working on something. " Hey whatcha doing?"
She glanced up at him, " Divorce papers."
He kissed her forehead gently, " I'm proud of you."
" why is it that whenever you say your proud of me I end up in the hospital?" she said smiling.
" You're just lucky I guess."
They laughed together as Helga signed her name on the very last page. But instead of signing Helga G. Brooks she signed, Helga G. Pataki.
Arnold looked at the clock, " I gotta go. There's something I need to pick up but I'll be back later."
" Okay."
He kissed her forehead again and left. Gerald met him at the front of a jewelry store. " Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked.
" I let go once. I'm not about to make the same mistake twice."
The jeweler handed him a small box and Arnold peeked inside It was a ring. A dolphin that looked like it was jumping over the diamond." Are absolutely sure you want to do this Arnold? I mean this is an engagement ring."
" I know. And yes. I love her. And I'm pretty sure I can treat her a hell of a lot better than Chad."
" Good luck."
" Thanks."
They parted and Arnold headed for the hospital. Helga was playing to the twins when he arrived. Phoebe, also knowing Arnold's plan took them down to the cafeteria. Arnold sat down on the bed and looked at the tile floor. He was nervous and Helga could tell.
" What's wrong?"
" Nothing….Can we talk?"
" We're talking right now."
" No I mean seriously."
" All right shoot."
He inhaled then began, " Things between us have changed and blossomed right?"
" Right. I would say so."
" Um we've become great friends over these past couple of months right…"
" Great isn't the word for it."
" Then that night at the cheese festival…when you told me you loved me…."
" Listen Arnold I don't want you to think…"
" Helga no listen…I love you too. Wait I told you that already didn't I? Well anyway I want you to know that you mean everything to me and it would be wonderful if you would marry me…."
Her eyes grew wide… " Are you serious?"
" Yes I am…."
" I don't know I mean the divorce and then the twins…."
" We could be a family. The twins, you, and me…"
She watched him as he handed her the box. Tears brimmed her eyes as she threw her arms around him. " Yes…Yes I will marry you!"
Arnold, to stunned to move, just sat there. When he felt her warm tears on his back he wrapped her arms around her and together they cried.